Gifts for Grandma

Hold the power button to start the 30-minute timer, which switches it off on nights you’re likely to nod off mid-chapter. Four colours run from 2000K amber to 6000K white, it remembers the last setting used, and the silicone band slips on over pyjamas or a sweater. Mending by hand gets the same benefit as reading, and a USB-C cable comes in the box.

• Worn around the neck
• Over 80 hours per charge
• Handy for knitting and mending

What owners say: Comfortable around the neck and a great light for reading at night, by owners’ accounts, with brightness and tone that change in a moment. The battery’s staying power impresses them most.

It holds 2.3 kg (5.1 lb) of seed over six ports, with a Cardinal Ring for bigger birds to perch on. The weight that closes the shroud can be adjusted, so heavier birds can be kept off too. At 71 cm (28 in) from base to hanger, it hangs from a sturdy hook, or sits on a pole with an adaptor sold separately.

• Squirrel-proof
• Holds 2.3 kg (5.1 lb)
• Six feeding ports

What owners say: Owners say it beats the squirrels, feels built to last and holds plenty of seed, and they enjoy watching it; the price is where they part ways.

Each has a clear 100 mL (3.4 fl oz) cup that shows when it needs filling, and seven settings run from fine to coarse on a ceramic core. FORLIM rates the motor at under 68 dB. Covers fit over the grinding ends between meals, and a brush in the box clears any salt that clogs.

• 100 mL per mill
• 7 grind settings
• Motor rated under 68 dB

What owners say: Owners say it works right out of the box, is easy to fill and use, and holds its charge so long that some haven’t recharged it yet; they’re pleased with what it costs.

Heads up: Only one USB-C cable comes in the box, to share between the two mills.

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Choose any temperature from 35 to 48°C (95 to 118°F) on the colour touch screen or the remote and the heater holds it there, with a timer from 10 to 60 minutes and three massage patterns. Raise the support rod before each soak so the sides stay up. Afterwards the massage plate lifts out to clean and a drain hole makes emptying easier.

• 24 motorized massage balls
• Heats to 35–48°C (95–118°F)
• Massage plate lifts out

What owners say: Owners find it enjoyable to use and a good massage for the feet, with water that heats up fast and stays warm. No complaint recurs.

The 8x view is wide and easy to hold steady, with 20.2 mm of eye relief. The body is waterproof to 1 m (3.3 ft) for 10 minutes and filled with nitrogen so the lenses don’t fog inside, and the glass is lead- and arsenic-free. It focuses as close as 3 m (9.8 ft) and comes with a case, strap and lens caps.

• 8x magnification, 42 mm lenses
• Glasses-friendly 20.2 mm eye relief
• Lead- and arsenic-free glass

What owners say: Owners rate the quality and the clear view highly, some putting it level with Nikon’s higher-end P7, and find the weight just right: light enough to carry, heavy enough to hold steady. Verdicts on long-term durability vary.

The soft cores are made to layer, blend and burnish, and each pencil is colour-coded as well. Open the case at the colour family you need rather than tipping everything out, since each shade has its own slot and there are a lot to put back. A fold-out tutorial walks through recreating the galleon on the sleeve, a good first project for practising layering.

• 120 colours
• Made for adults
• Zippered fabric case

What owners say: Rich colours, a handsome set and the way the pencils blend and feel on the page win owners over, though durability gets mixed reports.

The table has cup holders, a mesh pocket holds a phone, and the seat sits at about the height of a dining chair, with a full back for a meal or a hand of cards. It holds up to 136 kg (300 lb), weighs 4.3 kg (9.5 lb) and folds flat to about 87 x 53 x 17 cm (34.3 x 20.9 x 6.7 in) for the trunk.

• Side table and cooler bag
• Holds up to 136 kg (300 lb)
• Folds flat for the trunk

What owners say: Owners rate its comfort and support highly, call it sturdy and stable, and say the cooler keeps beer cold; it folds away easily, though its weight gets a mixed response.

Heads up: It comes without a carry bag; folded, it carries by a handle built into the frame.

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A calendar linked in the Frameo app can fill the screen for the next four days, a week or a month, or sit beside the photos. 32GB holds the pictures, with a microSD slot for more, and it sits on its back stand or hangs on a wall. Videos of up to 15 seconds send free; Frameo’s optional plan allows two minutes.

• No account needed to send
• 32GB plus microSD slot
• Shows your calendar

What owners say: Owners report setup and everyday use go smoothly, and they’re satisfied with the frame overall.

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The 2 L bottle is odourless PVC, and BICAREE says it holds its heat for up to eight hours; filled with cold water, it works as an ice pack. Press out the air, screw the stopper down tight and turn it over the sink to check for leaks before bed. It isn’t for the microwave.

• 2 L PVC bottle
• Soft cover included
• Wide mouth for easier filling

What owners say: Owners find it works better than a heating pad and holds its warmth, and they rate how well it lasts; the seal is the one point they disagree on.

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It measures 200 cm (79 in) square, with a polyester filling between a water-repellent top and a coated Oxford backing. A handle and an adjustable shoulder strap carry it, and it rolls down to about 35 × 15 × 15 cm (14 × 6 × 6 in) with a hook-and-loop strap. Sand shakes off the backing, and it goes in the washing machine on a gentle cycle.

• 200 cm (79 in) square
• Padded, water-repellent top
• Seats six to eight

What owners say: Owners find it big, soft and good-looking, with a pattern they like, and say it folds up small and travels easily; how well it keeps water out is where their reports differ.