Choosing a present for an engineer is almost as daunting as performing the tasks of an engineer. With that in mind, we here at Tech Briefs aim to make your life easier with regards to the former.
So, peruse the list below at your leisure for a cheat sheet on holiday gift giving for the engineer in your life.
Optics for Hire’s RollRanger™
Technically a holiday gift that will help wrap other holiday gifts, RollRanger puts the kibosh on losing the edge on a roll of tape. Simply move RollRanger along the surface of a roll of tape, and when the sensor reaches the lost edge of the tape an LED indicator light will turn on. Its scraper tool will lift the edge and separate the tape from the roll sans splitting. That’s a wrap!
CrunchLabs
Marketed more toward kids — but still incredibly fun and useful for kids at heart — CrunchLabs aims to let users build, think, and play like an engineer. Headed by a team of self-proclaimed “fun-loving dorks,” including a former NASA engineer, CrunchLabs shows people of any age and experience how to think like an engineer — not necessarily on a path to an engineering career, but more of a “hands-on approach that helps you accomplish whatever you set your mind to.”
Hoverpen Interstellar Edition
Crafted from a single piece of aircraft grade aluminum, this free-spinning executive luxury pen is perfect for the aerospace nut for whom you care so deeply. The Hoverpen 2.0’s pedestal takes on a new shape inspired by space. Its body material is carved from high-quality aluminum, while its magnetized ring design keeps the pen floating in place — like an astronaut in space. However, the pen comes with much less risk than an intergalactic mission.
Holy Stone HS260 Drone
The HS260 drone — with its Wi-Fi-enabled, 1080P HD camera — can capture incredible videos and photos and send them directly to the user’s smartphone, something an engineer of any level will enjoy. Equipped with an air pressure altitude control system, the drone can hover and take footage with more stability, and it even comes with a storage bag.
CanaKit Raspberry Pi 5
The next evolution of the Raspberry Pi features a 64-bit quad-core Arm Cortex-A76 processor running at 2.4GHz; it delivers a two- to three-times increase in CPU performance relative to its predecessor. In addition to a substantial graphics upgrade from an 800MHz VideoCore VII GPU, dual 4Kp60 display output over HDMI, and state-of-the-art camera support from a rearchitected Raspberry Pi 5 Image Signal Processor, it provides a smooth desktop experience. What engineer wouldn’t love that?
Electronic Electrical Engineer - Custom Name LED Light 3D
From Loveable, the 3D LED illusion lamp is a combination of art and technology that creates an optical 3D illusion. From afar, you see the design; when you get up close, you see a completely flat thin acrylic glass sheet. Plus, the personalized high-quality LED light provider can change from seven different colors (red, green, blue, yellow, cyan, purple, and white), boasts low power consumption, and a long working lifespan. Quaint is an understatement.
Flashforge Finder 3 3D Printer
Flashforge’s Finder 3 supports various types of filaments, and it is compatible with cloud platforms for model slicing and printing. The technology works with different nozzle sizes and has an added thermal protection function, which can monitor the extruder temperature. Any engineer would be lucky to find a Finder under the tree this year.
Lix Pen UV, 3D Printing Pen
This small, smart 3D printing pen proves that the future is here. The perfect tool for stylists, architects, designers, and anybody interested in 3D printing, Lix is the world’s smallest circular 3D printing pen. Create in new dimensions this holiday season with Lix — the engineer in your life will thank you.
Mylivell LED Flashlight Gloves
Waterproof and reflective with batteries and bulb included, the Mylivell LED Flashlight Gloves can be used as practical tools in everyday life or while immersed in many different applications. Its comfort and flexible, breathable material make it the perfect gift.
11 oz. Equation Mug — What Don’t You Understand?
Well, which part do you not understand? This 11-oz ceramic mug will keep the yuks coming — and keep your coffee hot. It has a premium hard coat, is perfect for hot and cold beverages, and is dishwasher and microwave safe.
See what made last year's list here.
