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When I’m browsing for gifts, Amazon is admittedly not the site where I expect to easily stumble across an option that I’ve never seen before or regard as cool. I tend to think that the new and interesting startups have a leg up in this regard. Since Amazon is so familiar to shop, however, an ideal situation would be for me to knock out all my holiday shopping at once there.
It may be a convenient place to shop for ordinary and practical needs like kitchen tools and organization products, but is it really the best place to find unique gifts for your friends and family? This guide of 24 unique gifts, all available on Amazon, presents a compelling case.
Most of these items are available with two-day shipping if you have Amazon Prime, so don’t stress too hard about your last-minute shopping – just remember that the sooner you order, the better your chances of a timely arrival.
Looking for more gift ideas? Check out all of Insider Picks' holiday gift guides for 2018 here.
A hook system more reliable than the MTA
Umbra Subway Wall Hook, $30, available at Amazon
Part art piece and part functional organizer, the subway-inspired wall hook reminds them of the joys (and terrors) of riding public transportation.
A programmable R2-D2
R2-D2 App-Enabled Droid, from $74.95, available at Amazon
Your favorite droid comes to life, with a little help from a corresponding app. It can drive around their home, change stances, and react to movie moments as it watches.
A garden aquarium that wastes no resources
Back to the Roots Water Garden, $73.99, available at Amazon
The two-in-one ecosystem is self-sustaining: the fish waste fertilizes the micro greens on top while the plants clean the fish's water. It requires less work and the greens should be ready in 10 days, plus it simply looks cool on their countertop.
The best way to play games with an Echo device
Echo Buttons, $13.99, available at Amazon
May their brains think fast and their hands tap faster. These buttons have more than 100 game skills that will make it hard to cut game night short. They can also be used to create Alexa routines around the home.
A rugged Bluetooth speaker made for the outdoors
Scourge BoomBottle Rugged Waterproof Wireless Bluetooth Speaker, $88, available at Amazon
This speaker can mount magnetically to metal surfaces and open your bottle of beer, but it's also just a really great speaker, with strong sound, 12 hours of continuous playback, and a built-in mic.
A ring that's actually a fitness tracker
Motiv Ring, $199.99, available at Amazon
This sleek fitness tracker ring is more subtle than a smartwatch, but just as functional by tracking steps, heart rate, and sleep activity. It boasts waterproof durability and a battery life of up to three days.
A necklace cast from a real rosemary plant
Rosemary Necklace by Michael Michaud, $299.99, available at Amazon
They won't be able to use a sprig in their cooking, but the hand-cast bronze necklace does keep the fragrant herb close to the heart.
Tea lights that look like succulents
Tinkertory Succulent Cactus Candles, $11.57, available at Amazon
Whether they already have enough real succulents lining their windowsill or they just love the look of the small plants, these cute candles are a delightful sight to behold.
A cool desktop calendar they'll never have to replace
MoMA Small Perpetual Calendar, $39.95, available at Amazon
It looks intimidating, but this unique calendar is actually pretty easy to use: move the magnetic balls to manually mark the day and month, and they're set. It's a guaranteed conversation starter in the home or office.
Note: May arrive after Christmas
A horn-shaped mug that can still stand upright on a desk
Goat Story Mug, $34.50, available at Amazon
The shape of this leak-proof mug references the old legend that a shepherd discovered coffee beans with the help of his goats, while also ensuring your recipient doesn't waste a drop of their drink. It includes two carrying straps and the holder transforms into a stand.
A recipe book inspired by the Bard of Avon
Shakespeare, Not Stirred: Cocktails for Your Everyday Dramas, $14.50, available at Amazon
Two Shakespeare professors put together this drama-filled collection of cocktail and hors d'oeuvre recipes, complete with puns like Kate's Shrew-driver and funny illustrations.
A portable campfire
Radiate Portable Campfire, $27.99, available at Amazon
Outdoors enthusiasts and s'mores experts love this portable solution, which gets the campfire going without the pain of lugging around wood and other materials. The convenient and compact fire won't get smokey and it extinguishes with a quick cover of the lid.
A cutting machine that turns anyone into a DIY crafting expert
Cricut Maker, $340, available at Amazon
DIYers will never go back to laborious, imprecise hand-cutting after using this efficient and exact machine. It works with hundreds of materials and offers hundreds of digital patterns to get your recipient started on their crafting project.
A beautiful world map puzzle
Galison 1,000-Piece Full Bloom World Map Puzzle, $15.75, available at Amazon
Instead of traditional land masses and border lines, this 1000-piece puzzle fills in the countries with vibrant flowers, adding a new challenge to a classic pastime.
A new way to complete their morning crossword puzzle
The Unemployed Philosopher's Guild Crossword Puzzle Coffee Mug, $15.95, available at Amazon
Sip a hot beverage while challenging the mind with this interactive mug. The clues of the first puzzle are right on the box, but once they finish that, they can visit the included link for a new set of clues every month.
A smart blender that lets them know exactly what they're putting in their smoothie
NutriBullet Balance Bluetooth Enabled Smart Blender, $99.97, available at Amazon
A standard NutriBullet is already a good, efficient blender, but this one's even better. Using a built-in smart sensor, the Balance incorporates precision in the smoothie-making process by calculating the nutritional value of all the ingredients added.
A whiskey glass with a built-in cigar rest
Corkcicle Cigar Glass, $24.99, available at Amazon
An old-fashioned and a cigar go hand in hand, so it makes sense to just combine the two in one piece of glassware.
Note: May arrive after Christmas
A GoPro harness for their dog
GoPro Fetch Dog Harness, $39, available at Amazon
To see life through their dog's eyes might be one of the best perspectives an owner can experience. The comfortable and sturdy harness will take viewers on canine adventures of all kinds.
Note: May arrive after Christmas
A different way to enjoy tea
Tea Drops Sampler Box, $34.99, available at Amazon
This organic loose leaf tea is packed with raw sugar and spices into small shapes that they simply drop into their mug and add boiling water to.
Note: May arrive after Christmas
A rocket-shaped cocktail shaker
Irving Stainless Steel Rocket Cocktail Shaker by Viski, $17, available at Amazon
The eye-catching cocktail shaker design isn't so gimmicky as to lose its cool, but it's still a great conversation starter as they make drinks at home.
Note: May arrive after Christmas
A pan that lets them make three different lasagna recipes at once
Chicago Metallic Professional Lasagna Trio Pan, $23.93, available at Amazon
The design of this nonstick pan, which fits standard lasagna noodles, encourages variety and experimentation in the kitchen. It's also great for creating trios of breads, cakes, and egg dishes.
Note: May arrive after Christmas
A wand that uses code to create magic
Kano Harry Potter Coding Kit, $79.99, available at Amazon
Kano's kit lets kids ages six and up create spells, make feathers fly, and multiply objects through the magic of code. It comes with all the parts and instructions to make a coding wand and start swishing-and-flicking.
Note: May arrive after Christmas
A powerful portable speaker that also lights up
Soundcore Flare Wireless Speaker, $49.99, available at Amazon
About the size of a soda can, the Soundcore Flare is a powerful and very portable speaker that puts on a cool LED light show.
A cool charger that can charge two phones at once
Rabbit Charger Duo with 28" Retractable Cable, $49.95, available at Amazon
This unique charger looks more sleek than traditional ones and features two charging tips on one cord. You'll have to buy Apple device tips separately, but it does include two micro USB and two USB-C tips.
