Techies and Geeks fall into the same quirky, fun and funky gifting category. We love anything that’s out of the ordinary and a little bit … well, strange. Finding an affordable tech gift or geek gift sounds daunting. I’ve got ten of the best right here, ready for birthdays and the looming holidays.
So in the interest of thoughtful gifting on a budget, I present the 10 Best Tech & Geek Gifts Under $10 in no particular order.
1. The Book of Secrets – http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/afb6/
152 pages pack this incredibly little, 3.375″ x 3.75″ tome of the clandestine. Seriously one of the coolest things I’ve seen yet, if someone doesn’t get it for me by Valentine’s Day I’ll happily shell out for this one myself. How can I stop myself when the review includes ‘secrets’ like the daily flight from the U.S. to Cuba or that our government (surprisingly recently!) once smashed a bacteria-laden light bulb inside the New York subway system? Really, now, I dig information like this and could happily revel in furtive secrets about how to get a flight upgrade or win influence over people. That’s practically magical. And a price tag of about $6 right now is pretty magical too.
2. The Ninja USB Drive – http://www.amazon.com/4GB-USB-Ninja-Driver-Black/dp/B003UIHDHC/
A ninja! With a sword! And a USB that comes out his back like magic. This is a fun, very inexpensive gift that anyone who likes the fun and quirky, and works with computers, will love. Without a doubt, you’re going to get a grin.
3. The DIY Blood Typing Test Kit – http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/8f3d/
It doesn’t matter what age your favorite geek is, they will get a kick out of this – and wind up with a useful card, too. Just, as they say, BYOB (Bring Your Own Blood). Really, though, this kit comes with the cards and sticks, as well as a laminating sheet, to find your blood type and keep the card in your wallet. This gift is cool, inexpensive, and actually highly useful.
4. The USB Heated Gloves – http://www.kleargear.com/2178.html
Being totally serious, one of the things I sell most consistently in pattern or finished form is fingerless gloves. At least half the time, I receive comments like, “Perfect for my cold fingers at the computer!” So … what about these little beauties; fingerless gloves with removable heat packs that plug right into any device with a USB port to heat your cold hands up to 104+ degrees if you so wish. Made of soft wool with a slick unisex black and gray design, you’ll find that the winter computer user – writer, tech wizard, or designer – will love you forever when they receive a pair of these. (Well, forever may be exaggerating…)
5. The Secret Message Writing Set – http://www.fredflare.com/secret-message-writing-set.html
Every tech and geek dreams of being a spy. Trust me. We do. With this pair of pens the recipient can share communications in invisible ink that is uncovered by its pair’s “black light” UV beam. Too cool.
6. The HTML for Babies Book – http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/eacc/
Seriously one of the coolest things any new or soon-to-be parent that works with code could possibly receive. It’s for baby, of course, to teach them the oh-so-important rules of standards compliance. John C. Vanden-Heuvel Sr. is a designer who actually wrote this for his own baby (so cute!) and you can use the board book to drop little geeklings into the second language pool.
7. The Memoring – http://www.animicausa.com/shop/Items-for-kids/Memoring/tpflypage.tpl.html
So you’ve tried tying a string around your finger … and have forgotten what it was tied there for in the first place. This is so non-techy that tech lovers will love it. A ring made of sticky notes with a cute little design that slips around your finger, this one is definitely for the tech girl or geek goddess but it will make the recipient happy. And hey … what about saving some further money and doubling the gift by jotting down a “Will You Marry Me?” note on top!
8. The Poodle USB Hub – http://www.fredflare.com/poodle-usb-hub.html
Bring your dog to work! Or, you know, gift this to a dog lover who can never have enough USB ports. Very cute, highly functional with 4 USB 2.0 hi-speed ports, and the puppy’s eyes even light up to let you know what’s going on. Tres Chic.
9. The Periodic Table Refrigerator Magnets – http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/8fc5/
Yeah, you kinda have to be a real geek to love this. But it’s totally cool if you do. Whether your geek loves chemistry or is learning about it, this set of magnets is intended to be arranged into the periodic table but can be mixed up for fun. Oh, were you looking for a gift for your favorite science teacher? You’re welcome.
10. The Crystal Snow Bonsai Imagination Tree – http://www.coolstuffexpress.com/crystal-snow-bonsai-tree.html
Just tantalize your favorite geek with ‘green’, ‘crystals’, and ‘for your desk’ and you’ll have most of us doing an inner (yes, inner – most of us have some self control) squee of delight. Show them the Crystal Snow Bonsai Imagination Tree and they are more likely to do it out loud. Tell them it’s their gift and you might be surprised at the child-like reaction of joy. The Snow Bonsai is created from a lightweight cardboard that grows crystals in a bonsai fashion. Since the crystal growth and color are affected by humidity and the average temperature of their environment, each one is unique. You’ll find them cotton-ball puffed white and reminiscent of cherry blossoms with soft pinks.