The Wirecutter Show

Episode: Gift Guide 2025 – What Our Experts Are Giving This Year

Date: November 28, 2025
Co-hosts: Christine Cyr Clisset & Caira Blackwell
Producer: Rosie Guerin

Overview

This special bonus episode kicks off The Wirecutter’s 2025 holiday gifting series. The focus: sharing real, actionable gift ideas selected and tested by Wirecutter staffers over the last year. From brilliant kitchen gadgets to nostalgic children’s watches and clever outdoor gear, the staff open up about what they truly loved—and are gifting to friends and family this year. The show is packed with practical, delightful, and sometimes quirky picks for nearly everyone on your list.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Pressure of Gift-Giving as Wirecutter Experts (00:07–03:27)

• Gift-Giving Stresses: The co-hosts discuss the increasing difficulty of finding perfect gifts, especially in the age of instant shopping and high expectations for Wirecutter employees.
  • “I love and hate this topic. I love this time of year. I feel so much pressure to get all the gifts, all the kid gifts, all the friend gifts, all the spousal gifts.” – Christine (00:13)
• Series Preview: Over the next weeks, topics will include:
  • Gifts for hard-to-shop-for people (with real audience dilemmas)
  • Gifts for kids (with input from kids themselves)
  • Last-minute gift ideas

2. Top Gift Picks from Wirecutter Staff—2025 Edition

[Segment Starts at 05:13]

a. Annemarie Conti (Deputy Editor) – Yummi Taper Candles (05:19)

• Why It’s Great: Not usually a candle fan, Annemarie embraced these due to her daughter’s enthusiasm. They’re affordable, burn clean, and create a cozy ambiance for family meals—even cereal by candlelight.
• “You can totally eat Cheerios by candlelight. And frankly, you should.” – Annemarie Conti (06:04)

b. Jackie Reeve (Senior Staff Writer, Home Decor) – The Company Store’s Cotton Voile Quilt (07:03)

• Personal Story: After surgery, this quilt became her go-to—lightweight, easy to wash, and comforting both physically and emotionally.
• “There is something about a quilt that just makes me feel well taken care of. Like it’s all going to be okay and I really needed that this year.” – Jackie Reeve (08:14)

c. James (Staff Writer, Games & Hobbies) – Norris Foundry Gemstone Dice (09:17)

• For Nerdy Celebrations: Gave precious stone dice (lapis lazuli, jade, malachite) as wedding party gifts. Unique, tactile, and satisfying for any tabletop gamer.
• “They feel good in your hand when you’re rolling them and they make a fairly satisfying clacking noise…” – James (09:33)

d. Amy Kravitz (Editor, Baby & Kid) – Swatch Flik Flak Watch for Kids (10:27)

• Back to Basics: A simple analog watch that helps her five-year-old learn time and gives a special, nostalgic accessory without tech overwhelm.
• “It’s very similar to the Swatch I had as a kid and I also love the nostalgia factor, even if that part’s just for me.” – Amy Kravitz (11:09)

e. Trey French (Staff Writer, Outdoor Gear) – Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter (11:54)

• Adventurer’s Must-Have: Light and convenient, perfect for frequent hikers to ensure safe and ample hydration without heavy bottles.

f. Brent Butterworth (Staff Writer, Audio) – Sangean WR-15 Tabletop Radio (12:29)

• Old-School Audio: Prefers this analog radio over smart speakers to skip repetitive ads and easily tune local stations. Added a Bluetooth receiver for extra versatility.
• “It’s a perfect blend of vintage and modern tech, and for a day-to-day audio listening system, it’s just fantastic.” – Brent Butterworth (13:20)

g. Jennifer Hunter (Senior Style Editor) – Twp Next Morning Shirt (14:01)

• Fashion Splurge: At nearly $400, it’s a special button-up engineered for sleeve-rollers and fabric buffs. “Worth it for a forever piece,” she insists.
• “If you’re buying for somebody like me who likes to get one beautiful splurgy thing and then wear it forever, this is a great contender.” – Jennifer Hunter (14:47)

h. John Chase (Smart Home Editor) – Amazon Echo Dot for Tweens (15:45)

• Surprisingly Useful for Kids: Gave one to his son for music, alarms, and autonomy—without handing over a phone.
• “It gives him a little autonomy and allows him to experience music that he wants to hear and to explore music.” – John Chase (16:16)

i. Rachel Saracola (Senior Writer) – Bird Buddy Video Bird Feeder (17:16)

• Birdwatcher’s Dream: Alerts your phone for bird visitors, provides trivia, and lets you share videos globally. Solar panel version recommended for hassle-free use.
• “It’s like having your own private nature channel…” – Rachel Saracola (17:55)

j. Katherine Kast (Senior Editor) – OXO Bench Scraper (19:09)

• Surprising MVP: A kitchen classic under $20, perfect for transferring food and cleaning up, also handy for messy mealtimes with kids.
• “One of those things you don’t really know that you need until you try it.” – Katherine Kast (19:29)

k. Tom Dunn (Senior Staff Writer) – Cosori Air Fryer Toaster Oven (20:10)

• Kitchen Lifesaver: Replaced their dead oven with this workhorse and found it even better—so much so, kitchen remodel plans kept being postponed.

l. Ellen Lee (Senior Staff Writer, Baby & Kid) – Oh My Hair Chalk (21:40)

• For K-Pop Fans and Kids: Easy, washable fun for instant colorful hair streaks. Her daughters love it—stands out even on dark hair.

m. Liam (Home Improvement Writer) – Inflatable Air Wedge (22:33)

• TikTok Discovery: Versatile tool to lift furniture or appliances solo.
• “The thing looks sort of like a blood pressure cuff ... just slide this flat, deflated bag under whatever you need to lift.” – Liam (23:09)

n. Nicola (Senior Style Writer) – Prada Lip Balm (24:18)

• Luxurious Little Extra: $50 for lip balm, but memorable packaging and refillable. Suggests buying from Prada directly for the ultimate gifting experience.
• “That’s kind of what makes it charming, is like, it’s a little bit extra for what it is.” – Nicola (24:39)

o. Kaitlyn Wells (Home Office/NYC) – Otutu Garlica Garlic Crusher (25:29)

• Accessibility Win: Ergonomic garlic crusher with a Dracula theme, ideal for those with grip/mobility challenges or who just want a fun kitchen gadget.
• “It grinds garlic seeds and spices with a couple twists of the wrists. ... This is definitely a kitchen gadget to grab if you want to add a little whimsy to your space.” – Kaitlyn Wells (26:30)

p. Mel Plout (Pets Writer) – Spyderco Triangle Sharpmaker (28:12)

• Hidden Gem: Technically a knife sharpener, not a knife. Easy to use, keeps all her blades—and tomatoes—extra sharp.
• “Everything’s different now when you’re not fighting with a tomato and your kitchen knife.” – Mel Plout (29:01)

q. Kathleen Squires (All Things Kitchen) – Thermopro Temp Spike Plus Wireless Meat Thermometer (30:06)

• Serious Upgrade for Grillers: Remotely monitors meat temperature, works up to 600ft, and removes all grilling uncertainty.
• “The best part is I’ll never ever have to fret about under or overcooked meat again.” – Kathleen Squires (30:42)

Memorable Quotes

• “You can totally eat Cheerios by candlelight. And frankly, you should.” – Annemarie Conti (06:04)
• “There is something about a quilt that just makes me feel well taken care of. Like it’s all going to be okay and I really needed that this year.” – Jackie Reeve (08:14)
• “If you’re buying for somebody like me who likes to get one beautiful splurgy thing and then wear it forever, this is a great contender.” – Jennifer Hunter (14:47)
• “It’s like having your own private nature channel…” – Rachel Saracola (17:55)
• “Everything’s different now when you’re not fighting with a tomato and your kitchen knife.” – Mel Plout (29:01)

Notable Moments and Timestamps

• 00:07 – Hosts share the emotional ups and downs of gift-giving.
• 05:13 – Jump into Wirecutter staff favorites.
• 06:04 – Annemarie Conti’s Cheerio by candlelight suggestion.
• 08:14 – Jackie Reeve’s heartfelt case for the comfort quilt.
• 14:47 – The jacket that changes a wardrobe for good.
• 17:55 – Your feeder becomes a global birding community.
• 19:29 – Realization: The humble bench scraper is essential.
• 29:01 – The world opens up when your kitchen knives are truly sharp.
• 30:42 – Never mess up steak temps again.

Conclusion

This bonus episode delivers a rapid-fire look at real, much-loved gift ideas curated and tested by Wirecutter experts. Each recommendation is paired with a personal story, adding warmth, humor, and practical context—making this guide as enjoyable as it is useful for holiday gifting.

Stay tuned for upcoming bonus episodes focused on:

• Gifts for the hard-to-shop-for
• Gifts for kids
• Last-minute lifesavers

For more, visit Wirecutter's site or subscribe to their gifting newsletter.