Gifts for your wife or girlfriend

The widths go by code, from 005 (0.20 mm) for hatching to 08 (0.50 mm) for outlines and headings. Sakura’s Pigma ink is fade-resistant and quick-drying, won’t bleed through most papers and sits happily under a watercolour wash; give it a moment before rubbing out the pencil underneath.

• 6 black widths, 0.20–0.50 mm
• Waterproof, fade-resistant pigment ink
• Fine enough for hatching

What owners say: Owners use them for writing, drawing and outlining, with no bleeding or feathering, and like the spread of tip sizes. How long the ink lasts is the mixed point.

The light, medium and heavy bands run from about 9 to 32 kg (20 to 70 lb). Sit one on the thighs just over the knees for squats and side steps, or move it down to the ankles for kickbacks once the lighter band feels easy. A small carry case keeps all three together, so the set can live in a backpack, the car or a drawer at work.

• Resistance about 9–32 kg
• Woven fabric loops
• Won’t roll up or pinch

What owners say: The bands stay put without sliding, owners say, and inner and outer thigh work is where they feel them most, moving up a band as they get stronger. How long they last is the one thing that divides them.

Heads up: All three bands are black, and the listing mentions no labels, so mark each one’s strength with a tag or a dab of fabric marker when the set arrives.

It holds 473 mL (16 oz) and keeps drinks hot for up to 11 hours, or cold for 24, by Contigo’s figures. One hand holds, sips and locks it. A hook inside the lid keeps a tea bag’s string tidy, the lid goes on the dishwasher’s top rack, and the steel body is washed by hand.

• Hot up to 11 hours
• Push-button lid that locks
• Tea-bag hook in the lid

What owners say: Coffee stays hot for a long time and nothing leaks or spills, owners say, and they like the lock button; it travels well and cleans easily.

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The USB-C port gives up to 30W, enough to take a recent iPhone or Galaxy to half full in about 25 minutes by Anker’s figures, and the USB-A port up to 22.5W for an older cable, both at the same time. A small LED picks out the ports in the dark, it turns its own power down if it runs hot in a parked car, and Anker covers it for 18 months.

• 30W fast-charging USB-C port
• 30W and 22.5W together
• LED light finds the ports

What owners say: Owners rate how quickly it charges and how much power it packs into such a small plug, and they like having USB-C and USB-A side by side and its blue ring of light.

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Two tiers of teeth share the work: long ones loosen the knots and short ones smooth. Tangle Teezer makes it for straight, wavy and curly hair, and for adults and children alike. Take it for a second pass on towel-dried hair too, but keep it away from the blow-dryer: Tangle Teezer says not to use its brushes with direct heat.

• Two tiers of flexible teeth
• Straight, wavy or curly hair
• Special-edition chrome finish

What owners say: Morning knots come out without pulling or snapping and with little pressure, owners report, and they like the gold finish and how easily it cleans.

WoodWick’s medium hourglass holds 275 g (9.7 oz) of soy and paraffin wax and burns for up to 60 hours, by the maker’s figure, with a wooden lid to keep dust off between evenings. Break off the blackened tip of the wick before each lighting so the flame catches cleanly. At about 11.5 cm (4.5 in) tall, it fits a bedside table or a desk.

• Crackling wooden wick
• Burns up to 60 hours
• Wooden lid keeps dust off

What owners say: Owners love the warm vanilla and the comforting crackle, and say it burns for days on end, longer than other candles.

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Under the ridges and knobs, which TriggerPoint designed to feel like a massage therapist’s hands, sits a rigid hollow core that takes users up to 227 kg (500 lb). It measures 33 cm (13 in) by 14 cm (5.5 in) and comes with free online how-to videos and a one-year warranty. Its short length suits one muscle at a time rather than both legs together.

• 33 cm (13 in) long
• Firm grid surface
• Fits in a gym bag

What owners say: Owners say it works on sore muscles without being too firm, has lasted them years and is easy to take along; no complaint stands out.

It brews about four mugs at a time. The filter has three layers of steel mesh, and two spare screens come in the box: stack one on for a cleaner cup when the grind is on the fine side. The handle and knob stay cool, and every part, filter included, goes in the dishwasher.

• Double-walled steel, 1 litre
• 3-layer filter, 2 spare screens
• Won’t crack like glass

What owners say: Owners say it keeps coffee hot well after pressing, looks smart on the counter and is easy to clean, and they find it sturdy.

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It weighs 5.4 kg (12 lb) and is sized for one person rather than the whole bed. Fine glass beads sit in small stitched pockets so the weight stays even, it goes in a home washer and dryer on low, and Mr. Sandman backs it with a 12-month guarantee.

• 5.4 kg (12 lb)
• Minky-dot and smooth sides
• Weight stays even, no bunching

What owners say: Owners describe it as luxuriously soft with the weight spread nicely, say they sleep deeply under it and feel it’s good value.

Heads up: The listing calls it queen size, but at 122 × 183 cm (48 × 72 in) it’s cut for one sleeper rather than to cover a queen bed.

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It stands upright on its own steel stand by the coffee maker, so it’s always within reach. For the thickest foam, tilt the cup a little and keep the whisk near the top of the warm milk. The USB cable is in the box but the plug isn’t, so charge it from a phone charger.

• USB rechargeable
• Steel stand included
• Hardly any splashing

What owners say: Owners find it froths well and feels well made at a fair price, the battery holds up well between charges, and it rinses clean in seconds; they like the steel stand too, and nobody raises a recurring fault.

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