Gifts for teenage boys

The 200gsm paper has a slightly toothy surface that suits coloured pencil, and the hard covers keep drawings flat and safe in a school bag. Rest your drawing hand on a scrap of paper to stop soft pencil smudging across the page. The pages are A4 in portrait format, 100 of them in all.

What owners say: Owners call it a heavy-duty book with thick paper that doesn’t bleed through, perfect for sketching and coloured pencils, and good value with more pages than most.

Nineteen LEDs sit behind the flat head, with three colours from 1800K to 6000K, each at five brightness levels, and it remembers the last setting. Clip it to the back cover rather than the pages and bend the metal gooseneck so the head sits just over the top edge. The lowest amber setting is enough for a paperback once your eyes adjust, and the gentlest on anyone asleep alongside.

What owners say: Owners rate it for reading at night, with brightness and colour to suit, from a softer orange to plain white, and are pleased with what it costs. It works well on a music stand too, and one has it on a desk as a mini lamp.

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Faber-Castell first made the Castell 9000 in 1905, and these are made in Germany. The tin lives happily in a school bag. A sharp craft knife gives a longer point than a sharpener, which helps when shading with the side of the lead, and a strip of swatches on scrap paper shows at a glance which pencil gives which tone.

What owners say: Owners find the leads smooth, easy to sharpen and good at keeping their point, and like how well the grades blend and how smart the tin looks.

The tubes hold 12ml each, and the paint has a buttery feel and dries glossy. White is always the first to run out in a small set, so a larger tube of white alongside makes it last far longer. Once acrylics have stuck, bigger tubes are the next step up.

What owners say: Owners like the strong pigment and the spread of shades, and find it a good introduction to acrylics that gives hours of fun. Drying time divides them.

First to 200 points wins, in about 20 minutes. The deck holds twelve 12s, eleven 11s and fewer of each lower number, so big numbers score well but are more likely to knock you out, and action cards add twists to each round. It’s marked for ages 8 and up.

What owners say: Owners find the rules take about two minutes to explain and the pace keeps everyone involved, and like that it packs small for a holiday.

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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.

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Long metal tips run neatly along a ruler or stencil; keep the pen upright so the tip follows the edge. The pigment ink is lightfast as well as waterproof. Staedtler builds in pressure equalisation so the pens won’t leak on a flight, handy for a sketching holiday, and they keep writing for up to 12 hours with the cap off. They’re made in Germany.

What owners say: Owners find them excellent for technical drawing and general artwork, and good value for money.

Each bottle holds 828ml, with the scale stopping at 650ml to leave headroom for a hard shake. A steel whisk ball does the mixing and lifts straight out for washing, and the screw-on lid has a flip-top spout. Rinse each bottle once the shake is finished, then let it dry with the lid open, which VELOMIX suggests to keep smells away.

What owners say: Owners find them tough, leak-free and easy to clean, say they dissolve powder well, and like having two in the box.

Ribbed cuffs do the holding, and the standard size has a deliberately loose fit. It goes in the washing machine on a cold cycle and into the tumble dryer on low, which helps the sherpa stay fluffy. Wash it on its own the first couple of times, as fleecy fabrics can shed.

• Thick sherpa lining
• Oversized, pull-on fit
• Machine washable

What owners say: Owners find it soft, fluffy and roomy, and warm enough to save on the heating.

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.

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