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- Here are 35 gifts for teen boys that range from tech to reading to grooming.
- Need more gift ideas? Here are more than 50 teen gifts we like this year.
- If that doesn’t cut it, check out our 100 all-time favorite products.
Buying gifts for teens can be a daunting task, and we hear from readers that it’s especially hard to buy for teen boys.
Thankfully, it doesn’t need to be. There are tons of great gifts on the market that are cool, innovative, thoughtful, and ranging in price from big-ticket items to under-$25 purchases you can make on Amazon.
Below, you can find a mix of 35 gifts that cover tech, grooming, nods to hobbies, and practical gifts for everyday needs. If you need more gifting inspiration, check out all of our gift guides here.
Check out all 35 gifts for teen boys below:
Echo Dot (4th generation), available at Amazon, $29.99
The Amazon Echo Dot is the most popular Amazon device for a reason: It’s compact and has all the capabilities of Alexa (voice control, music, news, weather updates, and more). They’ll love that it has a decent speaker; parents will love that it works well as an alarm clock.
The popular “Dune” series
“Dune” by Frank Herbert, available at Amazon, $12.01
After “Harry Potter” and classics commonly found on high school syllabi, Dune is the #15 bestselling young adult book on Amazon. The first movie in the series, which stars Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya, premiered on October 21 (you can watch it on HBO Max) and the second is coming out October 2023 — so they’ll have enough time to catch up before the next installment.
Otherwise, we also recommend “Ready Player One” by Ernest Cline if your teen hasn’t read it yet.
Some more book suggestions:
- “All the Bright Places,” a popular YA book on TikTok
- “Scythe,” a bestselling dystopian YA book similar to “The Hunger Games”
- The best young adult books, according to a teenager
- The best young adult romance books
- The best young people’s literature of 2021 according to the National Book Awards
- The best books we read in our 20s
A pair of gloves he can use with his phone
The North Face Apex Etip Tech Gloves, available at Macy’s, $50
The North Face’s Tech Gloves have silicone palm grips and touchscreen-friendly fingertips so he can use his devices without taking them off.
A men’s grooming set
Men’s Groom On-the-Go Gift Set, available at Kiehl’s, $40
Help your teen build a constructive skincare routine with effective, simple skincare products like the products in this Kiehl’s gift set. In it, he’ll get a face wash, moisturizer, and soap that smells good.
Colorful strip lights they can control via app
Govee LED Strip Lights, available at Amazon, $33.99
These light strips let them customize the color of the lighting in their room without any major home renovations. (They come with double-sided adhesive; just stick them on a flat surface and you’re good to go).
This option uses an app that connects the strip directly to your Wi-Fi and offers additional features, such as a timer, sliders for brightness and color temperature, and a selection of scenes, including animated multicolored scenes. They can also select colors individually for different segments of the strip and create their own scenes via the DIY option. They can also use Alexa and Google Assistant to control the lights with their voice.
Versatile, comfortable convertible pants
Men’s Paramount Trail Convertible Pant, available at The North Face, $69
The North Face Paramount Trail Convertible Pants are lightweight and convert into shorts, and they’re senior style and grooming reporter Amir Ismael’s most worn items in 2021. They’re just as comfortable and stylish for everyday life as they are on trips where light packing is preferred. Read Amir’s full review of The North Face Paramount Trail Convertible Pants here.
A unique poster of their favorite movie
Minimalist Movie Poster Art Print, available at Etsy, from $11.24
If he’s at the age where he’s discovering cult classics like “Donnie Darko,” getting him a cool, retro-style art print is a thoughtful nod to his interests. You can find minimalist options here, or search Etsy for something specific, such as “Jurassic Park.“
A warm, versatile HEATTECH layer
Men HEATTECH Crew Neck Long-Sleeve T-Shirt, available on Uniqlo, $19.90
Uniqlo’s HEATTECH gear is one of our secrets to staying fashionable and warm during the winter. It’s effective without the bulk by wicking moisture away from your body and purportedly turning your kinetic energy into heat. However it does it, it works. We’ve been using it for years, and highly recommend it. Most items are about $15, but you could go up to $50 for pants. Read our review of Uniqlo HEATTECH gear here.
A streaming service that includes the ‘Star Wars’ and Marvel universes
Disney+ Monthly Subscription Service, available at Disney, $6.99/month or $69.99/year
Disney Plus is the relatively new Disney-centric streaming service, but it carries much more than the nostalgic movies they may have grown up watching and the Marvel movies. The platform includes Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and 20th Century Fox — and you can also bundle ESPN+ and Hulu with it. Disney Plus offers two subscription options: $6.99 a month, or a slightly cheaper $69.99 a year ($5.83 a month). With ESPN Plus and Hulu, it’s $12.99 a month (a $17.97 a month value).
Super convenient Apple AirPods with a wireless charging case
Apple AirPods with Wireless Charging Case, available at Best Buy, $159.99
When it comes to convenience, truly wireless earbuds are the best. And Apple’s AirPods are very popular with iPhone and Android users alike. They look subtle compared to other bigger options, and they’re incredibly easy to use.
A Patagonia Synchilla Snap-T fleece pullover
Patagonia Men’s Lightweight Synchilla Snap-T Fleece Pullover, available at Patagonia, $119
Like Champion, Patagonia is a brand that’s gaining increasing popularity among teens. Its Snap-T Fleece Pullover is one of its best and most popular products.
The best socks we’ve ever worn
Bombas Socks, available at Bombas, from $10.50
Practically the entire Insider Reviews team is made up of Bombas fans, largely because of the socks’ standout features and the brand’s mission. Socks are the number one requested product among homeless shelters, and each time a pair of Bombas socks are purchased, a pair of socks is donated by the brand.
A pair of cool new Adidas Ultraboost sneakers
Adidas Ultraboost Shoes, available at Adidas, from $54
In 2015, Adidas introduced the Ultraboost as an entirely new running silhouette, but it was quickly adopted by sneakerheads for its comfort and style. They’ll probably wind up wearing these responsive, supportive shoes for both sports and around town. If you don’t see a color they’ll like, check StockX for more options.
A Kindle Paperwhite for reading on the go
Kindle Paperwhite, available at Best Buy, $129.99
Amazon’s Kindle Paperwhite is waterproof, has double the storage of its previous model, and is its lightest and thinnest version yet. The glare-free display adjusts to accommodate even bright sunlight, and it has a battery charge that lasts for weeks.
A 4,108-piece, app-controlled Lego kit that incorporates advanced engineering elements
Lego Technic Liebherr R 9800 Excavator 42100 Building Kit, available at Amazon, $449.95
Lego’s new excavator building kit was designed in partnership with Liebherr and has over 4,000 parts that mimic the real thing — incorporating advanced elements of engineering and accurate details like access ways and extensible ladders. It’s operated via the Lego app, so they can control the boom and bucket, create movement sequences, and complete fun challenges with real-time feedback.
Wear-anywhere shorts
Men’s Baggies Shorts, available at Patagonia, $55
These popular Patagonia shorts are known as “Life’s Shorts” — they’re lightweight, quick-drying, and designed to be worn in and out of the water. Senior reporter Amir Ismael is a fan, saying “they go with everything” and aren’t restrictive or tight even with mesh netting on the inside. Read his full review of the Patagonia Baggies shorts here.
A popular streaming media player
Roku Express Streaming Media Player, available at Best Buy, $29.99
The Roku Express Streaming Media Player turns an otherwise dumb TV into a smart TV with access to streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, and HBO Now to cable alternatives like Sling or YouTube TV.
A compact projector that’s great for movie-watching
Anker Nebula Capsule Mini Projector, available at Amazon, $299.95
Anker makes a mini projector the size of a soda can that’s perfect for screening their favorite movies. It weighs only 1 pound, and it offers four hours of continuous playtime. Find a full review here.
A simple sweatshirt from a classic brand
Champion Men’s Pullover Eco Fleece Sweatshirt, available at Amazon, from $26.67
Champion is having a moment with the teen demographic. If they don’t already have one, pick up one of the brand’s most popular items in a color and style they’ll wear often.
A small, travel-ready camera that stabilizes shaky video footage
GoPro Hero10, available at GoPro, $399.99
GoPro is the rugged, waterproof action camera they can take with them anywhere. While older models will still get the job done, the Hero10 is the newest and best overall model.
You can read a full GoPro Hero 10 review here, but the gist is this: The Hero 10 is a performance camera, but its upgrades allow it to do what even bigger and more expensive cameras can do, too.
A speaker they can spill on and drop in the pool without breaking it
Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 Portable Bluetooth Speaker, available at Amazon, $99.99
This rugged, compact speaker can go with them anywhere. It’s waterproof, has an “outdoor boost” button specifically for listening outside, is “drop-proof,” and boasts a 13-hour battery life.
A gentle exfoliating facial cleansing device that gets all the grime out
FOREO Luna 3, available at Foreo, $199
FOREO’s cult-favorite Luna 3 cleansing device gently and effectively cleans with thin, antimicrobial silicone touch-points, and it removes 98.5% of dirt and makeup residue without irritating the skin. Plus, it’s 100% waterproof and the battery life lasts for a few months per charge. Find a full review on the previous generation Luna 2 from a male reporter here.
An eco-conscious tie-dye beanie
Feel the Earth Breathe Tie Dye Beanie, available at Parks Project, $40
These unisex tie-dye beanies come in cool colors and with a unique plant logo. (To date, the Parks Project has reportedly contributed over $2,000,000 to help fund vital projects in national parks around the US).
A Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Switch with Neon Blue and Neon Red Joy‑Con, available at Target, $299.99
If you’re gauging the success of your gift based solely on the excitement it elicits, this is a good option. This model has a battery life of up to nine hours and can be played with friends or solo at home or on the go.
The most popular and useful Fitbit
Fitbit Charge 4, available at Best Buy, $129.95
The Fitbit Charge 4 isn’t the newest model the company has released, but it is perhaps one of the best and most popular. It has a lot of useful activity-tracking features without a big, clunky screen or an exorbitant price. It has a built-in heart rate monitor, in-depth sleep tracking, advanced workout features, and real-time workout tracking on the screen.
A cult-favorite water bottle
Hydro Flask Wide Mouth Water Bottle, available at Hydro Flask, from $37.46
These cult-favorite, vacuum-insulated stainless steel water bottles work really well. It’ll keep hot drinks hot for up to 12 hours, and cold drinks cold for up to 24.
Smart lights with bright lights for studying and dimming at night before bed
Smart lights mean they can change the lights to a range of colors, create customized lighting for watching a movie or studying, and set a schedule for the lights to turn off and on or brighten and dim at different times during the day.
An audiobook subscription
Audible Membership (3 months), available at Amazon, $45
If they love to read (or you’re trying to get them to love to read), a gift subscription to Audible is a great idea. They’ll get three free titles for each month they’re a member (one audiobook and two Audible Originals), and 30% off any additional audiobooks they buy. They can listen and read anywhere and anytime using the free app.
A cult-favorite duffel bag that’s durable and cavernous
Black Hole Duffel Bag, $139, available at Patagonia, $139
Patagonia’s Black Hole duffel bags deserve their cult status: They’re seemingly neverending, extremely durable, and are now made out of recycled plastic bottles.
A t-shirt from a new outdoors brand with great gear and a philanthropic mission
Do Good Men’s T-Shirt, available at Cotopaxi, $30
Whether he’s into the outdoors, volunteering, or might appreciate an introduction to a cool new startup he hasn’t heard of, he’ll appreciate a soft, unique T-shirt from Cotopaxi.
An online class from one of the greats
Tom Morello Teaches Guitar (single class), available at Masterclass, $90
MasterClass hosts online classes on virtually every topic taught by the experts themselves — from Neil Gaiman teaching the art of storytelling to Annie Leibowitz teaching photography. This class, by Grammy-winning musician Tom Morello, teaches you the guitar techniques that define his style.
A beanie with Bluetooth connectivity so they can listen to music on the go
Tenergy Wireless Bluetooth Beanie Hat, available at Amazon, $24.95
An increasingly popular accessory among teen boys is the Bluetooth Beanie Hat, which lets them listen to music while wearing it. The headphones pair with a tablet, Apple Watch, or smartphone, and the Bluetooth range is up to 33 feet. There are even built-in controls for adjusting the volume, skipping songs, and pausing/playing music.
Editor’s note: This gift may arrive after Christmas.
A powerful portable charger
Elecjet PowerPie Portable Charger, available at Amazon, $49
Whether for traveling or keeping in contact with friends or parents while on the go, this external battery is great for giving parents and teens convenience and peace of mind.
Editor’s note: This gift may arrive after Christmas.
Gift cards to virtually anything they could need or want
To a teen, there’s probably nothing more useful than a gift card. Here are a few of the best you can give.
Everything: Visa Gift Card / Amazon Gift Card / Gift Amazon Prime Membership
Coffee: Starbucks Gift Card
Books: Amazon Gift Card / Barnes & Noble Gift Card
Entertainment: Netflix Gift Card / Hulu Gift Card / Sling Gift Card / StubHub gift card
Transportation: Uber Gift Card
Music: Spotify Gift Card
Food: Taco Bell Gift Card / Chipotle Gift Card
Clothes: Nordstrom Gift Card / Everlane Gift Card / Nike Gift Card / Under Armour Gift Card / Adidas Gift Card
Tech: Best Buy Gift Card / Amazon Gift Card
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