By Danny Perez,Rachel Klein

Copyright popularmechanics

Stocking stuffers can have a bad rap. They’re often gag gifts that you pretend are funny while opening them or knickknacks that end up getting tossed in a drawer or regifted during white elephant parties with coworkers. But these little tokens don’t have to be a bummer if you opt for something practical and fun (but not outright ridiculous).Really, a stocking stuffer only needs to check one box: small. Warm socks, hats, and gloves aren’t the most original ideas, but they’re still a good choice, especially if you personalize it. Getting running gloves for a future marathoner or a sleek passport cover or luggage tag for an avid traveler carries more weight. And everyone can use pocket-size tech gadgets, like chargers and Bluetooth trackers. We found a ton of stocking-sized gifts that are unique, useful, and great for guys who love tinkering, building, and nerding out. Smartphone RC Controlled Paper Airplane Kit This takes paper airplanes to the next level by giving them remote-controlled flight. He can fold up any style of paper airplanes, attach the frame, and fly it using his smartphone. A quick charge gives 10 minutes of continuous flight time and the app is easy and fun to use. Bugout Pocket Knife The Bugout is the perfect EDC knife due to its lightweight build and a blade that retains an edge. Its thumb stud makes it easy to deploy, and the frame lock prevents the blade from closing while in use. Benchmade manufactures all of its knives in the U.S. and is a well-established name in the knife industry, renowned for its high-quality products. Heavyweight Short-Sleeve Pocket T-Shirt Roll one of these up in his stocking, and we guarantee he’ll be happy. These pocket tees hold up over multiple washes and wear, and can be layered in the winter months. They come in a variety of colors and sizes, ranging from XS to 4XL. Stormproof Match Kit Wind, rain, and snow won’t stop your favorite camper from getting out into the wilderness, so give them some matches as resilient as they are.These stormproof matches come in a waterproof case that also has a waterproof strike zone. When they run out, they can always buy more to refill their case. 6-In-1 Pocket Knife Sharpener & Survival Tool Hardcore hikers and preppers will appreciate this pocket knife sharpener that has a built-in farro rod for starting fires. There are two pass-through slots for straight and serrated blades, and a flip-out honing rod is also included. Fabric Wax Bar As fans of waxed jackets, we wholeheartedly believe in the gift of old-school weatherproofing. This Otter Wax bar can be used to wax hats, bags, and touch up waxed jackets (though you’ll need quite a bit if you’re doing a whole jacket). The beeswax composition seeps into fabric to help it repel water and wind. Arkfeld Pro Rechargeable Flashlight This rechargeable flashlight has an impressive 1300 lumen brightness which rivals many camping lanterns, but is less than a tenth of the size. It has adjustable brightness and three different light settings. They can clip it on their pocket or daypack. Ultramax 400 Color Print Film If they’re into shooting on film, make sure they don’t run out of film on their next adventure. This three-pack is a great value and works for both indoor and outdoor shooting. It’s great for those who want something for everyday pictures. Extreme Cold-Weather Boot Socks Socks may not be the most exciting stocking stuffer but no one can deny their utility. He’ll surely appreciate these extreme cold-weather socks when he’s out shoveling or hiking snow-covered trails.Made by Carhartt, the socks are crafted from a blend of acrylic, wool, polyester, and nylon, along with a touch of elastane, ensuring they maintain their shape. They also have a cushioned ribbed cuff designed to wick away sweat, along with a reinforced toe. Stainless Steel BBQ Grill Scraper Scrape those grates clean without any stray brush bristles making a mess (or falling into food) with this tiny stainless steel tool. It has six round and five V-shaped grooves to get the job done, plus it’s dishwasher safe. It’s a great stocking stuffer for its size and practicality—plus the little owl is fun. 3-in-1 Stuffed Burger Press Men who like to get fancy with their burger will flip when they find this three-in-one burger press in their stocking. You can use the press to add toppings in the middle for a stuffed burger and to make sliders. Using it is also much neater than making patties by hand. Plus Wireless Smart Meat Thermometer Give them peace of mind with this thermometer that takes the guesswork out of grilling and cooking. This meat thermometer works with an intuitive app on their smartphone to give precise temperature reads on beef, pork, poultry, and fish. It charges through the wooden case that only requires a single AAA battery, which is included. Lip Balm SPF 25 (Pack of 3) A cold-weather necessity but a bit more elevated, Jack Black’s lip balm is one of the best out there. The brand makes anything and everything for men to take care of their skin and hair. It smells good without being overpowering and moisturizes better than a lot of other lip products. Left Center Right Dice Game Set This eye-catching mini set includes everything he needs to play a seriously addictive dice game, including three dice, 30 poker chips, and a user’s manual, all packed into a black travel-size pouch. If your dude doesn’t dig blue, the set is also offered with red poker chips. Cuffed Beanie You can never have enough beanies and you’d be hard-pressed to find one as reliable as this one from Carhartt. It’s extremely warm, stretches to fit anyone—even large heads—and can be hand washed. They come in a bunch of different colors but the brand’s classic brown won’t miss. SoftFlask Collapsible Water Bottle HydraPak’s collapsible water bottle can be used for almost anything including hiking, running, and commuting. They’re easy to drink from and easy to clean. As you drink, they shrink down making them super portable and easy to pack away when finished. They can be stashed in a daypack or used in a running vest. Bullet Pen – 400 Series They probably have a drawer full of plastic pens and maybe a third of them work sometimes. Give them one that is reliable, refillable, and looks better than the ones they’re accumulating from the office. The Fisher Space pen has been on every manned NASA mission to space since the Apollo mission in ’68 which is a solid endorsement. Automatic Umbrella A dependable umbrella is a solid stocking stuffer gift, and this compact automatic from RainPlus features nine reinforced fiberglass ribs, a Teflon-coated waterproof canopy, and a nonslip handle. It comes in nine colors, including black. Classic Pocket Lighter The classic windproof lighter comes in handy more than you’d think. It’s a versatile tool to add to anyone’s EDC and can be refueled whenever needed. The wick is also replaceable when it burns out. There’s a reason Zippos have been passed down for generations—on top of being sustainable, they’re downright cool. Fire Starters for Campfires and Grills These fire starters make lighting charcoal and campfires so much faster. They burn clean and odorless and can burn up to 10 minutes to ensure his kindling is fully lit.These can be used for grilling and it makes the process a lot easier. They’re also a great alternative instead of lighting paper or twigs in a charcoal chimney and hoping they catch. They light up immediately and he’ll only need a couple to get the coals glowing. The Palmer This uniquely designed utility knife elevates the standard pocket knife. Its slide-out mechanism deploys a razor blade whenever they need it and can be replaced with any standard razor blade you’d find at a hardware store. It’s low-key, low-maintenance, and highly effective. Classic Flask with Never-Lose Cap When in doubt, a little booze can brighten up the holidays. Stanley’s flask has a wide mouth for easy, funnel-less filling and it’s built as durable as the brand’s line of camp gear. It’s dishwasher safe and the screw-on cap is attached so they won’t lose it while imbibing. Grill Brush and Scraper With a triple set of stainless steel bristles, a heavy-duty scraper at the top, and an 18-inch handle with a nonslip coating, this grill brush is a fantastic stocking stuffer for men who love to barbecue but hate cleaning up. It’s safe for all surfaces, plus it’s angled to prevent hands from getting too close to the hot grates. All Natural Leather Conditioner This conditioner can be used on all kinds of boots and dress shoes. It’s also good for conditioning belts and leather bags. It keeps the leather from drying out and cracking and is a good shortcut when breaking in a new pair of boots. There’s no color to it like shoe polish, so they can use it on anything. BoostCharge Power Bank This sleek power bank has integrated USB-C and lightning cables so they don’t have to fuss with any extra wires. It uses passthrough charging to juice up a phone while the power bank charges, plus it’s capable of topping off an iPhone battery twice on a single charge without overcharging devices or overheating. Titanium Single 450 Cup This lightweight camp cup is a serious piece of camp cookware thanks to its titanium construction and corrosion resistance. They can reheat soup, coffee, or boil water while enjoying the outdoors. Even if they enjoy most of their coffee indoors, it’s still a unique mug to add to their collection. Cocktail Smoker Kit with Torch This kit has everything needed to enjoy a smoke-infused cocktail at home. Even a simple glass of bourbon tastes better when it’s imbued with a little wood smoke.The kit comes with clear instructions on infusing spirits but it can also be used to add flavor to meats, cheese, and dried fruit. It comes with six different wood flavors to complement any palate. Whiskey-Infused Toothpicks Pulling a toothpick out of your wallet after a meal has a certain sense of satisfaction—even more so if that toothpick tastes like sweet Kentucky whiskey. These whiskey-infused toothpicks have gift-worthy packaging and are a good option for those who may be harder to shop for. If their simple pleasure includes good company and better whiskey—go with this. Black Hole 3-liter Cube Packing cubes make travel so much easier. The 3-liter cube from Patagonia keeps things organized and can double as a dopp kit or dirty-clothes bag when traveling. They also come in handy for storing out-of-season accessories at home. The Blackhole line from Patagonia employs durable DWR-treated nylon and is built to last. Stainless Steel Multi-Tool A multi-tool that attaches to a keyring couldn’t be handier, and this lightweight 420 stainless steel option can be used for more than 16 tasks. It features a bike spoke key, a bit that’s compatible with multiple screwdriver tips, a can and bottle opener, plus an open and closed wrench, a wire stripper, a serrated edge, and more. The tool is also TSA-compliant, so there’s no need to detach it before traveling. Digital Tire Pressure Gauge Upgrade their analog pencil gauge they forgot they had in the glove box and give them this digital one. It has a clear, backlit LCD display that measures in 0.1 increments for a more accurate read. The nozzle also lights up so you can find the tire valve in the dark. It runs on disposable batteries and displays how much juice they have left so you know when to replace them. Spot 400 Headlamp Hikers, campers, and night runners can appreciate a hands-free flashlight that lets them see where they’re going and also keeps them visible. This classic Black Diamond model has multiple light modes, including red light, strobe modes, and dimmable modes.It has a max output of 400 lumens and runs on three AAA batteries. It’s also waterproof so no need to sweat the sweating. Wonderboom 4 Portable Bluetooth Speaker This very portable bluetooth speaker can clip onto a daypack or be thrown in a bag for any outing. It’s waterproof, dust-proof, and even floats. It also delivers great sound thanks to the 360-degree design and has a battery-life of 14 hours on a single charge. They can use it for the park, patio, or even room-to-room in their home. Rechargeable Micro Lantern Campers and outdoors people can appreciate a handy little light though it’s a great addition to anyone’s EDC. The small carabiner clips onto keys, backpacks, or even your dog’s collar. It’s rechargeable and has four different colored lights to choose from. IT gets 10 hours of battery life off a single charge. National Parks Notebooks (3-Pack) Give this stocking stuffer as a set of three or split up the notebooks for fans of America’s national parks. The thick paper inside has a light gray grid, and the notebooks have a saddle-stitch binding and rounded corners for durability. You can pick from several bundles that highlight different national parks. Steel Stackable Storage Box T-190 These tool boxes are formed from a single steel plate for a seamless construction that’s super durable. They’re sleek enough to look at home in garages, on work benches, or at a regular desk. They’re also stackable to organize any projects they may have.