Teen Gifts Without the Eye Roll
How to impress a discerning audience.
Teens are a tough audience. I’m sweating just writing about them. Shopping for them without a list can feel like you are walking through a minefield. They want something cool but not trying-too-hard cool. No pressure!
While cold hard cash never goes out of style, here are seven gifts that have actually impressed my hard-to-please teens.
The Lego Polaroid Camera ($80) – Okay, so teens may not know what actual film is, but somehow this throwback has become totally cool again. Go figure.
A Record Player ($249-369) – Nothing says "I'm effortlessly cool" like spinning vinyl. I got my older son a record player and a subscription to Vinyl Me, Please (VMP) a few years back, and he loved it. Fair warning though – VMP hit some rough patches and recently got acquired by VNYL. The new owners promise they're bringing it back to its glory days, but we'll see.
The Dylan Striped Bean Bag Chair ($249) – This isn't your little kid's bean bag. It's so stylish I'd honestly put it in our family room. Just a heads up – it doesn't ship until mid-November, so it’s perfect for holiday gifting!
JBL Portable Speaker ($130) – This was hands down one of the best pre-college gifts I gave my oldest. Four years later, it's still going strong and delivers great sound. If you’re interested in something smaller and less expensive, the JBL Go 3 is a solid choice for $40.
Bokksu Snack Box ($40 for one month) – I have a teenage son, and snacks don’t last long in our house. Remember the Friends episode when Ross says, “I grew up with Monica. If you didn’t eat fast, you didn’t eat.” That’s how my husband and I feel. Bokksu Snack Box lets them discover plenty of treats from Japan (and right now, 6- or 12-month subscriptions won't cost extra due to tariffs) . Universal Yums is another option where you can pick snacks from the UK, Greece, South Korea, or Mexico. A Yum Box with 5-7 snacks runs $29 for a one-month subscription.
Tayto Potato Light ($22) – An affordable way to add a little quirky accessory. Perfect for when they want to chill without harsh overhead lights.
NYC Trash Can Pen Holder ($48) – Yes, it's a little pricey for a pen holder, in my opinion. But, it looks so cool and is definitely not something you will see in a typical teen room. Throw in some pencils with funny "first world problem" messages like "OMG, the Chipotle line is soooo long" and you've got yourself a unique and funny gift.
From left to right: Lego Polaroid Camera; JBL Flip 6; Urban Outfitters Dylan Bean Bag Chair; Only NY NYC Trash Can Pen Holder; Whisky River Pencils for First World Problems; Tayto Potato Light; Bokksu Snack Box
Top image: U-Turn Orbit Basic Record Player