If Thanksgiving and Black Friday mark the official start of the holiday season, the logic follows that they may be the best time to buy holiday gifts if you haven’t already. After all, waiting much longer to check everyone off your gifting list after this point will be cutting it pretty close — and who wouldn’t want to score some serious savings on gifts that are both fun and practical?
If you still haven’t figured out what you’re getting for everyone, though, that’s okay. We’ve hunted down some of the best Amazon Black Friday deals on products that make for foolproof gifts, from the affordable and useful to the fun and indulgent. All of these items are 20% off or more, so you know these deals are legit. Below, check out our list of great gift ideas that can win you some brownie points — but you’ll want to grab them before the deals end.
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Perfect for the office, going out for dinner and to formal or casual events, this versatile Cole Haan loafer is at a major discount in the burgundy color today. The shoes are made with sleek genuine leather and are hand-sewn, but still have responsive cushioning for a comfortable feel on the foot. Get it in men’s sizes 6-16, with wide sizing available.
Both fitness junkies and people who prefer to lounge around the house can appreciate a good pair of leggings, especially if — like this pair by The Gym People — it has pockets. Available in a range of colors and women’s sizes XS-4XL, the leggings have a high elastic waistband, two side pockets and one inner pocket on the back waistband. They’re thick but still breathable, stretchy and, most importantly, not see-through. Reviewers argue that the pockets make these giftable, and as a fellow leggings and pocket enthusiast, I’m inclined to agree.
Promising review: “As every woman knows, designers don’t usually make our clothes very functional. In general, if a garment has any semblance of pockets, they’re strictly decorative and don’t actually hold anything. These leggings are very good quality, and they have pockets. Actual working pockets. I bought them for my daughter-in-law as a gift, and now I think I need a pair of my own. Definitely ordering again.” — K. Fugate
If you’re shopping for someone who loves to host or wants to try their hand at making cocktails at home, Black + Decker’s Bev cocktail maker machine gives them an easy method of doing so. The machine lets the user choose the drink strength (including mocktail, for those who don’t drink alcohol!) and insert Bartesian liquor capsules using the easy-load system. The capsules are sold separately, so you can also buy them on Amazon to get your recipient started — they’re just not on sale for Black Friday. Many of the parts are dishwasher-safe and the machine self-rinses in addition to having its own cleaning cycle.
Promising review: “I am so glad I made this purchase. I purchased this for my husband for Christmas (was between this and the Bartesian) and I did a lot of research prior to the purchase. I settled on this for a few reasons. 1. It looks more manly and bottles can be displayed. 2. No transferring of alcohol into separate canisters, which could lead to leakage (we have friends who have had leaking issues with the other brand). There are glass canisters you can purchase for this one BUT they stand upright and not upside down. 3. It was $100 cheaper than the leading brand.
It was a hit at Christmas with the family. I purchased extra pods for the family to enjoy and we did. My husband said this was one of the BEST gifts he has ever received. Oh, and the best feature to me is the fact that you can choose light, medium or heavy alcohol levels to suit your taste.” — Loyal
Who doesn’t want to have a cozy home? This lightweight fleece blanket from Bedsure comes in so many colors, so you can pick your recipient’s favorite one or match it to their bedroom or living room decor to gift them something they’ll always want to curl up and relax underneath. The blanket is soft and warm without being too heavy, and is also wildly popular, with almost 135,000 5-star ratings.
It comes in a ton of sizes, from a smaller throw to California king, but the queen size currently has the best deal.
You know that feeling when you step out of a steamy shower, there’s a touch of chill in the air, and someone hands you a freshly laundered towel straight out of the dryer? That little moment of luxurious bliss can be replicated over and over again with this portable bucket-style towel warmer that keeps its contents nice and toasty for up to one hour. Plus, there’s also an aromatherapy feature and built-in auto shut-off so no one has to worry about forgetting to turn it off.
Even if you haven’t heard of the Medicube device, it’s very possible that it’s already on the radar of the beauty lover on your list. This wildly popular K-beauty tool claims to help improve product absorption by up to 490% to help maximize the results of your skin care ingredients and leave skin deliciously dewy and hydrated.
Carhartt has gotten some extra hype in the last few years, so it’s always nice to see a sale on their apparel. This loose-fit men’s hoodie has the iconic logo running down the sleeve in a way that shows it off without splashing it right across the chest. The sweatshirt is midweight, stretchable and roomy, not to mention machine-washable. Especially with us being well into hoodie season, your recipient can get a lot of use out of this thing. It comes in a bunch of colors and men’s sizes XS-5XL, with tall options available.
A walking pad can be a winner with fitness junkies and exercise newbies alike, and this gift won’t take up too much room in their home — the sleek under-desk treadmill wheels away neatly after use. It has a maximum load of 265 pounds and revs up to over six miles an hour. The pad also automatically tracks the user’s distance and calories burned and they can control the speed with the included remote.
Act fast, though: HuffPost readers love to buy these on sale whenever we cover them, so it’s fair to guess that this steep discount may not last long.
Promising review: “I bought this as a gift for my husband who is an avid runner, but unfortunately works a remote desk job so he is confined to a small space most of the day. He absolutely loves it! He’s been able to get his steps in during the work day and it is so easy to wheel around so we can both use it. It even has a collapsible bar that you can use for a light jog or speed walking. It is easy to store and perfect for small spaces!” — Victoria
This one is also a higher-ticket item, but if you’re willing to splurge on a gift, this is a truly useful option that won’t go unappreciated by remote workers, music fans or others who uses headphones daily.
Bose infused their signature high-fidelity sound and powerful noise-canceling technology into these over-the-ear wireless headphones that offer 20 hours of listening per charge. Enjoy 11 levels of active noise canceling and a microphone system that allows the listener to take calls and be heard, even in noisy environments.
Promising review: “This is my 2nd pair of BOSE headphones. 1st set was tested and true! I’ve had them over 15 years and they still work great. I like the new ones as to how they fold easily for the storage case. I purchased a 3rd pair for a Christmas gift. My wife loves em!” — Jamie Steeves
“Honestly the prettiest music experience I’ve had with headphones… I love the purple.
Very comfortable too.” — Carissa
Originally retailing for almost $200, the Beats Solo 4 headphones are now down to their lowest price ever and make another great gift option. They offer a longer battery life (up to 50 hours), and come in some colors that the Bose headphones don’t, like a black/gold combo and the pink shown here.
The Beats also sport spatial mode with head tracking, lossless audio, fast-charging capabilities for 5-hour playtime after a quick 10-minute charge a carry case, a foldable design and USB-C charging. And although they’re not marketed as having active noise-canceling, reviewers say that’s debatable. Compatible with Apple and Android devices alike, the Beats Solo 4 headphones also deliver plush over-ear comfort, plus adjustability for the best fit.
For a truly practical gift, you can’t go wrong with a Nutribullet personal blender. If your recipient is making smoothies or shakes every morning — or wants to get into the habit — the compact size, 600-watt power and intuitive design of this blender combine to make it a kitchen must-have. Perhaps the best part is how easy this is to clean, thanks to the fact that it’s small (but still big enough for the perfect portion) and dishwasher-safe.
Promising review: “This is the perfect instant blender for mixed drinks by far usually with a normal blender I’d spend about a minute blending the ice down to smoothie-ness but this thing does it within seconds and it makes the best smoothie! its a must for a Christmas gift for anyone that like smoothies or mixed drinks.” — Chase Shuffitt
Each of these clever smart plugs turns any regular old wall outlet into one your recipient can set to turn on and off on a schedule or at their whim, without getting off the couch or even needing to be at home. Just think of the possibilities you can open up for them with this gift: They can save the day if your giftee realizes they left home without turning off an appliance, or when they want to make it look like someone’s home while they’re on vacation.
They can use either Alexa or the Kasa app or both to control the plugs, and setup is truly simple either way: All they have to do is plug one in, push a button to connect it to their Wi-Fi, add it to the phone app and live your life. And if they have an outlet or lamp switch that’s hard to reach or stuck behind furniture, these are complete game-changers.
It’s possible you’ve seen some version of these overnight hydrogel masks on TikTok that start off opaque and become transparent as all of the infused goodness absorbs into skin, leaving behind a complexion that’s plump, hydrated and glass-like. These Biodance masks contain a collagen peptide that’s of a low molecular weight to penetrate deeper into the skin. They also have brightening niacinamide, moisture-trapping hyaluronic acid and galactomyces to improve skin tone and texture. They make a nice, indulgent gift for the person who could use a little self-care.
Promising review: “Amazing value for money spent. I loved the cool feel and was blown away by how relaxing it was to sleep in this mask. My skin glowed all day, I used this the same night I received it. My face looked more plump and brighter. Even the dark circles under my eyes reduced. The quality is amazing, feels like think jelly and is super easy to apply. I was impressed with how smaller my pores appeared after just 1 use. Will definitely be adding this to my self care routine.” — S. Williams
Released just this year, this version of the Beats Pill portable Bluetooth speaker has up to 24 hours of battery life and is dust- and water-resistant. Reviewers say the sound quality is clear, and that the speaker is impressively loud for how small and lightweight it is.
It’s perfect for your recipient to play their favorite podcasts or playlist in the kitchen or the shower and will come in extra handy to keep the vibes going during holiday gatherings. You can get it in five colors.
My brother and sister-in-law love to collect and play tabletop games, so I know firsthand the long-term use a good game set can get. This Mexican Train Dominoes set comes with a convenient carrying case to take it on the go, and contains everything your recipient will need for game night, including 91 dominoes, a scorepad to keep track and more. The game is made for two to eight players ages eight and up, making it a potential fun gift for a family or couple.
Promising review: “We played with some friends last year and decided to buy 2 to gift to family for the holidays. It was an instant hit! There are lots of ways to play but we do the classic game and everyone has loved it. My mom asked to play a game every night. It does take a while when you’re first learning so keep that in mind but once everyone knows what’s going on you can get through several hands in reasonable time. The case and dominos are really nice quality and super easy to travel with.” — Hines
If your recipient is into beauty products and always scrolling on TikTok, they might have been curious about this viral, unique product before. No, the “snail” designation isn’t beauty speak for something else — there’s actual snail slime in this K-beauty product and it apparently works so freaking well. (Snail mucin has been used in cosmetics since the 1980s, when Chilean snail farmers observed that when their skin was in contact with snails, it was softer, and cuts seemed to heal faster.)
Per reviewers, consistent use of this incredibly hydrating serum can help address dryness and breakouts and just generally improve the look of the skin. Plus, the snail aspect will certainly make this a conversation starter when your giftee opens your gift.
Promising review: “I received this as a gift one time over a year ago, and since then I have probably repurchased this product at least 4 or 5 times, it’s that good. It takes my dry, tight skin to feeling silky smooth and hydrated in a matter of seconds. Something I love about it this is you can use this multiple times a day if need be. I recommend this product to all my friends, even those with oily, acne prone skin. If I had to choose only one skincare product to have, it would be this one.” — Molly P.
While the classic version of the LifeStraw personal water filter for emergency preparedness isn’t on sale for Black Friday, we did find this stainless steel drinking straw from the same brand that serves a similar purpose. The straw, which is reusable for up to 1,000 liters, is more compact and comes with a carrying case but still filters out microplastics, bacteria and parasites from water. Like the classic version, it’s great for emergency preparedness, but also comes in handy if your recipient is traveling and has concerns about the tap water at their destination.
Is there any better gift than providing some pain relief? This popular muscle massager features all the same percussive therapy power as the full-size Theragun, but packed into a more compact version that can make it easier to target smaller areas like the arches of the feet, tops of the ankles, calves and shoulders. It reaches 16 mm into the muscle and features advanced sound insulation for an ultra-quiet performance. Users can choose from three attachments and three speeds. Whether your recipient has plantar fasciitis, arthritis, an intense workout routine or more, this is a versatile and useful gift idea they can use at home and on the go.
It’s also HSA/FSA eligible!
Promising review: “This was a gift for my brother. He wanted a massage gun and the reviews drove me to this brand and size. He loves it and the size is perfect for travel use too!” — BluePnut
Although a devout lover of candles, I don’t routinely spend much money on them — but Yankee Candles are an exception. With the best throw in the game, little to no tunneling so you get every drop of wax you spent money on and wax that lasts days upon days — they’re always worth grabbing. Today, that’s even more the case because they’re 50% off. Go ahead: Just gift the candle.
Ralph, an eau de toilette by Ralph Lauren, has notes of magnolia, green apple and white musk that combine for a fun, fresh, floral scent that can bring a bit of spring and summer to your giftee’s colder months. The distinctive blue bottle makes this a gift they’ll want to both display and use, and with the generally high ticket price, you won’t want to miss out on such a steep discount.
Promising review: “i bought this as a gift for my sister for Christmas. She loved it and wears it a lot. The scent is nice but not too heavy and really smells good on her. I will purchase again for the next gifting occation.” — antz
People credit this 3.5-cup food chopper (that boasts a 4.6-star rating across thousands upon thousands of reviewers) with helping them chop, shred, knead, and puree everything they need to prepare their meals. Grab it today for 25% off, dropping it down to well under its usual $60 price tag.
FYI: Ice rollers are an affordable skin care secret weapon for addressing various skin concerns without using a cream or ointment.
“Cold application to the skin decreases the appearance of fine lines, reduces puffiness and soothes the skin, while rolling improves circulation,” Dr. Bridget Kaufman, a board-certified dermatologist with the Skin & Laser Center of New Jersey, told HuffPost in a previous report.
This ice roller on Amazon has over 17,000 5-star reviews, is a HuffPost reader favorite AND it’s 20% off today. This is a perfect self-care stocking stuffer for just about anyone, so get it while the gettin’ is good!
Tile, which is compatible with the Life360 app, is one of the more popular tracker brands out there, and can be used with both iOS- and Android-powered phones (unlike its competitor, Apple’s AirTag). What’s cool about this set is how smartly designed the pieces are: The smaller Mate tracker comes equipped with open slot for adding to a keychain or attaching to a zipper, and the credit card-sized Slim tracker is designed to fit into a wallet or billfold. The two different shapes offer a ton of versatility and, depending on where you place them, won’t require any additional hardware or holders that you might not already have on hand. There’s definitely a forgetful person in your life who will be thrilled to unwrap this gift.
