From budget-friendly stocking stuffers to luxe gifts, these are our favorite Christmas and holiday gifts to give this year
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The bells are ringing, Mariah Carey is blasting through every speaker in every store, and people are ice skating in parts of the country where it’s never snowed. It can be a joyous time, but if the thought of the holidays puts you in a gift-induced panic, fear not; we’ve rounded up the best Christmas gifts for everyone on your list.
Whether it’s the impossible-to-shop-for parent, a new flame, or that long-distance friend you only see a few times a year, gift-giving comes with some unique demands that no gift guide can completely satisfy. That’s why this gift guide is intended as a launchpad — a starting point inspired by our obsessive product testing, knowledge of trends, and, frankly, our love of hitting the add-to-cart button.
Read on for our picks for the best Christmas gifts for everyone, and check out more of our product coverage here.
Best Christmas Gifts Under $50
Yeti 10 oz Wine Tumbler
Yeti’s insulated tumbler is the ideal gift for the outdoors-loving wine drinker in your life, or even just the person with a penchant for breaking wine glasses. The double-walled insulation keeps wine at the right temperature, and the removable lid prevents spills.
Wavelength Board Game
The board game Wavelength blew up online, but you don’t have to be plugged into TikTok trends to enjoy it. The simple game tests whether or not you and your friends are on the same wavelength — on spectrums ranging from “romantic movies to unromantic movies” to “good pet to bad pet”
Baggu Small Cosmetics Case
Baggu’s bags are charming, affordable, and come in a variety of prints. This zippered cosmetics case is suited for travel or at-home use, and includes a separate zippered compartment for organization.
Oriona Earrings
Wolf and Badger connects independent creators, primarily jewelry brands, with shoppers, making it easy to find something that suits your style and budget. These reasonably-priced earrings are available in gold or silver.
Pro-Ject Cleaning Set Basic
Looking for a stocking stuffer for a new vinyl enthusiast? Pro-Ject’s cleaning set includes a carbon fiber dust brush and a brush for cleaning your turntable’s stylus, ensuring their records sound their best.
1000 Record Covers
A classic book for music lovers, Michael Ochs’ 1000 Record Covers does what it says on the tin. The coffee table book features album covers from the 1960s through the 1990s, and it’s a stylish collectible for rock music fans.
Mountain Waist Pack
Topo Designs’ stylish mountain hip pack is an affordable, colorful option for any outdoorsy person, or just anyone who struggles with their phone slipping out of their pocket. The bag works as a crossbody or as a hip pack.
JBL Go 4
JBL’s speakers are known for packing a lot of punch, no matter their size. The same goes for the tiny Go 4 speaker, which is available for under $50 and comes in a range of fun colors.
Leuchtturm1917 Notebook
A stylish notebook is always a good call. Leuchtturm1917’s notebook is available in a wide range of colors and is thread-bound, allowing the notebook to lay flat when you open it. It’s available in dotted, ruled, plain, or squared designs.
Apple AirTag
Apple’s AirTags make a great gift for the frequent flier. They’re easy to set up, have a wide range, and are good for both finding lost items around the house and keeping track of luggage on the go. Just make sure your recipient has an iPhone, as these won’t work with Android devices.
Match Striker
While candles are a popular gift, it can be difficult to know what your recipient’s preferred scent is. A stylish match striker, on the other hand, like this one from Craighill, makes a unique gift for the home in lieu of the standard candle.
Brian Eno ‘What Art Does’
Rick Rubin’s The Creative Act was a staple gift when it came out, and this book comes from a similarly legendary luminary. Brian Eno’s What Art Does features the legendary producer and ambient music pioneer’s ruminations on the importance of creativity.
AeroPress Original Coffee Press
For the coffee lover who wants to take their brew on the go, the AeroPress is a popular option for travel, work, and even at home, thanks to its versatile design that can be used for everything from flash iced coffee to espresso-like brews.
Debí Tirar Más Fotos [Opaque Vinyl 2 LP]
Looking for a gift for a music lover? Bad Bunny’s acclaimed Debí Tirar Más Fotos — Rolling Stone’s pick for album of the year, is available on a two LP opaque vinyl.
Best Christmas Gifts Under $100
Google – Nest Audio
Google’s Nest Audio smart speaker is the rare smart home speaker that’s both intelligent and sounds good. It can be used for basic tasks like setting reminders, checking the weather, or controlling smart home devices, and the rollout of Gemini to Google Home adds new features. Plus, the speaker has surprisingly robust, room-filling sound.
Twelve South AirFly Pro
Twelve South’s AirFly Pro is a small but impactful gift for the frequent flyer. The Bluetooth transmitter lets you use your preferred wireless headphones with in-flight entertainment systems, and the compact design makes it easy to stuff in your travel bag.
Lego Game Boy
Lego’s Game Boy set is the ideal gift for the gamer looking for a more analog experience. The set includes 421 pieces, so it’s enough of a challenge without being overwhelming.
Camp Snap Screen-Free Digital Camera
You don’t have to be an experienced photographer to use Camp Snap’s cameras. In fact, it might be better if you’re not — the easy-to-use digital cameras bring back the analog feeling of a disposable camera, minus the limitation of running out of film.
WiiM Mini
The WiiM Mini admittedly might take a little explanation, but it’s the kind of smart, simple gift that audio enthusiasts might not have even realized they needed. The device turns any speaker into a smart WiFi speaker, allowing you to enjoy higher quality, less dropout-prone audio than Bluetooth. It’s a great gift for the tech-savvy music lover who still likes old-school analog gear.
Nothing Ear (a)
Nothing’s stylish earbuds combine a comfortable fit and pocket-friendly case design with surprisingly impressive sound and a stylishly minimalist design. The pinch controls on the stem are easy to use, and it’s available in black, white, or yellow.
The North Face Thermoball Traction Mules V
Slippers are a classic gift for a reason; you don’t have to know someone’s exact shoe size, and it’s the kind of cozy essential that comes in handy in the winter. The North Face’s Thermoball slippers are a rugged take on the slipper, with the warm padding fans of their jackets will be familiar with.
Korg Monotron Duo Analog Ribbon Synthesizer
If you’re looking for a quirky gift for a music lover, Korg’s analog synthesizer is a fun, affordable way to create music. At less than 5″ and under $75, it’s a truly pocket-sized way to create music on the go.
Only NY Cast Iron Pigeon
There are practical gifts, and then there’s this. It may not do much, but Only NY’s cast iron pigeon is a quirky reminder of New York’s second-most ubiquitous critter, and a fun gift for any fan of these misunderstood birds.
Aesop Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen Hand Care Set
Winter is a notoriously brutal time for skin health. Aesop’s hand care set is the kind that any giftee would be excited to use, and it comes with a bar soap, a hand wash, and a hand balm, combining cleanliness and comfort.
Best Christmas Gifts Over $100
Sonos Era 100 Smart Speaker
A great speaker might just be our favorite thing to gift. It’s something everyone will enjoy, whether they need upgraded sound for parties or better home theater audio, but not everyone will treat themselves to it on their own. We think the best speaker gift this year is the Sonos Era 100. This smart speaker packs incredible acoustics, especially considering its compact size, and fits almost anywhere. Your giftee can stream music via WiFi or Bluetooth, and it’s a great starting point for building out a whole-home Sonos system.
Sonic Editions Print
Sonic Editions is known for making high-quality prints that come pre-framed and ready to hang. Each print is made to order and available in a variety of sizes. They make great gifts for any music or movie enthusiast.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
Bose’s excellent new QuietComfort Ultra headphones are an investment piece, but one that’s worth the splurge. They offer unbeatable noise-canceling, all-day comfort, and improved battery life and controls compared to the first generation.
Technics Direct Drive Turntable with Bluetooth SL-40CBT
Technics’ stylish direct-drive turntable is Bluetooth-compatible and can also be set up as part of a traditional analog system. Plus, it can be used with phono or line-level connections, allowing you to set it up with or without a preamplifier.
TCL NXTPAPER 11 Plus 11″ Tablet
TCL’s unique tablet can be used as a regular tablet, but it converts into an e-ink-like display for reading, making it the best of both worlds if you’d rather not carry an e-reader and a tablet. The tablet is surprisingly snappy and smooth, especially given its relatively affordable price.
Beats Studio Pro
Beats’ Studio Pro headphones are excellent for travel, thanks to their compact carrying case. They’re also a solid value for their regular $180 sale price. The headphones have intuitive, tactile controls, and come in a range of stylish colors.
Meta Quest 3
The Meta Quest 3 has an impressive suite of games for experiencing VR gaming, and the headset tracks eye, hand, and head movements for an immersive gaming experience.
Leica Cine Play 1
For a truly money-is-no-object gift, Leica’s Cine Play 1 projector is a stylish all-in-one, featuring surprisingly room-filling speakers and an adjustable display that’s surprisingly bright, even on regular walls.
Daniel D`Amico for SANREMO.FM
