Gifts for teenage boys

A closer look: First to 200 points wins, but each extra card risks flipping a number already in front of you, which busts you out of the round. The deck holds twelve 12s but far fewer low cards, so big numbers score well yet bust players more often. Freeze, Flip Three and Second Chance cards add twists, and the box says ages 8 and up.

Why we picked it: A fast push-your-luck game that gets louder with every round. Teenagers and adults get equally hooked.

• 3+ players
• Quick rounds
• Easy rules
• Pocket size

What owners say: Brilliant fun for all ages, easy to learn and perfect for trips and holidays.

A closer look: Up to 24 hours of play from its 5,200mAh battery means days of bedroom listening between charges. Two drivers give a proper stereo spread, which suits a desk or bedside shelf. After a session in the shower or a soaking at the park, dry it off and let the charging port dry out before plugging it in.

Why we picked it: Waterproof, so it’s as happy in the shower as it is at the park, with big bass for its size.

• 12W with BassUp
• Waterproof (IPX7)
• Bluetooth

What owners say: Excellent sound and more than loud enough for its size, with a solid Bluetooth range.

A closer look: Ribbed cuffs stop the sleeves sliding down over the hands, so it stays practical for gaming, homework or a bowl of cereal on the sofa. It goes in the washing machine on a cold cycle and into the tumble dryer on low, which helps the sherpa stay fluffy. Wash it on its own the first couple of times, as fleecy fabrics can shed.

Why we picked it: Thick sherpa inside and an oversized fit: the uniform of every teenager’s weekend.

• Thick 300 GSM sherpa
• Oversized fit
• Lots of colours

What owners say: Comfy, soft and fluffy, and warm enough to keep the heating off.

A closer look: Small 12ml tubes mean white is always the first to run out, so a larger tube of white alongside makes the set last far longer. The paints meet the EN71-3 toy-safety standard, a comfortable choice for painting sessions with older children, and they take to cardboard, fabric and MDF as well as canvas.

• 24 colours
• 3 brushes included
• Buttery consistency
• Glossy finish

What owners say: Great pigmentation and a wide range of shades for all sorts of projects.

A closer look: The powder coat stops it sweating in a bag and gives a grippy finish. It’s a big bottle, so it suits the car, a desk or a day’s walk more than a school bag. The standard mouth is easy to fill with ice and clean with a bottle brush.

• 946ml
• Cold 24 hrs, hot 12 hrs
• Leak-proof Flex Cap with strap
• Dishwasher safe
• Lifetime warranty

What owners say: Keeps drinks hot or cold for ages, doesn’t leak, cleans easily and looks good. Owners love the colours.

Heads up: It can dent if it’s dropped on something hard.

A closer look: Colour with the chisel end in small overlapping strokes to avoid streaks, and use the fine end for outlines. The colourless blender softens edges and can lift small mistakes. Keep the caps clicked on firmly and store the pens flat so both ends stay inked.

• 120 colours + blender
• Chisel and fine tips
• Colour-coded caps
• Carry case
• Quick-drying alcohol ink

What owners say: Excellent quality, vibrant and easy to blend, and suited to beginners and professionals alike. Owners say they keep working for years.

Heads up: Alcohol ink can bleed through thin paper, so use marker paper or slip a spare sheet underneath.

A closer look: One USB-C port works in both directions, so the cable that charges the phone also refills the power bank, and a USB-A socket covers older leads. A small digital display shows how much charge is left at a glance. Plugging it in every Sunday night is a good habit, so it’s full whenever the school bag needs it.

Why we picked it: Slim enough for a blazer pocket, fast-charging, and backed by a three-year warranty. The end of the “my phone died” excuse.

• 10,000mAh
• 22.5W fast charging
• USB-C
• Slim and pocketable
• 3-year warranty

What owners say: Charges fast, fits in a jacket pocket and can fill a phone about twice.

A closer look: With noise cancelling on, expect up to 8 hours per charge and 40 in total with the case, and a 10-minute top-up before leaving the house buys up to 3 hours. Six microphones help calls cut through wind and traffic, and a two-way translation feature covering 100 languages could earn its keep on a school trip abroad.

Why we picked it: Proper adaptive noise cancelling and hi-res sound for far less than AirPods, from Anker’s audio brand. Great for the bus, the gym and revision.

• Adaptive noise cancelling
• Hi-res sound (LDAC)
• Secure fit
• Long battery life

What owners say: Phenomenal sound for the money, with a secure fit that stays put at the gym.

A closer look: Angle the headlight slightly down at the road so it doesn’t dazzle oncoming riders and drivers. Modes change with single, double and long presses, so skim the manual once. The rear light charges in about an hour.

• 1000-lumen front light
• 8 front and 7 rear modes
• USB-C, 2 hours to charge the front
• Waterproof
• Handlebar mount

What owners say: Owners say they’re very bright, well built and fit securely, and that the battery lasts a couple of weeks of riding between charges.

Heads up: A few owners had a front light that wouldn’t switch on.

A closer look: Each plate is 5in (about 13cm) across, so every waffle is a single-serving round rather than a family batch. Beyond batter, it’ll press a cheese toastie, a quesadilla or a cookie, which makes it a fun one for sleepovers where everyone takes a turn. Once it has cooled, a damp cloth over the plates is all the cleaning it needs.

Why we picked it: Heats in minutes and does waffles, hash browns and toasties. Midnight snacks, sorted.

• Non-stick plates
• Ready light
• Compact
• Waffles, hash browns and more

What owners say: Works well and makes perfect little waffles, one or two at a time.

Heads up: A quick brush of oil on the plates stops batter sticking.