Gifts for the coming months of pandemic life

Many people will still be stuck at home for much of the next few months. So we asked Christine Cyr Clisset, an editor at Wirecutter, for suggestions of holiday gifts that will make those months more tolerable. Here’s her advice:

Low-cost options. A portable phone charger or touchscreen gloves can cost less than $30 and can help you be outdoors. An apron or pepper mill can spruce up your kitchen, and a smart bulb can improve a room’s ambience.

Connect with others. The Google Nest Hub Max and Alexa Echo Show 8 offer intuitive ways for younger children or less tech-savvy people to have virtual conversations. One Wirecutter editor uses the Nest Hub Max to bake bread with her uncle.

Spruce up your home. Try a movie projector for a home theater experience or a milk frother for at-home lattes to summon the memory of your favorite cafe. If the weather lets you spend time outside, consider a portable hammock, smokeless fire pit or camping tent.

For more: See Wirecutter’s Black Friday coverage or its guide to inexpensive gifts for kids. You can subscribe to its newsletter here.
The New York Times