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Practical Presents
If you’re racking your brain to find the perfect gift, look no further. We’ve scoured our sources and uncovered quality, affordable items that are designed with practical solutions in mind. Whether you’re looking for a way to ease eyestrain or a solution for locating a misplaced phone, discover the gifts that solve daily woes and add a little cheer to the new year.
Eyestrain-Reducing Lamp
Give a gift to your eyes—and your coworkers’. The OttLite energy-efficient LED desk lamp reduces eyestrain by up to 51 percent. Elegant and adjustable, this black desk lamp has brass accents and comes with three light colors and brightness modes for work and leisure. We especially love the built-in USB port.
Get the OttLite energy-efficient LED lamp on Amazon for $89.99
Tile Sticker
Know someone who can’t keep track of their belongings? The makers behind the Tile tracker now offer the Tile Sticker. Simply press the adhesive Tile Sticker to a phone, camera, remote control, or whatever else gets lost frequently and pair it with your smart device—never misplace anything again! With a 3-year battery life and the ability to make your phone ring even when it’s silenced, Tile Stickers may be the best stocking stuffer of all.
Small Pillow
What’s more practical than a small gift that offers a good night’s sleep? The Sidekick provides support to the head and neck by aligning its shape to the spine, making it a great choice for the side sleepers in your life. While the 5-inch version should fit most sleepers, check out the 6-inch pillow for anyone 6 feet 4 inches or taller.
Handbag Light
Purses and backpacks can be black holes where your keys and wallet go in and then seem to disappear. This smart handbag light will be a game changer for those who are always rummaging. The light turns on when it senses your hand and illuminates even the deepest recesses of your bag.
Noise-Canceling Earbuds
These hybrid noise-canceling earbuds make a great gift for anyone who’s busy working from home or taking calls while on the go. The wireless buds have a microphone that detects external sounds and counters with equal anti-noise to reduce the environmental noise. You’ll clearly hear announcements and what is being said around you without taking off or pausing your headphones. Plus, they can provide more than 8 hours of play time from a single charge.
Get the TOZO Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Earbuds on Amazon for $39.99.
Safety Lights for Running Shoes
A perfect gift for the runner in your life, these clip-on lights will help them enjoy a safe nighttime jog. Designed to easily attach to running gear, these waterproof lights make runners more visible to passing cars with their three modes: steady, strobe, and fast flash. The lights also come with backup batteries, two short straps, and one elastic strap.
Get the Apace Vision Clip On Running Lights 2-Pack on Amazon for $17.97.
5-in-1 Multi Tool
Pretty and handy, the Hammer Multi Tool from Kikkerland is five tools in one, though you’d never know it. Made of nickel and brass, it’s strong enough for most household tasks, yet it won’t require a whole tool box to store it in. Twist the handle to reveal a screwdriver and screw bits (two flat-head and two Phillips- head tips).
Fingerprint Padlock
Busy travelers will appreciate the convenience of the MYPIN fingerprint lock. With its aluminum alloy lock body, stainless steel lock beam, and fingerprint touch panel, this lock has an IP66 weatherproof rating that’s suitable for indoor or outdoor use. The product comes with a backup key for emergency purposes.
Get the MYPIN Fingerprint Lock with Key Backup from Amazon for $33.99.
Daily Planner
Nearly everyone on your list can benefit from being organized in the new year. The iconic Moleskine planners have minimalist pages that can be used for elaborate bullet journals or just jotting down a to-do list. Choose from daily, weekly, and monthly editions in a variety of colors.
Get the Moleskine Classic 12-month Hardcover Daily planners on Amazon for $19.46.
Pocket Blanket
Great things come in small packages, which is true of the Oceas Outdoor Pocket Blanket. The ultra-lightweight fabric is water resistant, sand-proof, and covers a 55-inch by 60-inch area. Ideal for picnics, camping, and plane travel, the Pocket Blanket is a useful gift for any traveler or outdoor enthusiast.
Sink-Side Accessory Set
Bring some joy to doing daily chores with Full Circle’s Ceramic Sink Caddy. Beautiful and useful, this caddy is modular and able to adapt to your sink-side storage needs. As a bonus, the ceramic design is easy to clean.
Get the Full Circle Ceramic Sink Caddy on Amazon for $24.91.
Cut-Resistant Gloves
Safety is a gift with no price, so less than $12 seems a very reasonable cost for these cut-resistant gloves. They are woven from a unique blend of food-safe polyethylene, glass fiber, and Spandex. Sized to fit snugly and without additional bulk, these gloves prevent injury in the kitchen, workshop, garage, and while working outdoors.
Portable Bluetooth Speaker
Tune in and zone out. The Bose SoundLink Micro Bluetooth Speaker was one of the top performers in our researched guide to the best waterproof Bluetooth speakers. It has a charge that lasts up to 6 hours and pairs seamlessly with any Bluetooth device. What’s more, this speaker is waterproof, and has a 30-foot range and a built-in speakerphone so you won’t miss a call.
Get the Bose Soundlink Micro Bluetooth Speaker on Amazon for $119.
Pillow Furniture Cover For Pets
While you’re probably giving this gift to a human, the pets will see it as a present, too. Any cat or dog will enjoy plopping onto these bolster pillow furniture covers, while their owners will be happy that the furniture isn’t getting covered in fur.
Get the Red Barrel Studio Aolany Bolster Pet Sofa Slipcover at Wayfair for $48.49.
Universal Pot Lid with Glass
The right product can make life simpler. Made of silicone and glass, OneLid stays cool to the touch, doubles as a strainer, and disperses steam evenly, preventing liquids from boiling over. Oh, and it also fits most pots (up to 8.75 inches in diameter). Give it to the friend who’s cooking in a tiny kitchen.
Hot and Cold Brewed System
Sip, savor, and give (or keep) Ninja’s Hot and Cold Brewed System. This versatile machine lets you brew hot or iced beverages, multiple sizes, and turns milk into froth in seconds. Easy to use, the Ninja will keep you caffeinated or relaxed, whatever your pleasure.
Get the Ninja Hot and Cold Brewed System at Best Buy for $199.99.
Handheld Steamer
Give someone an ironing-free new year—and no, we don’t mean a dry cleaner’s gift certificate. The MagicPro portable steamer heats up in 25 seconds, removes wrinkles, and sanitizes everything from clothes to curtains and upholstery. It’s easy to store at home and compact enough to fit in a suitcase.
Get the MagicPro Portable Garment Steamer on Amazon for $29.99.
Work Gloves
Durable, sleek, and breathable, Milwaukee’s Performance Work Gloves will make winter yard work so much more pleasant. Designed with technology in mind, these gloves can operate touch screens and are flexible enough for detail work and picking up small objects.
Get the Milwaukee Performance Work Gloves at The Home Depot for $17.67.
Label Maker
Whether you need a gift for your boss, your kid’s teacher, or a Marie Kondo superfan, look no further than the DYMO label maker. Tasks are made easier and faster thanks to a computer-style keyboard. Customize your labels with a range of colors, symbols, and styles. An automatic switch-off means batteries last longer.
Get the DYMO LabelManager 160 Label Maker on Amazon for $40.99.
Bike Phone Holder
The Roam Universal Bike Phone Mount helps you stay connected while out on a ride. The silicone net and plastic grip will secure each corner of your device so you can keep your phone in view and stay safe on your ride. It’s adjustable to fit a range of handlebar sizes for both bicycles and motorcycles.
Get the Roam Universal Bike Phone Mount on Amazon for $16.99.
RFID-Blocking Travel Passport Wallet
Chic and secure, this travel wallet blocks radio frequency identification (RFID) from gaining access to sensitive data, credit cards, and electronics that are stored inside. This beautifully designed leather RFID wallet comes in dozens of colors and is super affordable. Both novice and expert travelers will appreciate that it keeps everything organized and that a passport, cell phone, tickets, credit cards, and money are safe.
Portable Space Heater
Stay warm this winter with this 1,500-watt portable space heater, which was the best overall pick in our researched guide to the best infrared heaters. The Dr. Infrared is UL listed, can heat up a large room, and has an automatic shutoff timer. Use it as supplemental heat for drafty, cold rooms or to bring some heat to your garage or workshop. We also like that it has an electronic thermostat that ranges from 50 to 85 degrees, and tip-over protection for safe use.
Get the Dr. Infrared Portable Space Heater on Amazon for $126.79.
Pro Hair Dryer
Hair dryers aren’t just for hairstyling! There are plenty of reasons to keep a handy hair dryer around, including thawing frozen pipes, clearing dust, and removing pesky stickers and labels. This 1875-watt Conair hair dryer provides uniform heat for fast drying and includes a concentrator nozzle for projects that require forced airflow.
Get the Conair 1875-Watt Pro Hair Dryer on Amazon for $22.99.
The prices listed here are accurate as of the last update on October 24, 2022.