The Best Gadgets, Gizmos and Clothing To Give Your Siblings This Holiday
When the holiday season rolls around, most of us turn to gift guides for inspiration. At SPY, we pride ourselves on our wide array of gift guides that are sure to make that special and not-so-special-but-still-important person in your life feel appreciated. But one of the most underserved groups is siblings. Siblings are tough to shop for, and gift guides aren’t always a big help. “Gifts for her” can be too romantic, while some gifts are too impersonal. Adding to the difficulty is the fact that your siblings may be of a different gender than you, and they may be older or younger than you. That’s why this gift guide provides options for brothers and sisters of all stripes.
Getting a great gift for your sibling is important, no matter what kind of relationship you have with your brothers and sisters. It’s true that siblings are famous for feuding, and rivalries have ranged from friendly (Venus and Serena) to acrimonious (Oasis’ Noel and Liam Gallagher) to downright disastrous (Cain and Abel). And sometimes sibling rivalries benefit the rest of us, even if they’re to the detriment of the family. For example, if Adolf and Rudolf Dassler had gotten along a little better, we wouldn’t have both Adidas and Puma sneakers to choose from. But these rivalries belie the fact that most siblings love one another, even if they sometimes bicker. Of course, if you admit that you love your siblings they’ll mercilessly mock you, so let our favorite gifts for siblings do the talking.
These are the best gifts for siblings to give in 2020.
1. Audio-Technica Stereo Turntable
FOR THE MUSIC-LOVING SIBLING
Turntables can be hard to buy because they can get really, really expensive. That said, you also don’t want to buy overly cheap ones that will do a disservice to that old stash of records your dad doesn’t use anymore. The Audio-Technica hits the sweet spot. It’s in the sub-100 dollar range, but it’s from a reputed brand with a long history. It also won’t make extra work for whoever you’re getting it for. The built-in phono preamp means they don’t need to go searching for specialized gear. Just hook this turntable up to powered speakers or a stereo system, and getting spinning.
Image Courtesy of Amazon
2. Homesick Mini Scented Candle
FOR THE SISTER WHO JUST MOVED OUT
This scented candle from Homesick is about as close as you can get to a sentimental gift for your sibling without warranting a swift punch in the arm. For the sibling that moved away, this scented candle will remind them of home. Homesick makes tons of options, including cities (New York City), states (Texas) and less geographically-linked ideas of home (grandma’s kitchen).
Image Courtesy of Amazon
3. Bonavita 5-Cup One-Touch Coffee Maker
FOR THE WANNABE BARISTA BROTHER
Drip coffee makers sometimes get a bad rep for making burnt-tasting or weak coffee, but there are actually plenty of companies that allow you to bring a barista-level brew to every bleary-eyed morning. If your sibling is a coffee connoisseur, they’ll appreciate that this coffee maker has a showerhead design that more evenly extracts ground coffee for a cleaner cup. Otherwise, they’ll just be happy that it looks good and can brew coffee with the single touch of a button. The five-cup size lets them keep their cup full all morning, without the brewer taking up the entire counter.
Image Courtesy of Amazon
4. Garmin Dash Cam 45
FOR THE TEEN SISTER WHO JUST GOT HER LICENSE
Got a teen sibling who just got their license? It’s understandable to worry about them. This dash cam from Garmin will help keep them safe and its tiny size won’t be a distraction. Collision-detection saves video footage automatically, so if they were in an accident that wasn’t their fault, they won’t automatically get the blame. And if they’re driving mom’s old Mercedes that doesn’t have smart features built-in, this dash cam has lane-departure and forward-collision warnings. It may not be the most exciting gift, but they’ll thank you later.
Image Courtesy of Amazon
5. Disney+ Subscription
FOR THE BINGE-WATCHING BROTHER
Gifting a subscription to a streaming service is a great way to give them something you know they’ll enjoy. Even if they’re not fans of Disney movies, a Disney+ bundle can get them access to Hulu and ESPN+, in addition to all of the great titles on Disney+ ranging from Star Wars to National Geographic.
Image Courtesy of Disney+
6. Lodge Cast Iron Skillet
FOR THE SISTER WHO’S GETTING INTO COOKING
Properly taken care of, a cast-iron skillet will last them forever. Lodge skillets are respected but inexpensive, making them great options for the sibling who’s just starting to move away from making frozen pizzas every night.
Image Courtesy of Amazon
7. Anker Nebula Capsule
FOR THE FILM-BUFF BROTHER WHO MISSES THEATERS
Tech gifts can be hard, because the tech-obsessed sibling in your life might already have the latest and greatest gear, including stuff you’ve never heard of. But we feel pretty confident they don’t have this. Anker’s innovative mini projector is about the size of a Venti drink from Starbucks, and it lets you turn your average movie night into something truly memorable. You can gather the family together for a socially-distanced outdoor movie night without needing a bulky projector that needs to be plugged into a power source.
Image Courtesy of Amazon
8. Target Room Essentials Weighted Blanket
FOR THE SISTER WHO’S ALWAYS COLD
Not only is a weighted blanket a great way to keep warm, but it also has other benefits like helping to reduce anxiety, insomnia and even pain. And if those benefits don’t pan out, at least they’ll have something cozy that they can enjoy. This option from Target has a sherpa texture and comes in classic white or gray to suit any decor.
Image Courtesy of Target
9. Larceny Bourbon
FOR THE SAZERAC-LOVING SIBLING
Whether your sibling just turned 21 or they’ve been drinking for 21 years, get them a bottle of Larceny Bourbon. It tastes more expensive than it is, and it’s a more low-key option that they may not have tried yet. With a slightly sweet taste and a smoky finish, Larceny offers something for every bourbon drinker, all in one sip.
Image Courtesy of Drizly
10. Uniqlo Hoodie
FOR THE BROTHER WHO KEEPS IT CASUAL
Uniqlo’s hoodies are classic, comfortable and available in tons of colors, so it’s easy to find one that they’ll love. Whether they regularly rock a hoodie or would rather wear one as loungewear around the house, Uniqlo’s cotton hoodies are an affordable option for anyone.
Image Courtesy of
11. Everlane 40-hour Flat
FOR THE STYLISH SISTER ON THE GO
The mesh upper of this slipper from Everlane makes it breathable, while the classic cut makes it a stylish option. It’s a great option for the stylish sister who’s always on the go. It comes in a few different colors and is currently on sale, so act fast.
Image Courtesy of Everlane
Seiko Men’s Analog Quartz Watch
FOR THE BROTHER WHO STARTED HIS FIRST SERIOUS JOB
A watch can be an expensive gift, but it doesn’t have to be. This watch has a luxurious look, but the quartz movement makes it a much more affordable option. Plus, it’s even solar-powered, meaning you won’t have to change the battery as often. And since it’s made by Seiko, it’s still a watch with a serious pedigree.
Image Courtesy of Amazon