Gift guide · 12 ideas
Gifts for teenage boys
For the boy who’s suddenly shaving, earning his own money and making his own plans: gifts for the things he does on his own now.
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Somewhere between thirteen and eighteen, a boy starts doing things without you. He rides to practice on his own, picks up a few shifts or mows the neighbors’ lawns, shaves for the first time and goes camping with friends instead of family. The presents that land at this age help with that new stuff, and a few are just for fun.
Each idea comes with our pick from one of our top lists, chosen for a teenager rather than simply the top of the list: the all-in-one trimmer with rounded tips, the U-lock made for a school rack, the waffle maker small enough for one hungry kid.
A first beard trimmer
For the first fuzz on his top lip and the morning he decides to deal with it himself. An all-in-one kit does a beard, a neckline and a buzz cut, with rounded tips that go easy on skin new to all this.
Philips Norelco All-in-One Trimmer 3000, 13 pieces (MG3919/50)
$20–$30
Thirteen pieces for beard, head, nose and ears, with self-sharpening steel blades whose rounded tips sit gently on the skin. Nine length settings run from 0.5 to 16mm, from close stubble to a short haircut, and it runs for about an hour from a charge.
What owners say: Good quality at a fair price, owners say, and it does a fine job on beards. Battery life and cutting split them, though, some had one stop charging or break within a few months, and the charging setup draws complaints.
A closer look: No oiling is needed: after a trim it’s just a rinse of the blades and combs under the faucet and a shake dry. It charges from a USB-A port, so a laptop or a phone’s wall plug does the job away from home, and the light shows when it needs topping up.
- 13-piece kit with nose trimmer
- Self-sharpening blades
- No oiling needed
A slim front-pocket wallet
A first debit card, a school ID and the cash from mowing lawns all need a home. A slim card holder fits the front pocket of his jeans, so it actually leaves the house with him.
Buffway Slim Front-Pocket RFID Wallet
$10–$20
A minimalist card sleeve just 3 1/8 x 4 7/16 in, with eight slots for cards and a license and an ID window that comes out, made to ride in a front pocket without a bulge. It’s faux leather, here in a carbon-fiber black finish.
What owners say: Owners like the look, how many cards and folded bills it takes for something so thin, and the tight stitching; some find the cards easy to slide out, others a little stiff.
A closer look: Put the two or three cards used most in the outer slots, where a thumb can push them out, and the license behind the ID window for quick checks. With no fold and no billfold, it suits someone who mostly pays by card and carries a few folded bills at most.
- Slim front-pocket card sleeve
- Blocks RFID card skimming
- Removable ID window
A gaming headset
Most of his social life now happens after homework, over a headset, with the same four friends. A comfortable one with a clear mic plugs into the controller of whatever they play on.
HyperX Cloud II Wired Gaming Headset
$30–$50
Big 53mm drivers, a sturdy aluminum frame and memory-foam cushions under a padded headband, with a USB control box that adds 7.1 virtual surround on a PC or Mac and a detachable mic certified for Discord. HyperX started life as memory maker Kingston’s gaming brand, and HP bought it in 2021.
What owners say: Sound, build and value win the praise, and plenty call it a great headset for gaming. The mic is the sore point, with some going quiet after a few months, and a few heard background static or had one give out within the year.
A closer look: On a PC or Mac, plug in the USB control box to switch on the surround and set the volume and mic level from the cable; on a console, the 3.5mm plug goes straight into the controller for stereo. The mic pulls out for music on the go, and a mesh bag and an airplane adapter come in the box.
- Works with PC, consoles, mobile
- Detachable noise-canceling mic
- Aluminum frame, memory foam
A portable power bank
For days that start at seven and end at ten: school, practice, then out with friends. A phone that’s still charged at the end of it means he can call for a ride home.
Anker 10,000mAh 30W Power Bank with Built-in USB-C Cable
$20–$30
Anker started out in 2011 making replacement laptop batteries. This 10,000mAh pack puts out up to 30W, and the built-in cable doubles as a strap, so there’s nothing to forget.
What owners say: About the size of a deck of cards, it slips into a purse and charges quickly, and owners like the built-in cable. Some find it holds plenty, others get one full phone charge, and a few had the cable stop working.
A closer look: There’s no wall charger in the box, but a USB-C charger you already own will refill it, and it takes up to 20W, so one with at least that much charges it fastest. The built-in cable is only 5.4 in long, which keeps things tidy in a bag or on a tray table but means holding phone and battery together while they charge.
- 10,000mAh, about 2 phone charges
- Built-in USB-C cable
- Cable tested for 10,000 bends
A U-lock for his bike
The first time he rides to school, practice or a summer job, the bike has to wait outside on its own, and locking it up properly is up to him.
Sportneer 17mm U-Lock with 5ft Cable and Bracket
$20–$30
A U-lock, a looped steel cable and a frame bracket in one box: a first lock for a student or a new commuter, with a silicone coating that keeps it from scratching the paint.
What owners say: The cable gives enough reach for both wheels and the frame, and owners rate it as strong. The U itself is smaller than most: handy in a bike bag, some say, but too tight for a few chunky e-bike frames.
A closer look: Put the U around the frame and back wheel and loop the cable through the front, so both wheels and the frame are held. It has no independent security rating, so it’s best for daytime stops somewhere busy, such as a campus rack, rather than overnight downtown.
- U-lock plus 5 ft cable
- 17mm thick shackle
- Silicone coating saves the paint
Boxing gloves
For the teenager who signed himself up for a boxing or kickboxing class and actually keeps going. His own gloves fit better than the gym’s shared pairs, and smell a lot better too.
Venum Contender 1.5 Boxing Gloves (Black)
$30–$50
Venum’s Contender glove is built for regular boxing, kickboxing and MMA training: synthetic leather outside, multi-density foam inside and a wide strap that holds the wrist steady. It’s a lightweight glove, so hands stay quick on the bag and pads.
What owners say: Well made and hard-wearing, owners say, and they look the part, whether for Muay Thai or a son’s boxing training. Sizing is the sticking point, with some finding them bigger than expected.
A closer look: It’s a sensible glove for someone joining a kickboxing or Muay Thai class who wants more than a starter pair without paying for a hand-made one. Many clubs ask for a heavier glove for sparring than for bag work, so it’s worth asking the coach which weight to get.
- Multi-density foam padding
- Wide hook-and-loop wrist strap
- Light, for quick hands
Heads up: Fit varies from hand to hand, so check Venum’s size chart on the listing before choosing a weight.
View on Amazon See our top 5 boxing gloves →A two-person tent
His first camping trip without parents is a big step, whether it’s with a friend, a cousin or the Scout troop. A tent of his own makes it his trip, not the family’s.
Forceatt 2-Person Backpacking Tent with Aluminum Poles
$50–$75
Backpacking weight at 5.5 lb, with 7001 aluminum poles, a door and vestibule on each side so nobody climbs over anybody at night, and a full-coverage rainfly rated at 3,000mm. Forceatt puts the pitch at about three minutes.
What owners say: Owners say the aluminum frame makes it quick to pitch, it fits two adults or a double air mattress, and it stayed dry through hard rain and strong thunderstorms; motorcycle campers like it too.
A closer look: Inside it’s 88.6 × 53.1 in, room for two sleeping pads side by side, with packs and boots in the vestibules. The two ceiling vents and the big mesh window cut down on condensation, so leave them open on still, humid nights, and stake out the reflective guylines when wind is forecast.
- Sleeps 2, weighs 5.5 lb
- Sets up in 3 minutes
- Two doors, two vestibules
A camping hammock
For summer afternoons at the lake or the park, when he and his friends would rather be anywhere but home. It lives in a backpack and goes up between two trees in a couple of minutes.
AnorTrek Parachute Camping Hammock with Straps (double)
$10–$20
Up in about 90 seconds: two 8.2 ft straps with six loops each let you adjust the height without knots, and at 1.6 lb it’s barely noticed in a backpack.
What owners say: Setup is easy and it packs neatly into its bag, light enough to forget about in a backpack; one owner even uses it as a windbreak. The straps split opinion, strong to most but not to all.
A closer look: Wrap a strap around each trunk, feed the end through its own loop and clip on the carabiner, then move it a loop up or down until the hammock hangs where you want it. Light enough to live in a backpack, it’s an easy one to bring on any walk with a view.
- Holds up to 500 lb
- Weighs 1.6 lb
- No knots needed
A first cologne
Somewhere around fifteen, the body spray phase needs to end. A real cologne, one spritz instead of ten, is a small step toward grown-up.
Versace Blue Jeans Eau de Toilette (2.5 fl oz)
$20–$30
A 1990s classic: bergamot, juniper and citrus over lavender and nutmeg, with sandalwood, cedar and vetiver underneath. It comes in a blue metal tin, which is half its charm.
What owners say: Owners call it a retro favorite that never went out of style, wear it to work as happily as on a weekend, and say it holds for hours; one has worn it since 1994.
A closer look: Being a fresh, aromatic scent it suits the daytime, and it can live in a gym bag or a desk drawer. The tin keeps the bottle out of the light, which is what preserves a fragrance, so store it in there between uses.
- 2.5 fl oz bottle
- Bergamot, lavender, sandalwood
- Blue metal tin
A precision screwdriver set
He’d rather open up a broken controller than throw it away, and with the right tiny bits he might actually get it working again.
JOREST 40-Piece Precision Screwdriver Set
Under $10
For the tiny screws a normal set can’t touch: 30 precision bits, including the pentalobe, tri-wing and small Torx sizes used in phones, laptops and game consoles, plus spudgers for opening cases.
What owners say: Everything for a small repair in one compact case, owners say, and one found it made fitting a motherboard and PC fans easy; the magnetic tip holds bits and screws firmly. A few had bits break on first use.
A closer look: Rest a fingertip on the swivel cap and turn the grip with the others: that keeps the bit steady on screws only a millimeter or two across. Go gently with the spudgers at the edge of a phone or console case, easing clips apart rather than levering hard.
- 30 precision bits, pry tools
- Swivel-top magnetic handle
- Tweezers and a cleaning brush
A mini waffle maker
Teenage boys get hungry at four in the afternoon and again at ten at night. A waffle maker sized for one lets him feed himself, and maybe even make breakfast without being asked.
Dash Mini Waffle Maker (4 in, Red)
$10–$20
A tiny waffle maker that heats in minutes and makes one 4-inch waffle at a time: breakfast for one, a dorm-room treat, or a quick batch of keto chaffles and hash browns. It weighs about a pound and tucks into a drawer.
What owners say: Owners love how little room it takes and how simple it is to use and clean, and many make chaffles and breakfast sandwiches in it; a few wish it got hotter.
A closer look: There’s no dial or timer: plug it in, wait for the indicator light to show it’s ready, then add just enough batter to cover the bottom plate and close the lid. Beyond waffles it does hash browns and cornbread, and it’s small enough to pack for a camping trip or a vacation rental.
- One 4 in mini waffle
- Ready light, no settings
- Fits in a drawer
A Bluetooth tracker
Now that he has his own house key, sooner or later it’ll end up in a hoodie at a friend’s place. With a tag on it, his phone shows him where.
UGREEN FineTrack Tracker Tag (Apple Find My)
Under $10
It uses Apple’s Find My network, and its CR2032 battery lasts over two years.
What owners say: One-tap setup wins praise, and for many it links up with Find My without a hitch. Not for all, though: a few couldn’t get it to connect, and accuracy, battery life and loudness all get mixed reports.
A closer look: There’s no app to download: it adds straight into Find My on an iPhone, and the left-behind alert pops up if you walk off without it. It has its own key ring hole, but no water rating, so it’s best on keys and bags rather than anything that might go for a swim.
- Works with iPhone and iPad
- Over 2 years battery
- No app to download
Heads up: It works only with Apple’s Find My, so it needs an iPhone or iPad.
View on Amazon See our top 5 Bluetooth trackers →Tips for buying for a teenage boy
- Find out what he games on and which phone he has before you buy: the headset plugs into most controllers, but a tracker tag usually works with either iPhone or Android, not both.
- Boxing gloves come in weights, so ask his coach which weight the gym wants for bag work and sparring.
- Charge the trimmer and the power bank before wrapping, so they work the moment the paper comes off.
Photos are illustrative, some computer-generated. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. It costs you nothing extra. How we pick · How this works.
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