The Wirecutter Show

Gift Guide 2025: What to Get the Hardest People On Your List

Date: December 5, 2025
Hosts: Christine Cyr Clisset, Caira Blackwell
Guest: Hannah Morrell (Supervising Editor, Gift Guides)

Episode Overview

This lively episode tackles one of the most vexing holiday challenges: What do you give the hardest people to shop for? Christine is joined by gifts editor Hannah Morrell, who fields real listener dilemmas about picky minimalists, affluent friends with everything, and workplace gifting on a tight budget. The conversation mixes practical tips, thoughtful philosophy, and a trove of creative, Wirecutter-tested recommendations.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Strategies for Hard-to-Shop-For Recipients

• Start With Observation:
  Hannah encourages listeners to think back to recent conversations, texts, and exchanges to recall what excites their intended recipient.

  “People give you hints. People tell you, you know, what is it that they’re interested in?”
  — Hannah Morrell, 03:49

• Support Passions, Not Just Needs:
  Whether it’s jewelry or gardening, look for gift ideas that acknowledge someone’s evolving interests.

Listener Questions & Expert Gift Suggestions

1. Gift for the Minimalist-Athlete Sailor (Sue’s Daughter)

Challenge: Daughter is an Olympic sailor, minimalistic, with limited apartment space, always traveling, and needs no new "stuff."

• Custom Art:
  • Commission a watercolor or drawing of something special (like her boat) using services like My Da Vinci.

    “You could give feedback ... I got this beautiful watercolor portrait ... that’s so treasured now.”
    — Hannah Morrell, 06:19

  • Portable, personal, and can be shared digitally.
• Travel Upgrades:
  • Cadence capsules (magnetic, color-coordinated toiletry containers)
  • Cotopaxi packing cubes (bright, affordable, keep bags organized and light)

2. Gift for the Handmade-Loving, Well-Off Sister

Challenge: Sister, newly retired from Wall Street, desires handmade, personal gifts but dislikes classes; submitter is time-strapped this year.

• Personalized Jewelry:
  • Etsy artists can engrave special handwriting onto the inside of a gold/silver cuff.
  • Combines personal touch with fine craft.
• Custom Funko Pop:
  • Wirecutter-favorite idea: create a personalized Funko Pop figurine online.

    “You could recreate a little figurine of your sister ... they are so charming and so delightful.”
    — Hannah Morrell, 10:02

3. Gift for the Ultra-Generous Couple Who Need Nothing (Mike in Maine)

Challenge: Recipients are wealthy, generous, and unpretentious—plus Mike must be frugal, and give multiple times/year.

• Heritage Brands & Quality Materials:
  • Pendleton 100% cotton throw (~$100)
  • Falcon enamelware pitcher & tumblers
  • LL Bean boat tote (a Maine classic)
  • Shaker handmade parlor broom
  • Brahms Mount cotton blanket
  • Focus: buy smaller essentials from brands known for lasting value.

  “Think about things that will last ... things that have an inherent value to them.”
  — Hannah Morrell, 12:26

4. Do You Listen When Someone Says ‘No Gifts’?

• Upgrade Everyday Essentials:
  • Look for items around their home that are worn-out or missing ("power of observation").
  • Best-in-class tumblers, serving trays, kitchenware, etc.

  “Try to get into upgrading things they might already have ... give them the Wirecutter pick.”
  — Hannah Morrell, 15:01

5. Gifting to a Large Team on a Budget (Dawn from Seattle)

Challenge: Manager with 30 direct reports, no company budget, and high expectations.

• Recognizable Name Brands (but affordable):
  • Bagu pouches
  • Stanley or Hydro Flask bottles
  • Consider tech gifts like the TravelCard charger: “As thin as a credit card ... charges a range of devices.”
    — Hannah Morrell, 18:16
• Travel-Themed Gifts:
  • Tusk leather passport cover
  • Universal travel adapters, luggage tags
  • Small, practical, and thoughtful, hinting at life outside of work.
• Creative Consumables:
  • Rather than generic baskets, find unique gourmet tins/jars:
    • Beautiful French mustard from Fellow
    • Anchovy-stuffed olives
    • Luxardo cherries for cocktails

  “Rather than full-on gift baskets, you could do these one-off little, very elevated, very lovely little jars or cans of delightful things.”
  — Hannah Morrell, 20:04

New & Noteworthy Gift Ideas for 2025

• Block Design Reversible Vase:
  Dual-purpose art-glass vase—use different sides for single bloom or large bouquet.
• Japanese Cray Pas:
  Smudgy, “crayon/paint-adjacent” art sticks in deluxe boxes, great for kids and adults.
• Tiny Vinyl:
  Mini 3-inch records, each with a song on either side—new, quirky, and highly giftable for music lovers.

  “The cool thing … is the edit that this company has done is like all the best classics ... a really fun little—nobody’s seen that before.”
  — Hannah Morrell, 22:06

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “People do tell you what they’re interested in and where their hearts sort of lie at the moment.”
  — Hannah Morrell, 04:10

• “Rather than going to like full on gift baskets, gifting random little tins of amazing things ... that's a really nice idea.”
  — Hannah Morrell, 20:04

• “Try to get into upgrading things that they might already have. And then ... get them the Wirecutter pick of a sort of everyday item and just give them like the absolute best one.”
  — Hannah Morrell, 15:01

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Time (MM:SS) | Segment | |--------------|----------------------------------------------| | 03:12 | Gift-giving philosophy: how to start | | 04:51 | Sue’s Olympic sailor daughter | | 07:04 | Packing cubes, travel gear | | 08:10 | Handmade-loving, hard-to-please sister | | 10:59 | Gift challenge: wealthy, generous couple | | 12:02 | Trusted brands/materials for high-end gifts | | 14:27 | “No gifts, please”—how to handle it | | 16:23 | Gifting on a tight work/team budget | | 19:24 | Best edible/consumable gift ideas | | 20:37 | Newest, coolest finds for 2025 |

Tone & Style

Upbeat, practical, and empathetic to listeners’ real-life challenges. The hosts and guest blend wit—particularly in their banter about Maine traditions and adorable new products—with accessible, down-to-earth advice.

Summary

Whether your recipient is a globe-trotting athlete, someone who already "has it all," or a large office of expectant colleagues, the Wirecutter team offers thoughtful approaches grounded in observation, personal connection, and smart upgrades. The conversation is loaded with practical tips, inventive product ideas, and personal stories—making this episode a must-listen for anyone stuck on what to buy the “impossible” person this year. For more product-specific details, check episode show notes or explore Wirecutter’s comprehensive online gift guides.