Christmas Gifts: Our Favorite Picks for Everyone on Your List
Christmas shopping gets easier when you match the gift to the person rather than chasing whatever is trending. Here's our cross-section of the catalog: something for the cook, the reader, the traveler and the person who's always cold. Order handmade items early, since they can take longer to ship.
How we pick: we research specs, owner feedback and expert reviews. We haven’t tested these products hands-on. Scores are our editorial opinion, not Amazon customer ratings, and we never list prices because they change. We earn a commission if you buy through our Amazon links.
Want more? See Gifts for Him, Gifts for Her and Stocking Stuffers.
Comparison at a glance
| Pick | Best for | Who it’s for | HashMonkey score | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citizen Eco-Drive Garrison | For him | People who want a good-looking, dependable everyday watch and never want to think about maintenance | 4.5/5 | Check price |
| Dyson Airwrap i.d. Multi-Styler (Straight & Wavy) | For her | People with straight or wavy hair who style often and want one tool to replace several, with less extreme heat | 4/5 | Check price |
| Tommy Lion Handmade Alpaca Throw, 80 x 45 in | For the always-cold | Anyone who wants a cozy, natural-fiber throw for the couch or a thoughtful gift | 4/5 | Check price |
| Echo Show 8 | For the family | Alexa households, especially kitchens, and anyone building out a smart home | 4/5 | Check price |
| Kindle Paperwhite (2024) | For readers | Regular readers, commuters and travelers who want a comfortable, focused reading device | 4.5/5 | Check price |
| Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Round Dutch Oven, 5.5 qt | For cooks | Home cooks who braise, make soups and stews, or bake no-knead bread and want a pot for life | 4.5/5 | Check price |
| Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment Advanced Therapy | Stocking stuffer | Anyone wanting a little luxury in a daily lip balm, or a ready-made small gift | 3/5 | Check price |
1. Citizen Eco-Drive Garrison: For him
HashMonkey score: 4.5/5 ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆
Our take: A light-powered field watch that goes with everything. The Garrison takes the classic military field watch and removes the usual hassles: no battery swaps, no winding, no fuss. Citizen's light-powered Eco-Drive is the reason to buy it, and it's a big one.
Who it’s for: People who want a good-looking, dependable everyday watch and never want to think about maintenance.
Keep in mind
- The mineral crystal scratches more easily than sapphire.
- The nylon strap is casual; reviewers often swap it out.
Read our full Citizen Eco-Drive Garrison review · Check price on Amazon
2. Dyson Airwrap i.d. Multi-Styler (Straight & Wavy): For her
HashMonkey score: 4/5 ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆
Our take: The showpiece beauty gift. The Airwrap i.d. is the do-everything styler that a lot of people dream about and then wince at the price of. It dries, curls, waves and smooths using airflow rather than extreme heat, and this version adds app-personalized settings.
Who it’s for: People with straight or wavy hair who style often and want one tool to replace several, with less extreme heat.
Keep in mind
- It's a very big investment, and reviewers often call the app features more nice-to-have than essential
- Curls can need hairspray or pinning to last, and there's a learning curve with the barrels
Read our full Dyson Airwrap i.d. Multi-Styler (Straight & Wavy) review · Check price on Amazon
3. Tommy Lion Handmade Alpaca Throw, 80 x 45 in: For the always-cold
HashMonkey score: 4/5 ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆
Our take: A handmade alpaca throw for cozy evenings. An alpaca throw is a small luxury you'll use every evening, and this handmade one is warm without being heavy. It's the cozy upgrade over a fleece blanket.
Who it’s for: Anyone who wants a cozy, natural-fiber throw for the couch or a thoughtful gift.
Keep in mind
- Wool needs gentle care; check the washing instructions
- Some people find natural fibers a little itchy
Read our full Tommy Lion Handmade Alpaca Throw, 80 x 45 in review · Check price on Amazon
4. Echo Show 8: For the family
HashMonkey score: 4/5 ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆
Our take: The kitchen screen for recipes, timers and video calls with relatives. The Echo Show 8 hits the sweet spot between the cramped small Shows and the pricey big ones. Its screen is large enough for recipes and video calls, and it doubles as a hub that quietly ties your smart home together.
Who it’s for: Alexa households, especially kitchens, and anyone building out a smart home.
Keep in mind
- Reviewers often point to the home screen promoting Amazon content and suggestions.
- It has a camera, so be thoughtful about placement; check the listing for its privacy controls.
5. Kindle Paperwhite (2024): For readers
HashMonkey score: 4.5/5 ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆
Our take: Weeks of reading on one charge. If you read more than a handful of books a year, a dedicated e-reader beats a phone, and the 2024 Paperwhite is the sweet spot of Amazon's lineup. It's quick, comfortable and blissfully free of distractions.
Who it’s for: Regular readers, commuters and travelers who want a comfortable, focused reading device.
Keep in mind
- The standard version shows lock-screen ads unless you pay to remove them, a perennial gripe.
- You're locked into Amazon's store; library and outside ebooks take extra steps.
Read our full Kindle Paperwhite (2024) review · Check price on Amazon
6. Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Round Dutch Oven, 5.5 qt: For cooks
HashMonkey score: 4.5/5 ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆
Our take: An heirloom pot for holiday braises. The Le Creuset Dutch oven is the pot people pass down, and the 5.5-quart size is the sweet spot. It braises, bakes bread and simmers soups beautifully, and it looks great doing it.
Who it’s for: Home cooks who braise, make soups and stews, or bake no-knead bread and want a pot for life.
Keep in mind
- It's heavy, especially when full
- It's one of the priciest Dutch ovens; cheaper enameled options work well
Read our full Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Round Dutch Oven, 5.5 qt review · Check price on Amazon
7. Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment Advanced Therapy: Stocking stuffer
HashMonkey score: 3/5 ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆
Our take: A small luxury that fits any stocking. Fresh's Sugar Lip Treatment is a long-time luxury lip balm favorite, and Advanced Therapy adds an anti-aging angle with sea fennel and antioxidant orange extract.
Who it’s for: Anyone wanting a little luxury in a daily lip balm, or a ready-made small gift.
Keep in mind
- It's very pricey for a lip balm
- Untinted; pick a tinted Sugar if you want color
Read our full Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment Advanced Therapy review · Check price on Amazon