Omar’s Holiday Picks 2018
It’s that time of year again and I thought I would write you about some gift ideas to think about for the Holidays. Many of the items on last year’s picks are still good too!
Many of the items below are also on sale through Monday.
Away Luggage
While I remain a huge fan of Rimowa - nothing can beat the Topas Aluminum in Stealth Black, I also appreciate that at that price point - it’s not a great option. I’ve been really impressed with Away. We got our kids their first set of carry on luggage.
I am a huge fan of having these three sizes of bags for travel
Carry On - Normal Size - 34-39 Liters. Great for 2-3 days.
Carry On - Large Size - 45-50 Liters. Some airlines let you bring on this giant a carry on bag - so I have one. I can usually fit 5-6 days of clothing in here. British Airways allows this size.
Check In - I think the sweet spot is 60-68 Liters. Anything bigger is too hard to carry and probably does not meet the weight limit anyway.
I am a big fan of aluminum bags as they have a non zipper and gasket so your bag is shut and nothing is getting in or out of there. This suitcase will get dented and scratched but that adds to the charm.
Use this code and get $20 off your order (I will get a $20 credit)
Aura Frame
I wrote about these last year - and they now have a new design. I find that these are the best quality frame out there with a really great iPhone app for updating photos.
Apple iPad Pro
For most people who have an older iPad or for people that don’t, I’d recommend the 11 inch iPad Pro with the Smart Cover Keyboard and Apple Pencil. The new iPad is brilliant.
Apple iPhone Wallet Case
The Apple Wallet case is really well made. I know both men and women that use this - and it was my wife’s holiday pick
Apple Watch Series 4
The Apple Watch Series 4 is the best watch Apple has made so far. It’s a really great product and I love mine. I personally love the black stainless steel, but all the models are great.
Apple AirPods
This product is hands down one of the best inventions Apple has made. They last forever, are useful for phone calls or listening to audio books and podcasts. I take mine with me everywhere.
Surface Go
I think the Surface Go is the best laptop you can get for your kids. Both our kids have them, love them, and use them all the time. They are a bit small for an adult, but for kids no problem. And they won’t break the bank. Yes you could get a cheaper chromebook for your kids that does less.
I would get the top end model (8GB / 128GB HD) with the Pen and the Keyboard.
Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer
My wife still loves her hair dryer and so do I (it’s so quiet)!
FitBit Ace Activity Tracker for Kids
Our daughter loves her Fitbit Ace. This is a tracker designed for kids.
Sill Indoor Potted Plants
Plants always make for a great gift, and this company Sill, delivers a whole kit to anyone you want as well as tutorials and instructions for how to keep them alive.
I really like Calathea plants as they look nice and are easy to care for.
Proof Merino Shirt
The most amazing t-shirt I own.
Power Pic
I don’t have this, but I think it’s a fantastic idea - a picture frame by day, a phone charger by night. Twelve South makes awesome products.
Nomad Wireless Charger
Another company that makes fantastic products is Nomad. I really like their new Apple Watch + iPhone wireless charger. They also make great cases, wallets and other accessories. They are offering 30% off many items on their site for black Friday.
Begg & Co Wispy Scarf
This is one of the nicest scarfs I have ever held. I own one in gray and in the winter I take this with me everywhere. It’s unisex and comes in 40 colors. Lora and I each have one. Made from the thinnest Cashmere I have seen. These are really wonderful and they ship directly from Scotland.
Swarovski Annual Edition Christmas Ornament
This is on my holiday list each year as it makes for a great gift or something you can collect each year.
Oura Ring
Lora and I both sleep with the Oura ring - a really impressive piece of technology and sleep tracker.
Prepworks by Progressive Magnetic Measuring Spoons
These make for great stocking suffers for the chef in your house.
Buy - Magnetic Measuring Spoons
Kindle Papwerwhite
The new Kindle Paperwhite is awesome - it’s now waterproof too. I like the flush front design and increased storage. I personally have the Oasis as I like having hard buttons, but the regular Paperwhite is a great option for kids as it has a backlight and you can upgrade the storage. I got my son the 32GB model since he reads so many of the same books over and over.
AfterShokz Headphones
I had heard of these before but never tried them. They are hard to describe till you try them on yourself - but essentially these are headphones that you don’t put into your ear - or on your ear. They sit in front of your ear and then make vibrations that are sent into your body and “heard”. The nice thing about them is that you can hear everything around you - which is very convenient for my wife and kids who listen to things at home and when they do it’s nearly impossible to get their attention.
These are great for listening to podcasts or audio books.
The AfterShokz Trekz Air are great for adults
The AfterShokz Minis are great for kids
Blu Skillet Ironware
The one thing I own in the kitchen that I love the most are my Blu Skillet pans [review]. I have purchased gifts for some friends and family too - but they are hard to come by. So if you are interested they just announced their holiday ordering plans - try and get a 13 inch fry pan or a smaller 10 or 9 inch. If you don’t have one I would start with the 13 inch fry pan. We own the 13 inch fry, french and 9 inch fry.
If you are local to Seattle, stop by in December (get there early) and you’ll probably have good odds of getting one that way too.
Brown Buffalo Bags
I recently discovered this bag maker in Costa Mesa, CA and have purchased some of their products for myself and family. Their Standard Issue Backpack makes for a great school backpack and I have the Conceal Bag in Camo.
Fujifilm Instax Mini
These cameras are fun for kids and adults. Our son has one and it’s fun to see the things he likes to photograph and to also slow him down a bit and take photos with a scarce resource - film.