23 Stocking Stuffer Ideas We Can't Get Enough Of

CR’s Daniel Wroclawski—who has reported extensively on topics such as the best coffee makers and how to make a great latte at home—prefers straws for his iced coffee, so he opted for this set of stainless steel reusable straws that are dishwasher-safe to boot. “They work well, are easy to clean, and don’t make me feel bad about using straws and contributing to plastic pollution!”

Of all the scented bar soaps we tested, this one had the most unique smell. The colognelike scent is strong, and for once, our evaluator was disappointed that it didn’t linger on her skin after she showered. It lathered up exceptionally well in the shower, leaving skin feeling clean but not stripped, and did not become soft or goopy on the shower shelf.

Silk! For $10! It’s real and so cozy, CR’s Angela Lashbrook, a CR senior multimedia content creator, says about this sleeping mask. She said it blocked all light without pressing down uncomfortably against her nose and making her feel suffocated, which she said can be a problem because of her small face. CR’s team tried the single-strap version, which kept the mask in place for most of them throughout the night. It felt luxurious despite the price.

If curling up with a great read sounds like a dream for your giftee, look no further. “Turns out everyone who told me I needed to read Sally Rooney was right,” says Lashbrook. “The Irish novelist’s latest, ‘Intermezzo,’ focuses on two brothers, a competitive chess player in his early 20s and a lawyer in his mid-30s, as they repair—and destroy—their fractured relationship in the wake of their father’s death. Romantic entanglements both assist and get in the way of their mutual healing. Despite being only loosely plotted, this character-driven novel is a page-turner.”

It’s hard to believe that this mouse-sized sharpener, our budget pick, would be able to put an edge on a knife, but it does. The KitchenIQ is a simple little sharpener with two stages. The coarse stage is for damaged or seriously dull knives, while the fine slot is for a knife that has just lost its edge. The angles are set for European-style knives—KitchenIQ doesn’t specify the exact angle—but CR’s Paul Hope still found that both of his knives emerged with sharp edges that allowed them to effortlessly slice through onions and tomatoes.

For more options: Best Knife Sharpeners for Chef’s Knives

This is more than just your run-of-the-mill tea. Made with seaweed (don’t worry, the flavor is subtle), this tea features a blend of ginger and turmeric. Brew a cup and spoon in a bit of honey, for a sweet nighttime treat.

This social media-famous overnight lip mask is available in five distinct flavors—including vanilla and grapefruit—and is meant to combat dryness. CR senior editor Tanya Christian finds it particularly helpful in the colder months, when the air is naturally drier, as well as in the springtime, when allergies flare, causing her to breathe through her mouth. “The antioxidant-infused balm made with coconut oil and shea butter helps combat the negative effects of both,” adds Christian.

Being an efficient packer is a valuable quality for a camper, and this stuff sack is one way to keep gear organized. Use it to store a sleeping bag, clothing, and other puffy layers in one neat and compact bundle. Made with water-resistant material, this durable sack is available in a variety of sizes for adventures big and small.

Calling all popcorn enthusiasts! This microwave popcorn popper features a glass carafe and yields around 6 cups of popped corn, prime for students and dorm dwellers. It comes with a slotted lid that doubles as a measuring scoop and our evaluator found that it fared fairly well for taste and consistency.

It has a pop-up cardholder design, and we found that the Vulkit VC-104 slim wallet has another big advantage going for it: price. At around $20, you could consider this a low-risk set of training wheels for a minimalist wallet to see whether you or your giftee like the change. Vulkit also offers a wide range of colors for the VC-104, including two-tone versions.

During our evaluation earlier this year, we tried many hair towels, and the Turbie Twist was among our top performers. Users thought it dried hair a lot, but not so much that it caused frizziness. The handy elastic loop helps hold the towel in place. The towel comes in a set of two, so you’re more likely to have one ready when you need it.

HAY can do no wrong in my book, and these color-blocked candles are no exception. Featuring a motif that pays homage to the brand’s Danish roots, these artful accent pieces are perfect for entertaining during the holidays. Choose among three different color palettes—or grab them all to mix and match.

Go ahead and play in the sand—this sand-repellent towel has you covered. Made from fast-drying Turkish cotton, this lightweight towel is easy to pack, comes in its own carrying case, and isn’t as prone to damp smells as traditional towels. 

This small plug-and-play sound machine from Magicteam is sized just right—like a deck of cards if cards were square. It delivers good sound quality and variety, packing in 20 sounds, including nature sounds and even the sound of a freight train. The controls, just five buttons, are intuitive to use, although one evaluator said they were quite small and a bit difficult to see in low light. And it has a timer in case you don’t want it playing all night.

The first time I tried Rancho Meladuco dates, I was floored by their quality. They were tender and indulgently rich, unlike the harder, saccharine versions I typically buy from the grocery store. Sourced from a date farm in California’s Coachella Valley (yes, the one and the same), they’re handpicked, sun-ripened, and pretty sublime. 

Do you have a budding bartender on your gift list? In CR’s recent evaluation, we found the True Wooden Finish Cocktail Shaker a well-priced shaker that’s best for beginners, with a built-in sieve for easy cocktail-making. But if you’re shopping for a hard-core mixologist in your life, it’s worth noting that this wasn’t the most durable of the bunch we tried.

For more options: Best Cocktail Shakers

Lego’s botanical collection is something out of a dream. Potted orchids and holiday centerpieces are just a few of the creative kits you’ll find, but we’re partial to this wildflower set, which is equal parts whimsical and artful. Once it’s complete, go ahead and display it in a vase. Why not?

Cold brew can take a long time to make, but Oxo says its Rapid Brewer will make a concentrate in 5 minutes. It requires no electricity or batteries and is not much more complicated than a French press. Our evaluator found that her cold brew from the small but mighty device was rich, flavorful, and fast.

The Papillon Shiatsu Neck and Back Massager Pillow checks a lot of the boxes for being the perfect massager. It’s effective and lightweight. In fact, it’s the lightest of all the electric massagers we tried, according to our measurements. It’s also fairly inexpensive. You can use the massager on different body parts, such as your back, neck, shoulders, legs, and feet. It also offers a good amount of heat.

For many people, Henckels Eversharp knives will likely hit the sweet spot. They’re less expensive and attractive, slender but sturdy, and razor-sharp, yet the edges are still gentle enough not to rip up a delicate cut. These lightweight knives are similar in size to a traditional butter or table knife. The blades are scalloped and micro-serrated, resulting in an edge that’s equal parts gentle and sharp. They also have a full-tang design, meaning the blade extends from the tip to the bottom of the handle, resulting in a knife that feels sturdy, albeit more prone to flexing under force than the options above. The handles themselves, which are plastic, have a slim profile that should fit easily in the hands of most adults.

The Panergy bladeless neck fan is the same delightful shade of pink as its handheld fan (it also comes in white and black). Our tester found that it performs its basic function just fine, with the perk of being super flexible: Its pliable silicone back allows it to be nearly as wide or as narrow as desired.