Gift Ideas for Friends (2026): Wellness Tech, Kitchen Essentials

In writing this guide on gift ideas for friends, I learned that there really is no catch-all gift that will please everyone. Choosing these gifts, I thought back to some of the best self-care products and tech I’ve tested recently. I included the gadgets I reach for regularly, as well as those I’ve bought for family and friends after testing and loving them. So please use this guide as a starting point, keeping your friend’s personality, needs, and hobbies in mind as you shop for the right gifts.After testing hundreds of products during my years on the WIRED Reviews team, these are the items I’d recommend to the friends on my own list. I’ve included self-care gifts like massagers, cozy gifts like an ultra-soft throw blanket, kitchen staples like a chef’s knife, and everything in between. There are many gifts at different price points, and they’re also categorized by gift type below. Be sure to check back often, as I will be updating this guide with versatile new picks as we get closer to gifting season.Looking for more gift ideas? Don’t miss our other awesome gift guides as the holiday season ramps up.Best Tech GiftsBest Self-Care GiftsBest Cozy GiftsBest Kitchen GiftsFeatured in This Gift GuideA Tiny Bluetooth Speaker for Every FriendJBL Go 5Jump to reviewA Smart Home Speaker for Non-Alexa-Using FriendsGoogle Home SpeakerJump to reviewA Smart Home Speaker for Alexa-Using FriendsAmazon Echo Dot (5th Gen)Jump to reviewFor Friends Always on Their FeetChirp Sole VibeJump to reviewBest Tech GiftsIt's my belief that everyone could use a small, portable Bluetooth speaker. Whether you want to sing along to your favorite tunes in the shower or get the party going around a campfire, having a compact, Bluetooth-enabled speaker at the ready makes you everyone’s favorite party guest. At less than $60, I promise this li’l guy will be a hit as a gift (without breaking the bank). Plus, you can fully customize the design with images, text, and stickers if you want to make it more personalized for the giftee.GoogleHome SpeakerIf you have a friend who could benefit from a smart speaker—to set timers, check the weather, or play tunes anywhere in the house without using their phone—this one is ideal, especially if they're in the Google Home smart-home ecosystem. Plus, it comes in a range of fun colors.AmazonEcho Dot (5th Gen)This is our favorite budget-friendly Amazon Alexa smart-home speaker for homes in the Amazon/Alexa ecosystem. I've gotten one of these little guys for my parents and sister-in-law, and it's become their most-used gift.Best Self-Care GiftsPhotograph: Molly HigginsPhotograph: Molly HigginsThis nifty gadget from wellness tech company Chirp is a godsend for anyone who’s always on their feet. It has two sides: One features a textured surface that targets pressure points, and the other has a heated, centralized oval that acts like a hot stone for targeted arch relief. The end has a USB-C charging port and buttons to adjust heat, vibration, and preset recovery programs, which use different heat and massage patterns for relief. I use this gadget almost daily, especially if I’ve been on my feet a lot that day. This is the perfect gift for someone who’s always asking for a foot massage.ChirpHaloThis device uses TENS and EMS technology to deliver low-voltage electrical currents to motor nerves, which I feel improves my circulation and relaxes my muscles. I suffer from chronic back pain and joint overuse, and I’ve noticed improved mobility and circulation when using it consistently, especially in colder weather. This is the perfect gift for those who suffer from chronic pain or want targeted, post-workout relief.TherabodyTheraFace Depuffing WandIf your friend is obsessed with using a gua sha tool, this is the ultimate upgrade. It uses the same techniques to encourage lymphatic drainage and features both cold settings to depuff and brighten and heat to increase circulation. I love to use it daily, and I gifted one to my skin-care fanatic friend, who now uses it religiously.Photograph: Molly HigginsDollar Shave ClubFully Loaded Starter SetAs someone who suffers from persistent razor burn and red bumps, especially in sensitive areas like my bikini line, I’m always asking my friends what they recommend. I tested this set from Dollar Shave Club, and I haven’t looked back—and I keep giving it to my friends who want a better way to shave. The set pictured above is for women and includes one grippy, ergonomic razor handle, six cartridges with six blades each, a razor hanger for your shower wall, an amazing sugar scrub that exfoliates dead skin before shaving, and a silky-smooth shave oil to moisturize and soften hair before shaving. If you want to be extra generous, you can opt for the subscription plan on behalf of your friend, which sends new replacement blades, the scrub, and the shave oil every two months for half price. I haven’t tested the men’s set yet, but it includes two six-blade razors, a diamond-grip handle, shave butter, prep scrub, post-shave dew, a razor cover, and a travel case. The subscription plan works the same as the women’s set.Best Cozy GiftsPhotograph: Boutayna ChokraneWIRED reviewer Boutayna Chokrane was sold on Hatch’s newest sunrise alarm clock, which also doubles as a sleep tracker. If your giftee doesn’t want to sleep with a wearable to get their sleep stats, this device uses motion-based tracking to provide passive sleep monitoring from their nightstand. It functions as a sunrise clock, a dimmable bedside light, and a sound machine, and it now captures data like sleep duration and stages, presented in interactive visuals. Boutayna loved the refreshing minimalist design, with no cameras or microphones watching you sleep. Best of all, your data is not locked behind a Hatch+ membership. If you have a friend who struggles with sleep or waking up, consider joining in the sunrise alarm clock trend and getting them this aesthetic bedside machine.BearabyCotton Napper Weighted BlanketI never want to get up when snuggling up with this weighted blanket, especially now that the weather has turned chilly around me. It’s woven from 100 percent cotton and comes in four different weights, from 10 to 25 pounds. Give your friend the gift of a cozy hug this winter with this seriously relaxing splurge.CocoonClassic BlanketIt’s my belief that you can never have too many cozy blankets for your couch. I’m always delighted when I’m gifted a new cozy blanket. Wearing this feels like being surrounded by a fluffy cloud. It’s made from a super-soft, shed-free polyester blend with added spandex for stretch, which also gives it a beautiful ribboning effect. I promise this gift will be fought over at the next movie night.Best Kitchen GiftsPhotograph: Molly HigginsPhotograph: Molly HigginsEveryone—I mean every single person—needs at least one great chef’s knife. This is probably the most important multipurpose kitchen tool—it can slice, dice, and chop ingredients with speed and precision. Your friend most likely could use a better knife for everyday cooking. Great chef’s knives range from less than $100 to several hundred dollars, but I really like this mid-range, 8-inch knife from Material. It’s made from luxe Japanese high-carbon, stainless steel for extra durability, with a matte, stain-resistant composite handle. Plus, if you buy from Material’s site, you can personalize it with an engraved message for a fun, more personal touch.Caraway4pc Fry & Sauté SetThis is a splurge, but well worth it if your friend has been using old pans that tend to stick or flake. This four-piece nonstick ceramic set covers most of my everyday stovetop cooking: an 8-inch mini fry pan, 10.5-inch fry pan, 4.5-quart sauté pan, and a heavy-duty lid. I love these pans and haven’t needed another pan size since I’ve had them.Hydro FlaskCoffee with Flex Sip LidThis is pretty much everyone’s favorite travel mug on the Reviews team. In my opinion, you can never have too many options for taking drinks on the go. This one is low-maintenance, practically indestructible, and forgiving if you’re clumsy. Plus, the 16-ounce size fits most car cup holders, and the wide-mouth lids are interchangeable, so you can swap in a straw lid for cold beverages. If you buy directly from Hydro Flask, you can personalize it as well.Power up with unlimited access to WIRED. Get best-in-class reporting and exclusive subscriber content that's too important to ignore. Subscribe Today.