Holiday Gifts Ideas for Geeks 2022
By Corporal Punishment |
Shopping for geeks should be easy, but I am told it is not. So, while researching the regular MajorGeeks Deals, I got a bit distracted by the concept of, "If I wasn't the Geek that I am, would I get me if I had to." I know that's a paradoxical question - but I'm over-caffeinated - so please, indulge me. The point here is to show what a geek would get a geek. Fair warning MajorGeeks is an affiliate of some of these products, so if you click a link and buy something from them, we get a small credit. Very small. But this in no way influenced the thought process.
Most geeks have already picked out their PC, peripherals, and software. The same goes for their hobbies. Stay away from these sorts of gifts. You'd likely pick the wrong thing anyway, so let's take that sort of thing off the table. Also, if you are the sort of person that drops a grand+ on a PC for a geeky friend -- stop reading, call me and forget the other geeks on your list. Barring that, we'll aim for something less PC and pricey and keep the items to $70 or less. ( I was shooting for $50, but inflation is real!)
1 - NOCO Genius 5 Battery Charger.
The first item I'll throw out for discussion is the NOCO Genius 5 Battery Charger. NOCO makes an impressive line of products, and you can spend a decent amount of money on their higher-end products. However, The NOCO Genius 5 has a nice mix of features and power and a price point of less than $50.00 (as of writing). What's not to love? This is the sort of thing you think you don't need until you need it, then you get to brag that you have it. You can jump a car, trickle charge, maintain or bring batteries back to life. Owning one lets you throw the word 'Desulfator' into conversions -- that's the sort of thing geeks live for
2 - Anything Lego
Seriously, any Geek worth the moniker loves Lego, whether they will admit it out loud or not. So dropping a gift of building bricks on them will be a big win. But don't go for huge 500+ piece sets. Go small. Huge expensive sets are for collectors and aficionados. So instead of a gift, the recipient has the pressure of keeping the box pristine and then selling it on eBay… without telling you, they profited from your gift. Best to avoid that situation altogether. Drop down in price point and look for something that reminds you of the geek or what they like. Personally - I'd go for GROOT all day. But you can get really creative here. Fish Tank, Penguin, Succulents - so many choices.
3 - Any Light Saber.
In fact, get 2. Why? You can't duel alone, that's why. I'm not sure I need to explain this further. But…. I have a Star Wars The Black Series Yoda Force FX Lightsaber. It's fantastic but currently not available. Also, since it was purchased, it has become a bit of a collector's item. So it doesn't get swung around with the same gusto as it used to. Digging around on Amazon, I found these beauties with sound effects, color changing, and the ability attached together, making a Darth Maul-like saber staff. Pretty badass for $30ish. Yu can get double the fun out of these if you break out a camera with long exposure and use the sabers for light painting. YOu can find some examples of what that looks like on Pintrest
4 - Geek Tee's / Hoodies
Something appropriately snarky at Snoorg Tees is always a win. Seriously throw a mental dart at your screen and pick one. You can't go wrong. Frankly, the less the shirt makes sense to you, the more likely it is to be hysterical to the geek on your list.
Qwertee is another solid choice. Personally, I just grabbed the Cthulhu Christmas sweater. They have a great selection of really quality printed products - but the lead time of up to 20 days means you'd;'d likely have to decide quickly to have the shirt in time.
5 - Bobble Head.
A friend got one of these for me a year ago, and it is not only one of my favorite things in the world but a great conversation piece. Several places make this type of product, but I know mine came from All Bobble Heads, and I'm happy with the quality.
Researching, I was also checking out My Custom Bobble Heads, which look pretty good as well -- but less custom. that said, they have a 4-day turnaround and a huge selection, so you should easily get your designed piece in by Christmas.
6 - 3D Wooden Puzzles.
I may regret giving this idea away because this is my secret weapon gift for the geeks in my circle. Well-designed wooden puzzles are in the same vein as a good lego set, yet most have a use behind them that can last for entertainment and display purposes for a long time. 3D Wooden Puzzles are typically done with basswood and laser cut into cards that you then pop out and assemble. Laser cutting makes the product relatively cheap to manufacture but yields consistent quality that makes the puzzles fun and typically does what they say they will.
7 - Headphones
Well, not just any headphones. Bone conduction headphones by Shokz. While typing this, I am currently wearing a pair of Shokz OpenMove. If you are an audiophile, you will notice that you will not get a full range of tonality while wearing bone conduction, but the bones of your skull aren't exactly made for full tonality, so that makes sense. That does not imply the sound is bad, it's quite good. However, Shokz will not compete with high-end in-ear or cup models. BUT ... they can not compete on the geeky factor. Bone conduction headphones send sound vibrations through your cheekbones instead of through the air. By design, this headset sits around the ear, not in it. This way, you can listen to your music, videos, or games and simultaneously hear all the ambient sounds around you. (if you like) This is especially helpful when you are riding a bike or walking in traffic, making real-life activities much safer.
8 - MajorGeeks Gear
You may not have known, but MajorGeeks has a Spring Store to print and distribute some of our designs. You can grab shirts, bags, masks, and even yoga pants. (yup) We even have a Don't Panic-styled glass that perfectly holds a pint of your favorite beverage. Check back often as we shift designs around quite a bit.
9 - Festivus Starter Kit.
Frankly - any aluminum pole would do, but this book is easier to wrap.
IYDK - Festivus is an annual secular holiday celebrated on December 23. It was created by author Dan O'Keefe and popularized in the 1997 episode of Seinfeld called "The Strike". The holiday is characterized by an aluminum pole, Festivus dinner, Airing of Grievances, Feats of Strength and the traditional phrase "A Festivus for the rest of us!" The Festivus pole is an unadorned aluminum pole which serves as a central part of the celebration.
During the Festivus dinner, the head of the household tells guests informally about activities that have occurred in their lives over the past year. This is known as the Airing of Grievances, which typically precedes a Feats of Strength. It doesn't get any geekier.
10 - Any Thing Coffee
Let's face it. For most Geeks, coffee is nearly as important as breathing. Probably if you tested some geek blood type, you'd find they were Type O Dark Roast. (Or should I say TYPO.. get it?) But instead of trying to pick a blend or roast - lean into the R2D2 French Press as an idea. Here you can check 3 geek items with one purchase. Star Wars, Coffee, and Geeky Way To Make Something. Win Win Win.
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11 -Thier Face on The Gift Wrap
If you really want to save some coin and still win the present battle with the geek on your list, try GiftWrapMyFace.com. (YOu get 105 off by clicking that link) They have a collection of all sorts of wrapping paper, socks, and even Christmas hanging stockings that can be customized with the face of the geek on your list. Of any other face. The coolest one on the list has to be The Elfie Dance™ augmented-reality version that you customize up with a face and name, then when you point your phone at the paper, the image dances. After that, who cares what's in the wrapping paper... You win.
Ok, so hoping this geek gift advice from a geek gives gifts helps you if you are in a tough spot for ideas. Have any others? Drop them in the comments below and maybe you could help someone out this season.
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Most geeks have already picked out their PC, peripherals, and software. The same goes for their hobbies. Stay away from these sorts of gifts. You'd likely pick the wrong thing anyway, so let's take that sort of thing off the table. Also, if you are the sort of person that drops a grand+ on a PC for a geeky friend -- stop reading, call me and forget the other geeks on your list. Barring that, we'll aim for something less PC and pricey and keep the items to $70 or less. ( I was shooting for $50, but inflation is real!)
1 - NOCO Genius 5 Battery Charger.The first item I'll throw out for discussion is the NOCO Genius 5 Battery Charger. NOCO makes an impressive line of products, and you can spend a decent amount of money on their higher-end products. However, The NOCO Genius 5 has a nice mix of features and power and a price point of less than $50.00 (as of writing). What's not to love? This is the sort of thing you think you don't need until you need it, then you get to brag that you have it. You can jump a car, trickle charge, maintain or bring batteries back to life. Owning one lets you throw the word 'Desulfator' into conversions -- that's the sort of thing geeks live for
2 - Anything LegoSeriously, any Geek worth the moniker loves Lego, whether they will admit it out loud or not. So dropping a gift of building bricks on them will be a big win. But don't go for huge 500+ piece sets. Go small. Huge expensive sets are for collectors and aficionados. So instead of a gift, the recipient has the pressure of keeping the box pristine and then selling it on eBay… without telling you, they profited from your gift. Best to avoid that situation altogether. Drop down in price point and look for something that reminds you of the geek or what they like. Personally - I'd go for GROOT all day. But you can get really creative here. Fish Tank, Penguin, Succulents - so many choices.
3 - Any Light Saber.In fact, get 2. Why? You can't duel alone, that's why. I'm not sure I need to explain this further. But…. I have a Star Wars The Black Series Yoda Force FX Lightsaber. It's fantastic but currently not available. Also, since it was purchased, it has become a bit of a collector's item. So it doesn't get swung around with the same gusto as it used to. Digging around on Amazon, I found these beauties with sound effects, color changing, and the ability attached together, making a Darth Maul-like saber staff. Pretty badass for $30ish. Yu can get double the fun out of these if you break out a camera with long exposure and use the sabers for light painting. YOu can find some examples of what that looks like on Pintrest
4 - Geek Tee's / HoodiesSomething appropriately snarky at Snoorg Tees is always a win. Seriously throw a mental dart at your screen and pick one. You can't go wrong. Frankly, the less the shirt makes sense to you, the more likely it is to be hysterical to the geek on your list.
Qwertee is another solid choice. Personally, I just grabbed the Cthulhu Christmas sweater. They have a great selection of really quality printed products - but the lead time of up to 20 days means you'd;'d likely have to decide quickly to have the shirt in time.
5 - Bobble Head. A friend got one of these for me a year ago, and it is not only one of my favorite things in the world but a great conversation piece. Several places make this type of product, but I know mine came from All Bobble Heads, and I'm happy with the quality.
Researching, I was also checking out My Custom Bobble Heads, which look pretty good as well -- but less custom. that said, they have a 4-day turnaround and a huge selection, so you should easily get your designed piece in by Christmas.
6 - 3D Wooden Puzzles. I may regret giving this idea away because this is my secret weapon gift for the geeks in my circle. Well-designed wooden puzzles are in the same vein as a good lego set, yet most have a use behind them that can last for entertainment and display purposes for a long time. 3D Wooden Puzzles are typically done with basswood and laser cut into cards that you then pop out and assemble. Laser cutting makes the product relatively cheap to manufacture but yields consistent quality that makes the puzzles fun and typically does what they say they will.
7 - HeadphonesWell, not just any headphones. Bone conduction headphones by Shokz. While typing this, I am currently wearing a pair of Shokz OpenMove. If you are an audiophile, you will notice that you will not get a full range of tonality while wearing bone conduction, but the bones of your skull aren't exactly made for full tonality, so that makes sense. That does not imply the sound is bad, it's quite good. However, Shokz will not compete with high-end in-ear or cup models. BUT ... they can not compete on the geeky factor. Bone conduction headphones send sound vibrations through your cheekbones instead of through the air. By design, this headset sits around the ear, not in it. This way, you can listen to your music, videos, or games and simultaneously hear all the ambient sounds around you. (if you like) This is especially helpful when you are riding a bike or walking in traffic, making real-life activities much safer.
8 - MajorGeeks Gear You may not have known, but MajorGeeks has a Spring Store to print and distribute some of our designs. You can grab shirts, bags, masks, and even yoga pants. (yup) We even have a Don't Panic-styled glass that perfectly holds a pint of your favorite beverage. Check back often as we shift designs around quite a bit.
9 - Festivus Starter Kit. Frankly - any aluminum pole would do, but this book is easier to wrap.
IYDK - Festivus is an annual secular holiday celebrated on December 23. It was created by author Dan O'Keefe and popularized in the 1997 episode of Seinfeld called "The Strike". The holiday is characterized by an aluminum pole, Festivus dinner, Airing of Grievances, Feats of Strength and the traditional phrase "A Festivus for the rest of us!" The Festivus pole is an unadorned aluminum pole which serves as a central part of the celebration.
During the Festivus dinner, the head of the household tells guests informally about activities that have occurred in their lives over the past year. This is known as the Airing of Grievances, which typically precedes a Feats of Strength. It doesn't get any geekier.
10 - Any Thing CoffeeLet's face it. For most Geeks, coffee is nearly as important as breathing. Probably if you tested some geek blood type, you'd find they were Type O Dark Roast. (Or should I say TYPO.. get it?) But instead of trying to pick a blend or roast - lean into the R2D2 French Press as an idea. Here you can check 3 geek items with one purchase. Star Wars, Coffee, and Geeky Way To Make Something. Win Win Win.
11 -Thier Face on The Gift WrapIf you really want to save some coin and still win the present battle with the geek on your list, try GiftWrapMyFace.com. (YOu get 105 off by clicking that link) They have a collection of all sorts of wrapping paper, socks, and even Christmas hanging stockings that can be customized with the face of the geek on your list. Of any other face. The coolest one on the list has to be The Elfie Dance™ augmented-reality version that you customize up with a face and name, then when you point your phone at the paper, the image dances. After that, who cares what's in the wrapping paper... You win.
Ok, so hoping this geek gift advice from a geek gives gifts helps you if you are in a tough spot for ideas. Have any others? Drop them in the comments below and maybe you could help someone out this season.
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