Gifts for your wife or girlfriend

Velcro on the base presses into the trunk carpet, so set against the back of the rear seats it can’t slide forward under braking. Sposuit rates it to about 55 lb, and the 600D Oxford fabric cleans up with any spray cleaner and a damp cloth. It can ride on the back seat for a road trip too.

• 70-liter capacity
• 2 compartments, 11 pockets
• Folds flat

What owners say: Owners say it’s well made and stays where it’s put, and that two full shopping bags fit just right. It works in trucks and SUVs alike, and collapses flat enough to leave the trunk free when it isn’t needed.

Featured in Gifts for new drivers →

Mokirui rates the 2.5 HP motor at under 45 dB, and the pad stands 4.6 inches tall and weighs 28.7 lb, easy to slide under a desk or sofa and pull out again. The top speed of 4 mph makes it a pad for walking rather than jogging, and the 15 by 35.4-inch belt takes users up to 265 lb.

• 10% incline, 4% decline
• Speeds 0.6–4 mph
• Wireless remote included

What owners say: Setup takes owners next to no time, and they use it to fit extra steps into the working day without losing focus; they call it sturdy, quiet and compact.

The 1-inch blade stands out 7.2 feet before it bends, and a nylon coating stops the markings wearing off; they’re black and red on a yellow blade. Hold the thumb lock down as the blade returns to slow it, and wipe the blade clean before reeling it in after messy jobs. A belt clip and wrist strap come on the rubber case.

• 25 ft blade
• Magnetic end hook
• Stands out 7.2 ft

What owners say: Owners like the clear 1/8-inch markings and big numbers, and say it feels solid in the hand and reels back in smoothly. The pink case is a hit, and one owner figures it stops the tape from wandering off with anyone else in the house.

Sakura launched the Micron in 1982 as the world’s first fineliner with water-based pigment ink, and the archival ink resists fading. The sizes go by code, not millimeters: 005 (0.2mm) is the finest, for hatching and tiny details, and 08 (0.5mm) the boldest, for outlines and headings. Give the ink a moment to dry before erasing the pencil underneath.

• Six line widths, 0.2–0.5mm
• Waterproof, fade-resistant ink
• Bleed-free on most papers

What owners say: Zentangle fans, doodlers and watercolorists all rate them: the ink doesn’t bleed or smudge, and the spread of sizes adds depth to a drawing. Durability is the mixed point, with some pens breaking or running dry sooner than expected.

Heads up: Use a light touch: the finest tips are delicate and last longest without pressure.

There are fifteen graphite pencils from 5H to 12B, black and white charcoal pencils, willow charcoal, soft pastels and blending stumps, plus a sandpaper block, a woodless graphite pencil and a tutorial. Charcoal is much messier than graphite, so work from top to bottom and away from your drawing hand, and spray finished pieces with a fixative.

• 21 graphite and charcoal pencils
• Sketchbook and zipped case included
• Tutorial included

What owners say: Beginners get everything needed to start sketching, from pencils to sharpeners and erasers, and the variety packed into the case goes down well.

The sponges are Miracle Complexion Sponges: use them damp for a dewy finish or dry for fuller coverage, and there’s a spare for when the first wears out. Wash the brushes once a week to keep them soft. Real Techniques began as a line developed with makeup artist Sam Chapman of YouTube’s Pixiwoo.

• 4 brushes and 2 sponges
• For foundation, blush, powder, eyes
• Sponges work damp or dry

What owners say: Super soft, with a smooth, almost airbrushed finish, and owners say they blend powder and cream blush alike without shedding. Beginners find them easy to start with and easy to wash.

Featured in Gifts for her under $25 →

Belkin says the 30W USB-C port takes an iPhone from empty to half full in as little as 21 minutes, and a Galaxy in 26, with PD 3.0 and PPS. With both ports in use it gives 30W and 12W. No cable comes in the box, and some cars cut power to the socket when the engine is off, so check the owner’s manual before relying on it while parked.

• USB-C and USB-A ports
• Up to 30W by USB-C
• iPhone 0–50% in 21 minutes

What owners say: Quick enough that one owner timed about one percent every 90 seconds on a phone, and durable with it. With both USB-C and USB-A, newer and older cables each have a home.

Featured in Stocking stuffers for adults →

Filberts, daggers and a fan join the flats and liner, with a palette knife, for acrylics or oils, and the nylon brushes take watercolor and gouache too. Unroll it flat beside the easel so every shape is in view, and slot each brush back into its pocket only once it’s clean and dry. Mixing colors with the palette knife keeps paint out of the ferrules and the bristles in shape.

• 30 brushes and palette knife
• For acrylic, oil, watercolor, gouache
• 8 brush shapes

What owners say: Thick, soft brushes that keep their shape and stay in one piece, with a spread of shapes and sizes that suits acrylics especially well. The roll keeps the whole set organized.

The bamboo whisk has about 100 prongs and the glazed bowl holds 18 fl oz, with a spout, and a matching tea towel comes in the box. Give the whisk a minute or two in warm water before its first use so the tines soften, then sift the powder straight into the bowl. The glazed inside rinses clean without scrubbing.

• 7 pieces plus a handbook
• 18 fl oz spouted bowl
• Steel sifter included

What owners say: Owners say it has everything a beginner needs and is easy to use from the first bowl. They like the look and think the price is right.

Low is 60W at 300°F and high is 100W at 410°F, and the copper nozzle spreads the heat so the glue flows evenly without strings. Full-size sticks lay long, even beads; the 21 that come with it are 5.9 inches long, so buy 7/16-inch refills when they run low, and let the nozzle cool completely before packing it away.

• Dual temp, 60W or 100W
• 21 sticks and a case
• Copper no-drip nozzle

What owners say: It heats fast and both temperatures do their job, owners say, and it has held up through long gluing sessions. They like the case and how smoothly the sticks feed through.