Gifts for teenage boys

Its 59 litres leave room for a foam roller too, and a water-resistant base copes with wet locker-room floors. Webbing loops outside take keys or a carabiner, several zippered pockets keep small things sorted, and the padded shoulder strap takes the weight when it’s full. Wipe it down with a damp cloth when it comes back muddy.

• Holds 59 litres
• Vented shoe pocket
• Room for a foam roller

What owners say: Owners find it solid, well made and big enough for everything they take to the gym, and they single out its many pockets and the colour choices.

Heads up: At 63 cm (24.75 in) long it’s too big for most airline carry-on limits, as adidas itself points out, so treat it as a bag for the car, the bus and team trips.

It holds 10,000mAh and gives up to 45W, though only a phone or tablet that supports that speed gets it; others charge at their own top rate. At 184 g (6.5 oz) it suits a coat pocket, and the cable unclips. A 27W wall charger refills it in under two hours, by INIU’s figures, and the little flashlight earns its keep in a dark bag or a power outage.

• 10,000mAh, up to 45W
• Weighs 184 g (6.5 oz)
• Built-in phone stand

What owners say: Owners keep one in a work bag and say it charges phones quickly, and its small size and light weight win praise.

The pigments are lightfast, and colour-coded wood casings make each shade quick to find. Build colour in light layers rather than pressing hard on the first pass, then finish with a heavier layer, called burnishing, for a smooth, polished surface with no paper showing through. The pencils arrive pre-sharpened and suit children and adults alike.

• 48 pre-sharpened colours
• For children and adults
• Soft, thick cores

What owners say: Owners love the rich colours and the soft, buttery feel of the leads, and say they blend beautifully. Breakage is the sore point, with some finding the leads snap again and again.

Heads up: The soft cores can break inside the wood if the pencils are dropped, so keep them in the tin and use a sharp sharpener.

Each 3 m (9.8 ft) strap has five loops and an end loop, two D-shaped carabiners clip the hammock on, and the stuff sack is sewn to it so the bag can’t go missing. At 2.7 by 1.4 m (106 by 55 in), it holds up to 200 kg (440 lb), weighs about 610 g (21.5 oz) and suits one adult best.

• Holds 200 kg (440 lb)
• Weighs 610 g (21.5 oz)
• Sewn-on stuff sack

What owners say: Owners describe it as solid and steady for something so light, simple to get hanging and fun to use on a camping trip.

The aluminum pole reaches 168 cm (66 in) and stands about 48 cm (19 in) on a desk when pushed in. A ball head angles the phone, the clamp locks in portrait, landscape or at 45°, and a cold shoe takes a clip-on light or mic. Phones 5.6 to 9.1 cm (2.2 to 3.6 in) wide fit, so measure the phone in its case first: a chunky rugged case can be too wide.

• Reaches 168 cm (66 in)
• Bluetooth remote included
• Locks portrait, landscape or 45°

What owners say: Owners find it sturdy and steady for its light weight, with a remote that works well and a height and angle that are easy to set; it packs down small, and one takes it hiking and camping.

IP67 keeps out sand and water. Two of them make a stereo pair: connect one to the phone, then hold the Bluetooth button on both for two seconds, and they play left and right in a tent or a hotel room. A USB-C cable comes in the box but no wall plug, so a phone charger or a laptop does the job, and Anker covers it for 24 months.

• IP67 waterproof and dustproof
• Up to 20 hours playtime
• Palm-sized

What owners say: The battery is what owners rave about, some saying they never come close to running it down. It’s small enough to travel well and loud for its size, though durability divides them.

The crank turns a stirring arm across the base of the aluminum pan, so the kernels keep moving over the heat and pop in as little as a teaspoon of oil. Half a cup of kernels goes in before the pan is heated, and the 6-quart pan holds about 24 cups popped. The hardwood handle stays cool, and Wabash Valley Farms covers the moving parts for 25 years.

• About 24 cups of popcorn
• Pops within 3 minutes
• No motor to wear out

What owners say: Owners rave about the theatre-style popcorn and how good it tastes, and find it quick to pop and no trouble to clean; no complaint comes up often.

Heads up: Its aluminum pan won’t work on an induction cooktop, and Wabash Valley Farms says to check a glass-top stove’s manual before using lightweight aluminum on it.

The trimmer has a zero-gapped T-blade for necklines, beards and nose hair, and the quiet mode runs at 70 dB. A fade comb, 2 mm at its base and 6 mm at the top, blends two lengths. The blade head lifts off for a thorough clean, and the display shows when the blade wants oil.

• Up to 240 min cordless
• Separate 3-in-1 T-blade trimmer
• Fade lever for blending

What owners say: Owners find it well made and sharp, with a battery that holds its charge and a case full of useful pieces. Its weight divides them: heavy in the hand to some, light to others.

They switch to whichever one starts playing, the battery lasts 40 hours with noise cancelling on, and five minutes’ charge gives four hours. Flip to Transparency mode before crossing a street or listening for a station announcement. There’s no case in the box, just a 1.2 m (4 ft) audio cable and a short USB-C cable, so a soft pouch is worth adding for a backpack.

• 40 hours with noise cancelling
• 5 minutes gives 4 hours
• Hybrid noise cancelling, 4 mics

What owners say: Clear, full sound and noise cancelling that does its job win owners over, and one charge carries them a long way. Durability is the one thing they disagree on.

Both USB-C ports give up to 37W and the USB-A port 30W, on 12V as well as 24V. With all three in use the 67W is shared: the first USB-C port, C1, keeps its full 37W while the other two take what’s left. Give C1 to the phone that’s lowest on charge, or to the one running the maps.

• Two USB-C, one USB-A
• Fits 12V and 24V sockets
• Priority port keeps full speed

What owners say: Owners like having two quick USB-C ports and a third for whoever else needs one, and the light that shows it’s on; durability is where they part ways.

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