Gifts for a male friend

This pack adds a Swap Hands card and blank wild cards for writing your own house rules, and it plays with two to ten, so it suits a big family gathering. A full game is first to 500 points over several rounds, or play single rounds when time is short.

What owners say: Owners love it for hours of family fun and say children and adults pick it up easily. Durability is mixed: some find it lasts through endless game nights, others that the paper box wears out quickly.

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The 5,200mAh battery gives up to 24 hours of play, it charges by USB-C, and it’s rated IPX7 with 12W of output. Two soundcore 2 speakers can pair for stereo across a room, as long as both are the same version. After a soaking at the park or a session in the shower, dry it off and let the charging port dry out before plugging it in.

What owners say: Loud, punchy sound for its size, a compact shape, quick charging and a Bluetooth range that holds up well.

A PWRCORE centre with a compression under 50 means a gentle swing still gets good speed off the tee, and TaylorMade aims it at everyday golfers rather than tour players: moderate swing speeds get the most from the soft core. It’s a two-piece ball with an ionomer cover, and comes in plain white and yellow as well as the Ink colours.

What owners say: Owners love the soft feel, especially on the putting green, find the colours easy to spot and like how they play.

Pump as soon as the last glass is poured rather than at the end of the evening, as the less time the wine spends open, the better it keeps, then stand the bottle upright and rinse the stopper before it’s used again. Skip it for fizz: a vacuum draws the bubbles out.

• Pump and one stopper
• Clicks when the seal’s tight
• Up to 10 days’ freshness

What owners say: Owners find it simple, sturdy and quick to use, and say it keeps an opened bottle tasting fresh for days and saves money on wine that would have been poured away.

A USB-C charge is good for more than 170 smokes by iljimae’s figure, so charge it before the first evening. Hold the button a few seconds until the ring glows, then press again to start. Go easy on the chips, as a small pinch burns clean and a heaped one chokes; the six run from pecan and beech to pear and cherry. It sits on tumblers, rocks glasses and mason jars.

What owners say: Owners find it quick to set up, enjoy the six wood flavours and say it does the job well, and they consider it fairly priced.

It’s rated to 300kg, with triple-stitched seams and wide looped straps that go round a broad old trunk as easily as a slim one, which widens the choice of trees on a busy campsite. On the walk in, hang the sewn-on bag by its carrying loop from a rucksack strap, so it’s out of the way but quick to reach.

What owners say: Owners call it good quality and sturdy, find it quick to put up and take down and light to carry, and say it’s roomy and comfortable and packs away compactly.

The tins hold 750ml each and the measures read 15/30ml and 25/50ml, with spoons, four pourers and a recipe guide for the first few drinks. To shake, fill one tin two-thirds with ice, add the drink, press the second in at a slight angle and shake hard for about 10 seconds; a firm tap where the tins meet breaks the seal, then pour through the strainer.

What owners say: Owners rate the quality and how complete it is, and one points to the recipes for getting started; the recurring complaint is scratches, with several finding marks on the steel straight out of the box.

Pre-curved padding and an attached thumb help the hand close into a proper fist, and the full wraparound strap keeps the wrist straight when punching. RDX recommends 4oz to 10oz for young people up to 14, while adults go heavier, with more padding for sparring. The palm is ventilated.

What owners say: Owners find them comfortable and well made, with a snug fit that stays put, and say they break in quickly and handle bag work, pads and sparring.

It runs up to four hours on a charge, and the LED display shows how much battery is left, so a cut needn’t stop halfway round the back. A quieter 70dB mode helps with children who don’t like the buzz, handy if the whole family queues for a trim. It charges over USB-C, but no plug is included, so use any USB phone charger.

What owners say: Owners like the long battery life, that it arrives fully charged, and the solid, well-balanced feel. They also find it quiet and like the number of extras in the case.

It’s made by Bob and Brad, the Minnesota physical therapists who became YouTube favourites, and it works on calves and quads. It weighs 430g, with five speeds, five heads and a carry case, and switches itself off after 10 minutes. A USB-C charger you already own does the charging, as there’s no plug in the box, and very bony or sensitive spots are better left to the softer heads.

What owners say: Owners are surprised by how much power there is in something so small, and many reach for it after a run. They mention a battery that lasts, USB-C charging and a useful spread of heads.

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