A holiday gift guide for tech people with taste 🤌

No slop here

Nov 18, 2025

∙ Paid

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For the fifth consecutive year, I’m excited to present my holiday gift guide.

The theme this year is taste 🤌: high-quality non-obvious stuff. No slop. I’ve included more high-end and handmade products this year than in previous years, but there are also still plenty of affordable items.

As always, nothing below contains affiliate links, I’m not an investor in any of these companies, and I’m not benefiting from recommending any of these products (except one, which will be clear). This list is simply a collection of things I love and think you’ll love too.

For more ideas, check out my previous gift guides from 2024, 2023 (for new parents), 2022, and 2021.

Did I miss something absolutely awesome? Share it in the comments 🙏

For the home

Handcrafted Modern maple donut bowl: My wife got us this, and I was like “wtf is it?” But then I realized how much a beautiful wood piece adds to your space. The artist makes lots of other great stuff, too.
Coyuchi 100% organic cotton sheets: Pricey, but oh so nice. You spend so many hours in your sheets, imho it makes sense to splurge here.
Deadline candle: “Transforms your most dreaded moments into sacred ritual.”
Matic: Wirecutter, Wired, Gizmodo, The Verge, and ZDNet have all reviewed it and said it’s the best smart vacuum ever made. I agree. We use ours constantly. They are raising prices on December 2 (from $1,095 to $1,245—tariffs 🫠), so ordering before then will save you $150. They also offered me a deal to share with this community: use this link to get a free 6-to-9-month supply of replacement HEPA bags. Their team sent me a unit to try out when they were just getting started, and I loved it so much I’ve been telling everyone about it.

Living Tea seasonal tea club: A friend got this for me, and it’s so nice. They include background on each tea, how to best steep them, and all kinds of extras that make the experience feel special. These stainless-steel infusers are really handy (especially if you’re wary of tea bags these days). We also love Leaves and Flowers and Rishi teas.
Koshi chimes: The sound of these is unique and delightful. “Simply move the chime gently holding it by its cord to produce a crystalline, relaxing sound that mesmerizes and calms.”

Plant-based desk lamp: You may have noticed one of these in my podcast background. We bought it at the West Coast Craft fair in SF, but they also sell them at SFMOMA. I don’t recommend the ones with legs, though, as they tend to come off. These are also cute. As are these classic Noguchi lamps.
Angels Horn vinyl record player: Includes built-in speakers (and Bluetooth!), so it’s a really easy, versatile, and affordable way to enjoy records. We’ve had this for years and love it.
Graf Lantz Bierfilzl merino wool round coasters: I can’t get enough of these around the house. Lots of color options, and the square ones are nice too.
Vera salt: Microplastic-free salt. After learning that I was half-man, half-plastic and also that sea salt is one of the most microplastic-laden foods one can consume (thanks, Huberman 🥴), we discovered this product (through Superpower marketplace), and it’s now our go-to salt. Pretty, healthy, and yummy. Pairs well with this plastic-free Klean Kanteen water bottle (which is not as fun as other bottles but easy to clean).

For parents and kids

Charts for Babies by Michelle Rial: MY WIFE HAS A NEW BOOK COMING OUT. I know I’m biased, but it’s genius. It’s also cute as hell, will warm your heart, and will incept your kids into liking STEM. It’s coming out in April, and you can pre-order it here. If you haven’t seen her first book, that one makes a great gift too (for adults).

Emerging Artist beanie for babies: We gifted this to our nephew when he was younger, and it’s never not funny.

Kids’ guitar or piano: They come with guides to help you learn, and they are really high-quality. My wife and I even practice on it while we’re playing with our son because we’re both learning piano.

Yoto mini player: A neat screen-free audio player for kids. Our son loves his so much. He rotates between the Beatles, Raffi, Queen, and Spanish cards while he walks around dancing, listening to it (rather than staring at a screen). How can you not love that? Sir Paul McCartney and Chan Zuckerberg Ventures are investors, to encourage more screen-free entertainment options for kids. Many people love the Tonies as an alternative.

Personalized ring (or necklace): For your BFF, mom, lover, or just get it for yourself. As a fun twist, make it the joke name you call your kid/pet.

Personalized pennant or blanket: Is there anything kids/parents/humans love more than their name on stuff?

Coyuchi handstitched organic toddler blanket: Nontoxic naps for your little one.
Kids’ Adirondack chair: Extra-cute if you place it near your adult-sized chair on the porch.

Organic floppy brown teddy bear: This teddy bear is relatively expensive, but it’s a rare non-polyester option for something your kid will be snuggling all night. It’s made in Germany from certified organic cotton and pure organic wool. They have other animals too.

John Klassen prints: There are also originals, but most are sold out. More prints here. IYKYK 🔺

For gadget lovers

ModRetro Chromatic: A modern remake of the original Game Boy by Palmer Luckey (founder of Anduril and Oculus). It feels great, plays great, and makes a unique gift for gamer friends.

Peak Design tech pouch: They also make a larger version, and their toiletry bag is great.

Aranet CO₂ monitor: Did you know high CO₂ impairs your cognition? Research shows that brain function decreases by 15% when CO₂ levels are over 1,000 ppm, and by over 50% above 1,400 ppm. Freaky shit. I’ve got one of these in my office and open a window anytime it gets into the yellow zone.

Belkin MagSafe 3-in-1 charger: I saw these at a hotel once, immediately got it, and love it. Better than any other nightstand charger I’ve tried.
Herschel tech backpack: This has been my go-to bag for years.
Sony WH-1000XM5 noise-canceling wireless headphones: These have become my workhorse headphones. Grab this cute stand if you use headphones at your desk. My wife prefers the Bose QuietComfort because, as the name suggests, they are comfy.
iPhone case with built-in stand: I learned about this from Kevin Rose’s newsletter. There’s also an Anker version, but I like this one better.
Hooga amber book light: I originally got it to change the baby’s diaper during the night while keeping the lights dim and super warm. Now use it nightly while reading in bed. Lasts forever, charges easily, and has multiple brightness settings.
Amazon Kindle Colorsoft: Did you know they make Kindles in color? Thanks for the tip, Laura Fingal-Surma.
AirPods: For all your friends who have “AirPods #1,” “AirPods #2,” . . . “AirPods #5” in their Bluetooth devices list.

For your stressed founder friend or family member

Function Health or Superpower membership: Make sure they aren’t pushing themselves too far.
Spirit Rock gift certificate: I did a 10-day silent retreat there a number of years back, and it was life-changing. Check their upcoming retreats here.
The Anti-Anxiety Notebook: “Utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, a rigorously-tested and widely-used treatment, you’ll develop the skills to identify, challenge, and change unhelpful thought patterns so you can feel better.”
Japanese Hot Spring Minerals bath salts: 🧘🧘🧘
Leaves and Flowers Sleep Tea: 💤💤💤
Rice wax Japanese candles: 🕯️🕯️🕯️
Candle holder: Goes well with beeswax tea lights, and creates a really nice light effect.
Runnin’ Down a Dream: How to Thrive in a Career You Actually Love by Bill Gurley: I haven’t read this yet, but I’m 100% sure it’ll change many people’s lives, considering the impact his talk on the same subject has had on people I know.
Squishy stress ball set: I’ve got fidgety hands, so I often need something to play with. You may see me holding these during my podcast chats sometimes. “Free from BPAs, phthalates, and latex.”
“Things will work out” keychain: A comforting reminder to have around.

For the PM who just cashed out their OpenAI stock

Donate to GiveDirectly, St. Jude Research Hospital, SF-Marin Food Bank, or your favorite charity.
Evil eye charm or stoneware
100-pound Parmesan wheel: “Crafted by hand from the milk of cows grazing high in the alpine meadows of Benedello di Pavullo, these monumental Parmesan wheels are aged by Giorgio Cravero, whose family has been perfecting the art of affineurship in Bra, Italy, since 1855. Simply put—the best Parmigiano Reggiano that exists.”