Too cool for Yule: 48 great gift ideas
With the festive season looming, don’t let the prospect of coming up with original, inventive Christmas presents daunt you. Our team of editors and writers have traipsed the streets and done the hard work so you don’t have to. Whether it’s for the rich uncle, your favourite nephew or the family dog, there’s something here for all your loved ones …
1. Topo Designs Klettersack
With sports gear getting flashier than a Hong Kong neon sign, it’s refreshing to see retro designs with style and functionality. This rugged Cordura bag is made to look like the classic climbing pack used by mountaineers for quick, lightweight ascents in the Alps, but will be equally suited to the rigours of daily life. It even has a laptop sleeve. Handmade in Colorado. JW
From US$169; topodesigns.com
2. LifeProof cases
For the outdoorsy type – or those who are accident-prone when it comes to mobile phones – these cases are perfect. Made for the iPhone, iPad, iPod and Samsung Galaxy, they’re 100 per cent waterproof, shockproof, snowproof and shatterproof. Lean and light, the case encapsulates the gadget but doesn’t add too much bulk. JW
From HK$624; AVLife, Nobletime
3. ElliptiGO
When Bryan Pate, a former United States marine and Ironman triathlete, found he could no longer run due to wear and tear on his joints, he went in search of a low-impact workout that paired the movement of an elliptical trainer with the freedom of riding a bicycle. There was no workout like it, so he built the ElliptiGO. It comes in three models with three, eight and 11 speeds. JW
From US$1,799; elliptigo.com
4. Dolomites trail running tour
Money can't buy happiness but this tour might be the next best thing. Across five days and six nights, you'll run or hike for 120 kilometres on the Alta Via trails through the spectacular Dolomites in northeast Italy. Move at your own pace or skip a day, if you wish. Each night is spent at a different mountain chalet, enjoying the stunning scenery and savouring authentic Italian cooking and wine. JW
From HK$14,900 (twin share), inclusive of luggage transfers between chalets, breakfast, dinner, and snacks on the run. Contact [email protected] for details
5. Pioneer XDJ-Aero console
This all-in-one DJ console combines Pioneer’s club-quality DJ devices in one lightweight, portable unit. The XDJ-Aero can play tracks stored on a USB flash drive, or stream music wirelessly from a laptop or smartphone. There’s a range of cool onboard effects, an autosync feature for beginners learning how to mix two tracks together, and it can record live mixes directly onto a USB storage device. AW
US$735; amazon.com
6. Cassette Print by Neil Stevens
Anyone old enough to get misty-eyed for the good old days when people made mixtapes for each other will appreciate these prints by Britain-based creative illustrator and graphic artist Neil Stevens. These prints pay tribute to the classic design and typography of C60- and C90-format cassettes. There are eight different versions, all printed on weighty paper. TC
Available in two sizes, £30 (HK$375) for the smaller A3 size; crayonfireshop.bigcartel.com