If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably spent countless hours wondering what to buy for the people on your holiday gift list. Sharing ideas and recommendations is something I genuinely enjoy, so I’m not quite sure why it’s taken me this long to put together a gift guide. But here it is — my finely curated mega-guide for the 2024 holiday season, designed to make your shopping experience easier and ideally a bit more fun.
This guide results from a year spent scouring the internet for the best products out there. While I’m admittedly not the best at buying gifts, I’ve become pretty good at finding things others would love. You’ll find a mix of useful, creative, and occasionally weird and quirky items here — things I use frequently or wish I did. I’ve tried to keep most options reasonably affordable — as a rule under $1,000 and almost all under $200 — but there are a few splurges worth considering.
Most products here lean slightly towards what I, as a man, tend to appreciate. That said, I’ve done my best to incorporate unisex and women-friendly options as well. I’ve also made an effort to support small businesses whenever possible. Most of these items are ones I can personally vouch for, and others have come highly recommended by people I trust.
A handful of links may be affiliate links, so you can feel good knowing some purchases will help support this guide.
Happy browsing, and may you have a stress-free happy holiday season!
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Stocking Stuffers
Lamy Safari Fountain Pen
Writing with a fountain pen feels different. This pen is a perfect weight and feels comfortable in the hand. I recommend the medium tip, but they have other options if you prefer a finer writing path.
Aromatherapy Sleep Balm
A lavender-scented roll-on that my wife swears by. It works especially well for travel when you need to get some sleep on a long-haul flight.
2024 America’s National Park (and Federal Lands) Pass
Our National Parks are one of the greatest things this country has ever done.
Apple Watch Band
I’ve used a lot of Apple Watch bands. Most are impossible to clean or break after a few months. This one from Nomad is stylish and bombproof and has lasted me several years.
James Brand The Rowan Keychain
Everyone needs a bottle opener. This one is small and lightweight enough to carry daily.
Anthony Chapstick
Traditional chapstick tubes always melt in the summer heat usually covering the inside of my backpack or vehicle in a gooey mess. I love the packaging of Anthony chapstick and the blood orange tastes (I’m not eating it, but you know what I mean) fantastic.
Photography and Tech
Nomad Tracking Card for Wallets
This is above and away my favorite purchase from 2024. Everyone knows the feeling of losing their wallet or purse. After losing mine earlier this year, I tried several items to keep track of my wallet. Most wallet tracking devices do not work with Apple’s Find My ecosystem and AirTags are too thick for a traditional wallet. Nomad’s thin tracking card solved both. Barely thicker than a credit card, it easily slides into a wallet card slot and it shows in Apple’s Find My app alongside my other devices.
AirTags
These need to be everywhere in your life. I have multiple in my camera bags — one dummy that can be clearly seen and another in a hidden pocket. Other places I keep them are vehicles, keys, pup’s collar, and luggage. I once argued with United’s lost luggage department who insisted my bags were thousands of miles away while I ensured them they were several feet away at that very airport.
Insta360 X4
One of the most unique developments in cameras — particularly video cameras — in the last 5 years. The camera allows you to film a full 360° and choose the frame after the fact. You can also put the camera on a selfie stick which the software removes essentially giving yourself a personal videographer.
Nomad Charging Key
For when you need that extra charge after spending the entire 4-hour flight taking photos from the window seat and simultaneously streaming podcasts on the slow Wifi. I have USB-C to USB-C, but they also have a Lighting port version as well.
DJI Mini 4 Drone
If you don’t mind the additional $200, having the remote with the built-in screen is completely worth the upgrade
Ricoh GR IIIx
In all honestly, your camera phone is most likely an incredible camera, but if you’re looking to take it up a level and want a good walk-around camera, the Ricoh GR IIIx is one of the best for casual everyday photography. You can find it used and refurbished by Ricoh for under $1K
Leica Q3
I know I said I’d try to keep it under $1,000, but this is the one exception on this list. Everyone deserves to hold a Leica in their hand at some point in time. The Q3 is my perfect walk-around camera. Some cameras feel like a tool. The Q3 is an absolute joy to use. Learn how to use it and it becomes an extension of your hand and eye.
Smart Outlets
These will turn your traditional outlets into smart outlets. At such an affordable price, we have several of these around our home. For example, I use one on our washing machine to announce across the house via Alexa when a laundry cycle is complete. Another turns on a bedside fan every evening at 9 PM and off at 6 AM.
Lomomatic 110 Camera
It’s cool. It’s vintage. It’s hip. The camera is easy to use and will easily fit in most pockets and the resulting photos bring a wave of nostalgia. 110 film is still easy to find and readily available.
Travel
Travel Sling
Fanny packs are making a comeback. No, really, they are! I like using the travel sling when traveling in an unfamiliar country. To more easily carry my items inconspicuously, I move the sling around to my back and wear a coat over top. The slim profile makes the sling virtually unnoticeable, and I’m still able to rotate it around quickly when needed.
Anker 3-Port Fast Charging Brick
I used to carry multiple charging bricks when traveling — one for each device. Now, I carry only one. This charging brick is fast enough to power my Macboko while simultaneously charging my iPhone and other devices. One device saves space and utilizes fewer outlets which is especially handy when having to use an international converter.
Aer Tech Pack 3
Aer makes the best travel backpacks and this is my carry-on bag of choice when flying without camera gear. The bag is sneakily small, but carries plenty of items. I travel with my iPad, Macbook, several cables, headphones, and power supplies and the bag still easily fits underneath the seat in front of me.
Camping / Outdoors
VSSL Coffee Grinder
Coffee is essential to my mornings and a camping trip doesn’t mean I go without. Coffee tastes better freshly ground and this little device creates a consistent and smooth grind. The grinder is also small enough to find a place in any camp kitchen box. Their customer service is also excellent. Last week, I lost a screw in my grinder. I contacted VSSL’s team and within seconds they scheduled to send me a brand new one with no questions asked.
Prana Stretch Zion II Pants
My go-to hiking pants. Perfect for most weather including rain and snow. The fit is excellent and I appreciate the built-in adjustable waistband belt. Rear pockets have flaps to keep anything from falling out when climbing over rocks or logs and the small cargo pocket is useful while also staying unobtrusive.
Smart Bird Feeder
My good friends have this and it is both the dorkiest and coolest invention ever. The house takes photos and identifies the species of birds that visit your feeder. You’re even able to identify frequent guests and give them names.
Spikeball
My goodness, what ever will we do when the cell service goes away?! Small enough to toss into the car and is best with four players.
Darn Tough Merino Hiking Socks
I’ve tried every hiking sock out there and these are far and away the best. Extremely durable and warm enough for the heavy winter snow hikes. The best part is they’re guaranteed for life with no receipt necessary
Apparel
Teva ReEmber Quilted Bootie
Perfect for putting on around the campsite after taking off the heavy hiking boots.
Analog Watch
You don’t need another computer on your wrist bugging you with notifications all day. Disconnect and get yourself a classic automatic-movement wristwatch.
- Orient Kanno
A Seiko 5 would usually be my recommendation for an entry-level automatic watch but I just can’t get on board with a watch crown being at the 4 o’clock position. This one is a close second. - Sternglas Naos Automatik
Something a little different from a smaller German brand. Classic Bauhaus clean design and a great value that is perfect for dressing up. - Hamilton Field Watch
Up your watch game a bit more with this great everyday watch. This one is sure to become an heirloom worth handing down for generations.
Flint & Tinder 356 Pants @ Huckberry
I’ve tried every pair of jeans out there and this one is an ideal combination of durable with some flex. They’re affordable with a perfect fit. Slim fit is best for me, but the other fits are great as well. I also hear their short is outstanding, but I have not yet personally tried them.
Goodr Sunglasses
Sunglasses are one of those things I tend to lose often. Goodr makes a quality pair of sunglasses that are compatible to Raybans at a much more affordable price. My favorite style is the OG and they have loads of fun colors to choose from. The sunglasses seem to have a rubber/silicone-esque coating that makes them great for running or exercising so that they don’t fall down your face.
Groovelife Silicone Ring
Silicone rings are more comfortable for an active lifestyle. I treasure my wedding ring, but I’m terrified of scratching it on rocks when climbing or having it caught in a table saw when woodworking (never never ever Google ring avulsion injuries). Silicone rings are a great option as they’re flexible, durable and can be scratched without worrying about destroying an expensive ring. I still switch out to my wedding day band for special occasions.
Wallet
I completely recognize this is an absurd amount of money to spend on a wallet. However, I am big on spending money for items that will last a lifetime, particularly when it is something to be carried daily. Handcrafted with Italian leather, this is from one of the best leathersmiths in the world. I’ve had this wallet for over a decade and the seams are still perfect and the patina is fantastic.
Also recommended are Harbor London and Bellroy.
Thursday Boot Co. Sneakers
Common Projects makes the premiere go-to low-top white leather sneaker, but they’re outrageously expensive. Thursday Boot Co. makes a similar shoe at a quarter of the cost. I wear these nearly daily and cycle out a new pair every two years.
Baldur Iceland Sweater
The world’s best sweaters come from Iceland. This one is handmade from pure Plotulopi (Icelandic sheep) wool.
Outerknown Tomales Donegal Sweater
If the Icelandic design is not your style, this is my go-to sweater for winter days. It’s one of the most comfortable sweaters I’ve ever worn, but I might be slightly biased since it’s named after one of my favorite places in California followed by one of my favorite places in Ireland.
Books
A Book of Adventures
I enjoy a good list — especially a bucket list. This book goes beyond the traditional and obvious lists to provide 100 unique destinations and adventures. The details are great and the photography is spectacular.
Apollo Remastered: The Ultimate Photographic Record
An excellent addition to any coffee table collection. This book contains the highest quality photos of the Apollo missions. It contains photos that were never published when the mission was originally launched. They’re created from the original film and edited to perfection.
Never Play It Safe
I never particularly liked self-help books, but I’ve always admired Chase Jarvis as a photographer, so I thought I’d give this a chance and was pleasantly surprised.
Adventure Revolution
Get off the couch and take some risks. I’m a firm believer that a life is best lived by making some mistakes and taking risks. One of my favorite quotes is from Helen Keller who said” “Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.” This book is that quote in long form.
The Little Book of Hygge
The Danes are the happiest people in the world and hygge philosophy is contributed to being a big reason why. Be present, turn off the phones, build relationships acknowledge and appreciate the small things, and live life as if tomorrow will never come.
Fitness / Health
Magnesium Spray
Here’s the bougie part I mentioned in the introduction to this list. Bear with me, but each night I spray this magnesium chloride mixture on the soles of my feet and, since using it, my sleep has drastically improved. Most people are low in magnesium and the mineral is absorbed most quickly through the body through the large pores in the soles of your feet. Sound odd? Give it a chance and see if it works for you.
LMNT Electrolytes
I started using electrolytes while training for an ultramarathon to replace the salt lost in my body through sweat, but it turns out they have daily benefits for non-runners as well. In addition to preventing dehydration, electrolytes are great for neurological health and maintaining blood pressure and heart health. My favorite is orange flavor but can vouch for citrus being tasty as well.
Theracane
After carrying heavy backpacks and camera bags for the last two decades, my back is in a constant state of disrepair. A Theragun is an excellent tool that I also recommend, but I cannot use it to reach my back on my own. I throw the Theracane into the bottom of my luggage with each trip. It takes up virtually no room and can quickly be used after a long travel day hike.
Promix Protein Puff Bars
I cannot think of a better way to consume enough protein than by eating a rice crispy treat. These taste fantastic and have 15g of protein per serving.
Art
A Restaurant Drawing
Perfect for a couple that has a favorite restaurant or a fun first date story, John Donohue, the artist, does take special requests from those listed on the website. Auberge du Soleil, my favorite Napa restaurant, is one of my favorites.
Frame something
Get those photos off of your phone and onto your wall. Framebridge’s site is easy to use and they have plenty of options to choose from. They’ll even help you design a gallery wall if you have multiple photos with a theme.
NewAgeAbstract Textured Wall Paintings
I love abstract paintings and this shop paints a variety of (mostly) coastal-themed pieces.
Helm + Oar
Yes, I’m biased as Helm + Oar represents a selection of my photography, however, their whole collection is full of quality artwork and their float frames present the photos beautifully. Use my code CASEY25 for 25% off any piece once their Black Friday sale ends.
Home
LAFCO Marine Diffuser
Most diffusers smell chemically or give me a headache. This one smells like a morning breeze off the ocean and lasts forever. Don’t get the 15oz. The 6oz is perfectly capable for any small room.
Weighted blanket
Another item that drastically improved my sleep. When I recommend this to friends, the first comment is always about feeling claustrophobic. Sure, it’s 15 pounds, but when distributed across a large surface area it feels more like a warm hug.
Safety Razor Kit
I’ve struggled with razor burn since I first picked up the Barbasol can in 1996. The 3, 4, and 5-blade razors with heavy marketing budgets only make things worse. My life improved drastically when I discovered the timeless one-blade safety razor and a badger shaving brush. Some older things should be left untouched.
Eucalyptus Shower Spray
There are many versions of this and most are all the same. You know that smell that hits you when you walk into any spa? The spray turns a shower into a spa experience.
Kitchen
Spaghetti Monster Colander
C’mon, this is just fun!
Miir Moka Pot
You’re probably sensing a coffee trend here. This is Miir’s take on the classic Bialetti moka pot. When you want to slow down the coffee making and enjoy the process, the moka pot makes an excellent cup. I use it for Americanos when a drip coffee just won’t get the job done.
Milk Frother / Drink Mixer
There are many of these out there, but this is the one I use, and have never had issues. The tool is made for frothing milk, which it does fantastically, but I use it more for mixing powdered drinks. Each night before I go to bed, I will typically enjoy a hot chocolate or chai tea. Something tasty to wind down before drifting off to dreamland. Mixing powder into milk never works well with a spoon, but this mixer gets the job done in seconds with no weird leftover clumps.
Ceramic Salt and Pepper Grinders
I’m a sucker for anything matte carbon/black and, with a clean Nordic design. This set looks fantastic on a table and, with the output on top, the excess doesn’t spill onto your table.
Sitka Alaska Rosemary Sea Salt
Last year my friend gifted me some sea salt from the ocean outside of Sitka, Alaska and I found it to be incredible. Salt doesn’t seem to be something that needs improving, but the rosemary version is excellent for eggs and is something I look forward to preparing each morning.
Kitchen Shears
Most kitchen shears are terrible. These are outstanding.
Office
Ugmonk Analog
Several knockoffs have popped up since Jeff Sheldon created the Analog system a few years ago, but none are as good, and it’s worth the slightly higher price to support a small Pennsylvania business.
Grovemade Notepad
For writing daily to-dos and other tasks, I particularly love the long, narrow format here as my lists can often grow throughout the day. This keeps me from having to flip pages of a notebook.
Leuchtturm Classic 1917 Notebooks
Speaking of notebooks, these are some of the best. Moleskine notebooks may be on every shelf, but these are similar and the paper quality is much higher. They write very well with fountain pens and lay flat for easy writing. I prefer A5 size with soft covers and dotted ruling.
Light up word clock
A fun addition to an office desk or shelf, the clock displays the time in word format which reminds me of the classic split-flap displays found on older European departure boards.
Kids
Custom Climbing Holds
I don’t know why it never occurred to me that, instead of buying a fabricated fully-built climbing wall, you can simply build your own out of plywood and custom climbing holds. This way, the wall can evolve as the kiddo grows.
Lego Set
Our 3.5-year-old really enjoys Legos, but most of the sets are slightly above his age range. I found this set that is more friendly to younger kids.
Magnatiles
These have gotten a ton of use in our house. He loves to build rockets and cars and, when the creativity is lacking, simply stack them on top of each other. They’re also fun for 42-year-old fathers.
Apps
NordVPN
For privacy and safety online, a VPN app is vital especially when traveling. I’ve tried several and Nord has a great balance between features and cost.
Darkroom
This app is one that I use nearly daily. It’s like Photoshop for your mobile images (they have a desktop app as well). I love it so much that I paid for a lifetime subscription.
Flighty
I downloaded this pretty much entirely because it’s a beautifully designed experience for something that is traditionally a text dump of information. But it’s so much more. Flightly displays your flight details in a gorgeous interface, but their back end is often more on top of updates than the airline itself. I’ve had delays announced a half hour before the airline app notifies me which can be vital time when a reschedule is needed. The app keeps your details up front and center using iOS’s Dynamic Island.
Games
Kendama Toy
There’s something fun about an analog game in the age of phones and tablets. I admit, I’ve played with this thing for hours and, while it may be a placebo, feel that it has improved my hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.
Wingspan Board Game
More fun than it sounds, this game is quite competitive and you learn some fun bird facts along the way.
Spades
I started playing Spades years ago on long sports trips in high school and still play it today. It’s a competitive game that’s easy to learn and can last hours.
Subscriptions
NYT Cooking
I admit, unless it involves a grill and copious amounts of BBQ sauce, you’ll rarely find me cooking anything that doesn’t premade in a box. Though, the few times I’ve followed a recipe, it always comes from the New York Times.
YouTube Premium
These days I watch more content on YouTube than the streaming services. Removing ads alone is worth the $14 a month, but I love being able to download content for offline viewing, particularly for watching on long flights. The monthly membership fee is still shared with creators even though you’re not watching ads. Be sure to subscribe through the website rather than Apple’s App Store to avoid the additional monthly fee.
Bark Box
The pets deserve some love too. Each month we get two toys and two bags of fun treats for Nala, our golden retriever. To be fair, her default state is always a 10 out of 10, but she takes it up to an 11 when this arrives.
Drink
An incredible after-dinner drink
This just tastes like Christmas. As I get older, I tend to enjoy a drink after a nice dinner. Something to cleanse the palate before inevitably denying the dessert menu.
Engine gin
The gin is decent, but the oil can design is the star of the show here. It is a great feature for a man cave bar.
Charitable Giving
Of course, if you can afford a little extra, charitable giving should always be considered during the holidays. Before donating to some of the larger big-name charities, read up on where your money goes. Some organizations like Red Cross, Salvation Army, and Susan G. Komen may not be entirely what they seem.
As a nature photographer, helping to protect the outdoors and public lands is my top priority, but this site can assist in finding a charity that may better fit your values.
All three of these charities get 4 of 4 stars from Charity Navigator.
World Wildlife Fund
WWF works in over 100 countries to protect endangered species and address climate change. They focus on reducing forest loss and promoting the use of sustainable resources
The Sierra Club
Founded by John Muir, The Sierra Club works to keep our wild places wild by protecting wildlife, public lands, and waters.
Protect Our Winters
Through their community of athletes, scientists, creatives, and business leaders, Protect Our Winters helps outdoor enthusiasts protect their communities from climate change.
That’s a wrap!
As much fun as gift buying is, I’m always big on experiences over things. It’s hard to suggest experiences as they tend to be more location and budget-dependent, but I highly recommend getting outside or booking something that you’ll look forward to. Cruises are affordable, flights can be cheap, and your local community likely publishes a calendar of fun events that you may have overlooked.
Go somewhere. Travel. Get out of your comfort zone and experience something new!
Happy holidays, everyone!
