Nota bene: All products in this article are independently selected and vetted by InsideHook editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
We’ve spent an inordinate amount of time these past two months compiling what felt like an endless stream of gift guides so that you, dear reader, were able to find the perfect gift for each person on your list.
And then when we were done with that, what did we do? We woke up every day and found the best deals the internet had to offer on those perfect gift items so that you, dear reader, could save a buck here and there.
And did anyone think to ask what we most want to receive for the holidays this year? No. The answer is no. But that’s not going to stop us from telling you. (And, more importantly, any of our relatives who may come across this.)
Grant Stone Country Derby in Antique Cognac Pebble Grain
“Last year I purchased a pair of these shoes at a really reasonable price and I almost wish I hadn’t. Reason being that once you own a pair pretty much every other brand of shoe is inferior. It’s like living in New York City and trying to move anywhere else. You go to a different city for a week and say “I could live here.” Then you go back home and say, ‘What the hell was I thinking?’ That sums up buying any other pair of shoes for me at this point. It’s a blessing and a curse.” — Mike Falco, Art Director
Tracksmith Pioneer Club Tee
“I fell head over heels for running again in 2020, after almost a decade away from the sport, and one of the virtual races I ran in this year awarded Tracksmith gift cards to its top finishers. They’re veritable gold to the running community. Since I wasn’t quick enough to win the cash, I fell back on Plan B: just put one of the brand’s newest graphic tees on my Christmas List. This one is an homage to Ted Corbitt, America’s “father of long distance running” and the country’s first Black athlete to compete in the Olympic Marathon. Corbitt spent his formative running years with the Harlem-based New York Pioneer Club, before eventually founding New York Road Runners and helping design the New York City Marathon course. As always, Tracksmith sourced the tee from a family-run cotton mill in its home state of Massachusetts. I’ll have this one for a while.” — Tanner Garrity, Associate Editor
Taylor Swift “in the trees” Hoodie
“Because when you’re a 42-year-old dude, you can’t just be like, “Yeah, this is a Taylor Swift hoodie I bought for myself.” But if someone buys it for you and is like, “LOL, I know how much you love Taylor Swift and I assumed you secretly really wanted this,” you can just laugh and be like, “Thank you, that is so funny! Amazing.” Then you can wear it every day and treasure it always.” — Mike Conklin, Executive Editor
Alright, Alright, Alright: The Oral History of Richard Linklater’s Dazed and Confused by Melissa Maerz
“Richard Linklater’s filmography is like a giant antidepressant for me. Watching very beautiful people having stoned, heady conversations about the universe or Kiss always puts me in a really great mood. Dazed and Confused, specifically, is something I watch at least five times a year, seeing the gang plot out their parties and lives little by little is something I love returning to. Having devoured all of the commentaries and behind-the-scenes features there are to offer, I’ve been really hoping I get the oral history of the movie to dive deeper into the makings and shenanigans of all these future superstars. From everything I’ve heard, it seems to deliver on that, plus accounts of his battles with the studio for creative control and beyond. Christmas would be a lot cooler if this came.” — John Hill, Social Media Manager
Rado Captain Cook Bronze Burgundy
“I’m really looking forward to 2021 when the retro dive watch boom finally fizzles out and we can focus our attention on something else. But before that comes to pass, I’m hoping to get my hands on one of the rare pieces I believe got it exactly right: a burgundy version of Rado’s Captain Cook Bronze. It’s proved to be a polarizing style as its color scheme makes it a perfect fit for Captain Morgan’s ensemble, and the name has led some online commentators to nickname it the “Ron Burgundy,” but despite all that, I’m of the mind that people should go with their gut in the watch department. And the first time I saw this, I knew I needed it on my wrist.” — Alex Lauer, Senior Editor
HLHome Laptop Bed Desk
“I’m usually someone who prefers “fun” or indulgent gifts to more practical ones, but I’ve spent more time than I’d care to admit publicly working from my bed in 2020 (I don’t own a regular desk, and I can’t work from our kitchen table without getting distracted by my roommate’s Zoom meetings), and I’ve spilled far too many lunches where I sleep to carry on without this bed desk. It’s got everything you could possibly need: a hard surface on which to rest your laptop and/or snacks, a cupholder, a USB-powered mini light and a fan, four USB ports so you can charge all your devices while you work, a drawer for storage, and a slot to prop up an iPad if you’re binge-watching something on your tablet. With herd immunity still not likely until summer at the earliest, we might as well make the best of our work-from-home situations for a few more months, right?” — Bonnie Stiernberg, Senior Editor
Dell UltraSharp 24-Inch Screen LED-Lit Monitor
“I need a second monitor while I work from home in 2021 (and based on where I land in the vaccine line, it’ll be awhile before I see the inside of an office again). The laptop I grabbed from work back in March is straining my eyes, so I wanted a big screen but at a modest price and also with a modest footprint, since the screen’ll be resting on my (now former) dining table. This Dell offers a very thin panel and small base, coupled with the ability to pivot and tilt. Bonus: Our IT guy at InsideHook vouched for it.” — Kirk Miller, Managing Editor
Lululemon Hooded Define Jacket
“Earlier this year, I traded my Lululemon jacket for my sister’s Tiffany sunglasses. At the time, this seemed like a great deal on my end, considering the Lulu jacket probably cost a couple hundred dollars less than my sister’s designer sunnies. In recent months, however, as the sun has made increasingly shorter and less direct appearances in my life, I’ve begun to regret the decision. Currently, my need for stylish athleisure wear far outweighs my need to protect my eyes behind a pair of oversized, rhinestone-accented sunglasses. But hopefully, come December 25th, I’ll be the proud owner of both a new Lulu jacket and my sister’s extravagant sunglasses, restoring my faith in my position at the better end of our trade.” — Kayla Kibbe, Associate Editor
Faherty Teton Valley Jacket
“This fall, I was fortunate enough to get my hands on (and arms through) one of Faherty’s Legend Sweater Shirts and it quickly became one of my favorite things to wear while attempting to stay warm without looking like a schlub while outdoor dining in NYC. Since I know the brand and the quality of the products they make, the Teton Valley Jacket seems an ideal fit for looking fashionable without freezing as outdoor dining, hopefully, continues throughout the winter.” — Evan Bleier, Senior Editor
Stagg Electric Kettle
“I’m sick of waiting for my tea water to boil on the stove, which is why this year I’m asking for an electric kettle. This one from Fellow is highly reviewed, boils water in a minute and most importantly, looks great sitting on my counter.” — Ben Fox, Affiliate and Partnerships Manager
Cold Picnic “Pines of La Mola” Rug
“With a permanent chill having settled in my apartment this winter, I’ve been looking for new ways to up the coziness and sense of warmth. Enter Cold Picnic’s “Pines of La Mola” rug. I’ve been a longtime admirer of the brand’s abstract rugs, but never felt settled enough to justify purchasing one. This seafoam green rug seems just what my room needs in order to tie it together, adding a much needed dose of color that’s balanced out by the brown and tan accents. It’ll make getting out of bed on even the coldest of winter mornings all the more bearable.” — Lee Cutlip, Associate Editor
A Period of Juvenile Prosperity by Mike Brodie
“Story goes Mike Brodie turned 17; picked up a habit for freighthopping; found a Polaroid camera behind a car seat; crisscrossed the U.S. for five years snapping photos of all manner of vagrant and vagabond; exhibited those photos in a gallery, then many galleries; made a book (this book); earned comparisons to Eggleston, Shore, Frank, Evans; quit photography; learned to fix diesel engines; got a job with the Union Pacific Railroad; married a conductor; lived modestly ever after. But those five years will never be forgotten because this book will never be forgotten, unless it is by my family, to whom I have mentioned it would make a great gift for about three years running to no avail. Maybe this is the year.” — Walker Loetscher, Editor in Chief
Filson Down Cruiser Vest
“As an individual who has worked for a men’s lifestyle publication for the better part of a decade, I’d have to be a top-shelf jackass not to know that Filson is a very legit brand. That being said, for whatever reason (that reason likely being budget allocation that traditionally skews toward Nike Air Maxes and marijuana) I’ve never gotten around to pulling the trigger on one of their proper heritage pieces. However, having recently written a piece for the aforementioned publication (see: this one) breaking down several items in their current collection, I’ve decided that this holiday season I’m going to bite the bullet and wheedle my better half into buying me this handsome Cruiser Vest — crafted from Filson’s renowned waxed canvas “Cover Cloth” and stuffed with responsibly-sourced goose down — that should keep me dry and toasty all winter and for many more winters to come. What can I say, I’m a victim of my own advocacy — plus the “slotted utility chest pocket” looks like it’ll hold a weed vape quite nicely.” — Danny Agnew, Creative Director
Glossier Boy Brow
“Every year I use the holidays to restock my skincare/makeup bag, which consists mostly of Glossier products. Yes, I have fallen prisoner to the glossy millennial pink cult and have been a proud member for years. As someone who is terribly makeup-incompetent, their products are easy to use and give me enough coverage, plus a nice bit of dew without feeling weighed down by product. I use the brand’s 3-Step Skin Routine, Stretch Concealer and Boy Brow just about every day, though the Brow has emerged as a definite favorite. It instantly adds fullness and shape to my brows without causing them to feel stiff or sticky. Long-lasting and super user-friendly, I would seriously be lost without it.” — Logan Mahan, Assistant Editor
Apple AirPods Pro
“Because there must always be one. For Christmas I finally caved and asked for Apple Airpods Pro, for two reasons. The first being that I am, most regrettably, a sucker for Apple products. The second (arguably more pertinent reason), though, is that I have weird shaped ears and, therefore an unbelievably hard time finding headphones that work for me. I’m hopeful that Airpods Pro are the answer. That, and the prospect of wearing noice-cancelling headphones while I run in the city is a real rush.” — Lindsay Rogers, Editorial Assistant
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