Gift Guides
Give the best Gifts
From Christmas to birthdays to random surprises, we’ve tested gifts for every occasion over the past 10 years.
We know that gifting can be tough, though, especially when you’re trying to find a gift for an activity someone already does! It might seem like they have everything, but there’s always gear that even pros enjoy. We test tons of gear during our trips and in controlled tests at home. And for the products that rate the best, we’ve created some handy gift guides.
Use this page to find gifts that will blow their socks off, no matter the season! We’ve put some of our top gift articles right here, but read on below for more gift ideas and tips.
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Our Go-To Gifts
If you’re just looking for a quick list of our must-have gifts, these are the products people are most excited to receive.
Gifts of 2024
- Polaroid Camera: Fuji’s mini instant camera is fun, nostalgic, and encourages meaningful moments.
- Morse Code Bracelet: These are cute, simple, everyday-wear bracelets, with 50+ secret messages to choose from.
- The Lost Art of Reading Nature’s Signs: Tristan Gooley’s book is a light read with more than 850 tips for understanding nature, great for curious friends.
- Bob Ross Color-Changing Mug: This iconic Bob Ross mug is fun, useful, and perfect for tea or coffee lovers.
- National Parks Scratch-Off Map: This updated map with all 63 National Parks is a fun way for National Park lovers to record their adventures.
GEAR
- Ultra-Light Hiking Backpack: This packable 20L backpack is only 0.5 lbs, water-resistant, and perfect for travel.
- Fleece-Lined Leggings: These thermal leggings are super comfortable, come in a variety of colors, and have a phone pocket.
- Waterproof Phone Container: This hard-sided case protects phones and valuables from being crushed or damaged by water, making it perfect for outdoorsy people.
- Soft Throw Blanket: This extra-large faux fur blanket measures 50×60 inches and is a luxurious gift for all ages.
- Travel Purse: The Travelon Classic Anti-Theft Sling bag is a simple and stylish purse with locking zippers for extra security.
Outdoor Gifts
Travel Gifts
Holiday and Special Occasion Gifts
Gift Guides FAQs
WHAT IS A GOOD GIFT TO GIVE SOMEONE?
The best gifts you can give someone show you care about them. Good gifts for partners and friends speak to their interests, have sentimental value, or provide them with something that they want but haven’t bought for themselves.
Gift cards are great gifts for acquaintances, and gift cards to specific places that you know the recipient likes can demonstrate that you pay attention.
HOW MUCH SHOULD I SPEND ON A GIFT?
The amount that you spend on a gift for someone usually increases with the level of intimacy of your relationship.
You can find a meaningful gift for a friend for around $25, but that diamond necklace for your spouse might be closer to $100.
Don’t go overboard, and don’t go into debt trying to impress someone with the biggest, most expensive gifts.
Before the holidays, we like to talk about our gift budget. The conversation can start something like this, “Hey, I want to check in about how much we’re spending on each other’s gifts this year. How do you feel about an $X budget?”
CAN I REGIFT SOMETHING?
It’s totally fine to regift something as long as in doing so, you don’t hurt the feelings of the person you received it from or the person you’re gifting it to.
IS A THOUGHTFUL GIFT OR AN EXPENSIVE GIFT BETTER
A thoughtful gift is the best gift. Sometimes, thoughtful gifts are expensive, but they don’t have to be.
WHAT IS A BAD GIFT?
A bad gift makes the recipient feel misunderstood, neglected, or hurt. Make sure you’re giving them something that they want, not something you want.
For example, gift cards are usually bad gifts for romantic partners because they don’t show the care involved in choosing a specific item (the recipient still has to go out and pick something).
If you’re unsure whether or not something’s a good gift, run it by one of their family members or friends for a second opinion.
Our Gift-Giving Experts
Mimi McFadden
Founder & Editor-In-Chief
When it comes to gift giving, Mimi has it down to a science. With a degree in psychology, she knows that the key to a meaningful and memorable gift is a personalized approach–always paying attention to someone’s unique interests and passions. Since she was little, Mimi has wholeheartedly embraced the tradition of gift giving. Now, she loves crafting fun gift guides to inspire others to level-up their gifting game and to find that perfect gift.
Suneel Jain
Founder & Editor-In-Chief
Suneel typically procrastinates when it comes to gift giving but it usually works out well enough anyway. He prefers to give gifts that will help a person with their hobbies, but when it’s too difficult his strategy is to gift something that at least he’d like so that it can still be used if the giftee doesn’t like it. So far, the strategy’s been a success!
Jodelle Marx
Editor & Content Manager
From homemade to luxury, Jodelle’s always scheming about the next best gifts. She even started printing her own stationery to easily brighten a friend’s day with small doses of art. Jodelle’s a sucker for surprises and loves assembling intricate care packages. She starts planning Christmas gifts months in advance so that when the holidays roll around, she’s an expert at gift-giving.
