Gifts for a male friend

The box holds Original, Chipotle, Chili Garlic, Green Pepper, Chili Lime and Sweet Habanero in 5 fl oz bottles, made with árbol, piquín and other Mexican peppers for what Cholula calls balanced heat. Keep the Original by the stove for rice and beans; Chili Lime suits fish tacos and guacamole, Chipotle brings smoke to chili and barbecue, and Chili Garlic stirs into a marinade or noodles.

• Six 5 fl oz bottles
• Everyday table sauces, not fiery
• Made in Jalisco, Mexico

What owners say: Owners like the flavors and the lack of a tangy aftertaste, and think the multi-pack is fair value. The bottles are a good size and get used across plenty of dishes.

A REACT speed core sits under an ionomer cover, and at 77 compression it’s on the firm side, so it suits a golfer who wants length more than a soft feel. On the green, set the alignment aid along the line of the putt before stepping in; a marker line drawn along it makes that easier still. It comes in white or yellow.

• 2-piece construction
• White or yellow
• Plus alignment aid for putts

What owners say: Owners find it adds real distance off the tee, some say 20 to 30 yards, with a solid feel, and it’s easy to spot and lasts several rounds. Golfers with slower swings, seniors among them, rate it too.

The 16-recipe book starts with the classics, so a margarita or a mojito makes a good first try, and a card in the box links to more recipes online. Everything packs into a gift box, and MixMate backs it with a two-year guarantee. Wash the tools in warm, soapy water before the first drinks, and dry them before they go back in the stand.

• 15-piece bar kit with stand
• Martini shaker and recipes
• Comes in a gift box

What owners say: The dark wood stand and the finish win the most compliments, and owners like that nothing else needs buying. Most find it sturdy, though a few had a cracked piece of wood or a rusty bottle opener out of the box.

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Two 9 ft tree straps with five loops each and aluminum carabiners come with it. Hang it with a gentle curve rather than pulled tight, and lie slightly diagonally: it’s flatter and far comfier that way. To clean it, take the carabiners off, put it through a cold, gentle wash and let it air-dry.

• Holds up to 500 lb
• Weighs just 1.5 lb
• 9 ft straps, 5 loops

What owners say: Tough enough that one owner’s survived kids playing on it and chewing it, it goes up and comes down easily, fits two comfortably and folds into its attached pouch. The neat, solid stitching gets a mention too.

Phillips #1 and #2 sit beside 3/16 and 1/4 in slotted blades, each with a magnet in the tip. The sand-blasted tips fit snugly to cut down cam-out, the tip size is marked on each handle, and DEWALT backs them with a limited lifetime warranty. All four are 3 or 4 in long, so a screw deep inside an appliance may need a longer driver.

• Four screwdrivers
• Phillips #1, #2, two slotted
• Magnetic tips hold the screw

What owners say: Strong, solid in the hand and comfortable to hold, owners say, with magnetic tips that keep screws in place in tight spaces.

There are 104 pages of 165gsm acid-free ivory paper at 5 × 8.25 in, and the paper takes a light wash, though heavier painting needs a mixed-media book. A ribbon marks the page. The name comes from the notebooks Bruce Chatwin wrote about in The Songlines; an Italian firm revived them as Moleskine in 1997.

• 104 pages of 165gsm paper
• Large, 5 × 8.25 in
• Opens flat to 180°

What owners say: Ink, markers and colored pencils all work on the smooth, heavy paper, owners find, and the elastic strap keeps it shut in a bag; fine liners show through for some and not for others.

The pot is double-walled 18/8 stainless steel inside and out and holds 34 oz, with a cool-touch handle and knob. Swirl a splash of hot water around it first to warm the steel before the grounds go in. It goes in the dishwasher, and Secura backs it with a 2-year warranty.

• Holds 34 oz
• Double-walled stainless steel
• Won’t crack like glass

What owners say: Owners call it heavy-duty and next to unbreakable, with no seams in the steel, and say it keeps coffee hot well after brewing. It comes apart easily for cleaning and makes a strong cup.

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Inside the turquoise case are an 8 oz hammer, slip-joint pliers, an auto-lock 10 ft tape, a 9 in torpedo level, a bit driver with 20 bits, precision screwdrivers, scissors, a utility knife and a 100-piece hardware kit. The eight hex keys are SAE sizes, so keep the metric keys from boxed furniture alongside them, and restock the hardware as screws run low.

• 142 pieces
• Hammer, level, tape and bits
• Slim case fits a drawer

What owners say: Owners call it a great starter set with a sensible spread of tools for small repairs, and like that it stays compact. The case divides them: sturdy for most, quick to crack for a few.

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The 3.4 fl oz eau de toilette comes in a turquoise bottle with a gold Medusa cap, made in Italy. Lemon joins the mint at the top, tonka bean and ambroxan sit in the heart, and vetiver and cedar underneath. Spray it on clean, dry skin at the neck and wrists, starting with two sprays: the base is richer than the opening suggests.

• 3.4 fl oz bottle
• Mint, green apple, vanilla
• Turquoise bottle, gold Medusa cap

What owners say: Owners say it lasts through a working day without being overbearing, that two or three sprays see them through an evening, and that the bottle looks as good as it smells.

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It measures 7.6 inches front to back, and the brushless motor gets more work from each charge, from a 2.0Ah battery a size up from most starter kits. The 1/2-inch ratcheting chuck holds bigger bits firmly. Set the clutch collar low for small screws in soft wood so they stop flush, and the LED stays lit for 20 seconds after the trigger, handy inside a closet or under a sink.

• Brushless motor
• One 2.0Ah battery included
• 7.6 in front to back

What owners say: Owners like how light it is to carry around a job and say the battery goes a long way between charges, with power to spare for home projects. Durability splits them: most find it tough, a few had trouble.

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