Give The Stuff We Like the Most

There's nothing like getting a truly useful gadget, peripheral, or accessory for the holidays. Something that can actually make work easier or play a little more fun. We've covered gifting great apps, now it's time to go through some of the fun and useful gear we've covered throughout the past year. This is the Stuff We Like.

Gadgets and Gear

Dexim Visible Green

The Dexim Visible Green line of chargers is a perfect energy-saving gift. They shut off when the device they're connected to is fully charged, keeping power bills down and putting an end to energy vampires. When we covered them, we loved the fact that some models show you how quickly your device is charging just by looking at it, and you can tell at a glance, from across the room, that your device is fully charged. No turning it on, no guessing, and no need to wonder before you pack up and head out. Shop Dexim's site directly to see which model you want to buy, then head over to Amazon?they're often on sale for as much as half-off there, like this iPhone-compatible model and this micro-USB model. Grab the brick and the cable for both the visual cues that charging is almost complete and the automatic shut-off when your battery hits 100% and give the gift of lower energy bills.

Original Post: Dexim Visible Green Charger Lights Up Your Phone's Battery From Afar
Buy the Dexim Visible Green Chargers and Cables ($16-$60)

Mohu Leaf

When I reviewed the Mohu Leaf earlier this year, I had no idea how much of an integral part of my life the tiny HD antenna would become. Since then, I haven't looked back and considered getting a cable TV subscription once, and I haven't been disappointed with the number of HD over-the-air channels available to me. If there's someone on your list that lives in range of some decent over-the-air programming, give them the gift of free entertainment with a Mohu Leaf. The Leaf has been slightly redesigned since we looked at it last: the build quality has improved, you can pick up a stand for it now if you'd rather not attach it to the wall, and you can buy a stand for it, if you'd rather not mount it to the wall. We stand by our recommendation. The Leaf and Leaf Plus are available from Mohu directly or at the Amazon links below.

Original Post: The Mohu Leaf Is a Paper-Thin HD Antenna That's Perfect for Cable Cutters
Buy the Mohu Leaf ($40) or the buy the Mohu Leaf Plus ($74)

The Grado Labs SR80i Headphones and the Monoprice 8320 Enhanced Bass Hi-Fi Noise Isolating Earphones

For around $110, you can give the audiophile or music fan in your life the gift of some of the best audio they've ever heard. On the one hand, we have the Grado Labs Prestige SR80i Headphones, our favorite set and your favorite as well, offering superb sound at a great price. On the other hand, we have the affordable and great-sounding Monoprice earbuds, which we've said sound better than models several times pricier. You seem to agree. For your money, you have a pair of headphones that offers superb sound, crystal clear mids and highs without compromising deep bass and a great-looking open-ear design that's comfortable to wear, and then a pair of earbuds for less than a fancy coffee that don't just sound great, they're also moddable. Either would make a great gift on their own, but together you're putting a powerhouse combo in the hands of the music lover on your list.

Original Posts: Monoprice 8320s and Grado SR80is
Buy the Monoprice 8320s ($9) and the Grado Labs SR80is ($100)

Motorola SB6141 and ASUS RT-N66U

Give the gift of better internet access, stronger Wi-Fi signal, and no modem rental fees from your ISP with this combination gift. When we reviewed the Motorola SB6141, we pointed out that its price tag is a worthwhile price to pay for a DOCSIS 3.0 compatible modem, especially considering you may already be paying rental fees for a model rented from your ISP that isn't compatible and is only offering a fraction of the speed available to you. It's also supported by multiple cable broadband companies, so you can take it with you without worrying about returning equipment. The ASUS RT-N66U earned our praise and that of our friends at The Wirecutter for being the best of class, offering strong dual-band wireless performance and range, amazing Gigabit throughput speeds, and the on-board flash storage keeps you from suffering dropped packets even in high-traffic situations. Plus, the antennas are detachable so you can add extenders, it supports built-in VPN, and has a host of management tools on-board to keep an eye on your traffic and security.

Original Posts: Motorola SB6141 and ASUS RT-N66U Dark Knight
Buy the Motorola SB6141 ($125) and the ASUS RT-N66U ($160)

Tools and Kits

Gerber Shard

The Gerber Shard Keychain Tool isn't just an affordable gift, it's also incredible useful. We've shared our love for the Shard before, highlighting its use for everyone from the PC builder to the DIYer on your list. The Shard comes with a pry bar for opening tight spaces, a small and a large flathead screwdriver, a small Philips screwdriver, a bottle opener, even a wire stripper, all in a tiny package that's safe to carry around in your pocket. The TSA even allows the Shard on airplanes, so you don't have to worry that you're giving a gift that'll get confiscated when your friend or family member flies back home after the holidays.

Original Post: The Gerber Shard Is a Multipurpose DIY Tool that Fits on Your Keychain
Buy the Gerber Shard ($6)

iFixIt Pro Tech Toolkit

The fine folks at iFixit are always the first to get their hands on and summarily disassemble the latest gadgets so we don't have to. Battery replacements, screen repair, you name it and they have the tools to do it. If there's a budding hardware hacker or just someone on your list who would rather do their own repairs and battery replacements?even if they may void their warranties, consider giving them the iFixit Pro Tech Toolkit. We've mentioned it before, and praised it for the sheer number of difficult-to-otherwise-find tools inside that'll pry open smartphones and laptops that are specifically designed for users to have a tough time getting into without professional?and often expensive?help from the manufacturer. IFixit's Pro Tech Toolkit is a wonderful addition to any workbench, whether you're shopping for a DIYer or someone getting their start in IT support. You can buy it for $60 from iFixit directly, but if you're running low on shipping time, Amazon has it too although it's a bit more expensive there.

Original Post: The iFixit Pro Tech Toolkit Has Tools to Fix Nearly any Gadget
Buy the iFixit Pro Tech Toolkit ($60)

Health and Household Gifts

The Mercado Farmer's Market Bag

If you shop farmer's markets and local shops or just like the idea of carrying your own grocery bag when you run your errands, the Mercado Farmer's Market Bag from Quirky is an ideal companion. We gave one a spin earlier this year and loved how it was packed with pockets that were capable of keeping delicate produce from smashing into one another inside the bag. The bag itself is large enough to be used as a wallet as well as storage when you're at the market, and loops on the inside will hold up a bottle of wine or loaf of bread so it doesn't move around too much in the bag. If the foodie or at-home cook on your list is also a farmer's market junkie, they'll love the Mercado?they'll be able to pick out the best ingredients and get them all home safely, something next to impossible in a traditional cloth grocery bag.

Original Post: The Mercado Is a Reusable, Pocket-Packed Bag Built to Protect Your Produce
Buy the Mercado Farmer's Market Bag ($25)

The Fitbit

The holidays and the huge meals may be in full swing, but that doesn't mean you?and the people you're buying gifts for?can't be healthy at the same time, and the Fitbit is a great gadget to help them stay on track. Our own Adam Pash had success with the Fitbit, praising it for its tiny, unobtrusive size that can be clipped anywhere on your person, and its plethora of stats on your steps taken and distance walked. It syncs via Wi-Fi, and combined with the Fitbit mobile apps, desktop and webapps, and a good scale, can do wonders for helping motivate you to get up, walk around, and take care of your health. Plenty of gadgets make work easier or play more fun, but something like this will actually make your recipient's life better, happier, and hopefully healthier.

Original Post: How I Got in Shape with the Help of Technology
Buy the Fitbit One ($100) or the Fitbit Zip ($60)

LARK Silent Alarm Clock

The gift of a good night's sleep is a precious one, and the LARK Silent Alarm Clock will not just improve your sleep, it'll wake you up without waking your partner. You wear the wireless LARK wrist band when you go to sleep, and when it's time to wake up, the clock vibrates the wrist band so you wake up nice and gently, and if your partner is on a different schedule, they continue to sleep peacefully. Whether you get this for your partner, or you just happen to know someone who works an odd schedule and could use a clock that doesn't wake the household, it's a worthwhile gift. The LARK also helps improve sleep habits by tracking sleep patterns and wake/sleep cycles so you can see when the best time to get to bed is, and how restful each night has been. Look at it this way: the LARK makes a great gift to help one person improve their sleep habits, but if you give it to a couple, you may very well be saving their relationship. Now that's a gift worth giving.

Original Post: LARK Silent Alarm Clock Wakes You Up Without Disturbing Your Partner, Helps You Sleep Better
Buy the LARK Silent Alarm Clock ($100)

The Instant Pot 6-in-1 Programmable Pressure Cooker

We've said that you should have a pressure cooker in your kitchen, and if you're shopping for someone this holiday season who's still terrified of them or just hasn't gotten around to buying one, get them this multitasker. The Instant Pot is a pressure cooker, but it's also a slow cooker, a rice cooker, a steamer/warmer, and can saute or brown meats with the best of them. It's highly regarded at Amazon, and a number of you suggested it to us as the ultimate in kitchen multitasking glory, especially for small urban kitchens or college dorm rooms. It's price tag, for what you get, makes it an attractive gift to give as well.

Buy the Instant Pot IP-LUX60 6-in-1 Programmable Pressure Cooker ($120)

A special thanks goes out to everyone who provided suggestions last week! It made putting together these guides a lot easier, and a better fit for you.

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/7pRIq-VahlM/give-the-stuff-we-like-the-most

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