The Official 2025 Rewire Holiday Gift Guide

Not to brag, but I’m an Olympic gold medalist in gift-giving—at least, I think so. I love noodling over the perfect birthday or holiday present for my friends and family, and it’s fun to get creative. One of my all-time greatest Secret Santa gifts was a Cameo from an artist specializing in tingling sensations from specific triggers for an ASMR-obsessed friend.

It’s one thing to nail down the perfect gift for one person. But having to nail down the perfect gift for your friends, family, in-laws, neighbors, and whoever else is on your list can get hectic. Enter: the Rewire News Group holiday gift guide. My colleagues and I picked out some of our favorite present ideas based on our own gift-giving experiences and research (we don’t get any money if you buy them). Happy gifting!

For activists

Hydro Flask water bottle ($28.50-$41.25)

The pro-choice protestors need to stay hydrated. These Hydro Flask water bottles are insulated and dishwasher-safe. Plus, you can customize the size (choose from 20-ounce, 24-ounce, 32-ounce, 32-ounce travel bottle, or 40-ounce) and cap (choose from an insulated cap, leakproof sip lid meant for hot drinks, a cap with a straw, and a chug cap). And to top it off, you can choose from multiple bottle, cap, colors and boot colors; engravings cost extra.

Donate to an abortion fund (amount up to you)

It’s easy! It’s simple! And it’s a gift that supports the folks who need it the most. You can find your local abortion fund through the National Network of Abortion Funds’ “Find a Fund” page.

For pregnant friends

Lila labor and delivery gown ($69.99)

RNG Head of Operations Diana Fraser recommends Lila’s labor and delivery gown, designed by a L&D nurse. It’ll help to make their hospital stay more comfortable, and let the nurses get pregnant patients hooked up to everything they need without their bums hanging out in the cold hospital gown! It’s available in more than a dozen colors and patterns, as well as five different styles.

Gift card (amount up to you)

While becoming a parent is super exciting and joyful, it’s really easy for parent gifts to become all about the kids—especially for moms. Fraser recommends getting post-partum parents a gift card to something they’re interested in, since they can often miss doing their hobbies on their own. So love up on your friends as you know them!

For moms

Anthropologie candle ($15.40-$85.40—sale prices)

I will die on this hill: Anthropologie makes the greatest candles of all time. When the powers that be create a Candle Hall of Fame, Capri Blue Woody Fir & Firewood should be the first inductee. It’s criminal that Anthropologie only sells this scent during the holiday season. Yes I hoard the small ones, and yes I paid more than $120 for the 50-ounce candle this year. (It’s already sold out!) My best friend recently informed me that there is, indeed, a 130-ounce Capri Blue Volcano candle—it’s usually $228, but it’s on sale right now for $159.60. It’s cozy, warms your home, and serves as a beautiful centerpiece.

For dads

Personalized coffee bar sign (starts at $19.88)

Why are dads so hard to shop for? Every year, my sister and I ask our dad what he might want. And every year, he asks us to just write him a nice letter. Last year, though, my sister knocked it out of the park. She found a customizable light-up sign for my dad’s little coffee station on Etsy, and he’s obsessed with it. I’d recommend this sign for dads who see themselves as bartenders, and this one for your favorite grill master.

For in-laws

Framed family photo ($12.49)

My partner’s parents are major sweetie pies who, like my dad, would literally be happy with a nice card. Instead of just the card, I’m printing out a nice photo of their family and framing it with this picture frame from Michael’s. I like this frame in particular because it comes in multiple sizes, and they can choose to either hang it on a wall or prop it up on a desk or table. It’s simple, neutral, and personal. And if you want to get really fancy, you can get your in-laws an Aura Frame, which allows you to upload photos digitally and switch them out as you’d like. Grandparents really like this gift, too, since you can link it to your kids’ photostream and give them a non-stop slideshow of their favorite little ones.

For kids

Chunky Deli food board books ($12.99)

Fraser’s 2-year-old nephew is really into food and cooking as his palate expands. He asked his parents to read the Chunky Deli books nightly, and then gave each one a hug good night for months. From books like the Little Book of Pasta, to Seafood Rainbow—and themed bundles—you’ll be able to find the right reading for your little one’s taste.

Pottery Barn Kids mini play kitchen ($79)

It’s probably a little too early for your favorite youngin’ to be playing with fire, but they can get some practice with this mini play kitchen. Its “oven” has three knobs, a window, and a fixed shelf, and it comes with an eggbeater, gloves, and heat-insulated pad. For extra fun, you can tack on this wooden pizza set ($49).

Beautiful Oops! by Barney Saltzberg ($16.99)

Sometimes, what seems like a mistake is actually an opportunity to make something beautiful. That’s the message of this interactive children’s book, recommended by RNG Editorial Director Catesby Holmes. This board book teaches accident-prone tots to get creative with drips, drops, smudges, smears, spills, rips, and holes.

For a teen

PlayerLux portable CD player ($85)

Holmes also chimed in to say: Analog is not dead! Remember the tactile pleasure of leafing through your giant Caselogic CD book to pick exactly the album you wanted to hear, then listening all the way through? Young music nerds, it turns out, are craving the curation that comes from scoping out bands and building their own library after a decade with unlimited digital music access. Help them get started on their musical journey with this sleek, modern version of the Discman.

For a college student

Fujifilm Instax Mini camera ($93.35)

When I was in college, I loved carrying around my Fujifilm Instax camera to parties, movie nights, you name it. I still have all my little photos from [redacted number] years ago. I used to have the Fujifilm Instax Mini (which comes in a bunch of cute pastel colors), but I have since upgraded to the Instax Square SQ1 ($159.95), which offers the more traditional square film images. Each camera requires different film sizes, so make sure you grab the right one for your giftee.

iPad ($349-$999)

OK, yes, it’s a splurge. But an iPad—or other tablet of your choice—is also the perfect way for a college kid to have (basically) everything they need for school in one lightweight device. They can download their textbooks, access their syllabi, and sneak in some Netflix breaks between classes and studying. Plus, they can even take notes by hand when an ornery professor bans laptops in class. (And in the ornery professor’s defense, I did do way better in classes where I had to take notes by hand.)

For self-care

Zyllion Shiatsu Back and Neck Massager with Heat ($69.95)

Our senior graphic designer, Cage Rivera, loves this massager. Even though it’s for the neck, they say it’s amazing for period cramps, with the heat and the massage aspect of it. They especially recommend it as a life-saver for those with endometriosis.

Ouai St. Barts Cleansing Scalp & Body Sugar Scrub ($42)

Rivera also shouted out Ouai’s scalp and body scrub, paired with any dandruff shampoo, to remove any and all flakes. It has helped with itchy scalp, too, and they say it would work nicely in a self-care gift basket.

For a White Elephant exchange

LEGO flower and plant set ($14.99-$109.99)

White Elephant parties are a blessing and a curse. You’re saved from having to get something for every single person at a gathering, but you also have to find just the right gift for relative strangers. Luckily, these LEGO floral sets rock—you can bring out your inner child and make an evening out of building one. They’re also beautiful and can be displayed in your house after building. These crowd pleasers are especially perfect for your friends with less-than-green thumbs. My personal favorites are the plum blossom and the hibiscus.

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