PHOTO GEAR

Gifts for those who love to shoot.

Leica M10

If money is no object, there’s no
greater joy than shooting with Leica’s
latest M10 rangefinder camera.
CAMERA $6,499
I extensively tested the Leica M in the Arctic, Latin America and all over Europe —
it even survived a motorcycle crash. It truly stands up to its reputation

GOES GREAT WITH:

Manfrotto Pixi

MINI TRIPOD - $20
Holds up great with small cameras, big cameras with small lenses and smartphones. Invincible and tiny.

Leica 35mm Summilux

CAMERA LENS - $4,995
Pricy, but easily the best 35mm lens money can buy: small, amazing bokeh, fantastic sharpness, invulnerable.

Hard Graft Camera Strap

CAMERA STRAP - $99
One of those rare items that starts looking nicer with age. Truly a piece of craft. Replace the rings, though.

Three cameras for three budgets

Cameras make excellent gifts: they’re owned for a long time, help you hang on to memories and help you learn or hone an artistic craft. Here’s three of my current top picks for three typical budgets.

Sony A7RII

CAMERA - AROUND $2500
Out of all the SLRs and full-frame mirrorless cameras, the Sony A7RII is still the undisputed king.

Fuji X-E3

CAMERA - AROUND $1000
Fuji packs fantastic tech in a package that is actually fun to use. The X-E3 is the best interchangeable lens camera.

Sony RX100II

CAMERA - AROUND $500
Size matters. While the Fuji X30 is a bit more fun to use, the RX100II has a larger, better sensor. A good pick.

The art of accessorizing

The best photography gifts are without a doubt accessories. And trust me, a photographer never has enough.

A great SD card

STORAGE - $39

Photographers can always use more SD cards. This particular one consistently scores in the top 3 of benchmarks and has been extremely reliable for me.

Travel Tripod

TRIPOD - $239

A solid gift for anyone serious about photography. Light tripods range from $100 to many thousands, but this one strikes a good balance between quality and affordability.

Photo Calendar

CALENDAR - $39

Have a lot of photos? Turn them into a good Holiday gift. I make an annual calendar with my favorite photos of the year and give it to friends and family.

GADGETS AND TECH

Gifts for those who love tech.

Acer X34

A widescreen display with IPS and a 100hz refresh rate.
It’s incredible how great for productivity an ultra-widescreen display is. I absolutely love mine for gaming and work.
DISPLAY $1,011

Gaming: on TV and on the Go

For the easiest pick-up gaming, these consoles take the hassle out of gaming. Prefer PC gaming? Check out the next section, or use the Steam Box.

PS4 Pro

CONSOLE - AROUND $150
Currently the best console for its tradeoff of services, game exclusives, and ease of use. PS Remote Play even lets you play on your iPhone!

Nintendo Switch

CONSOLE - AROUND $300
After the PS Vita, I considered the portable console dead. The Switch is a game changer - no pun intended. A fantastic console and gift.

Steam Box

CONSOLE - AROUND $5
Probably the cheapest item on this guide: the Steam Box is a delightful little thing that lets you play all your favorite games from Steam right on your TV. It works surprisingly well.

Staying Powered

For the easiest pick-up gaming, these consoles take the hassle out of gaming. Prefer PC gaming? Check out the next section, or use the Steam Box.

Belkin
Powermat

QI CHARGER - AROUND $60
Most Qi-compatible chargers look terrible. Not only does Belkin's look OK, it supports iPhone X/8 fast-charging and doesn't have the phone vibrating off its charging surface.

Lightning Dock

DOCK - AROUND $60
A good dock for those who still need to plug in their phones.

3-in-1 USB
Cable

CABLE - AROUND $5
You literally never have enough of these. A total no-brainer. Keep clutter down in your cable drawer with one that works in almost every occasion.

Audio

I could dedicate an entire website to audio recommendations, but we'll keep it brief, simple, and with a reasonable budget.

AirPods

EARBUDS - AROUND $159

Do EarPods fit you OK? If so, AirPods are without any doubt the best earbuds you can buy. Pairing simplicity, audio quality, and battery life are superb.

Sony MDR-1000X

BT HEADPHONES - AROUND $350
Sony makes a great competitor to the ubiquitous Bose noise-cancelling headphone. It looks better, works better, and sounds better while offering some unique features.

BeyerDynamic DT770

WIRED HEADPHONES - AROUND $225
Wearing headphones at your computer all day? The BeyerDynamic offer some of the best sound, superb soft over-ear comfort and style.

Gaming and Productivity

It's the best time to be gaming on PC with classic reboots, quality indie games and fantastic AAA titles. These gifts make it even better. And you can even use this hardware to make working on your computer endlessly more pleasant.

Logitech MX Master

MOUSE - AROUND $100
Simply the best mouse right now. Logitech now offers it in less weird colorways (white, black), and the latest update lets you use the mouse on multiple computers easily.

Razer Blackadder

KEYBOARD - AROUND $120
A solid mechanical keyboard with tactile action coupled with pretty solid software.


AT2020 USB

MIC - AROUND $100
Not as pretty as the Blue Snowball, but offering quality audio for anything from playing PU: Battlegrounds to recording a podcast. Works with Macs out of the box.

Gadget accessories

Gifts that don't fit in the other gadget categories.

Braided Cable

CABLE - $22

Practical 3-in-1 cables not quite your style? These braided ones outlast regular cables, and they look gorgeous.

Moment Lens Moment

PHOTO LENS - $239

Moment makes some of the nicest accessories for iPhone photography. Their lenses make superb gifts.

Tile Pack

TAGS - $59

Do you lose your stuff regularly? I do. This pack helps me find keys... and doubles as an excellent luggage tracker.

HOME AND CAMP

Stuff for around—and outside of—the house.

Dodecahedron

This dodecahedron terrarium was my first Nicer Things post way back, and still makes a gorgeous gift. Give it empty or fill it with some ferns and moss.
GLASS TERRARIUM $58

For Cooking

Lovely items I enjoyed last year for cooking that brought us delicious meals.

Pizza Pronto

TABLE - AROUND $154
A cheap, zero-fuss outdoor pizza oven. Makes great pies with no hassle.

Kinto Coffee Set

COFFEE SET - AROUND $190
There's absolutely nothing out there that's as nice as this drip coffee set. Know a coffee lover? This is the gift they want.

Dutch Oven

OVEN - AROUND $329
Le Creuset is expensive, but there's nothing like giving a Dutch Oven that you can pass on to your children.

For The Dining Room

Nothing is nicer than an upgrade of your utensils and vessels. Seriously.

Flatware Set

FORKS - AROUND $110
This is the nicest, most gorgeous flatware set I've found.

Kinto Cups

CUPS - AROUND $8
Loved by Blue Bottle in Tokyo, these coffee / tea mugs are gorgeous and sip wonderfully.

Beer Glasses

GLASSES - AROUND $64
Similar to the Kinto cups, these are gorgeous, thin beer glasses from Japan.

For Snacking

Can you tell I like cheese? Cheese accessories are essential to good living. Don’t forget the cheese.

Cheese Slate

SLATE - AROUND $24

Cheese slates are fantastic for serving up a cheese plate. All natural, cleans easy, looks great.

Cheese Set

SET - AROUND $48

An affordable set of beautifully crafted cheese utensils that almost nobody already has.

Cutting Board

CUTTING BOARD - AROUND $146
Not quite an only-cheese item, this round cutting board makes for a gorgeous gift.

For The Bar

A home bar is an essential piece of the entertainer's home. Extraverts and introverts alike, however, can enjoy the gifts on this short list.

Whiskey

WHISKEY - AROUND $85
My favorite bourbon I had this year is the Colonel Taylor. Smooth, yet complex, it impresses almost anyone.

Whiskey
Glasses

GLASSES - AROUND $110
These are the whiskey glasses used in the original Blade Runner. Gorgeous as a set piece, but also great to drink from.

Steel Straws

STRAWS - AROUND $146
Cut down on harmful plastic waste and look cooler drinking cocktails. It's a win-win.

For Wine

Some aren't as big on whiskey or liquor, and prefer wine. There's almost too many gifts for wine lovers, so we'll keep it short with some great essentials.

Wine

WINE - AROUND $88
My favorite wine of the year. You cannot go wrong with this complex, delicious French wine.

Wine Glasses

GLASSES - AROUND $84
When it comes to wine glasses, these are my personal favorite in style and drinkability.

Corkscrew

SCREW - AROUND $159
Everyone needs a good corkscrew. If you want to give a gorgeous one to the wine lover, look no further.

For The Bathroom

Bathroom gifts are often of the trite variety, but there's actually meaningful and nice gifts that you can give for personal care and your friends' and family's bathrooms.

Aesop
Products

BATH ESSENTIALS
Aesop makes some of the nicest bath essentials. They make great last minute gifts.

Pendleton
Towel

TOWEL - AROUND $30
A towel that instantly transforms and space or beach trip into a rustic adventure. Gorgeous, varied motifs.

Sonicare Toothbrush

TOOTHBRUSH - AROUND $160
Still using a regular toothbrush? Switch to electric; this one has zero gimmicks, only quality features.

For Camping

Outdoor essentials are a fun gift. They're just short of giving someone an adventure.

Shwood Sunglasses

SUNGLASSES - AROUND $130
Shwood makes a variety of gorgeous, natural sunglasses in beautiful styles.

Pendleton Blanket

BLANKET - AROUND $199
The Gold Standard of cozy blankets. Great for indoor and outdoor, with tons of patterns.

Backpack

BACKPACK - AROUND $139
You really never have enough backpacks – and Topo Designs makes great ones.

Knives And More

While a bit of a cliché, good knives are not just a great utility, but a lasting gift that can be meaningful and memorable. These are some of my favorites.

Camp Knife

KNIFE - AROUND $149
These Japanese-made hunting knives are hand-forged and of exquisite quality.

Swiss Army Knife

KNIFE - AROUND $28
I love these wood-inlaid swiss army knives. A great gift to those not married to Leatherman.

Hatchet

HATCHET - AROUND $66
Not really a knife, but still a great gift for those with a fireplace.

Outdoor Essentials

Small essentials that make nice gifts for those that enjoy a bit of outdoor time.

Flashlight

FLASHLIGHT - AROUND $26
Needed both in the house and outdoors. Mag-Lite is still the best.

Headlamp

HEADLAMP - AROUND $
Am I the only person who always loses these? Makes a great, simple gift.

Water Filter

FILTER - AROUND $220
From the "Buy it for Life" category: a water filter that will never quit.

Other Essentials

Some small gifts I found indispensible this year in small outings.

Fossil Guide

GUIDE - $19

This fossil guide is not just a fun read, but can turn a camping trip into a real discovery!

Fossil Pick

PICK - $53

Make sure you can dig those fossils out with a good pick. I tested a few: this was my favorite.

TOOLS & GEAR

Some excellent tools that make for great gifts.

Fixing Stuff

Small tools to fix things are often already owned, but these items are either of such nice quality or such clever improvements to exiting workbenches that they are welcome additions to anyone's life.

iFixit Kit

REPAIR KIT - AROUND $60
Fix your own smartphone or laptop with ease. The tools come in useful in all parts of life as well.

Screwdriver

SCREWDRIVER - AROUND $30
This clever screwdriver stores the bits in its rear, which is super handy.

Work Mat

MAT - AROUND $5
A thing almost anyone with tools needs but somehow rarely has. Great to have, great to give.

Essentials

In-House tool essentials that can make a difference.

Penlight

LIGHT - $170

This small light has so much light output that it can be a lifesaver.

Multi Tool

TOOL - $

A bit of a zombie apocalypse tool. Nice for the prepper in your family or friend circle.

BOOKS

I had a ton of books I loved in 2017, but these make the best gifts and have my highest recommendation. They tend to sell out quickly!

Folio Society Dune

GUIDE - $19

Dune has always been one of my favorite books, but the Folio Edition is so gorgeous it is essentail even for those that have read it a dozen times (like me).

Chaos: Making A New Science

GUIDE - $19

A fascinating read, even much later. For lovers of science, arts, and all fields in between, in a startlingly beautiful Folio Edition.

The Man In The High Castle

GUIDE - $19

The Amazon TV show is nice, but this Folio Society edition of Dick's great piece is a stunning book to have on your shelves.

Off The Road

GUIDE - $19

Gestalten chronicles beautiful off-road adventures and vehicles in this coffee table book.

The Art Of Syd Mead

GUIDE - $19

From Blade Runner to the Jetsons, see the drawings and thinking of the most inspiring and influential futurist of our time.

The Art Of Blade Runner

GUIDE - $19

Speaking of Blade Runner, Blade Runner 2049's art book has mediocre book design but stunning, unskippable content.

On Vegetables

GUIDE - $19

I usually recommend regular meaty cookbooks, but On Vegetables is both gorgeously designed and has some of the tastiest vegetable dishes I have ever eaten.

Beneath The Roses

GUIDE - $19

A gorgeous photo book for lovers of the art of photography.

The Art Of Mondo

GUIDE - $19

Mondo is a defining institution when it comes to pop culture art. I own several of their immensely gorgeous artist posters, but this compendium is hard to beat.

The Art Of Airports

GUIDE - $19

Ah, airports. Even if you don't love to be in them (I do!), this book is something special: it highlights their beauty and structure.

The Ride 2nd Gear

GUIDE - $19

Love motorcycles? The first The Ride was one of the best books for you. This one is more of the same.

Spirals In Time

GUIDE - $19

Helen Scales manages to write a fascinating book about molluscs and their secret, fascinating lives.

Monocle Travel Guides

GUIDE - $19

Great travel guides for those who like to make their own adventures and just want solid suggestions. Makes for better trips.

Monocle Subscription

GUIDE - $19

Monocle itself is chock-full of ideas, designs, and in-depth articles. Gift a subscription!