As much as we love a healthy dose of frivolity when giving gifts, we also believe in the power of presents that actually serve a purpose. The best useful gifts are items that people can put to work everyday (ahem, they’ll have to think of you just as often) or find solace in when the right occasions pop up. Plus, they’re especially helpful for the enigmas on your list who tend to protest too much when they’re gifted anything except money. A fancy hand soap gift set? You really shouldn’t have. But a device for jumpstarting their car? Now, that’s something they won’t get rid of in a hurry or stuff in the junk drawer.
Thankfully, you don’t even have to draw up a list of practical ideas, because we’ve done the work for you. On holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, and all the other special occasions that demand gift ideas, we think these will be a hit. And because this is GQ, our recommendations do include some designer accessories, but also plenty of “thank god I have this” tech gadgets and “how did I ever live without this?” tools that let you DIY the crap out of life. For the right person, every single one of these gift ideas are extremely practical, and the bulk of them will hopefully inspire some delight, too. Just short of stuffing an envelope full of cash, here are the best GQ-recommended gifts for folks who aren’t afraid of a little (or a lot) of utility.
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