Looking for practical gifts they will actually want to open? Look no further!
Practical gift they will actually want to open
Practical gifts at first glance seem boring. You think of the basics, the things that people need: food, water, clothing, items that bring warmth. But, when you start to think about it, many items are necessities that we just accept as-is. Blankets that do nothing more than cover you and keep you warm, chargers that simply plug in and give power, lights that only turn on and off with the flip of a switch. Pretty boring when you think of it, right? Who wants to give any of those as a Christmas gift?
I’m going to encourage you to stretch your thinking for a second. Think of practical gifts that can do more, be more. Those are the practical gifts people will actually be excited to open. Items that somehow are practical and exciting all at the same time is no easy feat, so I’ve given you some suggestions for items that are practical at their core, but add another layer or use, luxuriousness, or fun that makes them the presents everyone wants to open this year.
#1. GoFish Underwater Camera
If you have someone that fishes on your list, I can assure you that they want a GoFish Underwater Camera. You may not be able to pick out a new pole or reel for the diehard fisherman on your list, but you can get them something that can connect to the gear they already have and make it so much cooler. That something is the GoFish camera and it allows you to see within the water wherever you are dropping your line. With easy in-line rigging and stabilized design hydrodynamic shape for steady recording, you can see a remarkable amount below the surface whether you are fishing or not.
Why the GoFish is practical: I believe there’s a whole antecdote about teaching a man to fish, and it still rings true today. Fishing isn’t just relaxing and peaceful, it’s also a great way to provide food for your family. And, if you can do that with a fun little gadget that allows you to take and share your footage of your catches? Well, that’s a practical gift they will definitely appreciate.
No more wasting time hoping the fish will come, with the GoFish you can see if they are swarming, know if you need to move, and even use it to verify your “one that got away” story when you return home. GoFish has full HD video {1080p or 720p video options}. The GoFish camera has a mobile app integration where you can review your footage, share it, and even watch others’ fish stories. And, from personal experience I can tell you that you will never be lacking for a fishing buddy when you’re bringing the GoFish cam. Everyone wants in on the underwater fun.
To buy: shop GoFish on Amazon. 
#2. Mophie Wireless Qi Charger
As we established, some chargers simply plug in and give power. Those are the boring ones. Mophie has a whole line of chargers that do more – like holding a charge for almost a year so you’re ready for anything, ones that charge wirelessly, and even ones that are integrated stands as well as chargers.
Why the Mophie charger is practical: we all need chargers, whether they go missing or you just find another place it would make sense to charge your gear. Why not charge it in the most practical way – wireless, with an easy-to-view stand integrated in, and with a quick charge to get you back up and running in no time. With the Mophie wireless Qi charger you can stand your phone up by your workstation, desk, kitchen counter, or wherever you charge your phone. Let dead batteries be a thing of the past in the most practical way possible by replacing a few products at once.
To buy: shop Mophie on Amazon. 
#3. Maximus Smart Light and Security Camera
We’ve had our Maximus smart light for almost a year now, and we love it so much. I love that it’s not only a stylish outdoor light, it’s also a smart home security camera that allows us to keep an eye on our home from afar. It’s an easy 15-minute install and will allow you to watch your house live with a wide angle camera, see recorded video of every smart motion detection, alarm when someone approaches, and even allow you to chat with your guests with the two-way intercom.
Why the Maximus Smart Light is practical: Why not make your outdoor lights truly smart? Instead of just lighting up when you flip a switch, the Maximus light can be programmed to turn on and off, can be controlled via Amazon Alexa, and can sync with other Maximus lights to light up any property. And, that’s just the smart light function. Add in the fact that it’s a security camera and it’s the most practical outdoor light you can buy. No need to run wires outside your house and buy separate cameras to monitor you home when you can have it all in one affordable and beautiful solution.
See our full review of the Maximus smart light and security camera.
To buy: shop Maximus llights on AmazonMaximus llights on Amazon.
#4. Fitbit Versa 2
I’ve had a Fitbit for almost 8 years now, and I love it. It has survived a few minutes in the washing machine stuck to my shirt I was washing {oops!}, and survived being left at the security checkpoint at two airports {don’t worry, I have a system now – ha!}. The thing is, though, it’s getting older and I’m wishing that it had some of the fancy schmancy new features of all the Fitbit models that have been released in the past decade.
It’s time for a new one, yes, but what one? Why not the brand new feature-heavy Fitbit Versa 2? I got to play with the new Fitbit Versa 2 at Techlicious Seattle and couldn’t get over all it can do. You can use the built-in Amazon Alexa to get quick news and information, check the weather, set timers and alarms, control your smart home devices and more all through the sound of your voice. You can also control your Spotify app, download Pandora stations, and get call, text, calendar and smartphone app notifications when your phone is nearby.
Why the Fitbit Versa 2 is practical: Tracking your activity, sleep, and your heart rate is practical for many reasons, but when you add in all the other features and the larger display that allows you to see at a glance what’s important, you realize this is so much more than a typical tracker.
With a 6 day battery life touted as well as an advanced tracker that can track all sorts of movements and activities, this is definitely the next generation of activity tracker. The Fitbit Versa 2 gives you your heart rate 24/ 7, counts your steps, calculates your distance, tells you calories burned, shows you your hourly activity including active minutes and floors climbed, and it also tracks sleep. My old Fitbit is okay at tracking sleep, but the new Fitbit Versa 2 is amazing. Based on your heart rate, time asleep and restlessness, you are given a Sleep Score that helps you better understand your sleep quality each night. You can also track your time in light, deep and REM sleep stages and get personal insights, which is awesome.
To buy: shop Fitbit Versa 2 on Amazon.
#5. Weighted blanket
Yes, I know I said blankets were boring. However, this isn’t just a regular old blanket, this is a weighted blanket. You can go with whatever fill you prefer {experts recommend 8-10% of your body weight as a good guide} but whatever you do, go with an option that has a removable duvet so you can wash it. I like this Weighted Evolution Weighted Blanket that includes a bonus organic bamboo duvet cover and has a 20 lbs fill because not only does it have therapeutic benefits beyond keeping cozy, it also has the organic bamboo cover that makes it easy to care for.
You may have heard that weighted blankets are all the rage these days, and it really is true. They are *everywhere*, including at our local grocery stores, which is pretty crazy. Friends have raved about theirs for years now and this past summer I finally caved and got one. I absolutely love it, and it gets used every single day at our house, by all of us.
Why weighted blankets are practical: Doctors are recommending weighted blankets for those with anxiety, sensory issues, depression, and so much more because the deep pressure stimulation is said to provide many health benefits you don’t get with other blankets. Even if you aren’t someone who necessarily *needs* a weighted blanket, I have found them to be so incredibly calming and relaxing, which is great for whenever I feel stressed and anxious.
The blanket we have linked to offers a high quality inner blanket made of 100% microfiber, 4″ double diamond stitched pockets, and the highest quality micro-glass beads. The balanced weight distribution and breathability is supposed to be the best of the best, and also provides adaptive temperature regulation so you don’t overheat while you relax.
To buy: Shop Weighted Evolution weighted blankets on Amazon. 
#6. TEMPUR-Cloud Pillow
When is a pillow not just a pillow? When it’s a TEMPUR-Pedic pillow, that’s when. The TEMPUR-Cloud Breeze is ideal for all sleep positions as it has a medium feel for a restful night’s sleep on your back, side and stomach. Not only does it have the traditional pressure-relieving pillow material, it also has an exclusive gel layer on both sides of the pillow that will keep you comfortable and cool throughout the night.
Why the TEMPUR-Cloud Pillow is practical: Most people forget about replacing their pillows. Ask a group of people and some will say it’s been a decade or more since they upgraded pillows. That might not seem like a long time, but when you take into account all the pillow advancements that have happened in the past decade, those old pillows seem like just a bunch of batting in a large pillowcase. Not only is the TEMPUR-Cloud made of cooling memory foam that’s great for all sleep positions, it also has a washable and removable cover that is soft and breathable making it ultra-practical as well as something most people forget about replacing.
Read more about how much we love our TEMPUR-Pedic bed we reviewed as well as tips for getting truly restorative sleep by clicking the link above.
To buy: shop TEMPUR-Pedic on Amazon.
#7. Philips Sonicare
I bet you’re wondering how a toothbrush possibly came to be on a list of presents that people would actually want to open, right? Well, that’s because this isn’t your average toothbrush – this isn’t even your average *electric toothbrush*. The Philips Sonicare DiamondClean 9700 is a smart toothbrush that gives you an exceptional clean and offers complete oral care in the most fun and practical way possible.
Why the Philips Sonicare DiamondClean smart toothbrush is practical: Everyone needs a toothbrush, right? Why not give them one that is as smart as they come as well as offering amazing cleaning? The Sonicare offers superior cleaning capabilities and is said to remove up to 10x more plaque as well as improving gum health when compared to manual toothbrushes. It also has various levels of intensities and 5 different modes for brushing, which can give you a truly customized experience. By pairing it with the app, you will get real time feedback, automated progress reports, as well as syncing with the different brush heads for all sorts of cleaning modes.
For those that travel, you will love the travel case that allows you to charge on the go so you can have an amazing clean no matter where you are. And, for those who love a pretty counter, you will love their conductive charging glass that allows you to place your toothbrush right into a washable glass container after each brushing. Philips really did think of everything, and I know your recipient will love their DiamondClean smart toothbrush as much as we love ours.
To buy: shop Sonicare DiamondClean toothbrushes on Amazon.
#8. Sungale Cloud Digital Frame
This digital frame is no ordinary scrolling screen, the Sungale Cloud Digital Frame is a powerful tool that does so much more than just show your pictures. Manage and operate your cloud frame with the Cloud app or control your frame from the unit itself with the intuitive touch screen that allows you to control all operations right on the screen. And, it’s got a lot of operations you can control.
Why the Sungale Cloud Digital Frame is practical: Most digital frames just scroll through pictures and that’s it. But, not Sungale’s Cloud Frame that has so many functions that not only make the digital frame experience better, but it also elevates it out of the frame category and becomes more of an all-around entertainment device.
Now you can receive real-time photos from your phone, from social media, and even from friends and family. It also has an internal battery so you can go wireless, 20GB cloud storage offered with purchase, as well as a micro-SD slot to expand the storage capabilities of the frame. But, the best thing? You can connect to social media to keep up with loved ones, sign in with Netflix to watch your favorite shows, and so much more. This makes it easy to connect, relax, and enjoy right from your digital frame.
You can read more about what we love about the Sungale Cloud Frame here.
To buy: shop Sungale on Amazon.
#9. Kingston CANVAS Select SD Cards
I bet you’re wondering how excited a person can get about SD cards is, and the answer is “really, really excited”. I couldn’t find my SD cards I stashed away a few months ago and had to go with older, slower, and less reliable SD cards to get by. Seriously, nothing is more frustrating after being used to Kingston CANVAS SD cards and going back to basic lower-class cards. We’re talking waiting for pictures to process on your camera before viewing, having images destroyed with no reason or explanation that makes sense, and SD cards that cause your precious tech to malfunction. All of that happened and more this past month and I was dying to get back to my Kingston cards.
Why Kingston CANVAS Select cards are practical: CANVAS Select SD Cards are fast, reliable, and durable enough to withstand harsh conditions. They are high rated speed class 10 cards with read speeds up to 80MB/s and 10MB/s write speed for Full HD pictures and video. This means no standing there waiting for your what-could-be-zippy camera to process your pictures and sometimes fail to do so. Take picture, enjoy picture immediately, save picture forever.
To buy: shop Kingston CANVAS Select SD cards on Amazon.
#10. Logitech MX Vertical
Gamers will tell you that long computer use requires a gaming mouse. A regular old Amazon basics mouse isn’t going to cut it for long-term play, and once you see a nice mouse in action, you get it. My favorite of the bunch is the new Logitech MX Vertical mouse that is so untraditional and awesome that it will blow your mind. We’re talking hyper efficient tracking, three different ways to connect, a rechargeable battery, and advanced ergonomic design. Also, it has features that any gamer would love, like game changing capacity to navigate seamlessly on three computers, and copy paste text, images, and files from one to the other using Logitech FLOW. Whatever any of that means. I just know I love it for every application I’ve ever used it for, and I will never willingly go back.
Why the Logitech MX Vertical is practical: For anyone that uses a computer every day {and, let’s be honest, that’s all of us}, we should really, really care about ergonomics. Save your wrists with this totally unique 57 degree angle mouse that prevents forearm twisting and thereby reduces muscular strain. What’s more practical than *not* causing aching wrists in your favorite computer user? Intrigued? Read on.
Not only does the angle of the mouse help, it also has a with a 4000 DPU high precision tracking that requires 4x less hand movement as compared to a traditional 1000 DPI sensor. As a photographer that does teeny tiny actions for hours at a time, I noticed the difference upon plugging it in. No longer was I chasing the mouse around the screen, and to get from one point to another was effortless. I have found that my carpal tunnel flares up after long work days using the basic mouse, but the new MX Vertical almost eliminates my wrist pain completely. Seriously, it’s magical.
To buy: shop Logitech MX Vertical on Amazon.
