The 25 best gifts we’ve ever given, from surprise trips to sentimental wall art

When you buy through our links, Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more. As a team of product reviewers, we treat gift-giving like a sporting event.

Here are the best gifts we’ve ever given to help you spark some ideas. Disney/GrafomapMy colleagues and I spend most of our days researching, field-testing, and writing about the best products we find online. Our coverage spans travel, home, kitchen, tech, education, personal finance, style, grooming, and more.

 So when it comes time to give gifts to our loved ones, it feels like an event we’ve been training for all year. While our colleagues are people of diverse specialties — including a sneaker collector as well as a former professional fisherman — we all genuinely love giving gifts. And, surprisingly, many of our favorite ones are exceedingly simple.

Below, you’ll find the best presents we think we’ve ever given. For more insight on gift-giving, find our holiday shopping recommendations here and curated gift guides for everyone in your life here. 25 of the best gifts we’ve ever given:A collapsible helmetPriority BicyclesCLOSCA Helmet Loop, available at CLOSCA, $79.

99One of the perks of covering gifts at Insider is it’s gotten a lot easier to find good ones ahead of time. I saw this collapsible bike helmet on our list of the all-time best products we’ve ever tested. Because my boyfriend bikes to work every day and I’ve seen him struggle to fit his helmet into his backpack with everything else, this sleek, foldable one seemed like a great fix for an annoying daily problem.

He uses it every day and gets compliments on it all the time. —Julia Pugachevsky, Hobbies, Books, and Gifts EditorA family staycationAirbnbVacation Rental, available at Airbnb and Vrbo, assorted pricingI split the cost of a cabin staycation with my siblings for my dad’s birthday, and it was the best gift we could have given him. We brought the usual things we love as a family — the snacks, board games, and coffee — and spent the weekend taking walks, watching movies, cooking, playing games, and sharing things we like, like photography, with one another.

It was a simple way to give memories and quality time to one another. What better way to celebrate another year together? — Mara Leighton, senior reporterA monthly book or e-book subscriptionBook of the MonthKindle Unlimited Subscription, available at Amazon, $4. 99 (for two months)Book of the Month Subscription, available at Book of the Month, from $49.

99My family long ago reached the point at which no more gifts were really needed, so we usually go the practical, nerdy route and buy each other books we’ve read and enjoyed. It’s something of a tradition now. There are lots of ways to gift books, including Kindle gift cards or a Kindle Unlimited subscription for ebook lovers, a Book of the Month subscription for people who love physical books, or just a single paperback of a title you want to share with a loved one.

I usually go for that last option. Here are a few books I’ve given friends and family over various holidays and celebrations: “The Witches of New York,” “The Song of Achilles,” “Wolf Hall,” and “One Hundred Years of Solitude. ” — Malarie Gokey, deputy editorA gift card for a luxury they don’t always treat themselves toCorePower YogaCorePower Gift Card, available at CorePower, from $50I like giving people things I know they love but don’t consistently treat themselves to, and it’s a bonus if it’s something I know will improve their happiness and health.

My mom is really into yoga, but the monthly membership can sometimes seem unjustifiably pricey sometimes. So, we kids split the cost of membership for a few months so she gets more of what she loves — sans budgetary considerations. It’s nice to have something to unwrap, too, so we might pair it with new leggings or a sweat-wicking mat towel.

  — Mara Leighton, senior reporterNew everyday chef’s knivesAmazonenowo Ultra Sharp Kitchen Knife 3-Piece Set, available at Amazon, $29. 99My father had been using steak knives to chop vegetables for years not because he didn’t have a proper chef’s knife, but because he only had one (and it was always in the sink waiting to be washed). He didn’t need a whole new block of new knives, just a few extra to use when cooking dinner multiple nights in a row.

Although he was skeptical at first — “I already have enough knives, I don’t need more” — now these are his go-to knives! — Alissa Langguth, investing video reference fellowAn indoor gardenBest BuyClick and Grow Smart Garden 3 Indoor Herb Garden, available on Amazon, $89. 20I’m from Minnesota originally, and the winters make growing fresh herbs year-round for cooking difficult. With this, my mom feels a bit less limited at mealtime.

— Mara Leighton, senior reporterA print of our wedding vowsMintedYour Vows as an Art Print, available on Minted, from $41I made a custom print of our wedding vows on Minted for our first wedding anniversary. There are a lot of frames and frame sizes to choose from, and it was easy to customize the text. Since it’s a custom print, Minted will send you a proof of the final print so there are no surprises — except for the one on my husband’s face when he opened it.

— Jada Wong, senior editorA paint-at-home experienceAmazonT-Sign 66″ Reinforced Artist Easel Stand, available at Amazon, $17. 99CONDA Adjustable Apron, available at Amazon, $9. 99Winsor & Newton Winton Oil Colour Paint Set, available at Amazon, $23.

80My boyfriend and I prefer gifting each other experiences, but that’s become more complicated throughout the pandemic. For his birthday this year, I got us each aprons, easels, canvases, paints, champagne, and a gift card to our favorite local eatery for a day of painting together in the apartment. Goldbelly is also a great gift card to give if you’re no longer near your favorite restaurant.

— Mara Leighton, senior reporterA piece of artAbsolut ArtSurface Sensor 3, available at Barneby’s, from $120A few years ago, I gave my partner a little box with a card that said something like “pick a painting. ” The idea was that they could choose any piece of artwork (from within my budget) on Absolut Art, a site that works with local artists to curate and print beautiful and exclusive artwork. Thankfully, they chose a piece I’ve always loved — “Surface Sensor 3” by Catrin Andersson.

— Sally Kaplan, senior editorA compilation of classic poetryAmazon”Devotions: The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver,” available at Amazon, $14. 89One of my favorite gifts to give is a book I’ve loved and that I believe the recipient will love just as much. To me, it shows that you pay attention to someone’s taste, and it creates the opportunity for a shared experience without needing to be in the same place.

 I’ve given this book to a few people. Mary Oliver may have won a Pulitzer for poetry, but her poems aren’t stuffy or complicated — even people I know who don’t like poetry have loved these. Oliver just loves life, and her poems feel peaceful and joyful — two things I want more of in my friends’ and family’s lives.

— Mara Leighton, senior reporterAirline miles to book a trip for a loved oneHinterhaus Productions/Getty ImagesI love a good experience gift and there’s nothing I love to spend my air miles on more than my loved ones. Over the years, I’ve gifted a trip to California to both my mom and husband, a jaunt to New Orleans to a best friend, and a visit to Disney World to my college bestie. I usually earn the miles for these gifts through my points credit card, but you can buy airline miles, too.

I think half the magic of a good gift is in the packaging, so I love to tuck the tickets into a guidebook or the pocket of a new carry-on bag. It makes my whole year to see someone’s eyes widen when they realize there’s much more to the gift than meets the eye. — Lauren Savoie, editorAn eco-friendly winter coatEmily MarquisMen’s Winter Parka, available at Askov Finlayson, $495For whatever reason (being from Minnesota may be it), I can’t stand the idea of my parents being cold.

So, my siblings and I split the cost of an expedition-grade parka from a local brand that produces climate-positive outerwear for our dad. We love the eco-friendly mission and the opportunity to support our neighbors, but it’s our first choice mainly because it’s an excellent jacket at an affordable price. By now, most of my family has one.

We use them to take long walks outside with each other during the pandemic or to quickly take the dogs out. Insider Reviews also ranked it as the best winter coat you can buy. — Mara Leighton, senior reporterA video montage from all their loved onesMontageGroup Video Gifts, available at Montage, from $29My best friend had turned 30, a milestone she had been planning on celebrating for years by hosting a massive pig roast with everyone she knows.

Obviously, that wasn’t in the cards during the pandemic. So I decided to bring all her loved ones for her in the form of a birthday montage. I used an (aptly named) company called Montage, which allows participants to record and upload a video right on the website, with helpful prompts like “show and tell: what’s an object or place that reminds you of them” or “if they were an animal, what would they be?” More than 30 people contributed a total of 50 videos, which Montage then automatically compiled, overlaid with music, and delivered to my friend.

Aside from wrangling all her friends and family and having them all keep it a secret, it only cost me $29 to put together and watching her huge smile as each new face popped up on the screen was far more than worth it. — Lauren Savoie, editorA collection of advice columnsAmazon”Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar” by Cheryl Strayed, available at Amazon, $13Like Malarie, most of my friends and family are fortunate enough to have most of their material needs met. And, personally, books have been my fondest and most memorable gifts to receive.

This title, which a friend first sent unprompted to me because she loved it so much, is a great gift for a wide variety of people. It’s a compilation of “Dear Sugar” advice columns. The topics are varied, so there’s something for everyone, but Cheryl Strayed writes with the kind of generosity, compassion, and wit that’s absent in much of today’s instant communication.

The compilation format also works well for people who traditionally find books too long to commit to. — Mara Leighton, senior reporterA lightweight puffer jacketUniqloUltra Light Down Parka, available at Uniqlo, $79. 90I’ve given this cult-favorite jacket from Uniqlo on a few different occasions and it’s always a hit — even with my dad who’s impossible to shop for.

The giftees love that it’s paper-thin yet unbelievably warm, and it packs up into a small pouch that’s easy to take anywhere. It also comes in tons of colors and it’s relatively affordable for a winter jacket. — Ashley Phillips, style & beauty editorA trip to Disney WorldDisneyStandard Theme Park Ticket, available at Disney World, from $109I gave my partner a surprise trip to Disney World (which we got to take just before the pandemic hit).

I bought a bunch of cute T-shirts on ShopDisney and packaged them up with our itinerary. I booked us three nights at the Disney Yacht Club Resort, and we went park-hopping and spent the most magical few days in the one place where we’re allowed to forget all our troubles for a short time. — Sally Kaplan, senior editorA custom pet mugEmily VanderMeyCustom Pet Mug, available at Emily VanderMey, from $55A family member lost a pet very dear to them this year.

I found this creator through another ceramics account I follow, and she makes beautiful (and practical) mugs with realistic engravings of your pet. I sent her photos over email, and she turned them into a really cool keepsake that’s also part of their daily routine now. — Mara Leighton, senior reporterA gift card for some of their favorite foodsGoldbellyGoldbelly Gift Card, available at Goldbelly, from $25The gift of food will almost always be a hit, but it can be hard to choose a specific food gift if you know your recipient has many different tastes.

When my roommate moved out of NYC, I gave her a Goldbelly gift card as a going-away gift so she could order her favorite NYC treats whenever she missed the city. Goldbelly has tons of different food packages from famous restaurants and bakeries around the country, from pizza and barbecue platters to decadent cakes and even ice cream. — Connie Chen, senior reporterI sent bagels, whitefish salad, sable, babka, and pastrami to my parents in Florida using Goldbelly — it’s still one of my dad’s favorite gifts he’s ever gotten! — Sally Kaplan, senior editorA surprise tripAirBnbTrue to form as a travel editor, my favorite gifts are always trip- and experience-related.

Last year, I surprised my fiance with a trip to Napa to go wine tasting. I secretly booked flights and an Airbnb, and didn’t let on to where we were actually headed until the morning of the trip. The surprise was two-fold because I also had his close friends who lived in San Francisco come meet us for the wine tastings.

We have such fun memories from that vacation and watching his face light up in surprise — twice! — was the best feeling. — Hannah Freedman, associate travel editorA custom-printed mapMapifulClassic Mapiful, available at Mapiful, from $59I gave my husband custom-printed maps of where we met and where we got engaged. I love that you can play around with the colors to personalize the map — I made the maps in a dusty blue shade that matched our bridesmaids’ dresses and groomsmen’s tuxedo accessories.

— Jada Wong, senior editor An efficient air purifierTargetHoneywell HPA101TGT True HEPA Air Purifier, available at Walmart, $116. 23During the height of the pandemic, more than ever, my family wanted to find gifts to make our loved ones’ lives safer, easier, or more comfortable. We got a family member this air purifier because they lived with roommates, and while it’s not enough alone to protect against COVID-19, it will hopefully make their living arrangement a bit safer.

(Air purifiers with HEPA filtration capture particles that are even smaller than the virus that causes COVID-19. Though some outlets have said that they don’t, this granular NASA study shows how HEPA filters are actually efficient for ultrafine particles. ) My family member also likes the ambient hum that it makes in the background.

— Mara Leighton, senior reporterFair-trade gifts that give backTen Thousand VillagesWaterfall Painted Scarf, available at Ten Thousand Villages, $34. 99Sky Stone Ring, available at Ten Thousand Villages, $24. 99Cat & Dogs Tea Towel, available at Ten Thousand Villages, $8.

99Desert Sands Candleholder, available at Ten Thousand Villages, $34. 99When we’re not giving books, my family is big on shopping for local, handmade gifts or, barring that, fair-trade gifts that give back and support artisans. Ten Thousand Villages is a shop we’ve frequented for years, and it’s full of lovely gifts that are both beautiful and meaningful to more than just the recipient.

The site works hard to ensure that artisans earn living wages and that some of the profits benefit charities that grow communities. From beautiful silk scarves and handmade jewelry to cute kitchen towels and home decor items like candle holders, Ten Thousand Villages has a big selection of gifts. — Malarie Gokey, deputy editorA nice umbrellaLondon UndercoverVintage Map Classic Umbrella, available at London Undercover, $85.

80As most Manhattan residents know, when it comes to rain, we all learn the hard way. Time and time again we buy the same black bodega umbrella that snaps from the slightest gust of wind and leaves us partially soaked, yet we still repurchase it. A few years ago, I turned over a new leaf and gifted my boyfriend the London Undercover Vintage Map Classic Umbrella.

Not only does it eliminate the headache of commuting in the rain or snow, but it’s also built to last. It’s been three years and it’s still in mint condition, and the vintage map of London pays homage to the four years he lived there. It’s easy to justify the price when you think of how many $10 black bodega umbrellas you’ve bought over the years, and it’s definitely an item that will stand the test of time.

— Alexa Bleustein, e-commerce analystA custom portrait of their petEtsyThe Dancing Cat Prints & Cards, available at Etsy and Jamie Shelman, from $5. 50Custom Pet Portraits, available at Crown & Paw, from $39. 95If you’re not an artist (and I am not), a custom portrait of someone’s pet is a unique gift idea that’s incredibly cool and personalized.

The Dancing Cat on Etsy is my go-to seller for greeting cards and art prints, and the shop owner also does custom cat portraits. My colleague, Lauren Savoie, recommends Crown & Paw for any animal no matter the species or the breed. — Ellen Hoffman, executive editorA vintage Lego setBrickLinkVintage Lego Sets, available at BrickLink, assorted pricingI know a lot of adult fans of Lego — a couple on our team — and BrickLink is the best online site for buying and selling new and retired Lego sets.

A loved one recently celebrated their 30th birthday, so I surprised them with a vintage set from the year they were born — still in its original box and unopened. It’s a perfect nostalgic gift! — Ellen Hoffman, executive editorRead the original article on Insider.