RS Recommends

2021 Holiday Must-Haves

The coolest tech, music, books, fashion, and more this season

By

Sage Anderson, Tim Chan, Jon Dolan, John Lonsdale, Brandt Ranj, Kyle Lamar Rice

November 26, 2021

The holiday gift-giving season is once again upon us, and for 2021, our editors have selected products that inspire celebration and community. From camera phones and high-tech sunglasses that make it easy to snap (and share) photos, to new speakers to soundtrack your next dinner party, here’s what we’re sending our friends and family this year.

Products featured are independently selected by our editorial team and we may earn a commission from purchases made from our links; the retailer may also receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

• Your Best New Bud

  

  Bowers & Wilkins pulled out all the stops with these sleek, modern PI7 earbuds. Active-noise-cancellation technology makes these ideal for city dwellers and frequent travelers. Amazon.com, $399

• Upping Your Game

  

  The Nintendo Switch OLED is the ultimate portable video-game system with a bigger, sharper-looking screen and upgraded speakers. Amazon.com, $349.99

• Depeche Mode by Anton Corbijn

  

  Artist Corbijn’s aesthetic has been a key element of Depeche Mode’s synth-goth image since the 1980s, and this pocket-size book chronicles that rich collaboration. amazon.com; $90

• All-Weather Vans

  

  Image Credit: Vans

  The Destruct Mid MTE-1 men’s surf shoes are built for outdoorsy types as well as everyday commuters, with great traction, weather-repellent materials, and cozy Primaloft insulation. Vans.com, $110

• Pint-Size Player

  

  Image Credit: Sonos

  The best wireless speaker of 2021, the Sonos Roam is the brand’s latest Bluetooth-compatible smart device. At just over six inches tall, it’s uniquely portable. And it’s powerful, too: The Roam can pump out premium sound and run for up to 10 hours without needing a new charge. Sonos.com, $179

• Comfortable Cans

  

  Headphones shouldn’t hurt your ears, which is why B&O’s Beoplay HX’s really stand out. They’re specifically built with comfort in mind, feature active noise cancellation, and have a 35-hour battery life, so they’re equally great for long flights and relaxing hikes. Bang-Olufsen.com, $499

• Worn to Rock

  

  Image Credit: Amiri

  Made from Italian leather, AMIRI’s unisex crossbody guitar bag is a luxe pickup with a vintage punk-rock look, whether you’re heading to a gig or going to brunch. AMIRI.com, $2,190

• The Top Table

  

  Treat your precious vinyl with the respect it deserves with the Pro-Ject Debut PRO record player. This minimalist turntable combines audiophile-grade parts with a simple, elegant design, so it sounds just as good as it looks. AudioAdvice.com, $999

• Psychedelic Tees

  

  Image Credit: Bruce Glen

  Founded by designers who’ve worked with everyone from Beyoncé to Maluma, fashion house BruceGlen offers a 21st-century spin on classic psychedelic looks, while also emphasizing the importance of sustainable and ethical sourcing. BruceGlen.com, $150

• Wear It Like It’s Hot

  

  Image Credit: G-Star

  Dutch denim brand G-Star RAW teamed up with Snoop Dogg for its “Say It Witcha Booty” campaign, inspired by the rapper’s laid-back California style. Our favorite is this Seventies-inspired hoodie. G-Star.com, $120

• Hip-Hop Heaven

  

  Image Credit: Robert Stewart

  The epic nine-CD Smithsonian Anthology of Hip-Hop and Rap covers the entire history of rap — from old-school classics to modern hits. And it comes with a beautiful 300-page book. Amazon.com, $159.98

• ‘Famous’ at 20

  

  Celebrate the 20th anniversary of Almost Famous with this Uber Box edition, containing 103 tracks on five CDs and seven LPs, a seven-inch of Stillwater’s “Fever Dog,” and the Rolling Stone cover story on the band. Amazon.com, $132

• Forbidden Fruit

  

  Image Credit: Audrey Melton/courtesy of Edie Parker

  These sculptural pipes from New York-based Edie Parker will blow away the cannabis lover on your list this year. Made with borosilicate glass, it’s high-end, functional, and worth displaying in your living room. EdieParkerFlower.com, $115

• Legendary Axe

  

  Image Credit: Guild Guitars

  Based on Bob Marley’s own acoustic guitar, the Guild A-20 Marley is a worthy tribute to the reggae legend. It includes a Marley X Guild gig bag made from recycled nylon, and to honor Marley’s dedication to the planet, Guild has arranged for a tree to be planted for every guitar made. Amazon.com, $399

• Made in the Shades

  

  Image Credit: Ray-Ban

  Facebook and Ray-Ban have teamed up for a pair of smart glasses that let you capture video, take calls, and listen to music. Ray-Ban.com, $299

• Personalized Packing

  

  Image Credit: Roam

  Luggage brand ROAM lets you customize everything from the color of the suitcase to the color of the zipper and trim. Choose from eight sizes — from chic carry-ons to expandable rollers. ROAM’s free monogramming service adds a final personalized touch. ROAMLuggage.com, $495+

• The Pocket Arcade

  

  Enjoy the freedom to game on the go with Razer’s universal Kishi controller, which snaps right onto your phone, seamlessly placing a console-level gaming experience right in the palm of your hands. Amazon.com, $79.99

• Apocalypse Now: The Lost Photo Archive by Chas Gerretsen

  

  In 1976, combat photographer Gerretsen was hired by Francis Ford Coppola as the still photographer for his classic Vietnam film Apocalypse Now, and this is the fascinating record of that experience. amazon.com; $46

• Sound and Vision

  

  Image Credit: Sony

  Is it a cool candle-like table lamp? Yes. Is it also a Bluetooth-compatible speaker? Yes again. Sony’s LSPX-S3 Glass Sound Speaker has 32 different light levels while also function asa 360-degree, room-filling speaker. Amazon.com, $349.99

• Big ‘Things’

  

  Image Credit: Jason Ware Imagey

  Dive into George Harrison’s classic 1970 triple album, All Things Must Pass, with a deluxe box that includes 42 unreleased tracks. The Uber Edition has five LPs, eight CDs, a 96-page scrapbook, and a set of figurines like the ones on the LP’s cover. GeorgeHarrison.com, $999 (find a “Super Deluxe” eight LP edition on Amazon.com, $157)

• Picture Perfect

  

  Image Credit: OnePlus

  Electronics manufacturer OnePlus has collaborated with Swedish camera maker Hasselblad to design a smartphone that photographs as beautifully as it looks. OnePlus.com, $969

• American Protest: Photos 2020-2021 by Mel D. Cole

  

  New York nightlife photographer Cole turned his lens on the city’s streets during the Covid-19 pandemic and George Floyd protests of 2020 and 2021, creating what he calls a visual “collective memory” of those tumultuous moments. amazon.com, $45

• The Right Track

  

  Image Credit: Amazon

  These days no one has time to wander around the house looking for a lost set of car keys. Which is why Apple AirTags make such a great gift. These compact trackers come with an app that allows you to view the last-known location of a misplaced item. Apple.com, $29

• Wrap It Up

  

  Image Credit: Y Project

  Paris-based label Y Project serves up a playful contemporary take on European history and culture with this unisex Mediterranean, midcentury-esque Dynasty Scarf, made of cozy, versatile 100 percent Merino wool. YProject.fr, $366

• Metallica: The Black Album in Black & White by Ross Halfin

  

  For the 30th anniversary of the Black Album, Metallica and photographer Halfin offer a fascinating look at the creation of a hard-rock classic. amazon.com, $44.49

• ‘Stone’ Style

  

  Image Credit: Rolling Stone

  Rolling Stone’s new merch collection offers an array of T-shirts, hoodies, and hats emblazoned with the magazine’s iconic logo. Shop.RollingStone.com, $40+

• Bespoke Beverages

  

  Image Credit: Eliqs

  Born out of a business school project between friends, Eliqs lets you send personalized cans of beer and wine to recipients across the U.S. Choose from a template or upload your own creation to the site. Eliqs will print, pack, and ship custom designs on cans of hard seltzer, too. Eliqs.com, $49+

• High-Tech Headphones

  

  These wireless noise-canceling OV-1-B Jamaica Soundsystem headphones from Meters by Ashdown Engineering are perfect for the audiophile in your life. They feature built-in, fully functioning VU meters and a phone app with the option for tuning. metersmusic.com, $329

• Renegades: Born in the USA by Bruce Springsteen and Barack Obama

  

  Expanding on their excellent Higher Ground podcast, Springsteen and Obama discuss
  life, music, and their continued belief in the enduring power of the American experience. Amazon.com, $30

• Elvira Forever!

  

  Image Credit: Elvira’s Bootique

  Since Elvira’s recent coming out, the campy 70-years-young horror queen has been rediscovered as a gay icon. Now, you can celebrate her legacy with this rainbow tee. ElvirasBootique.com, $24.95

• Living-Room Gym

  

  Image Credit: Tempo

  Want to get in a workout without leaving the house? Tempo’s Studio Home Gym provides great equipment and instructor-led classes, o ering a series of packages tailored to varying fitness needs. Go in for the monthly membership and the system’s 3D tracking and large display lets you join live classes on your schedule. Tempo.fit, $2,495+

• Maximize Your Chill

  

  Image Credit: Embr

  If you’re someone who’s always running too hot(or too cold), this high-tech wearable from Embr Labs emits pulses on your wrist, triggering a natural response that quickly provides temperature-control relief to your entire body. EmbrLabs.com, $349

• Rap Is Risen: New York Photographs 1998-2008 by Sue Kwon

  

  A visual love letter to NYC hip-hop from award-winning photographer Kwon, featuring candid images of Wu-Tang Clan, Mobb Deep, Biggie Smalls, Jay-Z, and many others. amazon.com, $45.50

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