In case you missed our bonus episode, we are re-airing it! Wirecutter’s staff tests thousands of products every year, and of that mountain of items a few always stick out as the best of the best. To close out 2025, we asked our experts to share the things they loved most–and what they think would make great holiday gifts.

Whether you’re still finishing up your holiday shopping or you’re just here to soak up some end-of-year delight, this roundup is full of recommendations straight from the people who test stuff for a living.

If you’d like to receive hand-picked gift recommendations right to your inbox, subscribe to Wirecutter’s gifting newsletter, The Gift!

Products we recommend:

Annemarie Conte enjoys the Yummi 12” Handcrafted Taper Candles
Jackie Reeve used The Company Store Company Cotton Voile Quilt to keep cozy after surgery
James Austin gave his groomsmen gemstone dice as a personalized gamer gift
Amy Kravetz gave her kid the Swatch Flik Flak Watch for a dose of nostalgia
Trey French takes the Sawyer Squeeze Water Filtration System on every hike
Brent Butterworth loves the Sangean WR-15 tabletop radio with a bluetooth receiver for everyday, ad-free audio at his desk
Jennifer Hunter says the TWP Next Morning Shirt is a splurge-worthy wardrobe upgrade
Jon Chase added an Amazon Echo Dot to his child’s room for on-demand music and hasn’t looked back
Rachel Cericola thinks every nature lover deserves the Birdbuddy Pro bird feeder
Catherine Kast enjoys the OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Scraper & Chopper for making everyday kitchen tasks a little easier
Thom Dunn’s kitchen renovation was postponed by loving the Cosori Original Air Fryer Toaster Oven
Ellen Lee loves the OMY Hair Chalk for a fun dash of color in anyone’s hair
Liam McCabe has found numerous uses for the handy Calculated Industries AirShim Inflatable Pry Bar & Leveling Tool
Nicola Fumo says the Prada lip balm in a metal tube is instantly giveable (and refillable!)
Kaitlyn Wells uses the dracula-themed Ototo Gracula Garlic Crusher to help chop garlic without pain
Mel Plaut is sharpening all their knives (utility & kitchen) with the Spyderco Tri-Angle Sharpmaker
Kathleen Squires keeps every holiday roast perfectly cooked with the ThermoPro TP971 TempSpike Plus

Additional reading:

This Tiny Airbag Has the Power to Lift an Entire Fridge
These Candles Made Me a Candle Person. Now I Eat My Cheerios by Candlelight.
The Best 53 Christmas Gifts for Everyone on Your List
I Test Kitchen Tools for a Living. This $12 Staple Is the One Item I’ll Never Give Up.
The Little Water Filter That Lets Me Drink Stream Water

We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more›

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The Wirecutter Show is executive produced by Rosie Guerin and produced by Abigail Keel.Engineering support from Maddy Masiello and Nick Pitman. Episodes are mixed by Catherine Anderson, Efim Shapiro, Rowan Niemisto, Sophia Lanman, and Sonia Herrero. Original music by Dan Powell, Marion Lozano, Elisheba Ittoop, and Diane Wong. Wirecutter’s deputy publisher and general manager is Cliff Levy. Ben Frumin is Wirecutter’s editor-in-chief. Hosted by Rosie Guerin, Caira Blackwell and Christine Cyr Clisset.

Find edited transcripts for each episode here: The Wirecutter Show Podcast

What Our Experts Are Giving This Year (Encore)

The Wirecutter Show