Christmas Catalog 2011

This is the 2011 Tools and Toys gift guide for the holidays. Forty-seven gift ideas for those who can be the most difficult shop for: picky gadget geeks, music lovers, coffee nuts, movie buffs, and men.

As always, only the finest gifts suggested.

New Amazon Kindles

1. Kindle Touch: The first E Ink Amazon Kindle to have a touch-screen; the Kindle Touch is lightweight, has a 2-month battery life, and is incredibly affordable. ($99)
2. Kindle: Slightly smaller and lighter than the Kindle Touch, the Kindle 4 has buttons for navigating the menus and books. ($79)
3. Timbuk2 Sleeve for Kindle and Kindle Touch: Padded with high-density foam so it stays ultra thin and light while providing great protection. The inside is lined with a scratch-resistant Tricot lining, and the opening is held in place by velcro. ($25)
4. Lighted Leather Cover for Kindle and Kindle Touch: Just like an old-fashioned book, the E Ink Kindle display cannot be read in the dark. Unless, of course, you’ve got a light. ($60)

Coffee and Tea Necessities

1. Double Walled Glass Mugs: These mugs keep your coffee or tea nice and hot for longer than a standard ceramic mug does, and they keep the outside of the glass cool enough to hold. ($20)
2. Tea Infuser with Lid: This tea infuser from Forlife is great for several reasons: (a) it’s big enough to hold plenty of loose-leaf tea if you’re brewing a whole pot; (b) it’s small enough to fit inside a mug for a single serving cup; and (c) it comes with a lid that you place over your mug to keep the tea hot while brewing. ($16)
3. AeroPress Coffee Maker: For the persnickety coffee maker in the family, the AeroPress makes a cup of coffee as delicious as you’ll get from a french press or siphon, yet with the easiest clean up of all. ($29)
4. Conical Burr Grinder: Conical burr grinders are a coffee aficionado’s necessity — there is no finer way to grind your coffee. Moreover, this grinder from Bodum uses static-free boroscilicate glass to catch the grounds. (On sale: $80)
5. Double Walled French Press: All the benefits of a glass french press (no effect on the taste of your coffee) combined with all the benefits of an insulated press (your coffee stays piping hot as it brews). ($100)

Fun and Fundamental Books

1. The Art of Pixar: Jam packed with behind-the-scenes tours of every Pixar film to date, and, For the first time ever, this book has the complete color scripts for every film published. (On sale: $32)
2. Miss Manners’ Guide to Excruciatingly Correct Behavior: The title says it all. (Tip: buy it early and read it before you go to your In-Law’s place.) (Tip #2: don’t give it to an in-law.) ($25)
3. The Encyclopedia of Games: A big, thick, hardcover, encyclopedia that’s full of rules, tips, tricks, and strategies for all types of games. ($55)
4. Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations: The first edition was compiled by John Bartlett in 1855 and was a mere 258 pages thick. Now, the 17th edition weighs in at 1,500 pages worth of interesting, inspirational, and memorable quotes. ($35)

Special Edition Movies

1. Planet Earth: There are a handful of films and documentaries which truly deserve to be seen in Blu-ray; Planet Earth is one of them. This newly-updated version from the BBC features all the original films in addition to many new features. ($51)
2. Lord of the Rings Extended Trilogy on Blu-ray: Released 10 years after The Fellowship of the Ring debuted in theaters, this LOTR box-set has 12 hours of ultra-high-definition video and audio of what is arguably one of the best trilogies ever made. (On sale: $50)
3. Back to the Future: 25th Anniversary Trilogy: The timeless classic trilogy, Back to the Future, was digitally remastered and released in a special-edition Blu-ray and DVD to celebrate its 25th anniversary. ($27)

Entertaining Board Games

1. Settlers of Catan: A Blanc family favorite for many years, Settlers should be a staple in any board-game lover’s game closet. ($34)
2. Galaxy Trucker: The board game for people who like Outer Space, buildings things, and blowing things up. You and your opponents create your ships, man them, equip them with guns and shields, and then traverse the wild and unpredictable limits of deep space. (On sale: $51)
3. Power Grid: The best way to describe Power Grid is to say it’s like an amalgamation of The Settlers of Catan and Ticket to Ride. Power Grid is a strategy game that requires time and attention. ($32)
4. Ticket to Ride: One of those games that has the perfect blend of casual gameplay which still requires strategy and planning. Not too stressful but not at all boring. ($39)

Hottest Electronics

1. Samsung 3D Blu-ray Player: This top-of-the-line Blu-ray player from Samsung plays 3D and standard Blu-rays as well as DVDs. (On sale: $99)
2. Jawbone Jambox: A small, portable, and cool wireless speaker box that works via Bluetooth. Perfect for use with your iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, and more. ($199)
3. PlugBug: White and red and awesome all over, the PlugBug is a 10W USB wall port that works on its own or in tandem with your standard MacBook power charger so you can charge your iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch. ($35)
4. iPad 2: The iPad 2 is so great that Santa is using one to manage his naughty and nice list, as well as for his Christmas Eve flying directions. ($499)
5. Fitbit: A pedometer that you wear on your belt or shirt, the Fitbit tracks your steps and activity throughout the day as well as your sleeping patterns at night. Sync it to your online account and track your activity. ($100)
6. Apple TV: The best thing you can buy for your television. It’ll play all the music, movies, and TV shows that are on your computer, it connects to Netflix, and you can use it to rent movies via iTunes as well. ($99)
7. Jawbone UP: The latest addition to the trend of personal fitness tracking gadgets, the UP is meant to be worn 24/7 so it can track your movements during the day and your sleep patterns at night. And it’s smart enough to remind when you’ve been sitting at your desk for too long, as well as waking you in the morning during the ideal time in your sleep cycle. ($100)

The Funnest iPods

1. iPod nano: This little gadget provides musical entertainment, it helps you track your walking or running, it has an FM radio, a slew of awesome-looking watch faces, and it comes in a handful of colors. ($129)
2. Sennheiser Earbuds for iPhone and iPod: High-quality iPhone- and iPod-friendly earbuds with an in-line microphone and sound-isolating rubber tips. (Sale: $40)
3. iPod touch: Apple’s funnest iPod ever, the iPod touch is akin to an iPhone without the phone. It has front and rear cameras, the infamous retina display, Wi-Fi connectivity, and can play a slew of games, videos, and music. ($199)

Classy Attire

1. Plaid Wool Tie: The gift of an attractive tie need not be reserved only for Father’s Day, you know. ($140)
2. Fingerless Gloves: They’re like mittens but without the tips, and they’re great for helping to keep your hands and wrists warm during the not-quite-full-on-freezing-weather days. ($13)
3. Toms Classic 301: A modern twist on that classic sunglasses style that will never go out of style: The Aviator. ($145)
4. Seiko 5 Automatic Watch: Automatic watches are in a class all of their own — they’re self-winding and worn only by men and women of style. The Seiko 5 sports a classic and versatile black face surrounded in stainless steel with an nylon band. (On sale: $70)
5. Hard Graft Dopp Kit: Made from Italian suede and vegetable tanned leather, this dopp kit is arguably the most handsome wash bag in the world. ($200)

The Great Outdoors

1. Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker: Real men smoke their meats. And for the times when you want to slap a steak on the grill, the WSM converts to a charcoal grill as well. (Sale: $289)
2. Leatherman Wave Multitool: Every man should own a multitool, and the Leatherman Wave is one of the best. (Sale: $63)
3. Columbia River Knife and Tool’s Delegate Knife: A 3-inch black stainless blade, that fits snugly in a black aluminum with cocobolo wood handle. (Sale: $24)
4. Charcoal Chimney Starter: The best and easiest way to get natural charcoals lit and burning. Match Light is for sissies. ($20)

Stocking Stuffers

1. Extra Long USB cable for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch: Need to charge your iPhone while in the middle seat of the classroom? No sweat. Trying to charge your iPad while reading on the couch? No problem. The opportunities for convenience fill up a list as long as Santa’s. ($13)
2. Coldplay, Mylo Xyloto: Teeming with melodies that are sure to get stuck in your head for days. ($10)
3. WoodWick Candles: Once you’ve used a WoodWick Candle, you’ll never use any other type. ($22)
4. Bamboo Stir Sticks: These bamboo stir sticks are super cheap and make the ideal tool for stirring your coffee. I own three myself. ($4)
5. Signo DX Pens: Arguably, the best pen in the world. This gift balances between the fine line of “stocking stuffer” and “best gift ever”. ($25/box)
6. Matt Kearny, Young Love: Fun and up-beat beats, with clean and classy lyrics. ($10)
7. AquaNotes: A waterproof notepad. An ideal way for your spouse to jot down all those universe-denting ideas they come up with in the shower every morning. ($13)
8. Sigg Classic Aluminum Water Bottle: Chic, BPA-free, and tough. ($10)

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