33 Deals on Can’t-Go-Wrong Christmas Gifts
A karaoke machine to belt out the hits
With everything needed to get a party going, our top-pick karaoke machine offers the most complete all-in-one setup we’ve tested. It has a tablet for pulling up lyrics, self-charging mic storage, versatile audio inputs, and decent speakers.
Other things to know: Multiple audio inputs, as well as an HDMI port. Connects to a TV via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB, or HDMI. Microphones can be a little frustrating. Touchscreen can be slow and glitchy. Light show is pretty disappointing.
Read more: The Best Karaoke Machines
A latex-free mat with a gripping finish
Dual-sided and latex-free, this 5-millimeter yoga mat offers good support for wrists and joints, while the smooth top layer keeps hands and feet in place when you’re working up a sweat.
Other things to know: Has a strong odor that took more than a week to fade away, and it’s prone to sweat streak markings (although they didn’t cause slippage during workouts). It can also pick up a lot of lint and other debris.
Read more: The Best Yoga Mats
A little light that’s perfect for book lovers
This chic and compact reading light boasts the most light customization of all our picks, and it works with paperback and hardcover books. It’s also a breeze to use and adjust, with a slim clip and a power indicator to monitor battery life.
Other things to know: Small, and the buttons can be a bit too sensitive when adjusting clip placement. Some users have reported issues; see our guide for details. Use code WCSPECIAL01 to get the deal price on select colors, including teal.
Read more: The Best Reading Light
A one-year subscription for endless education
For anyone who loves to learn, yearlong access to this service will be an invaluable gift. The digestible lessons from industry-spanning celebrity talents are as edifying as they are entertaining, and topics span from physics and acting to writing and cooking.
Other things to know: MasterClass only offers annual membership plans. Standard subscription doesn’t offer offline downloading/viewing. Recipients must redeem their gift within 365 days of purchase or it will expire. Once redeemed, the gifted year will begin for a full year.
Read more: 41 Great Last-Minute Christmas Gifts
A colorful customizable calendar
Give a big, bright calendar with a year’s worth of photos. Shutterfly offers vivid, full-bleed images and a generously sized grid. You can choose from dozens of excellent layouts to make a lovely personalized gift.
Other things to know: While there are a lot of options, you cannot change the paper type or add a matte finish. Site lacks photo-editing interface, so you’ll need to make sure your photos are edited, cropped, and adjusted how you like before they’re uploaded (this is true for most sites). Use code XTRACAL to get an extra 10% off with free shipping. Example deal pricing; prices vary with selection.
Read more: The Best Personalized Photo Gifts
A DNA kit to explore their family history
They can easily explore their ethnic roots with our favorite DNA test kit, which boasts the largest family-matching database we’ve seen. It’s a simple process from start to finish, with straightforward instructions and reports. The results are presented clearly and with useful historical context.
Other things to know: Traits add-on unlocks access to 40+ wellness, appearance, sensory, and other personal genetic traits. AncestryDNA monetizes biomedical data if you opt into its research program. All DNA test kits have privacy risks that you should take into account. Matches the lowest price we’ve seen.
Read more: The Best DNA Testing Kit
A little livesaving tool for their keychain
A reliable glass-breaking tool for emergency situations, the Resqme is cheap, compact, and portable. It’s easy to deploy, and comes with a small seatbelt-cutter blade, too.
Other things to know: Works only on tempered glass, and you might shred your hand on the broken glass. Pack comes with two tools. Available in multiple colors.
Read more: The Best Car Window Breakers
A durable, long-lasting guiding light
We recommend this waterproof, compact flashlight pick as a gift, too. It stands upright on its end and doesn’t roll on — or off — flat surfaces. It’s also got the widest range of brightness settings of any AA-powered model we’ve tested.
Other things to know: The brightest setting is less bright than that of our top pick, but still a good choice on sale or if our top pick is unavailable. Deal is on the black cool white model.
Read more: The Best Flashlight
A timeless gift that’s always welcome
What’s nicer than fresh flowers? Beautiful, interesting fresh flower arrangements delivered directly to their door. With plenty of modern, relatively affordable bouquets to choose from, our favorite delivery service makes it easy to find your arrangement of choice.
Other things to know: Pricing varies by bouquet selection, delivery locale, and delivery date. Example pricing is for the Margot bouquet without a vase and excluding the cost of shipping. Use promo code WCHOLIDAY30 to get 30% off sitewide before shipping fees (which varies by delivery date and location).
Read more: The Best Online Flower Delivery Service
