By: Dallin Rahlf 

Are you part of this crowd? The crowd that loves to discover new gadgets? The crowd that (used to) enthusiastically go throughout the Sky Mall magazine in search of new and exciting tech and gadgets that cost 1/16 of their annual income but would be SO COOL to have? I find myself belonging to this crowd, and I’m sure you know a few people who fall in here as well we folk love to discover the new toys. We like to experiment with the possibilities of new tech and how that could change our lives at home, work, and potentially give us a new hobby to tinker around in. Below are my recommendations for getting your tech junky friend something awesome for the holidays. 

Noise Canceling Headphones 

Have you tried some of these yet? They’re fantastic. Absolutely incredible. When you slip on a pair of noise canceling headphones, you are transporting yourself into a new world where the only sound that exists is Paul McCartney and John Lennon singing to you about submarines and there being 8 days in a week. Noise canceling headphones are great for working, where you can slip into whatever genre of music helps you focus like a scientist close to a breakthrough. I personally love putting mine on and listening to some “ambient” music. The sort of music that sounds like an orchestra of whales is encouraging you to type faster and better. 

The great thing about these headphones is that there’s a wide variety of pricing and types of headphones. You’ve got dome that go over the ear, some that fit on the ear, and earbuds. All of these are great options depending on how you like to have something on your head for hours on end. 

• For on the ear headphones, you can’t go wrong with anything made by Sony. Sony does an excellent job with comfort, quality, and having something in the price range for everyone. They’ve got great starter headphones for those looking to get in the game and some more expensive options for those who know what they want. 
• For over the ear headphones, the Apple AirPods Max are insanely cool… but crazy expensive. These headphones tend to be the most comfortable when compared to over or on the ear headphones. The quality is great. The sound is fantastic. The charging case is… fine. The best thing you can do for your wallet here is to look at BestBuy’s options. They have usually had a sale on them for $70 off, and they have options to buy them used. That alone has options as well. I got mine used and in good condition, and they’re fantastic. Could never tell someone else owned them. 
• For earbuds, Apple has some great options with their AirPods. The 1st and 2nd generations are a little more sturdy while the Pros are a little squishier. The Pros are the only ones that offer noise cancelation, but the other two are great options, especially for the younger crowd that is finally going to get their first pair to listen to that Olivia Rodrigo girl I keep hearing about. Beats and Bose have some great options here as well. 

Ember Mug

Whoa! This was a new discovery for me, and it’s totally gonna be something you’ll want to pick up for your friends that need their “cup of Joe” before they can enjoy any conversation about dreams or how your stocks are doing. The Ember Mug is a “smart mug” that’ll allow you to control the temperature of your drink! Talk about awesome. It can hold that temperature for 90 minutes, allowing you for maximum drinking pleasure. No more rushing to drink your cop of coffee or hot chocolate at max speed so it doesn’t get close to the totally undesirable lukewarm. GROSS. 

Drones

Drones are perfect for someone that has been itching to get one since they got popular a couple years ago. Please, think not that drones are simply those little machines that go up and down and are essentially worthless. Drones has some crazy potential for awesome tricks and stunts, not to mention career options as well. I even know people are weddings that are hiring drone fliers to take some of the photos and videos! You can work AND have fun at the same time. 

As well as most things on this list, you’ll find a wide variety of options. I can’t say that I’m well-versed in the art of flying anything, but you can surely find resources to help you find the perfect one for the beginner or pro you’re shopping for. BestBuy is a great place to find and ask those questions. 

Sois Vide Cooker 

Oh man. Have you tried this yet? Sois vide cookies are excellent for getting the precise and optimal temperature for anything lucky enough to be hugged in the warm bag of plastic. These are perfect for cooking all sorts of foods—meats, veggies, starches, and others exactly the one you want it. No more worrying about the fluctuating heat from the grill. It’s easy to use and essentially guarantees that you won’t undercook anything, which is always stressful when it comes to things like chicken. 

Smart TV

Take a good, long look at the TV you’re using in your living room. Is it that one that you were gifted in college from your uncle? Or the one you got from your friend when they moved out of the apartment? It may be time for an upgrade. TV’s nowadays are great for a ton of things, especially the smart brands. When was the last time you lifted your TV? If you’re straining your back to get it off the ground, I have great news for you: even though new TV’s are fancier and cooler, the newer TV’s are much lighter than the old ones, plus, they have bigger screens, are quite cheap, and have an easy to use navigation that’ll give you all of your needs in one location. Apps like Netflix, Disney+, and others are usually already installed on the TV, and if not, can be found very easily and downloaded quickly. TV’s at Costco are great for finding exactly what you want in a wide variety. My hot tip? Give it another year on the OLED screens. They look great at first, but they have been known to burn out after about a year. Let those guys cook in the oven a little bit longer. 

If this list didn’t scratch any itches you’re having, be sure to check out our other blogs we’ll be coming out with about gift giving!