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Be honest: How many times have you gotten a gift, said, “Aww, thank you!” and then immediately stashed it in your closet or junk drawer? Too many times, we bet. To help ensure the things you give your friends and family don’t end up in the black hole of forgotten presents, try going for something that’s equal parts fun and useful. Because sometimes, the best present solves a problem your loved one didn’t even know they had.
We scoured the internet to find useful gifts that are sure to serve a practical purpose in their recipient’s everyday life. Keep scrolling for handy multitools, delightful gadgets, and nifty kitchen items that your giftee will be sure to put to good use
In this article:
- Fashion and accessory gifts
- Tech gifts
- Kitchen gifts
- Wellness gifts
- Home gifts
- Car gifts
- Outdoors gifts
- Miscellaneous gifts
For more present picks, check out all of the best gift ideas of 2024.
Fashion and accessory gifts
Lululemon
1
Lululemon
Everywhere Belt Bag (1-L.)
It feels impossible to go out without seeing one of these Lululemon fanny packs—but it’s for good reason, if you ask us. “I reach for this constantly because it holds everything I need for running an errand, going to a concert, or whatever else I’m up to,” one SELF editor says. “I always keep my phone in the back pocket so I can quickly change a song or send a text without rummaging through the main compartment.”
Amazon
2
Ohinglt
Lucky Necklace Layering Clasps
Layering necklaces looks cute, but it’s a pain to keep untangling them throughout the day, as one SELF editor found out the hard way. “I was constantly fidgeting with the necklaces I wear every day before attaching them to this magnetic clasp,” she said. “I bought it to avoid them tangling, but it also keeps the clasps at the nape of my neck, and I love how easy it is to take them off for activities like yoga—who wants chains swinging in their face during downward dog?”
Amazon
3
Clipa2
The Instant Bag Hanger
This keychain transforms into a hook that’ll grip a table or bathroom stall door so you can hang your bag (up to 33 pounds) instead of putting it on a dirty floor. When it’s closed like a carabiner, you can loop it around your backpack or tote strap and attach an umbrella or set of keys to your bag.
Amazon
4
Omystyle
Purse Organizer
Transferring essentials between bags is a huge pain, but this purse organizer can pop in and out of whatever they're toting around. It has plenty of room for their keys, tissues, sunglasses, and, like, eight lip glosses (score!).
Amazon
6
Apple
AirTag
Is your giftee always digging for keys between couch cushions? All they have to do is slap a tiny Bluetooth-enabled AirTag tracker on a fob or wallet to make them easier to find.
Amazon
7
Westminster Inc.
World's Smallest Vacuum
Any miniature enthusiast will freak over this teeny tiny USB-rechargeable vacuum cleaner, which can suck up crumbs and pet hair from their desk or counter.
Amazon
8
Ember
Temperature Control Smart Mug 2 (10 oz.)
Sipping a hot bev is all sweet and cozy, until you’re getting up for a third time to nuke it in the microwave. One SELF editor adores Ember’s Smart Mug for keeping her tea and coffee at their individual “sacred temperatures.”
Amazon
9
Qubii
Maktar 512GB Flash Drive
If your giftee constantly runs out of phone storage, they could use this unique little charger. Not only does it power their iPhone’s battery, but it also acts as a hard drive and automatic photo backup. (There’s an Android version too.)
Amazon
10
Jisulife
Handheld Mini Fan
This SELF Fave, pocket-sized fan delivers three levels of serious breeze and can run for weeks on a single charge. Did I mention that it doubles as a phone power bank and a flashlight?
Amazon
11
Yoxinta
3-in-1 Wireless Charging Station
“Getting one of these for my nightstand and one for my desk has demonstrably improved my life,” SELF’s editor in chief said. The streamlined station can charge a phone, Apple Watch, and AirPods simultaneously and wirelessly—plus, it folds down flat for portability.
Amazon
12
Jisulife
Rechargeable Hand Warmer
The same brand that makes our favorite pocket-size fan (scroll up to read more about it!) also makes this palm-size hand warmer, which is rechargeable, heats up to 140 degrees within three seconds, and fits in your pocket. It also functions as a power bank!
Amazon
13
Huoto
Apple Watch Charger
A helpful present for travelers, this wireless keychain magnetically charges their Apple Watch when it runs out of juice.
Amazon
14
Petzl
Actik Core Headlamp
This rechargeable headlamp is handy on a hiking trip, sure, but also during a power outage, on a late-night dog walk, or while searching for lost stuff under a dresser.
Walmart
16
Kitchen Gizmo
Snap N Strain Strainer
Pasta lovers will lose their noodles over this adjustable strainer, which snaps onto the top of any pot, pan, or bowl. Unlike a standard colander, it’s easy to store thanks to its slim shape.
Amazon
17
Food Huggers
Food Savers (5-Pack)
Rather than wasting lots of plastic wrap on your half-eaten tomato or avocado, your giftee can use these reusable “huggers” next time they slice into a fruit or veg. They’re made of flexible silicone that creates a seal around foods to keep them fresh for the future.
Amazon
18
HyperChiller
Beverage Cooler
Whether they can’t start the day without iced coffee or are somehow stuck with a room-temp glass of wine, they can turn to this SELF Fave device, which chills any hot beverage in under a minute.
Amazon
19
Monkey Business
Tipsi Silicone Pouring Spout
Your foodie friend can swap out the lid of any olive oil, vinegar, or dressing with this dual spout—one side dispenses a light drizzle and the other lets out a stronger stream to douse their dish.
Amazon
20
W&P
Microwave Silicone Popcorn Maker
Throw kernels into this SELF Fave bowl, stick it in the microwave with the vented lid on, and bam—delicious popcorn is ready in just a few minutes. It’s also collapsable for easy storage.
Amazon
21
Joseph Joseph
BarWise Twist-Lock Wine Stoppers (2-Pack)
Say your friend cracks open a bottle of merlot, but only wants to pour a glass or two—they can pop in one of these stoppers, create an airtight seal, and their vino will live to see another day.
Amazon
22
Pizza Pack
Reusable Pizza Storage Container (5-Pack)
This triangular container is way easier to squeeze into the fridge than a bulky pizza box. It’s reusable, collapsible, and divided into a stack of five separate trays that keep slices from sticking together.
Great Jones
23
Great Jones
Sweet and Savory Baking Mats (Set of 2)
These non-stick mats are made of oven-safe silicone, so your friend whose love language is cookies can use them bake after bake. As a bonus, they can pop them in the dishwasher between uses.
Amazon
24
Monkey Business
Hug Doug Spoon Saver
This little dude clings to any stirring utensil to make sure it doesn’t slide down into the pot. It’s heat- and steam-resistant, so you don’t have to worry about the silicone melting against the side of a scalding hot bowl. Plus, it doubles as a spoon rest.
Amazon
25
Monkey Business
Pasta Shaped Silicone Lemon Squeezer
This pasta-shaped lemon squeezer is strategically designed to strain out seeds while keeping the juice from squirting everywhere. And, uh, it’s cute as hell.
Williams Sonoma
26
Williams Sonoma
Breakfast Butter Blade
When you use the average knife on fridge-fresh cold butter, you’ll inevitably wind up with chunks that squish into (and tear) the bread. This stainless-steel knife solves that issue: Its wide blade has a built-in grater that spreads finely-shaved butter smoothly onto bread.
Uncommon Goods
27
Uncommon Goods
Automatic Pan Stirrer With Timer
Exactly what your friend needs: a pot stirrer. Yes, a literal pot stirrer that sits in a pan with simmering, low-heat liquid and automatically mixes the contents. This cool device leaves them free to do a gazillion other things (prep ingredients or pour a glass of wine, say).
Amazon
28
AeroGarden
Harvest
They’ll always have fresh greens on hand with this countertop indoor garden. The LED unit helps them grow up to six plants (including herbs, veggies, and flowers) and even tells them when it’s time to add water and plant food.
Courtesy of Heraclea
29
Heraclea
Early and Mature Harvest Extra Virgin Olive Oils (500 ml.)
Gift a set of fancy olive oils, and you know it’ll get some love—and won’t be left to gather dust on the counter. This 2024 SELF Pantry Award–winning duo packed flavor into every dish our testers added it to. “The light one for drizzling was SPICY, and all I needed for some crusty bread—it really packed a wallop. The heavier one for cooking made a chicken parm sing. It was the only tweak to my usual recipe, and it made an enormous difference,” one tester said.
Amazon
31
Nekteck
Shiatsu Neck and Back Massager
You might recognize this as the gadget that made a woman cry with relief on TikTok. The SELF Fave heated massager works wonders on the neck, shoulders, and back, with eight nodes that rotate to knead sore muscles. “I can’t describe how good this massager feels! It’s like having a personal masseuse,” one Amazon reviewer raved.
Refinery29
32
Dieux
Skin Forever Eye Mask
Slick your fave cream or serum onto these patches and press them under your eyes for a self-care moment. Unlike other eye masks, you can wash these with hand soap, then use them again and again.
Amazon
33
L'Occitane
Reusable Magic Key
Slide this nifty metal tool around the body of a nearly-empty toothpaste or lotion tube, twist it down toward the cap, and marvel at how much is still left in that “empty” container.
Amazon
34
Hey Dewy
Wireless Humidifier
Another Healthy Home Awards winner, this portable humidifier can sit on top of their desk or nightstand to hydrate dry skin (or help a cold feel a little less nasty). One tester wrote: “While this humidifier is small, I noticed my skin felt significantly less dry once I started using it consistently, and it’s tiny enough that I can even travel with it.”
Amazon
35
Cushion Lab
Neck Relief Ergonomic Cervical Pillow
The ergonomic cushion is made of sturdy foam and has a curve that one SELF editor loves because it cradles her head “and keeps me from waking up with a neck I can’t turn,” she says.
Amazon
36
Stojo
Collapsible Water Bottle (20-oz.)
The only downside to a reusable water bottle is having to lug it around once it’s empty. But this Stojo collapses when it’s finished, freeing up precious backpack space.
Homecourt
38
Homecourt
Mandarin Basile Hand Wash
We’re kinda obsessed with this 2024 SELF Healthy Home Award–winning soap that smells exactly like fresh basil and citrus. “The small things truly make a difference, and this hand soap is a perfect example of that. Suddenly, the most mundane task is a sensory delight,” one tester wrote. “Everyone washes their hands (we hope), so you know it’ll go to good use.
Amazon
39
Poo-Pourri
Before-You-Go Potty Pods (20-Pack)
Sometimes, air freshener can only do so much. That’s where these Healthy Home Award–winning dissolvable tablets come in. They’re small enough to sit on the back of their toilet or in their purse for peace of mind. “It sounds strange, but these pods made going number two more pleasant,” one tester said. “You can’t even see your mess, because the foam provides a barrier that stops bad smells.” Side note: You should probably only give these to someone you’re close enough to make a poop joke around.
Uncommon Goods
40
Uncommon Goods
Quilted Sari Bedside Caddy
This caddy slides between your mattress and bed frame to hold whatever you want it to: reading glasses, TV remote, journal, meds, vibrator—the list goes on. It’s just as decorative as it is practical, with a colorful patchwork quilt design.
Amazon
41
Dorai
Home Bath Stone
One former SELF editor caved and bought this stone bath mat after a friend kept raving about it, and now she gets the hype. “It dries within seconds, looks stylish, and—most importantly—eliminates the need to wash heavy fabric mats (or to smell them, for that matter),” she said.
Amazon
42
Marycele
Candle Warmer Lamp
There seriously should be a word for products that are as pretty as they are useful, like this candle warmer that looks like a chic lamp. It’ll melt the wax of whatever candle you put under it—no actual fire required—to help make your home smell delish. Even better, reviewers say their candles last longer under the bulb than when they burned the wicks.
Amazon
43
Showgoca
Toothbrush Storage Rack and Automatic Toothpaste Dispenser
This storage caddy mounts to the wall and holds toothbrushes, drinking cups, floss, and whatever else you need right by the sink. It even has a built-in dispenser that squeezes out toothpaste. “I have a small bathroom with zero counter space (a bottle of hand soap won’t even fit on my sink). After doing an Amazon deep dive, I found this helpful holder,” one SELF editor said.
Amazon
44
The Useless Brand
Reusable Paper Towels Roll (12-Pack)
Help them cut back on paper waste with a roll of washable cotton towels that fits onto standard holders (and comes printed with pretty patterns).
Amazon
46
Lebogner
Steering Wheel Tray
If their car is basically a second home, they can set up their laptop, lunch, or makeup on this handy tray (which attaches to a car steering wheel) to pass the time. One Amazon reviewer says it helps them get work done while waiting in the school pickup line. “I've always had trouble finding a comfortable position to sit in so I am actually able to type well. This solves that problem!” they wrote.
Amazon
47
Drop Stop
Original Car Seat Gap Filler (Set of 2)
This fabric filler fits into the sliver of space between the car seat and the armrest, thus blocking phones, keys, and crumbs from disappearing into the gap.
Amazon
48
High Road
Driver Pockets Car Phone Holder Mount
This organizer caddy clips to their car’s air vent and stows their phone, sunglasses, and chargers.
50
Trtl
Travel Pillow
This pillow wraps around the neck and has added support on one side to keep the wearer’s head propped up at a position that won’t leave them aching after a nap. To make their life easier, it has a machine washable cover, and is “not bulky whatsoever,” according to one Amazon shopper. “It’s small enough to fit in my purse,” they wrote in a review.
Amazon
51
Pack All
Water Resistant Travel Shoe Bags
SELF’s art director said she bought this mesh bag for her husband so he could store his work clothes while biking to the office. He loves that it fits inside his backpack, is water-resistant, and has an easy-to-hang loop to keep it off the ground.
Amazon
53
LifeStraw
Personal Water Filter
This lightweight SELF Outdoor Award–winning LifeStraw effectively (and quickly) filters out bacteria and parasites to produce clean drinking water anywhere—making it a marvelous camping gift or hiking gift.
REI
54
Matador
Pocket Blanket Mini
One SELF editor recommends keeping this mini waterproof blanket on you for spur-of-the-moment outdoor hangs. It’s big enough for one person to sit on, has built-in corner stakes to keep it from flapping around on windy days, and stuffs into a keychain bag when not in use.
Amazon
55
Totes
Clear Bubble Umbrella
Your loved one might think all umbrellas are the same, but they’ll sing a different tune after trying this one. “The dome shape keeps me covered from rain, and the transparent panels mean I can actually see where I’m walking,” one SELF editor said.
Amazon
57
Geekey
Multi-Tool
This multitool has 16 (!!!) functions, including a screwdriver, wrench, bike wrench, wire stripper, and bottle opener. The best part? It’s only about the size of a key, so they can throw it on almost any carabiner or lanyard.
Amazon
58
Travah
Diversion Safe Water Bottle Can (17-oz.)
There are a lot of water bottles out there, but this one is special: It’s insulated to keep water cold for hours, and there’s a stash compartment for credit cards, AirPods, car keys, or any other tiny necessities.
Amazon
59
Biib
9-in-1 Multitool Pen
A nice gift for the new homeowner (or the person who’s always puttering around the house doing some little project), this versatile ballpoint pen is also a ruler, screwdriver, level, bottle opener, and flashlight.
Amazon
60
Readerest
Original Magnetic Eyeglass Holder
Near- and far-sighted people alike know the struggle of misplacing their glasses and then having to hunt for their spectacles without any on. This magnetic holder snaps to clothing and keeps all eyewear and IDs close.
Amazon
61
Dexas
MudBuster Portable Dog Paw Cleaner
As an alternative to using wipes, pooch parents can add water to this cup-like device, stick their pup’s paw inside, and twist to clean.
Amazon
62
Victorinox
Swiss Army Swiss Card
Despite being the size of a credit card, this clever multitool somehow manages to contain scissors, a nail file, tweezers, a pen, a toothpick, a screwdriver, a ruler, a blade, and a letter opener.