The 2025 Important Gift Guide!

Buy local

Buy from small businesses

Buy used or second-hand, not Target or Amazon

Gift someone an Important Membership!

Give them ad-free access to everything we make and have ever made, access to all of our columns, bonus podcast episodes, and of course, a What Can I Do? profile to track their action stats and connect with other Members all over the world.

Gift one of our coffee mugs, water bottles, t-shirts or amazing hoodies, or even just a few (hundred) packs of stickers to remind people what it’s really all about. Some are safe for school or work, some definitely aren’t! Fun.

Every purchase goes to paying our writers and producers and other staff and food to eat, so thank you.

Our bookstore — hosted by our friends at Bookshop, where every purchase sends cold hard cash to independent bookstores — has everything from essential kids books, the best science books of all time (as voted by you, our readers), books to blow your mind, and collections by topic.

I listen to audiobooks on Libro.fm. The app is awesome, and again, every purchase supports indie bookstores. We haven’t replicated our Important Books bookstore here yet (sorry, sigh), but either way — an audio plan is a great gift.

I’m biased because movies are hella important and my wife makes incredible ones, like Wicked: For Good, but also if you enjoy movies of any kind, that’s great.

Our local favorite is Movie Tavern by Marcus Theaters, part of the 4th largest chain in the US, and you can get gift cards to those here, but you can also get AMC gift cards here.

Parents etc can’t simply fight screen time — we have to offer awesome alternatives.

Besides simply locking your kids outdoors, which I recommend, these new age kids paper magazines are awesome. I’m not exaggerating when I say we subscribe to all of these:

Yeah, the default is a Kindle, and in isolation, they’re great. But, you know.

So may I recommend you buy someone a Kobo? The hardware is just as stellar, the bookstore is great, and they’re not monsters.

I am trying to learn, I swear to god. Why am I so dumb?

Good news, other people aren’t, and there’s two options for people/kids that are going to be on screens:

Also, just a deck of cards. My kids love cards. Get someone a deck of cards.

Claire’s husband makes cool videos for Field Notes, so we’re a little biased, and while any of their notebooks will do to tuck into your pocket or purse (don’t forget a pen, or you’ll never use it), these limited editions are super rad.

Every single one of these notebooks is offline, unique, and only needs a pencil and a D6!

We love puzzles. Claire said her kids like to turn photos into puzzles at Walgreens or whatever, which is fun. We also like Jiggy puzzles.

Get your friends and family to stop getting their news off of Facebook, by gifting them a subscription to an independent outlet or journalist. There are SO MANY out there that deserve wider circulation — we promise you can find something for anyone on your list. This list from The Handbasket is a great place to start.

We got our kids these cameras before our Alaska trip this year and they love them. They’re digital and USB-C to charge and upload pics, but with very few buttons and no screen to dick around with.

We got our kids these binoculars before Alaska and they, too, lived up to the hype. Totally waterproof, rugged as hell, and in fun colors.

Friends, I have so many of these. They’re the size of a dopp kit, and while they don’t have any pockets, they’re robust as hell and made from recycled stuff. I keep my own travel cords in them, my kids travel cords, snacks for travel, whatever.

Again, you really never know when you’ll need these. Walking the dog, young parents, grandparents, handing out WCID stickers at a conference, whatever. Not waterproof, but water repellant, and usually enough. Oh, and per my notes in here somewhere about the camera we got our kids — these make perfect “small and light hike or walk around city bags to add camera and a snack to”.

There’s a few variations on these hammocks but they’re a great gift and you can mostly string them up anywhere. Just another excuse to get outside.

I live in Patagonia gear but most of it is either very old or bought used from their WornWear program.

These are scattered throughout our house — in the bathroom for teeth brushing and sustainable showers, for getting ready before the schools bus comes, whatever. Dead simple and reliable.

I’m gonna be honest: these are not cheap. But they are beautiful and temperate as hell, no matter the weather. Cannot recommend enough.

Been recommending forever, wish I’d been able to give my grandparents one or two. Good news: you can. There’s a new e-ink one I haven’t tried yet, so YMMV, but the app is great and easy and everyone loves them.

I’m a basic bitch who doesn’t really shave anymore and basically uses deodorant and some occasional moisturizer, so I have not tried these beauty products.

My wife, however, says they’re great and from all of my research, they are who they say they are: very clean and made of good ingredients.

Which is pretty awesome in an industry that hasn’t been regulated since 1938.

I’m a really big fan of the Pre-Loved newsletter, so go ahead and just click through to check out all of their awesome recommendations.

This kitchen device is not cheap but also absolutely essential in our house and for preventing food waste. Great news — there’s a Black Friday sale for like $250 off, and I really didn’t want you or someone you love to have one. You should also know that you get to give it a name and that’s fun, you can name it after a family member.

These spices (and now teas, etc) have been on our gift guide every year and for good reason. They’re incredible, but they’re pretty small-batch, so move quickly.

These tins are sustainably-caught, shelf-stable, and goddamn delicious. We toss the mussels into pasta all of the time, and I eat the salmon straight up — I keep a stack of them in the office for a quick and easy lunch.

The best beans in the world, what are you doing buying other beans

I make a MEAN hot fried tofu and gochujang is a key part of the marinade and sauce. This stuff is SO good and not filled with corn syrup.

Sami is the Palestinian author of the new veggies cookbook Boustany, Falestin, and is co-author with Yotam Ottolenghi of my most-used cookbook, ever - Jerusalem. You’re welcome.

I keep buying this seaweed sprinkle, this harissa, and this matcha tea.

My wife loves the Curious Elixir variety pack and keeps a healthy stock in our fridge. She wanted me to say that her favorite is #7, even though she otherwise hates champagne? Fascinating stuff.

Gentle Streak - an annual Apple Design Winner will help you move more without stressing you the F out

1 Giant Mind - obviously there’s a million meditation apps out there, but this one comes highly recommended. Whatever brings you or someone you love some peace amid this chaos.

Bend Stretching and Flexibility

MySwimPro

Copilot Money - better than Mint

MacroFactor - I’m training again and this is the best/nerdiest food tracking app I’ve found yet

Flighty - the best travel app and it’s not even remotely close

Paprika - my crew’s long-time digital recipe storage

StoryGraph - bye Goodreads

AllTrails - I’ve used it all over the world to find places to just…go

FotMob - the best international futbol app

ToDoist - I live in it

Highland Pro - for the professional or aspiring writer of any kind