You don't think we would've forgotten about the guys do ya? We got you. There are quite a few guys that have said they're good on gifts, more than a few actually. They didn't exactly say they didn't want anything, some of them just said it in a way like... I wouldn't mind this or... it would be kinda cool if I had that. So don't take it as the guys in your life are Team Scrooge or something... no no no, just listen and capitalize.
There might even be some gifts that they didn't think they'd be interested in... just come from an angle that keeps their interests in mind, making the gift even more useful.
Let's start with hygiene
One that some of you may have been curious about, but never bit on is... Dr. Squatch. Dr. Squatch is a natural soap company with crazy commercials of guys showering (and sometimes bathing) outside to awesome spokesmanship, and there is still a number of curious people who would like to know how good the soap is for the guys in their lives... without a subscription. We have you covered!
To be honest, if you get the individual bars without the subscription, you actually save more (which would be great stocking stuffers that leave the guys in your life smelling fresh). Yes, you can get the soap on the main site without a subscription, but... there's a minimum order requirement for shipping and they cost a little more. This Wishmas guide isn't to break the bank, so... save where you can.
These are Dr. Squatch soap options that you can grab for less than $6 per bar:
Wood Barrell Bourbon
Fresh Falls
Birchwood Breeze
Cedar Citrus
If you're eyeing this department regarding hygiene, you might as well bring it full circle. I'm not saying that you have to go off the deep end where they feel as if you're trying to send a message. Stocking stuffers will keep tension out of the air... so stick to the stocking unless you're going with a bundle, trust me. You don't want them opening gifts, and instead of a thank you, they want to know what exactly are you trying to say. But anyway... back to the circle. Don't forget about their dental health.
You might be wondering how can you possibly help them with that, but if you get them a Dr. Plotka's Mouth Watchers Toothbrush, they will thank you. Their dental game could be amazing right now, but if they're using a standard toothbrush, it's simply not the same. I've had the honor of reviewing one of these toothbrushes and it's the cleanest my grill has ever felt outside of the dentist's office. I still use this brand to this day, and you can even ask them how their teeth feel after the first brush. There are 2-packs + kids options as well.If you're looking to gift fragrance this season, this could be a tad more complicated based on the guy. You may want to see what he has and re-up on the pleasant options. There are some heavier options where a little goes a long way, but if the guy bathes in the stuff (leaving other men, women, and younglings gasping for air, it might be a bit too much)... you may want to stick with a lighter fragrance. I prefer a lighter scent like a Cool Water, it's not a fruity-like scent but... but it's light like such scents can be. Even then I hit one wrist one or twice (based on intensity), share the love with the other wrist, and dab it all around from there.
I can't forget about tech
While a number of people will utilize their phones and even peripherals for their phones to take photos and video, there are some people with a passion for photography and videography. You may not have the budget to go to the top of your budget on one item, so consider some good options that help your wallet breathe.
The Nikon D3500 DSLR Camera w/ the 18-55mm Lens can certainly get the job done for hobbyists and professionals. Why not start off with gaming? Relax, we're saving the best for last, but... a number of people are looking for opportunities that don't consist of the traditional 9 to 5. So this could be a great gift for the guy with aspirations in this field. Pair it with a nice photo editing software, and consider gifting a photography course.
The Aukey XXL Gaming Mouse Pad/Mat is $8.99
RAM between 8GB & 16GB
GPU between Nvidia GeForce GTX 960 to Core i7-4770K or AMD Radeon RX 470 to Radeon RX 580
CPU between Intel Core i5-3570 to Core i7-4770K or AMD Ryzen 5 1600X to Ryzen 7 1800X
DirectX Version 12
Try to avoid going below the minimum specs you see here.
The Lenovo Legion Slim 7i Gen 7 Intel (RTX 3050 Ti) has the following specs:
12th Gen Intel Core i7-12700H (E-cores up to 3.5GHz, P-cores up to 4.7GHz)
Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Laptop GPU 4GB GDDR6
16GB DDR5-4800MHz
512GB SSD M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4 TLC
16" WQXGA (2560 X 1600) HDR400 | 165Hz (Low Blue Light)
3 Months of Xbox Game Pass
The available ports are:
HDMI 2.1
3 x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 (1 x always on)
Headphone / mic combo
SD card reader
Intel Thunderbolt 4
USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (DisplayPort 1.4, 135W power delivery)
This laptop also comes with 3 months of Xbox Game Pass (which again... not crapping on consoles), but they're getting access to PC games, multi-console releases (and even previous console exclusives), plus the benefits of PC. This particular system has a nice form, the power input is in the back along with HDMI, etc. The HDMI and power on the side aren't as aesthetically pleasing, so I appreciate the placement on this laptop.
The minimum specs also apply to desktop PCs, the same thing applies because the game specs don't change... they're just not going to be carrying around a desktop (if they do, get it on video).
Regardless of whether you get a desktop or a laptop, definitely add a game controller to the mix (duh of the day). If you'd like to gift a handheld game console... a Steam Deck is the way to go. They have access to PC games on the go, but for hobbyists, they can also play a variety of games that aren't even through the Steam store. Valve wants people to have fun and find creative ways to use their Steam Deck, so that's perfect for someone interested in STEM or simply wants to be a part of a game mod community.
Overall, it's a handheld that keeps on giving... I believe it has more life than what the Nintendo Switch can deliver because the PC doesn't come out with the PC 2 or something like that (so no need to replace it because support is no longer there, you have access to Steam regardless). Make your budget work wonders, and I keep forgetting that you can connect the Steam Deck to the telly.
If you're researching smart watches, you may have come across the Amazfit Bip 3 Pro, in addition to the Apple Watch + the Galaxy Watch. This watch works on both the Android & iOS and delivers a lot of the features you expect like a heart rate monitor, GPS, 2-week battery life, and Water Resistance.
You also get the PAI Health Assessment System, along with stress level + sleep monitoring, and 60+ Sports Modes to access via the 1.69" display. If your heart is set to gift one of the more well-known brands, I can understand... but the quality isn't based on brands or price (hence some of the items in this Wishmas Guide). You can get the Amazfit Bip 3 Pro for less than $75, which... if someone isn't huge on smartwatches anyway, it's a safe investment that gives them useful features, and if they don't use every feature... there are still enough they'd likely use to keep the doc informed that would make it worth it.
If you have it like that... to buy the Apple Watch Ultra for $799, go for it, just... make an inventory of what he has versus what he doesn't have. You can gift the Apple Watch Series 8 for $349 and have $400 left for a Steam Deck or a number of other items. Play with the numbers, see what's what... and knock your gift out of the park (it's the thought that counts).
