There are countless aesthetically fulfilling AND functional gift options to be had, and we've hunted down the most wanted examples of them right here — from top-rated vacuums to bestselling vibrators and crowd-pleasing weekender bags that will ably support your pragmatic giftee in all of their sensible endeavors. Keep clicking for our full list of useful things, each informed by both Refinery29-reader suggestions and anonymous top-bought shopping data. Don't get it twisted: practical people need love, too, and useful gifts don't have to be sad socks.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
Bathing Culture Get Wet Starter Set
Bathroom products — your hand soaps, body washes, scrubs, etc. — are a necessity that can either be luxurious or good enough to get the job done. A nice gesture for your practical pals would be to re-up their washroom stock with a bundle of nourishing and sustainable goodies from Bathing Culture.
Shop Bathing Culture
Bathing Culture Get Wet Starter Set, $, available at Bathing Culture
Free People Pippa Packable Puffer Jacket
We can't say the name of this jacket three times fast, but we can guarantee that the practical person in your life will enjoy the sensible nature of this lightweight puffer — it can literally be folded into itself and carried as a little over-the-wrist pouch. A few of us on the R29 Shopping team tried it on for size and fell in love with its buttery soft feel, very packable abilities, and swingy relaxed fit that's ideal for layering.
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FP Movement Pippa Packable Puffer Jacket, $, available at Free People
DedCool Milk DedTergent
Sure, this Instagram-worthy tin looks incredibly gift-worthy but $35 for a laundry detergent?! Before your practical giftees exhale their practical pfffts at that, consider this: the bucks they've shelled out over the years for status candles with 60-hour burn times compared to the time spent with 60 loads of laundry that come out of the wash smelling like something that puts Diptyque's Paris to shame. Trust us, they will thank you once their sheets, towels, shirts, socks, and underwear are softly cocooned in an intoxicatingly sumptuous scent (our Shopping writer tried it and they can confirm that it's, indeed, heavenly).
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DedCool Milk Dedtergent, $, available at Dedcool
Dame Aer Suction Vibrator
A tool that exists solely to help to achieve climax is, quite arguably, very useful. And where better to start than with the cult-favorite that is Dame's wildly best-selling Aer.
According to one of our very own Shopping writers, the viral suction vibrator is akin to "getting oral from a cloud." This sensation is achieved through the gizmo's air-pulsating technology featuring five easily navigated speeds and patterns that helped our aforementioned writer to "climax for a few minutes without numbing, hurting, or overwhelming" her clitoris. She also described it as having "near-sentient" sensitivity and an overall aesthetic that feels "elevated, but sincere."
Shop Dame
Dame Aer Suction Toy, $, available at Dame
Purple The Cloud Pillow
Seeing as we're supposed to be tossing our pillows out every 1-2 years, a gifted replacement seems to be a pretty practical move. Although sleep styles and preferences widely differ from person to person, we suggest going with this R29-tested-and-approved "Cloud Pillow" from Purple. Stuffed with ultra-fine hypoallergenic gel fibers that are engineered not to clump, trap heat, or flatten out over time, our Shopping writer likened this very plush pillow's feel to a true "cumulus cloud." And, if your chosen giftee isn't into it, the brand offers a 100-night-trial and a one-year warranty.
Shop Purple
Purple The Cloud Pillow, $, available at Purple
ChoiceGoodsCo Horween Leather Minimalist Wallet
Over 2,000 practical Etsy reviewers rave that this item is well-made, nice-looking, and very convenient. As one pleased customer states, it "Holds 4 cards in the main pocket and ID in the front pocket perfectly. Nothing falls out, but also not difficult to remove cards quickly. I had it personalized with initials and those look clean as well. Definitely recommend."
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choicegoodsco Horween Leather Minimalist Wallet, $, available at Etsy
Maude Organic Shine Lube
A consistently best-selling lube that's thoughtfully crafted with soothing all-natural ingredients and packaged in an aesthetically pleasing bottle that looks quite stylish on a bedside table. It's sensible-gifting gold!
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Maude Shine Organic Lube, $, available at Maude
Our Place Always Pan
It doesn't get more useful than this 8-in-one, very chic pan from a sustainable-cookware brand favorite. The magical do-it-all piece is non-toxic, incredibly nonstick, and comes washed in an array of unique kitchen hues your giftee likely won't find elsewhere. Oh, and it's currently on sale for under $100.
Shop Our Place
Our Place Always Pan, $, available at Our Place
Our Place Perfect Pot
Or, for the practical cook who thinks Instant Pots are passe: Our Place's newest cult-favorite cookware creation, the Perfect Pot. This pretty new piece serves as a stockpot, Dutch oven, saucepot, roasting rack, steamer, bread pot, braiser, and spoon rest; giving cooks the very useful ability to to boil, crisp, bake, braise, roast, steam, strain, store, serve, pour, and steep whatever it is they've got on the menu.
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Our Place Perfect Pot Blanch, $, available at Our Place
Dad Grass 5-Pack Special Editions Bundle
Dad Grass — the California-based company that crafts organic CBD joints, tinctures, and un-rolled hemp "flower" nuggets — offers practical giftees (aka the difficult-to-gift dudes, dads, guys, and all-gendered people of the world who enjoy grass) a present of the smokable persuasion that contains (by law!) less than 0.3 percent THC. As our Vice counterparts describe it, Dad Grass offers "a reliable way to blast off like your dad used to without worrying that you’ll end up too far gone." If you're looking to gift your practical mom, we're happy to inform you that Mom Grass is a thing that also exists. (A more in-depth rundown on all that here.)
Shop Dad Grass
Dad Grass 5-Pack Special Editions Bundle, $, available at Dad Grass
Farm Steady Compost Bin
For the practical people in your life who compost, may we suggest a very nice-looking bin? You know, one they will proudly keep filled to the brim with rotting veggies and other food scraps on their countertops. This chic option is dishwasher safe, crafted from biodegradable materials, features a bamboo handle, and comes equipped with two filters.
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Farm Steady Compost Tote, $, available at FarmSteady
Lululemon Instill High-Rise Tight 25''
Leggings are well known as workhorse wardrobe staples, so surprising your practical person with a premium pair is guaranteed to be a useful treat. And, as far as really nice leggings go, Lululemon's newly launched (and reader-favorite) Instill tights are IT. Our Beauty & Wellness writer describes the best-selling material as "Align's cool half-sister," with "all the soft stretchiness you would expect from a garment suitable for downward-facing dog but with extra support."
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Lululemon Instill High-Rise Tight 25", $, available at Lululemon
Tushy Classic Bidet
Listen, everybody poops. Allow this aesthetically pleasing bidet, crafted by the new millennial-friendly bathroom brand Tushy, to send that supportive message in one decidedly useful gift form. Our very own Beauty & Wellness writer uses it — and swears by it for saving her money on TP along with keeping her underwear skidmark free. Now that's practical, people.
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Tushy Classic, $, available at Tushy
Tushy Stand & Tissues
If your practical person is a little poop-shy, then we suggest going with Tushy's latest and greatest bathroom invention: an equally aesthetically pleasing toilet stand fitted with a box of sustainable four-ply bamboo tissues that dispenses one sheet at a time for more thoughtful #2 consumption. Also, according to the ever-popular bidet brand, "A box of bamboo tissues only requires 0.59 gallons of water to make" — meaning you're not only saving money by using less toilet paper, but you're also saving water.
Shop Tushy
Tushy Stand & Tissues, $, available at Tushy
Airbnb Customizable Gift Card
Practical people are also usually big planners, too — so, it only makes sense that gifting one with the ability to book lodgings of their choosing on an upcoming trip would be pretty practical-pleasing stuff.
Shop Airbnb
Airbnb Customizable Gift Card, $, available at Airbnb
Away The Expandable Packing Cubes
Another practical gift idea for your trip-planning people? A set of four expandable packing cubes with limited-edition colorways designed in collaboration with the legendary Serena Williams. Crafted from water-resistant nylon that will protect their suitcase essentials from in-transit toiletry mishap, these practical puppies are strategically designed with a mesh top for easy visibility of contents and an expandable zipper for extra-outfit space.
Shop Away
Away The Expandable Packing Cubes, $, available at Away
Open Spaces Entryway Rack
Crafted from smooth painted steel, this three-tier entryway rack is a sharp-looking and useful dual-purpose home surprise. Whether your giftee wants to use the cool piece for Instagram-worthy shoe storage or as a side table for plants, books, etc., this rack will get the job done and look damn good doing it.
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Open Spaces Entryway Rack, $, available at Open Spaces
Parachute Cloud Cotton Robe
If your giftee looks disappointed when unraveling one of the most top-rated robes on the market that's named after the softest thing we can imagine, then they are not a practical person. Among a slew of best-selling cozy-cloak contenders, Parachute's Cloud Cotton Robe (made from two-ply gauze and premium 100% long-staple Turkish cotton) continues to take the top-bought cake for its lighter-than-air composition and variety of soothing hues to choose from. Long story short: they're not going to NOT wear it.
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Parachute Cloud Cotton Robe, $, available at Parachute
Dyson V8 Absolute
Ok, this one is pricey — but, hear us out: this very expensive gift for your practical person is also potentially a gift for yourself (if you live with said giftee). Fast, lightweight, and a joy to slide on dirty surfaces, Dyson's V8 is a gadget so good it'll make any nonplussed person want to dance around with unbridled glee whilst cleaning on a Sunday. (I would know, I reviewed one and now we are in love.)
Shop Dyson
Dyson Dyson V8 Absolute, $, available at Dyson
Aesop Adventurer Roll-Up
Treat a sensible giftee (who definitely keeps their hands extremely clean) to this trio of travel-sized cleansing gel, evaporative mist, and hydrating balm, all wrapped up in a stylish recycled-cotton pouch.
Shop Aesop
Aesop Adventurer Roll Up, $, available at Aesop
Click & Grow Indoor Herb Garden
The Click & Grow first made top-shopped waves in a roundup of indoor garden kits — and then it crushed the cart numbers again during Amazon Prime Day. Why? We're guessing it's because this green-gadget is a very useful buy. With it, your giftee can open up a whole new world of over 50 pre-seeded plant pods (like cilantro, basil, wild strawberries, thyme, peppers, etc.) that will thrive before their eyes right on the countertop. And, if you're in the big-spender market for a serious gardening enthusiast, the brand offers a whole range of higher-tier smart garden options.
Shop Click & Grow
Click & Grow The Smart Garden 3, $, available at Click and Grow
Garrett Wade Ultra-Sharp Pruners With Optional Matching Sheath
For the more intense practical gardeners in your life: a very good-looking set of pruners with a matching French-made leather sheath. Crafted with a high-carbon bypass-blade system with a gilded titanium-nitride coating that preserves its sharpness, these high-quality clippers are not only corrosion and sap-resistant but also ergonomically designed for ultimate in-hand comfort.
As one pleased reviewer coos, "I love these pruners. I got the purple for me which I was excited about & the black for my hubby. They’re very sharp, well made, I love the smooth handle. I’m the main landscaper in our family so the smooth handle works well for me for using them for long periods of time. They come apart to easily clean the blades and so far the rust-proof aluminum is holding up well. You won’t be disappointed."
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Garrett Wade Ultra-Sharp Pruners with Optional Matching Sheath, $, available at Garrett Wade
Erin Condren Lilac Vegan Leather LifePlanner
It's a safe assumption that your practical pals like to plan ahead — and if anyone knows how to plan, it's Erin Condren. The designer's functionally and aesthetically designed schedulers are bestselling organization essentials that make A+ gifting material in advance of the new year.
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Erin Condren Lilac Vegan Leather LifePlanner, $, available at Erin Condren
Loftie Smart Alarm Clock
A non-eyesore bedside gadget that's engineered to not only bring sunlight into your practical giftee's room on dark winter mornings but also to help them do everything from guided breathwork, meditations, pre-bedtime wind-downs, and snooze-through-the-night customizable sounds. In short, it's a personalized bedtime routine they can keep on their nightstands.
Oh, and it also has 245 5-star reviews so you know it comes fussy-person approved. As one sensible fan details: "I love my two Lofties! I got my first one almost a year ago and then ordered a second for my boyfriend's house a few months later because I'd become so addicted to it.
The design is really solid - it's modern, simple, and looks great in both of our bedrooms. The nightlight creates a soft glow that's soothing before bed, and there's just something nice about being able to turn off the alarm by reaching over and pressing down on its bar (great haptics) without having to look for my phone in the morning.
The two-phase alarm is genius — I usually hate waking up in the morning, but the initial "wake up" sounds are pleasant & they don't jar me out of bed because I know I have another few minutes to sleep before I have to actually 'get up' with the second phase. I also really love the soundscapes, particularly the water-based ones, and the brown noise.
Finally, I track my sleep with a FitBit, and I've noticed that when I do breathwork before bed, I get more deep sleep and have a lower sleeping heart rate. Really interesting & has been great for my recovery."
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Shop Verishop
By Loftie Loftie, $, available at By Loftie
Everlane The ReNew Slipper
The entire shopping team audibly gasped when The ReNew Slippers emerged onto the scene last year (and we're all practical people!). The pair has already made its rounds in more than a few holiday gift guides, circulated on social media, and been added to our very own virtual carts just in time for the chilly holiday season. We can express with confidence that any no-nonsense giftee in your life would be glad to pop a pair of these 100%-recycled "duvets for your feet" slippers onto their tootsies.
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Everlane ReNew Slipper, $, available at Everlane
Girlfriend Collective The ReSlide
Some practical people just aren't into slippers — hey, maybe their feet get too hot and sweaty — so, for them, we suggest a sleek pair of house slides that can most certainly (and chicly) be taken to the street. These comfy-casual kicks are crafted from fully recycled AND recyclable materials right here in the U.S. in a zero-waste manufacturing process. A sensible (i.e. sophisticated and sustainable) take on the shower shoe if you will.
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Girlfriend Collective Black The ReSlide, $, available at Girlfriend Collective
Primula Glass Carafe Iced Coffee Maker
On average, practical peeps who like to get stuff done, also like a nice cup or glass of coffee here and there. Primula's viral glass cold brew maker has a reasonable price and can keep your giftee caffeinated all week long with no problem — especially if you go for the 1.6-quart option. Our Beauty & Wellness writer made it a fridge essential she definitely recommends.
Shop Amazon
Primula Glass Carafe Iced Coffee Maker, $, available at Amazon
Trade Coffee Gift Subscription
Another sensible gift option for coffee-loving folk is a subscription to monthly deliveries of small-batch bean bags. Trade is one of our Shopping editor's favorite destinations for handpicked selections of 400+ coffees roasted around the country. It's very crowd-pleasing stuff to gift as the blends can be customized by your chosen giftee to match their preferred flavor profiles and roast levels.
Shop Trade
Trade Coffee Gift Subscription (3 Months), $, available at Trade
Lo & Sons Catalina Deluxe Weekender
This sustainably made, durable canvas bag from family-run company Lo & Sons is a consistent top-selling favorite from our roundup of best weekender bags. It also just so happens to make very useful gifting material (and is currently 40%-off) — whether it's for a short weekend away, traveling home for Thanksgiving, a day at the park, or even just lugging a bunch of groceries home, they. will. use. it.
Shop Lo & Sons
Lo & Sons The Catalina Deluxe Tote, $, available at Lo & Sons
Branch Daily Chair
Your practical giftee is probably clacking away from the discomfort of their couch while cursing that dull-aching lumbar pain like the rest of us! Enter: the actually decent-looking ergonomic desk chair present — aka a useful replacement for whatever you would have bought them prior to these past two-plus years of hybrid madness. The Branch Daily Chair is a top-selling favorite from our best home office chairs roundup due to its 70%-recycled-material construction, contoured-nylon-back design, and added lumbar support.
Shop Branch
Branch Daily Chair, $, available at Branch
Uniqlo AIRism Face Mask
Face masks have become an everyday essential — hence why it's made our most practical-gifts-to-receive list. The AIRism mask boasts some of the highest praise on the internet (including some from our very own Beauty & Wellness writer) and, per CDC guidelines, it checks all the proper safety boxes. It's breathable, multi-layered, and will correctly cover your giftee's nose and mouth without looking like an eyesore on their "I'm a practical person" face.
Shop Uniqlo
Uniqlo AIRism Face Mask (PACK OF 3), $, available at Uniqlo
Brooklinen Luxe Hardcore Sheet Bundle
Even the most serious giftees need to sleep, so sheets are by definition a practical gift to bestow upon them! Especially with value-priced bundles boasting hard-to-argue-with reviews numbering 75,722.
Shop Brooklinen
Brooklinen Luxe Hardcore Sheet Bundle, $, available at Brooklinen
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