25 of the best holiday gifts to give (or get) this year

(CNN) —  

In a year where time barely has any meaning, it should come as no surprise that the holidays are right around the corner. That happened fast! Anyway, it’s never too early to shop for presents, whether they’re for your parents, friends, significant other or even yourself.

Everyone deserves a little something for making it through 2020, so we’ve put together this list of presents to put a smile on anyone’s face. We combed the internet and went into our testing archives to find the best gifts for him, her and everyone else. And don’t worry, we won’t tell if you get a couple of gifts for yourself too.

Apple Watch Series 6 (starting at $499; amazon.com)

Apple Watch Series 6

Apple Watch Series 6

PHOTO:
Amazon

Apple’s new smartwatch made a splash in September, when new colors, loops and blood oxygen monitoring capabilities were unveiled. We tested it out and are happy to report it’s our pick for the best smartwatch of 2020. We’re sure it’s going to be a hot gift this year, so get yours early.

Baboon Go-Bag Small ($149; baboontothemoon.com)

Baboon Go-Bag Small

Baboon Go-Bag Small

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Baboon to the Moon

If the guy in your life has been locked up inside the house, it might be time for a weekend getaway (while being safe and socially distant, of course). If that’s the case, he’ll love this small duffel bag from Baboon to the Moon, which is waterproof and made with super-durable OM Stardust Ballistic shell material. Need more than a weekend? It also comes in a larger size for a more extended escape.

Remington Smart Beard Trimmer ($69.26; amazon.com)

Remington Smart Beard Trimmer

Remington Smart Beard Trimmer

PHOTO:
Amazon

If his stay-at-home beard is getting out of hand, the Remington Smart Beard Trimmer will help him trim it down so he can start looking respectable in those Zoom meetings again. Winner of our roundup of best beard trimmers of 2020, this fully washable trimmer has memory settings to help him shave down exactly to his liking.

Baratza Virtuoso+ Conical Burr Coffee Grinder with Digital Timer Display ($249; crateandbarrel.com)

Baratza Virtuoso+ Conical Burr Coffee Grinder with Digital Timer Display

Baratza Virtuoso+ Conical Burr Coffee Grinder with Digital Timer Display

PHOTO:
Crate & Barrel

If he loves his morning coffee, upgrade his setup with this conical burr grinder from Baratza. Our winner for the best coffee grinder, it has 40 grind settings and a digital timer display and gave us precise and consistent grinds time and time again.

Rastelli’s Rib-eye Steaks ($99; rastellis.com)

Rastelli

Rastelli’s Rib-eye Steaks

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Rastelli’s

If you just can’t think of a good gift, a safe bet for the carnivore on your list is a big slab of meat. This eight-pack of 8-ounce rib-eyes from Rastelli’s will make mouthwateringly luxurious steak dinners for weeks. If beef isn’t his thing, try Rastelli’s Faroe Island Salmon Filets, our favorite item when we tested Rastelli’s ourselves.

Men’s Wicked Good Moccasin ($79; llbean.com)

Men

Men’s Wicked Good Moccasin

PHOTO:
L.L.Bean

He’s probably spending a lot more time at home, so make sure his feet are warm and cozy this winter season with these amazingly comfortable moccasins from L.L.Bean. Made with sheepskin, shearling and a memory foam footbed, they feel so good he’ll never want to take them off.

Away Carry-On ($225; away.com)

Away Carry-On

Away Carry-On

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Away

Our pick for the best carry-on suitcase of 2020, the Away Carry-On features a durable shell, fantastic internal compression and Instagram-worthy style. With smart charging capabilities and a lifetime warranty, this will be her go-to bag for adventures (once it’s safe to go) for years to come.

CRZ Yoga Women’s Naked Feeling High-Waist Yoga Pants (starting at $24; amazon.com)

CRZ Yoga Women

CRZ Yoga Women’s Naked Feeling High-Waist Yoga Pants

PHOTO:
Amazon

If she needs a refresh to her work-from-home outfit, or just a pair of cozy leggings to lounge around in, this pair from CRZ Yoga is the gift for her. They’re similar to Lululemon’s cult-favorite Align leggings, but for just $24 you can give her the buttery soft feel without draining your wallet.

Apple iPad 8th Generation (starting at $299, originally $329; amazon.com)

Apple iPad 8th-Generation

Apple iPad 8th-Generation

PHOTO:
Amazon

Apple also released its newest iteration of the always great iPad, bringing faster processing times and a smooth user interface with iPadOS. We tested it and thought the balance of price and performance was so excellent we named it the best tablet of 2020.

S’well Bottle (starting at $25; swell.com)

S

S’well Bottle

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S’well

Staying hydrated is always important, and whether the woman in your life is hitting at-home workouts harder than ever or just needs a bottle to live on the desk at her home office, the S’well bottle is a perfect choice. Its dual-wall vacuum insulation keeps cold drinks cold and hot drinks hot for hours on end. When we tested it against some of the other best water bottles on the market, its insulation ability stood out from the pack and we named it the best water bottle for holding temperature.

GlobeIn 3-Month Gift Subscription ($114; globein.com)

GlobeIn 3-Month Gift Subscription

GlobeIn 3-Month Gift Subscription

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GlobeIn

If you’re shopping for a lady who seems to have everything, a gift subscription to GlobeIn is the pick for you. Every month she’ll get a box filled with handcrafted, artisanal goods from around the world. Everything from beautifully woven baskets and hand-blown glasses to tea kits and pottery is up for grabs in GlobeIn’s wonderful variety of products.

The Essential $75 Cashmere Sweater ($75; naadam.co)

The Essential $75 Cashmere Sweater

The Essential $75 Cashmere Sweater

PHOTO:
Naadam

Every woman needs a solid cashmere sweater in her closet. Normally, these fancy sweaters can cost a pretty penny, but Naadam sells a high-quality cashmere sweater for only $75. It’s a versatile, stylish and comfy closet staple that’s made from sustainable and responsibly sourced materials.

Home Chef Meal Delivery Service (gift cards starting at $65; homechef.com)

Home Chef Meal Delivery Service

Home Chef Meal Delivery Service

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Home Chef

If you’re shopping for a home cook, tell them to ditch the sourdough and give them some meal kits from Home Chef. With dinner meals starting at $9.99, your aspiring chef will have tons of gourmet options to pick and choose from. Check out more of our meal kit delivery service recommendations here.

Chicago Cutlery Fusion 17-Piece Knife Block Set ($106.75, originally $119.99; amazon.com)

Chicago Cutlery Fusion 17-Piece Knife Block Set

Chicago Cutlery Fusion 17-Piece Knife Block Set

PHOTO:
Amazon

Every serious cook needs a top-notch knife set, and if the chef in your life is still chopping with hand-me-downs, this set from Chicago Cutlery has everything they’ll ever need. Our pick for the best kitchen knife set of 2020, these sliced and diced with the best of the best at a fraction of the price.

Instant Pot Duo Nova Pressure Cooker 7 in 1, 6-Quart ($99.99; amazon.com)

Instant Pot Duo Nova Pressure Cooker 7 in 1, 6-Quart

Instant Pot Duo Nova Pressure Cooker 7 in 1, 6-Quart

PHOTO:
Amazon

For someone in your life who loves cooking, but can’t always find the time for it, an Instant Pot will be a welcome addition to the kitchen. Cutting down the cooking time for nearly any meal, this pressure cooker has gained immense popularity for its convenience and — most importantly — delicious results.

Our Place Always Pan ($145; fromourplace.com)

Our Place Always Pan

Our Place Always Pan

PHOTO:
Our Place

If there’s someone in your life who’s just starting out on their cooking journey and needs a versatile pan that can do a bunch of different jobs, the Always Pan from Our Place has got to make it into their cabinet. We tested it ourselves and think it’s a nifty pan, perfect for those trying to save space or do as few dishes as possible.

Swedish Dishcloth Cellulose Sponge Cloths ($19.95, originally $24.95; amazon.com)

Swedish Dishcloth Cellulose Sponge Cloths

Swedish Dishcloth Cellulose Sponge Cloths

PHOTO:
Amazon

Be warned — if you buy these Swedish Dishcloths for the chef in your life, they may never buy a roll of paper towels again. A more sustainable option than traditional paper towels, these reusable cloths can be washed and are truly great for cleaning anything and everything. Trust us, we still can’t stop using them.

Chef’n Kale, Chard, Collard Greens and Herb Stripper ($7.99; amazon.com)

Chef

Chef’n Kale, Chard, Collard Greens and Herb Stripper

PHOTO:
Amazon

The perfect stocking stuffer, this little gadget works wonders on kale, chard, herbs and other leafy greens your cook needs to separate from their stems. If you need some more stocking stuffer ideas, check out our staff’s favorite Amazon products under $15.

KitchenAid 100 Year Limited Edition Queen of Hearts Stand Mixer ($279.99, originally $399.99; amazon.com)

KitchenAid 100 Year Limited Edition Queen of Hearts Stand Mixer

KitchenAid 100 Year Limited Edition Queen of Hearts Stand Mixer

PHOTO:
Amazon

The crown jewel of any baker’s kitchen, the KitchenAid stand mixer is a storied appliance that just so happens to be celebrating 100 years of mixing, kneading and whisking. If your home cook already has one of these legendary machines, check out KitchenAid’s variety of attachments such as a pasta maker, juicer and food grinder.

Small Packages Fun in Quarantine Box (starting at $35; smallpackages.co)

Small Packages Fun in Quarantine Box

Small Packages Fun in Quarantine Box

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Small Packages

For someone who’s hard to shop for, we recommend taking a shotgun approach and buying a lot of little things so you’re more likely to hit the mark. Small Packages is a service that can help you out by sending themed boxes of cute goodies. Plus, you can accompany your gift with a handwritten note to add a personal touch.

Tushy Classic Bidet ($89, originally $109; hellotushy.com)

Tushy Classic Bidet

Tushy Classic Bidet

PHOTO:
Tushy

We know it sounds weird, but hear us out: Bidets might just be the best gift idea this holiday season. Remember that ridiculous toilet paper shortage? No one wants to go through that again! Plus, Tushy’s bidets are remarkably easy to install, simple to use and literally changed the way we go to the bathroom for good.

Atlas Coffee Club 3-Month Gift Subscription ($60; atlascoffeeclub.com)

Atlas Coffee Club 3-Month Gift Subscription

Atlas Coffee Club 3-Month Gift Subscription

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Atlas Coffee Club

If you have a frustrated traveler on your hands, Atlas Coffee Club might just satisfy their wanderlust until it’s safe to get on a plane again. Every month Atlas delivers coffees from all around the world right to their doorstep. With vastly differing flavors and interesting postcards that detail the history of the coffee from each country, this just might provide your giftee with their fill of adventure in their morning cup of joe.

Alera Elusion Series Mesh Mid-Back Chair ($176.59, originally $189.78; amazon.com)

Alera Elusion Series Mesh Mid-Back Chair

Alera Elusion Series Mesh Mid-Back Chair

PHOTO:
Amazon

Many people are working from home these days, which makes a good office chair an absolute necessity. Spare your giftee from any more back pain with this incredibly comfortable and well-priced chair from Alera. It was our budget pick among the best office chairs of 2020, but if you really want to splurge, look into our top pick, the Steelcase Series 1. It comes in at $415 but is worth every penny.

Grafomap (starting at $49; grafomap.com)

Grafomap

Sometimes someone is so close to you that getting them a standard gift doesn’t feel heartfelt or meaningful enough. In that case, going with a personalized or custom present is a surefire way to show you really put your heart into it. Grafomap is a service that will make a custom map of anywhere in the world, whether it’s the city where you met your significant other, the town they were born in, or any other place they hold dear.

Storyworth ($89, originally $99; storyworth.com)

Storyworth

Storyworth

PHOTO:
Storyworth

For the storyteller in your life, Storyworth is a service that will send your giftee questions and prompts every week via email for a whole year. The questions will urge the recipient to tell sentimental stories that give a window into their life. After the year is up, Storyworth compiles all those stories into a beautifully bound book, permanently recording all of their best anecdotes and memories.

source: cnn.com