13 Great Gifts for $75 or Less

The next best thing to cuddling up with a warm blanket is cuddling up with an actual warm blanket. This heated throw from Sealy has accomplished what few other blankets have done—a heated experience without bulging coils. They’re still in there, but the amount of fluff around them makes them harder to feel, creating an overall cozier experience. It features a built-in controller that lets you select heat levels, so you don’t need to hunt down the corded controller to change the settings. The only downside is that it doesn’t get as hot as the other blankets we tried. So if you want just a tad more warmth rather than a hotter experience, this might be a fit for you.

For more options: Best Heated Blankets

This Nekteck massager, made famous on TikTok, falls in the middle of the pack in terms of pricing compared with the other models we evaluated. One reviewer said the nodes pressed into their neck uncomfortably, but two others loved the device, so you might find it just right or not at all. (But don’t worry; there’s a 30-day return window on Amazon.) This massager really shines when it comes to heat output; it can reach 109° F. You can use it on various body parts, and it even comes with a car adapter, making it a great companion for road trips.

We love a product with versatility at its core, and this insulated mug is one prime example. Yeti’s Rambler mug can seamlessly travel with you from the kitchen to the car and beyond. Plus, it’s stackable to boot. In surveying my colleagues on their favorite cups and drinking glasses, the Rambler was a popular choice. Anna Silva, CR’s associate director of experience optimization, loves this version for its ability to keep a midday tea hot for hours, thanks to its ceramic lining. Bonus: It’s available in a wide array of colors and sizes.

If you’re looking for a lawn game that requires minimal equipment and even less athleticism, we have just the one for you. Kubb, also known as Viking Chess, is comprised of a set of narrow wooden blocks that two teams compete to knock over—in the simplest of terms. The game calls for a lot more strategy and scheme than skill, but having a good aim helps too.

For more options: Best Outdoor Games

If you’re looking for a great blowout without having to spend the day at the salon, this one’s for you. The Revlon One-Step Volumizer is beloved for a reason: It just works. One tester shared this pro tip to achieve the best results: Keep tension on the hair and work in smaller sections. Otherwise, you may end up with a head full of frizz.

Chances are, the ice cream lover in your life lacks a really good ice cream scooper. Our top pick from a recent evaluation was this lightweight version from Zeroll. We tried it on three varieties of frozen-solid Häagen-Dazs flavors, and the scooper glided through each one effortlessly. There wasn’t a single time one of us had to shake ice cream off this scooper or bang it against the bowl to release it. The secret? Its handle contains a heat-conductive liquid, and the natural warmth of your hand helps with smoother scooping and easier release.

For more options: Best Ice Cream Scoopers

Making guacamole for a crowd just got a whole lot easier. The Vasconia Granite mortar and pestle was the largest and heaviest model we tested—and the most effective. The stone’s weight and the unfinished granite’s naturally rough texture made quick work of both dry spices and fresh ingredients alike. The heavy base, which has three short legs, kept the bowl locked in place while we worked, and the pestle’s rounded handle was comfortable to grip and provided solid control while mashing. The one downside of this 7.5-pound set is that some ingredients left faint stains on the stone, though nothing held onto its smell.

For more options: Best Mortar and Pestle Sets

The Bagail 8 Set Packing Cubes won over CR’s evaluator with the number and variety of cubes it offers. In addition to three packing cubes (medium, large, and extra-large) that have mesh on the top panels to help you identify the contents inside quickly, it also comes with two zipper bags and a cosmetics bag, shoe bag, and drawstring bag that you can use to separate your dirty laundry. The extra organizational features were ultimately what gained Bagail the edge over the other packing cubes CR tried.

Staying hydrated is always a good idea, and this Instagram-famous mug is sure to please. Instead of a plastic bottle, opt for a reusable one you can tote from the gym to the plane and beyond. The ever-popular Stanley Quencher—available in several colors and sizes—is not one to miss.

If you’re looking for a no-frills toiletry bag, the Nishel Travel Toiletry Bag is worth considering. As a remedy for disorganization, you can hang it on the bathroom door, with every compartment laid out in full view. It has several compartments, two of which have mesh pockets of different sizes. Our evaluator noted that it has a large capacity but still zips up easily, even when full.