We all have that one person in our life that seems to be a challenge to shop for. They often say they don’t want anything or they have everything they need, but you still feel like you should get them something to show them that you care.
Whether you’re looking to purchase a gift for your parents, a friend, a co-worker or another special person, a more practical gift idea can help add an element of convenience to their holiday wish list. From blending perfect smoothies to heating up your bath towels and slippers, these useful gifts can get plenty of use for years to come.
Best practical gifts of 2022
Whether they love to read, stream, cook or travel — or perhaps need a better way to stay more organized — these useful gifts will do the trick. To help you determine the best practical gifts to buy this year, we rounded up a combination of viral phenomenons, Amazon bestsellers and those highly recommended by Select staff. To help you sift through these various gift ideas, we compiled them into the following categories:
- Bestselling practical gifts
- Practical gifts for the kitchen
- Practical gifts for organization
- Practical gifts for relaxation
- Practical gifts for tech enthusiasts
Bestselling practical gifts of 2022
Zafit Bedside Storage Organizer
Help them keep their bedside staples organized. This pocket has a convenient panel that can slip under their mattress to keep the organizer in place. The organizer has three small mesh pockets that are good for cords and small electronics, while the one large pocket is good for books, e-readers and tablets.
Apple AirTag
For those who are always losing something or need just a bit of help finding their keys in the morning, Apple AirTags are a practical gift that they will thank you for. Each AirTag can be linked to their phone and titled a certain item. When they can’t find the item, they just need to look at their phone to see where it is. They can even use their phone to tell the AirTag to make noise so they can find their item easier.
Souper Cubes
For the person who’s always got leftovers of winter soups they want to save as separate portions, Souper Cubes will solve all their problems. The silicone tray holds the equivalent of one cup of soup and can be filled and put in the freezer. When they are ready for an easy meal, all they need to do is pop their frozen soup out of the mold and reheat it.
Maxsoft Hair Scalp Massager Shampoo Brush
While it’s more of a stocking stuffer, this scalp massager will make them feel like they’re in the basin of the hairdresser's sink getting ready to look their best. The silicone teeth help to stimulate blood flow and exfoliate the scalp, while the handle is ergonomically designed and easy to hold. The massager comes in three colors–light green, pink and purple–so you can pick which one they will like best.
BodyRestore Shower Steamers Aromatherapy
Help them relax and feel rejuvenated with these shower steamers. The pack of 15 aims to promote relaxation and stress relief with its eucalyptus scent. While water hits the pucks, essential oils drift upward toward them as they breathe in the calming scent. According to Amazon, this product will be delivered after Christmas.
Stalwart Heated Car Blanket
If they drive to work every day, this heated car blanket will be a lifesaver in the cold winter months. The electric blanket can plug into a power adapter in their car to heat up. It has a 96-inch cord, so even if it’s plugged into the front of the car, someone in the backseat can still use it. After they are warm and cozy, the blanket can be folded up and stored under a seat until it’s needed again.
Zyllion Shiatsu Back and Neck Massager
Keep their neck and back relaxed with this massager. The device has adjustable straps so it can be secured to a chair to be used while working or watching TV. It has a built-in warmer that will help tension melt away. With just a push of a button, the massager can be turned on or off.
Stanley The Quencher H2.0 Flowstate 40-oz Tumbler
There’s a reason this tumbler is constantly selling out, and it’s because it’s the perfect size and shape for every type of drink. With six colors to choose from, the 40-oz cup fits easily into car cup holders and has a handle, so it’s easy to carry around their home or office. The cup can keep drinks hot for up to seven hours, cold for 11 hours and iced for up to two days. If you order from Amazon, this product may arrive after Christmas, depending on the color you choose.
Soligt Cookbook Stand
This cookbook stand is great for those who are learning to cook or think of themselves as an at-home culinary master. The adjustable kickstand allows them to adjust the angle of the book or their tablet so it's easy to read while slicing and dicing ingredients. The metal rods are flexible so they can be used to hold a tablet in place or to hold pages open without blocking instructions.
Keurig K-Duo Single Serve & Carafe Coffee Maker
Coffee drinkers will enjoy the Keurig K-Duo coffee maker, which can brew either a single cup or an entire pot of coffee with the push of a button. The water reservoir can hold up to 60 ounces of water, and the traditional pot makes 12 cups. It also features an auto-brew setting so fresh coffee will be awaiting them when they wake up.
Our Place Always Pan
There’s a reason this pan has been at the top of everyone’s list for the past few years. Not only is it an eight-in-one product, but it’s easy to clean and store to use time and time again. The Always Pan comes in a dozen different colors and includes a steamer basket and a nesting Beachwood spatula.
Best practical gifts for the kitchen
Nutribullet Pro 900
This small kitchen appliance can do everything from blending smoothies to mixing up homemade salad dressings. The box includes the blender motor stand and blade, along with two to-go lids, two 32-ounce cups, two cup rings and two handled cup rings. The nutribullet Pro comes in a variety of matte and classic metallic colors so you can get the color that will match their home the best.
Ninja Speedi Rapid Cooker & Air Fryer
Air fryers continue to be a kitchen workhorse that have become essential appliances. This model has a 6-quart capacity that can fit up to four chicken breasts and 1 pound of pasta in the carafe for an easy dinner. The air fryer can do everything from baking and broiling to dehydrating.
Hydros Glass Slim Pitcher
For the entertainer in your group of friends, consider this glass pitcher that can hold 40 ounces of liquid. The lid has an integrated filter so water tastes fresh and clean right out of the tap. The glass carafe is dishwasher safe, but the lid and filter are not and must be hand-washed.
Bee Kitchen Reusable Beeswax Food Wraps
Tap into their sustainability side with these reusable beeswax food wraps. The wraps come in six different patterns, from florals to tie-dye. Each pack of wraps has three pieces and can last up to a year with proper use. The wraps seal shut with the warmth of their hand and should be hand-washed in cold water.
Fellow Stagg EKG Electric Pour-Over Tea Kettle
This electric kettle is perfect for the friend or family member who loves tea or pour-over coffee. The goose neck and counterbalanced handle allows hot water to be poured slowly and precisely. They can pick what temperature they want water to get to between 104 and 212 degrees and can monitor it via an LCD display screen. The kettle can also keep the water at the desired temperature for up to one hour.
Simplehuman Touch-Free Liquid Soap Dispenser
This touchless sensor hand soap pump makes it easy to wash your hands without making a mess. A flexible silicone valve snaps shut after use to prevent any soap drips, and soap is quickly dispensed in less than a second, according to the brand. This model comes with a soap sample, but any liquid hand soap can be used with it.
Bentgo Classic All-in-One Lunch Box
This lunch box contains two stackable containers. The top container has two compartments that each hold ¾ cups of food, while the bottom container can hold two cups of food. This item is made from food-grade, BPA-free materials that are both dishwasher- and microwave safe. This Bentgo Classic lunch box also contains a three-piece utensil set.
Best practical gifts for organization
Courant Catch:2 Essentials
Wireless chargers are a great gift for the person who seems to have everything. This one from Courant can charge a cellphone and a set of AirPods or two cellphones at the same time. It’s comparable with both Apple and Android products. The charger comes in neutral colors that will match the vibe of any home.
Mumi Packing Cubes
Packing cubes are practical for those who enjoy weekend getaways or travel often for business. This set of five includes two small, two medium and one large zip-up cube in either pink or blue. Great for saving space in a suitcase and staying organized.
Stasher Silicone Reusable Storage Bag
Reusable bags are always a good gift. This sandwich-size bag can be used for lunches but is also good for sliced veggies and pieces of fruit. The bag can go into the microwave or freezer and is dishwasher-safe, making for easy cleanup, says the brand. Stasher bags come in a variety of sizes and colors as well.
OXO Good Grips 5-Piece Airtight Pop Container Set
Store cereal, pasta and other food items in these airtight containers to keep them as fresh as possible. This set includes a 2.1-quart container, a 1.5-quart container, two 0.9-quart containers and a 0.3-quart container. Designed for maximum efficiency and easy pouring, these can be stacked easily, says the brand.
Clever Flox Planner Pro
There’s no better way to start a new year than with a fresh planner. This one offers daily, weekly and monthly pages so you can have a full view of your schedule. It also has space for you to write down goals, to-do lists and gratitude lists. Lay-flat binding makes it easy to write in and it is undated, so you can start it anytime, says the brand.
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Best practical gifts for relaxation
Hai Smart Shower Head
Make their home more spa-like with this smart shower head. The app-controlled shower head has a stainless-steel frame and a smooth hose, so there’s nowhere for mold to grow, says the brand. An integrated LED light flashes when the water has reached your preferred temperature, and the slider on the shower head allows you to adjust the water settings from a mist to a high-pressure stream.
Haven Towel Warmer
Give them the gift of staying cozy with a towel warmer. While rack towel warmers can take up a lot of room, this one is about the size of a bathroom trash can and can hold up to two large bath towels. You can also put robes or slippers inside for even more coziness. It takes about 15 minutes for towels to fully heat up, and the towel warmer does have an automatic shutoff feature for safety.
Hatch Restore Personalized Sleep Solution
The Hatch Restore is one of our favorite gifts again this year because it’s not only useful, it really does help the user get better sleep. The alarm clock is controlled through an app, where you can pick what time you want to get up each morning and with what noise and color combination. There is also an integrated reading light, so if their partner goes to sleep early, they can have a soft light for getting ready for bed or reading the last chapter of a book.
Intelex Warmies Slippers
Keep their feet warm all winter long with these cozy slippers. These non-skid slippers release a soft lavender scent and can be heated up in the microwave. Available in gray or cream.
Marpac Dohm Classic White Noise Machine
This white-noise machine has two speed options for adjustable tone and volume. It provides calming background noise for office privacy, sleep or as a soothing sound for pets, says the brand. It’s simple to use, too — just plug it in and push a button and it starts working immediately. This machine is available in white, black, gray, pink and camo.
Best practical gifts for tech enthusiasts
Kindle Paperwhite
Those who can always be found with a book in their bag will enjoy the Kindle Paperwhite e-reader. The portable reader has a large, 6.8-inch display with adjustable warm light. This version of the popular Kindle reads more like actual paper, thanks to the glare-free display, and it can last up to 10 weeks on one charge, according to Amazon.
Fire TV Stick 4K Max
Homebodies who enjoy binge-watching their favorite TV shows can watch almost any service with the Fire TV Stick 4K Max. The device simply plugs into the back of their TV and allows them to stream from platforms like Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+ and HBO Max. The Fire TV Stick also comes with an Alexa-enabled remote so they can just say what they want to watch versus having to scroll endlessly.
The Athena Portable Jump Starter & Power Bank
While it might not be the prettiest gift, the Athena Portable Jump Starter & Power Bank is a lifesaver for those stuck on the road. It has enough power to jump-start a 6-liter engine without any sparks or shocks. There are also USB-C, MicroUSB and two USB ports on the device so you can power cell phones or computers quickly. There’s even an LED flashlight built in.
Waterpik Sonic-Fusion 2.0 Professional Flossing Toothbrush
If they enjoy that just-from-the-dentist feeling, the Waterpik Sonic-Fusion toothbrush is ideal. It’s part electric toothbrush and part water flosser. There are three different modes to the toothbrush where they can brush, floss or do both at the same time. A two-minute timer lets them know when they can stop, and when it comes to flossing, they can pick from 10 water settings.
Lutron Caséta Weatherproof+ Outdoor Smart Plug
If they have an outdoor space they enjoy spending time in, this outdoor smart plug is practical and useful. They can plug in holiday decorations, strings of lights over their balcony, or landscape lighting all into this one device. It can be controlled through an app, Alexa, a wireless remote or the on/off switch on the plug.
Ember Mug 2
There’s nothing worse than forgetting you made a cup of coffee only to take a sip and it’s cold. The Ember Mug 2 solves that problem. It’s a coffee mug and warmer that keeps coffee at a desired temperature through an app. When the light on the mug illuminates, it lets you know the coffee is ready to drink. The mug and base come in six colors, and the cup can be personalized for just a few dollars extra.
Levoit Air Purifiers for Home
Keep their home safe from dust and allergens with the Levoit air purifier. In just 15 minutes, the device can purify the air in a large room, such as a kitchen or living room. Air goes through a three-stage filtration process before it’s filtered back into a room and is cleaner than it was before. The filter is super quiet too, so it won’t disturb sleeping family members or a quiet scene on their favorite TV show.
Anker Portable Charger
This portable charger is slim and will charge iPhones and Androids. When fully juiced, it can provide 2.25 charges to an iPhone. This device has overcharge protection and temperature control, according to the brand. It has a 4.6-star average rating among 74,034 reviews on Amazon.
Blink Whole Home Bundle
This bundle includes a video doorbell, an outdoor camera, a mini camera that can be used indoors and mounting kits for all. This home security system is Alexa-enabled and lets you view camera feeds and motion alerts right on your phone, says the brand.
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