Gifts for teenage boys

Faber-Castell first made the Castell 9000 in 1905, and the leads are break-resistant; the pencils are made in Germany. Put each one back in its place in the tin, from soft to hard, and the right grade is always easy to find mid-drawing. A sharp craft knife gives a longer point than a sharpener, for shading with the side of the lead.

• 12 pencils, 8B to 2H
• Comes in a tin
• Break-resistant leads

What owners say: Smooth and easy to sharpen, they suit stippling and line art as much as shading, and the spread of grades and the metal tin win over beginners and seasoned artists alike.

LifeStraw designs it for germs, microplastics and silt, not chemicals or heavy metals, so it’s for fresh water from streams and lakes. It filters down to 1 micron, lasts up to 1,000 gallons and weighs 1.6 oz. After drinking, blow back through the mouthpiece to clear the water out, as LifeStraw advises.

• Filters up to 1,000 gallons
• Removes bacteria, parasites, microplastics
• Drink straight from the source

What owners say: Small and light enough to go on every trip and to sit in the emergency kit, it makes backpacking easier, and some call it a lifesaver in a tight spot.

Heads up: Drinking through it takes a firm, steady sip, so give it a try at home before the trip.

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.

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The 100gsm paper has a light tooth that takes plenty of erasing, and it’s acid-free. Sheets tear out cleanly along the perforations for handing in classwork or pinning up a finished piece, and rigid covers front and back mean a lap or a park bench will do for a desk.

• 100 sheets
• 9 × 12 in pages
• Spiral along the top edge

What owners say: Graphite, colored pencils and watercolor markers all sit well on it, owners say, and the textured surface holds shading without spoiling the line; the size suits daily practice, though a few find the pages thin for heavier media.

Heads up: Fuxi makes it for dry media and says it isn’t for watercolor, alcohol markers or acrylics, so keep wet work for a mixed-media book.

It’s Game Traveler’s officially licensed deluxe case. The console drops into a recessed insert, and a library for 12 game cards sits over it, guarding the screen and thumbsticks once the lid zips shut. Two little cases keep four microSD cards from going astray, and a soft cleaning cloth comes in the box for wiping the screen before packing up.

• Fits Switch, OLED, Switch 2
• Holds 12 game cards
• Guards screen and thumbsticks

What owners say: Owners praise the quality and say it travels well, with space for controllers as well as games. The hard shell shields the console from knocks, they find, and the price strikes them as fair.

It holds 32 fl oz in a double-wall bottle with a powder-coated finish, and Hydro Flask backs it with a lifetime warranty. A flex handle on the cap carries it on one finger, and the straw cap isn’t meant for hot drinks. Pull the cap apart before it goes in the dishwasher, as Hydro Flask advises, so the water reaches inside.

• Holds 32 fl oz
• Keeps drinks cold 24 hours
• Straw folds down, clicks shut

What owners say: Owners find it just as advertised and say it keeps drinks cold all day, with plenty of colors to choose from. The price splits them: some are happy to pay it, others think it’s too much.

It comes in four sizes, 25L to 95L: the 41L Small takes a change of clothes and sneakers, and the bigger sizes leave room for pads, a ball or a weekend’s packing. Inside there’s a zipped valuables pocket, with water bottle pockets on the sides. Double handles do for a quick trip from the car, and the adjustable shoulder strap takes over on a longer walk to the field.

• Holds 41 liters
• Ventilated shoe compartment
• Side water bottle pockets

What owners say: Owners single out the separate compartment for cleats, and there’s plenty of space for practice gear or a weekend away. They find it tough enough for rough handling, and kids love using it.

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Each bottle holds 28 fl oz, with markings that stop at 22 fl oz to leave headroom for a hard shake, and a screw-on lid with a flip-top spout. The ball lifts straight out for washing. VELOMIX suggests a rinse once the shake is finished, then drying with the lid open to keep smells away.

• Two 28 fl oz bottles
• Top-rack dishwasher safe
• Screw-on lid, flip-top spout

What owners say: Powder mixes smoothly with no clumps, the snap cap seals solidly and the bottles hold up well to the dishwasher. The wide opening makes them easy to wash out thoroughly.

Heads up: They’re made for powders and liquids: VELOMIX says no whole fruit, ice or hot drinks.

Each USB-C port gives up to 20W. An older iPhone needs a USB-C to Lightning cable, and anything with a USB-A plug needs a different charger. Anker notes that a Galaxy Note 10 charges but not at its 25W Super Fast speed, so Samsung owners after the quickest top-up may prefer a PPS port. No cable comes in the box.

• Two USB-C ports
• 20W from each port
• Leaves room around the socket

What owners say: A Pixel 8 Pro going from half to full on a 30-minute commute is one owner’s measure of it, and others run a MacBook or two phones at once. Most find it lasts, but a few had it fail inside two weeks.

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There are 63 pencils, with graphite from 5H to 8B, plus blending stumps, two erasers, a water brush and a 100-sheet sketchbook in a zip case. White charcoal and the metallic pencils show up best on the black and tan pages; keep the white paper for graphite. The sandpaper block brings charcoal to a finer point than the sharpener alone.

• 63 pencils of 6 kinds
• 100-sheet sketchbook included
• White charcoal and metallic pencils

What owners say: Beginners say it holds everything needed for serious sketching practice, and the watercolor and metallic pencils come in for special mention.