The 25 Best Gifts We Tested in 2024, Including Apple AirTags and Celeb-Worn Hoka Sneakers

As someone with a reputation for the best gifts among my friends and family, I have a discerning eye for thoughtful and niche gift ideas. It really comes down to asking: “What will mean the most to someone at this time in their life?”

Our team tested over a thousand products this year, and I’ve personally tested a few hundred skincare products, shoes, home décor, and pet items that would make the absolute best Christmas gifts for anyone on your list, whether you choose to go practical or sentimental. I’ve also compiled excellent options for gifts under $25 and gifts under $50.

Ahead, our top recommendations for the best gifts we’ve actually tested — keeping in mind the men, women, teens, and kids in your life.

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Best Gifts Under $25

Apple AirTag

PHOTO: People / Tamara Staples

$29
$24 at Amazon

$24 at Walmart

$29 at Walgreens

The Apple AirTag won our favor in two separate tests: luggage trackers and dog GPS trackers. It can be submerged in water, is lightweight and easy to set up, and shows accurate results to find your precious cargo (whether wheeled luggage or furry pup).

Amazon Basics 500-Watt Ceramic Small Space Personal Mini Heater

PHOTO: People / Rachel Marek

$20 at Amazon

Whether you know a college student living in an icy dorm or apartment dwellers up north, this compact space heater is one of the best we tested. It’s lightweight and portable for yearly moves, and it shuts off if tipped over — an ideal safety feature for communal living spaces. 

Cacala 100% Organic Cotton Pestemal Turkish Bath Towel

PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock

$25
$15 at Amazon

$37 at Walmart

View on Cacala.com

If you know someone with a beach getaway on the horizon, consider gifting this Turkish beach towel. Between the discounted price, almost 40 hues to choose from, and the lightweight design that absorbs water and dries quickly, this towel is a must.

Bronax Pillow Slippers

PHOTO: People / Madison Yauger

$36
$24 at Amazon

These unisex slides are the easiest slip-on-and-go shoes for letting the dog out, bopping around your house, or even running errands. I personally appreciate the comfortable platform cushioning, durable and machine-washable material, and color variety.

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Best Gifts for Friends

Homecourt Tray Set

PHOTO: People / Erin Johnson

View on Homecourt.co

For fans of fragrance, this minimalist tray set from Courteney Cox’s Homecourt line is bright in scent — like fresh roses. This dish soap left my dishes sparkling clean and smelling incredible, and the hand wash and hand cream delivered soft, smooth hands.

Medical King Heated Blanket

PHOTO: People / Dera Burreson

$42 at Amazon

$50 at Walmart

When temperatures dip, there’s no better gift than a cozy blanket, and this electric blanket provides extra warmth for those who are always cold. When we tested this blanket, we liked the heat range options and the backlit screen you can easily adjust in the dark.

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Gabriel-Glas StandArt Crystal Wine Glasses Set

PHOTO: People / Russell Kilgore

$68 at Amazon

$68 at Wine.com

View on Mygabrielglas.com

Wine glasses are a pretty safe bet as far as Christmas gifts go — and these are the best we’ve tried. Though they have a sleek shell, the glass proved fairly durable. Plus, they have a classic silhouette that makes for a delicate sip.

Calpak Packing Cubes 5-piece Set

PHOTO: People/Jessica Juliao

$68 at Nordstrom

View on Calpaktravel.com

$68 at The Container Store

We’ve tried 23 of the best packing cubes, and the Calpak set’s design impressed us the most. It comes with five cubes that have mesh panels to see inside and a water-resistant pouch for damp clothes or toiletries.

Best Gifts for Men

YETI Rambler Tumbler

PHOTO: People / Madison Yauger

$62 at Amazon

View on Yeti.com

View on Westmarine.com

Whether at an office meeting, on the golf course, or watching their favorite football team play, the men in your life will appreciate their drink staying hot or cold (respectively). This Yeti tumbler is a proven editor favorite — and you can get it personalized for a custom touch.

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Wisdom Panel Essential Dog DNA Collection Kit

PHOTO: People / Cheyann Neades

$105
$79 at Amazon

$85 at Chewy

View on Wisdompanel.com

Do you know a dad who’s completely smitten with the dog they didn’t want? (You may be entitled to compensation via saying ‘I told you so.’) Let the dog dad in your life explore their pup’s DNA history with this test kit, which we found simple to use, with thorough results to boot.

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Ryobi P2108 One+ 280 CFM 18-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Jet Fan Blower

PHOTO: People / Rachel Marek

$150 at Walmart

View on Ryobitools.com

Save your man time and energy with this cordless electric leaf blower. In our test, it demonstrated easy setup and powerful airflow for quick leaf removal (30 seconds for dry leaves). And the sleek cordless design is portable and simple to maneuver around a yard.

Hoka Men’s Bondi 8

PHOTO: People / Boris Kharlamenko

$170 at Amazon

$165
$132 at Nordstrom

$132 at Zappos

Between the memory foam footbed and thick rear outsole, this shoe provides ample cushioning, traction, and support. Our senior tester found these shoes even helped with his gait and posture. Our editors also swear by Hoka shoes, including the women’s Bondi 8, which would also make a great Christmas gift.

Renais Gin

PHOTO: People / Alyssa Brascia

View on Totalwine.com

View on Renais.com

If you know an aspiring mixologist, consider gifting a bottle of Renais Gin, a celebrity-owned alcohol brand compliments of Emma Watson and her brother, Alex. Our staff writer discovered this small-batch gin in a cocktail-making class and loves bold flavors of lemon peel, coriander, acacia honey, and rock salt.

Gifts for Women

Keurig K-Brew + Chill Coffee Maker

PHOTO: People / Dera Burreson

$200
$169 at Amazon

$200 at Target

View on Keurig.com

If America runs on Dunkin, then moms run on Keurigs. Give your mom a boost in the morning with a delicious cup of joe via our favorite Keurig coffee machine. With options for hot or cold coffee and especially strong brews, this machine can make any cup needed to take on the day.

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Amazon Kindle Paperwhite

PHOTO: People / Jennifer Maldonado

$160 at Amazon

One of our editors achieved her reading goals thanks to her Amazon Kindle this year — and convinced me to get one, too! The paperwhite has a large, crisp display, is slim and compact for commutes or travel, and is waterproof for risk-free pool-side reading.

Reef Cushion Vista Higher

PHOTO: People / Anna Knief

View on Reef.com

Not one but two of our editors swear by these platform sandals for their ultra-comfort, lightweight feel, and surprising support. They offer a casual vibe but can easily be dressed up, too. And since they’re waterproof, you could wear them for beach outings and weddings alike. 

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Therabody Sleep Mask

PHOTO: People / Joy Kim

View on Therabody.com

Give the gift of relaxation and good sleep with this proven Therabody Sleep Mask. Not only does it block out light and lightly vibrate against the wearer’s face, it stays in place all night. Plus, the fabric portion is machine washable should everyone in your house want to try the mask!

Shark FlexStyle Air Styling and Drying System

PHOTO: People / Tamara Staples

$330
$259 at Amazon

$230 at Nordstrom

$229 at Sephora

Hot air brushes have revolutionized hair styling, taking what used to be an hour blow-drying process and condensing it to 20 minutes or less. Of all the tools we’ve tried, the Shark stands out for its versatile attachments and heat settings, as well as delivering a damage-free blowout.

Best Gifts for Teens

Chillhouse Chill Tips Oprah Bundle Press-On Nails Kit

PHOTO: People / Alyssa Brascia

$48 at Amazon

Our shopping writer has worn Oprah’s favorite press-on nails for years and appreciates the design and shape variety, as well as the easy application and longevity of the nails. Plus, these nail boxes are a good size for stocking stuffers.  

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Pickled Stamps “From the Library of” Book Embosser

PHOTO: People / Madison Yauger

$20 at Etsy

If you have a bookworm at home, consider this personalized book stamp. Not only will it help your reader keep track of their books (should friends use their collection as a checkout library), it’s also absolutely adorable. I have used mine for years and make it a sport to stamp all of my books.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones

PHOTO: People / Madison Yauger

$429
$349 at Amazon

$429
$349 at Walmart

View on Bose.com

Teens don’t need noise-canceling headphones to tune out their parents — they do it naturally. However, you might as well invest in the best pair we tested so they can listen to their favorite music, podcasts, and more without forcing the rest of the household to hear them, too.

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Madden NYC Platform Lug Sole Loafers

PHOTO: People / Ali Faccenda

View on Walmart

If you’ve caught any of the ERAs tour shows, you’ll have noticed Taylor Swift wearing black loafers — and while hers cost $995, our associate editor found a pair that’s less than $30. She loves their durable outsole and steady traction. For teen boys, we have a range of slip-on shoes for men we swear by, too.

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Best Gifts for Kids

Bluey Cook with Chef Kitchen Playset

PHOTO: People / Joy Kim

$80
$68 at Amazon

When buying gifts for kids, their age plays a big part in the selection process. We love this kitchen playset for toddlers. It features popular cartoon character, Bluey, as well as lots of interactive pieces, lights, and sounds to encourage motor-skill development.

Moose Pickleball Blast The Pickle Smackdown Game

PHOTO: People / Joy Kim

$15 at Amazon

Want to get the whole family into the pickleball craze? This pickleball blast game is a good start. Ideal for ages 6 and up, it’s a fun and competitive game that offers the opportunity to learn good sportsmanship. Plus, the instructions are easy to follow for kids.

Hasbro Monopoly Go! Board Game

PHOTO: People / Joy Kim

$20
$14 at Amazon

$15 at Target

$20
$14 at Walmart

It’s a classic for a reason, and when we tested the best toys, this Monopoly game proved a winner. This strategy game is ideal for kids age 8 and older, and is built for travel with a durable case and compact board sizes.

Why Trust PEOPLE?

Madison Yauger is a PEOPLE shopping editor whose top love language is giving gifts. What better way to show someone you know them well and are thinking of them? She’s a go-to for gift ideas among her friends and family and tends to look for unique inspo via the depths of Uncommon Goods, Etsy, and more artisan-sourced outlets.

Our Shopping Experts

• Laura Gurfein is PEOPLE’s shopping director. She prides herself on being a good gift-giver and hopes that none of her friends and family read about their presents online before they’ve actually received them.
• Erin Johnson is an associate shopping director at PEOPLE who can’t wait to gift her parents a new Keurig (even if they insist their old one works just fine).
• Shalwah Evans is a senior shopping editor at PEOPLE. She loves giving people things they really want but won’t buy for themselves. One of her favorite things to gift is a bag filled with an assortment of goodies, from beauty products to champagne to festive baubles.
• Kayla Kitts is a PEOPLE shopping editor whose love language is gift-giving. The holiday season brings her the most joy since she can pamper her family and friends with unique and meaningful gifts she has been curating for months.
• Alyssa Brascia is a PEOPLE shopping writer who spends all season with her head stuck in the Ssense sale section while simultaneously searching for the best beauty products for her loved ones (she’s currently trying to get her dad and brother into skincare).
• Cai Cramer is a PEOPLE shopping writer who loves giving personalized, thoughtful gifts to everyone in her life and is the go-to person to call when her friends need help online shopping.
• Genevieve Cepeda is a PEOPLE shopping writer who loves giving gifts that elevate everyday life, like a luxurious money clip, a labor-saving robot vacuum, or a great-smelling hand cream.

What Is PEOPLE Tested? 

We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs.

But we don’t stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square.

In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education