21 Gifts Every College Guy Will Appreciate

Updated on Dec 9, 2024 at 2:15 PM

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With finals week behind them, college students are ready to unwind for the holiday season, spend time with their friends and family, and probably binge-watch a few shows they missed out on during the semester. To treat them with extra love this festive season, we created the ultimate gift guide for the college guy in your life, whether they’re a freshman or embarking on their senior year. From back-to-back classes, internships, or extracurricular activities, college students are balancing it all. Getting them a gift that makes their life easier, efficient, and entertaining can go a long way. From the coolest, most coveted tech to fun and useful finds they’ll get a kick out of, we rounded up the best gifts you can give the college guy in your life.

Help him take on the semester with clever finds like a reusable notebook that converts written notes into a digitized version. Or get him a new Apple iPad that he can use to take notes, record lectures, and, of course, binge-watch his favorite TV shows. Plus, we discovered plenty of fun finds that will make dorm life a little more bearable. Turn his dorm room into a mini Starbucks with a Keurig coffee machine or other coffee-related presents, like a portable mini espresso gadget. Whether you’re shopping for a sneakerhead, a gamer, or an adventure seeker, these gifts will truly impress him this holiday season. Shop our top picks ahead.

amazon.comBest Humorous Card Game For College Guys”That’s What She Said” Game ($25)

If he has the same sense of humor as Michael Scott, he’ll get a laugh out of the “That’s What She Said” game. All he has to do is match the red setup card to the even funnier white phrase cards.

amazon.comBest Streaming Device For College GuysAmazon Fire TV Stick 4K Streaming Device ($28, originally $50)

Level up his streaming game with the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Streaming Device. He’ll be able to house and watch all his subscriptions and live TV in one smooth-streaming platform. He can even control any smart lighting and plugs; just ask Alexa. This is a great way to upgrade his TV.

amazon.comBest Oversized Mug For College GuysMax’is Creations The Mug with a Hoop ($30)

This oversized mug is such a fun way to start his mornings off. He can use this to drink coffee, make hot cocoa with marshmallows, eat cereal, drink soup, or even hold chips. You can choose between a basketball mug with a hoop, a hockey mug with a net, a soccer mug with a goal, a softball mug with a glove, or a baseball mug with a glove.

amazon.comBest Massage Pillow For College GuysViktor Jurgen Neck Massage Pillow ($39)

Treat him to this relaxing Viktor Jurgen Neck Massage Pillow to help take the edge off. It’s portable, so he can take it just about anywhere. It’s great for his desk setup in his dorm.

amazon.comBest Durable Water Bottle For College GuysYeti Rambler Insulated Water Bottle ($40)

Shopping for a college guy doesn’t have to be so complicated when you can get him something he’ll use all the time, like this Rambler Insulated Water Bottle from Yeti. This insulated water bottle will keep his drinks cool and refreshing for a long time. It’s also leakproof so he can carry this in his bag or clip it onto it. This comes with a chug cap, but the straw cap accessory is also compatible. The Rambler comes in a ton of colors too, so choose his favorite.

amazon.comBest Smart Notebook For College GuysRocketbook Multi-Subject Smart Notebook ($40)

This Rocketbook Multi-Subject Smart Notebook will be his go-to for lectures. It’s a scannable multi-subject, reusable notebook equipped with dividers so that he can stay organized while getting through a day of back-to-back classes. He can export the pages of the notebook to his email or Google Docs and then just wipe them clean and start all over. It comes in plenty of cool colors as well.

amazon.comBest Star Wars-Inspired Waffle Maker For College GuysStar Wars Darth Vader Waffle Maker ($45, originally $50)

The Star Wars Darth Vader Waffle Maker is such a fun gift and can be put to good use if he lives in an on-campus apartment. It can make seven-inch waffles in the shape of Darth Vader’s helmet. Any morning where waffles are being made is a good morning.

amazon.comBest Portable Espresso-Machine For College GuysWacaco Minipresso Machine ($55)

The Wacaco Minipresso Machine is something every espresso-lover will appreciate. He can use any of his Nespresso Original pods and have an espresso on the go — just add hot water into the tank, unlock the piston, and pump it a few times to add pressure. It’s perfect for those who travel, commute to class, or love hiking.

amazon.comBest Record Player For College GuysCrosley Voyager Bluetooth Record Player ($58)

Get the music lover in your life the Crosley Voyager Bluetooth Record Player. It can play old-school records and stream music from his phone via Bluetooth. It comes in a wide range of colors, too.

Editor Quote: “If you’re on the market for a decorative turntable for occasional plays, you might feel satisfied with it. The performance is in line with the more affordable price tag,” an editor says in her review of a Crosley Voyager Bluetooth Record Player .

amazon.comBest Phone Charger For College GuysPhoneSoap Smartphone Sanitizer ($60, originally $80)

Get this PhoneSoap Smartphone Sanitizer for the guy who’s always sanitizing. The device uses UV lights to make your phone 99.9 percent germ free. This is perfect for his desk or bedside, since it can also amplify audio so he won’t miss alarms or notifications.

amazon.comBest Smart Water Bottle For College GuysHidrateSpark Pro Smart Water Bottle ($64)

If you’re shopping for someone who aims to live a healthy lifestyle, the HidrateSpark Pro Smart Water Bottle will be his new best friend. It’s a smart water bottle that will remind him to drink water throughout the day by glowing. It even tracks his exact water intake and lets him know his progress on daily goals. How cool is that?

Editor Quote: “Seeing how much water I actually drank throughout the day was eye-opening and, in turn, motivating. Just like how you want to close all three fitness rings on your Apple Watch, the HidrateSpark Steel Water Bottle pushed me to complete my hydration goals. Although you can manually add water intake like traditional habit-tracking apps, the real-time data kept me accountable for my water intake, thus motivating me to reach for my bottle regardless of a glow reminder.” Read more in her in-depth review of the HidrateSpark Pro Smart Water Bottle.

nordstrom.comBest Classic White Sneakers For College GuysNike Air Force 1 ’07 Sneakers ($115)

Every sneakerhead will be eyeing these Nike Air Force 1 ’07 Sneakers. These are a timeless pair of white sneakers that will go with nearly everything in his closet. They’re ’80s-throwback sneakers remastered with a cool low-cut profile.

Editor Quote: “They boast all the same bounciness and support of an athletic sneaker but with a silhouette that can easily be dressed up or down, depending on the occasion. I appreciate their styling versatility and the fact that I can wear them all day without having to worry about my feet feeling sore at the end of it,” says one of our editors in our Nike Air Sneakers review.

amazon.comBest Slim Coffee Maker For College GuysKeurig K-Slim + Iced Single Serve Coffee Maker ($130)

If he has limited counter space, this Keurig K-Slim + Iced Single Serve Coffee Maker is perfect for his apartment kitchen or dorm room. It automatically adjusts the brew temperature for iced drinks so he can directly brew over ice without it tasting watered down. It can brew three cup sizes in just mere minutes.

PS Photography | Anvita ReddyBest Athletic Shoes For College GuysHoka Gaviota 5 Running Shoe ($175)

The Hoka Gaviota 5 is perfect for the college guy who has an active lifestyle. He can get his cardio in or comfortably walk from class to class. Available in various colors and patterns, it’s a stylish and functional sneaker he’ll wear again and again. These shoes boast plush cushioning and stability to ensure a smooth wear.

Editor Quote: “The Hoka Gaviota 5 sneakers are the most supportive sneakers I’ve tried for my arched feet, and I never had to break them in. They truly fit like a puzzle piece, offering cushioning where I need it most, like at the arch of my foot and near the back of my ankles. Since these are stability sneakers, I’ve seen a significant improvement in balance, especially while working out and stretching, but also during my daily life, like when the subway I’m on brakes suddenly.” Read more in her in-depth review of the Hoka Gaviota 5 sneaker.

amazon.comBest Noise Canceling Earbuds For College GuysApple AirPods Pro 2 ($190, originally $249)

Get him these Apple AirPods Pro 2 earbuds; they’re the number-one bestseller on Amazon. He’ll get good sound quality and up to 30 hours of listening with the MagSafe charging case. Perfect for those who already have Apple products, they’ll let him block out noise for immersive sound or switch to transparency mode to hear what’s happening around him. They’re also sweat and water resistant so he can work out with them without a worry.

amazon.comBest Mini Fridge For College GuysNewAir Mini Fridge Beverage Refrigerator and Cooler ($261)

Every college guy will appreciate a mini fridge for their dorm. This option can hold up to 60 cans of beverages and it cools to 37 degrees so he can even store leftovers or takeout. It’s compact enough to store underneath his desk or bed, and it can even serve as a functional side table.

PS Photography | Anvita ReddyBest Noise-Canceling Headphones For College GuysSony WH-1000XM5 Noise Canceling Overhead Bluetooth Wireless Headphones ($298, originally $400)

These noise canceling headphones from Sony are an editor-backed pick that’s perfect for campus life. The wireless Bluetooth over-the-ear headphones are noise canceling for an immersive sound experience. They have a 30-hour battery life, plus a touch sensor for easy listening and control. They even have the ability to automatically reduce the volume when they detect that he’s in the middle of a conversation.

Edtior Quote: “The noise cancellation on these headphones is also truly one of the best on the market — there are times when I don’t even need to play audio, and the headphones still block out the noise pollution of my environment. Whether it’s grunting gym bros or crying babies on flights, sounds will be totally blocked out by these headphones.” Read more in her review of the Sony WH-1000XM5 Noise Canceling Headphones.

walmart.com$349 Best Gaming Console For College GuysNintendo Switch OLED Model with White Joy-Con ($349)

Get the gamer in your life this Nintendo Switch system. It has three modes of playtime — TV mode, tabletop mode, and handheld mode — for gaming whenever and wherever. It has a battery range of four to nine hours, depending on software usage and conditions. It can even connect over WiFi for multiplayer gaming.

amazon.comBest Adjustable Dumbbells For College GuysBowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells ($399, originally $549)

Get the fitness enthusiast in your life these Bowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells to complete his at-home gym. Each dumbbell can be adjusted from five pounds to 52 pounds and takes up minimal space. He can use these for a quick dorm-room workout when he doesn’t have time to hit the campus gym.

amazon.comBest Virtual-Reality Headset For College GuysMeta Quest 3S ($400)

If he’s a gamer, the Meta Quest 3S is the ultimate splurge. It’s a virtual-reality headset that will let him fully immerse himself in video games, concerts, and more. It features 3D positional audio and hand tracking to make the virtual worlds feel real.

amazon.comBest Lightweight Tablet For College GuysApple iPad Air ($499)

The iPad Air will make juggling his campus life a little easier. The 11-inch screen is perfect for recording lectures and taking notes, as well as for catching up on Netflix. It’s equipped with Apple’s powerful M2 chip so it’s as fast and productive as a laptop with an all-day, long-lasting battery life. It’s also lightweight, making it easy to carry from classes to student activities to internships.

– — Additional reporting by Lauren Harano and Haley Lyndes

Anvita Reddy (she/her) is an assistant editor for PS Shopping. She has a passion for products and reviews home gadgets, cookware, tech, and more. Having dealt with acne as a teenager and into adulthood, her expertise lies in beauty. She tests skin care, makeup, and hair care, plus countless other beauty products.

Lauren Harano is a contributor for PS and was formerly an editor for the Living, Beauty, and Shop departments. She’s a Southern-California-native-turned-New-Yorker with a passion for skin care, murder mysteries, and online shopping. Aside from PS, her work can be found in the pages of Cosmopolitan and Seventeen as well as online at InStyle, Esquire, NBC, and various food and travel sites.

Haley Lyndes was an assistant editor for PS Shopping where she found and tested the best home, beauty, and fashion products. She is a graduate of Northern Vermont University and has nearly five years of experience in both written and broadcast journalism.