In writing this guide on gift ideas for friends, I learned that there really is no catch-all gift that will please everyone. Choosing these gifts, I thought back to some of the best self-care products and tech I’ve tested recently. I included the gadgets I reach for regularly, as well as those I’ve bought for family and friends after testing and loving them. So please use this guide as a starting point, keeping your friend’s personality, needs, and hobbies in mind as you shop for the right gifts.
After testing hundreds of products during my years on the WIRED Reviews team, these are the items I’d recommend to the friends on my own list. I’ve included self-care gifts like massagers, cozy gifts like an ultra-soft throw blanket, kitchen staples like a chef’s knife, and everything in between. There are many gifts at different price points, and they’re also categorized by gift type below. Be sure to check back often, as I will be updating this guide with versatile new picks as we get closer to gifting season.
Looking for more gift ideas? Don’t miss our other awesome gift guides as the holiday season ramps up.
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Featured in This Gift Guide
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Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen)
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Best Tech Gifts
It’s my belief that everyone could use a small, portable Bluetooth speaker. Whether you want to sing along to your favorite tunes in the shower or get the party going around a campfire, having a compact, Bluetooth-enabled speaker at the ready makes you everyone’s favorite party guest. At less than $60, I promise this li’l guy will be a hit as a gift (without breaking the bank). Plus, you can fully customize the design with images, text, and stickers if you want to make it more personalized for the giftee.
Best Self-Care Gifts
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Photograph: Molly Higgins
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Photograph: Molly Higgins
This nifty gadget from wellness tech company Chirp is a godsend for anyone who’s always on their feet. It has two sides: One features a textured surface that targets pressure points, and the other has a heated, centralized oval that acts like a hot stone for targeted arch relief. The end has a USB-C charging port and buttons to adjust heat, vibration, and preset recovery programs, which use different heat and massage patterns for relief. I use this gadget almost daily, especially if I’ve been on my feet a lot that day. This is the perfect gift for someone who’s always asking for a foot massage.
Photograph: Molly Higgins
Dollar Shave Club
Fully Loaded Starter Set
As someone who suffers from persistent razor burn and red bumps, especially in sensitive areas like my bikini line, I’m always asking my friends what they recommend. I tested this set from Dollar Shave Club, and I haven’t looked back—and I keep giving it to my friends who want a better way to shave. The set pictured above is for women and includes one grippy, ergonomic razor handle, six cartridges with six blades each, a razor hanger for your shower wall, an amazing sugar scrub that exfoliates dead skin before shaving, and a silky-smooth shave oil to moisturize and soften hair before shaving. If you want to be extra generous, you can opt for the subscription plan on behalf of your friend, which sends new replacement blades, the scrub, and the shave oil every two months for half price. I haven’t tested the men’s set yet, but it includes two six-blade razors, a diamond-grip handle, shave butter, prep scrub, post-shave dew, a razor cover, and a travel case. The subscription plan works the same as the women’s set.
Best Cozy Gifts
Photograph: Boutayna Chokrane
WIRED reviewer Boutayna Chokrane was sold on Hatch’s newest sunrise alarm clock, which also doubles as a sleep tracker. If your giftee doesn’t want to sleep with a wearable to get their sleep stats, this device uses motion-based tracking to provide passive sleep monitoring from their nightstand. It functions as a sunrise clock, a dimmable bedside light, and a sound machine, and it now captures data like sleep duration and stages, presented in interactive visuals. Boutayna loved the refreshing minimalist design, with no cameras or microphones watching you sleep. Best of all, your data is not locked behind a Hatch+ membership. If you have a friend who struggles with sleep or waking up, consider joining in the sunrise alarm clock trend and getting them this aesthetic bedside machine.
Best Kitchen Gifts
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Photograph: Molly Higgins
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Photograph: Molly Higgins
Everyone—I mean every single person—needs at least one great chef’s knife. This is probably the most important multipurpose kitchen tool—it can slice, dice, and chop ingredients with speed and precision. Your friend most likely could use a better knife for everyday cooking. Great chef’s knives range from less than $100 to several hundred dollars, but I really like this mid-range, 8-inch knife from Material. It’s made from luxe Japanese high-carbon, stainless steel for extra durability, with a matte, stain-resistant composite handle. Plus, if you buy from Material’s site, you can personalize it with an engraved message for a fun, more personal touch.
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