One of our favourite guides to write, our 2023 Christmas Gift Guide for Teenagers is full of lovely products for that difficult 13-17 years age group. A £2 gel pen up to a difficult to wrap longboard, there is something for every teenager here, in every price band. We hope you enjoy reading this guide, and we hope it provides some inspiration for when you gift shop this Christmas.
#AD Disclaimer: Some of these products were gifted to us for consideration.
RAMZ LOKZ LONGBOARD FROM SKATES.CO.UK
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About …
In the summer (seems such a long time ago now) I was walking through a park as two people ‘cruised’ past me on longboards. Well, I didn’t know they were longboards until I Googled it – they are super-sized skateboards. Not designed for tricks (thought I believe some skaters do) but they are for cruising – relatively effortlessly it appeared. Since that encounter I’ve seen a few more longboarders. The boards seem a lot more stable than a regular skateboard as the wheels are bigger. Each push takes more effort than a standard board, but you travel a lot further before needing to do it again. It’s a great way to get around – brilliant exercise too.
This Ramz Lokz 38″ longboard is a high quality board made of 8 ply Canadian Maple. You have this trendy black, blue and white image underneath, while the top is entirely covered with black gripping. It is nice and wide, and with the length leaves plenty of space for your feet. I think this is a great gift – something a little different, and fun.
FUTLIIT LED BACKPACK
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About …
The other evening, while out walking, I noticed a shadow moving across the road from me. The shadow then moved across the road and only then could I see it was a teenage boy on an electric scooter. It was dark. He wore black trainers, black joggers, black hoodie with the hood up, and a black rucksack on his back … he literally was a shadow. That shadow, crossing the road at the speed he was travelling, would have given any vehicle driver a challenging emergency stop. Or not. I undertand that it’s not cool to wear neon colours – it seems to me that it’s not cool to have lights on your scooter either (I’ve never seen one with them). So if clothing is untouchable, the rucksack has the potential to be a lifesaver. And Futliit has done just this with their LED backpack (RRP £79.99).
Just wait until it gets dark …
From first view it looks like a trendy, good-sized, well-made sturdy backpack. Inside it has pockets, a zipped compartment, a keyholder, a laptop sleeve, and plenty of internal space. Outside it has two side water-bottle holders, padded reinforced straps, a top carry handle, and reflective decoration. However, this backpack comes alive when it gets dark! Around the front and main compartment are LED light strips. When the backpack is on your back, feel down the strap to the bottom where you’ll find click buttons; these turn the lights on and off, and there are even settings for the lights to flash or stay on.
This backpack is, clearly, PERFECT for children and teenagers walking home from school or college during the winter. Teenagers love to wear black and they don’t seem to realise how invisible this can make them in the dark. A Futliit backpack will address this issue by being the light halo they need to be safe, to be seen. And it’s trendy!
GEL BLASTER SURGE
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About …
Step aside paintballing, you dirty clothes-ruining shoot-em up … Make way for Gel Blaster. This is ‘clean’ paintballing, so can be used indoors and out. The gel pellets (gellets) are eco-safe and break down to nothing leaving no waste. This Gel Blaster Surge (RRP £59.95) is rechargeable via its USB C fast charging port. Once charged it is good for 4 hours of play time. The gellets (up to 800 of them) fill the hopper (bottle) that sits on the top of the Blaster – you have a choice of single shots, or full blaster mode where 10 are shot every second. You also have different tips to use – you pick the right one based on whether you are playing indoors or outside.
If you get ‘shot’, apparently it feels like a minor elastic band ping. When you have run out of gellets, you can hydrate more as the Blaster comes with 10,000 of them,
The Gel Blaster Surge is recommended for children over the age of 8. It’s a lot of fun – and it’s clean. Win-Win!
GAMING TRUST FAYZO GAMING HEADSET
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About …
Teenagers get through a lot of gaming headsets. Well, at least one every year in our home. With an XBox X and a PS5 used whenever they are not at school, the headsets in this household need to be durable. This Fayzo gaming headset from Trust (£29.99) is made from 85% recycled plastics. It is multiplatform, so good for the PS4, PS5, PC, laptop, mobile etc. It is a wired headset, so no need to keep charging it. The headset has comfortable over-ear pads, with on-ear mute and volume controls. It also has a detachable microphone with pop filter for a clear voice while playing.
This headset has a solid, quality feel about it. Hopefully it will withstand the gaming intensity it will be subjected to!
THERA TEARS 5 IN 1 EYECARE: SCREEN EYES EYE DROPS
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About …
So we talked about gaming, and how teenagers can’t seem to get enough screen time. One of the (many) issues that arise with this is the effect of hours of screen viewing on their eyes. When using screens – be it small mobile ones, or laptops/tablets or large family-sized TVs – you don’t blink as much as you would usually. This can lead to eye strain, eye irritation, and dry eyes. thera tears 5 in 1 eyecare has developed Screen Eyes eye drops (£5.95). This contact lens-friendly solution lubricates and protects your eyes. It contains the plant extract Eyebright, which supports natural eye whitening in case of redness due to tiredness and irritation.
A worthwhile stocking filler for your gaming obsessed teenager.
PAPERBLANKS WHALE AND FRIEND MIDI NOTEBOOK
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About …
This is such a cute notebook from Paperblanks. Whale and Friend (£15.99), by Canadian illustrator Tracy Walker, is a 17cm x 12cm hardcover notebook containing 176 lined pages of acid-free sustainable forest paper, and an elastic band. There is a memento pouch at the back. The colours are vibrant and happy – we totally love it!
LEGAMI ERASABLE GEL PENS FROM CULT PENS
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About …
These pens are just seriously cute – I love all of them, and am tempted to not share with my teenagers! Available from Cult Pens, the Legami erasable gel pens (£2.00 each) are such fun. Each pen has a character head lid and a inspirational or quirky motto along the shaft. They differ in ink colour too – ranging from black, blue and red to purple and pink. The plastic dome at the bottom of each pen works as a magic eraser – the ink is heat sensitive so by applying friction the mark will disappear.
They bring a smile to our faces, and that’s always a good thing x
3 SHED CHRISTMAS POPCORN BUNDLE FROM POPCORN SHED
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About …
Popcorn Shed has been a must-have festive treat in the PackThePJs household for quite a few years now. We love these ‘sheds’ – they are great stocking fillers, and are just the right size for a cosy movie night. The 3-shed Christmas Popcorn Bundle (£13.00) consists of Spiced Gingerbread popcorn, Dark Chocolate Orange Caramel popcorn, and Toasted Caramel Marshmallow popcorn. The packaging is festive and inviting … the content is just straight up yummy!
L’OCCITANE ESSENTIAL COLLECTION
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About …
Teenagehood is the age when they start to try out lotions and potions – trying to find their signature scent, the cream that works best with their skin, shampoo and products that leave hair looking sleek and styled. Teenagers can be rather fickle though, jumping from product to product … so this Essential Collection from L’Occitane (£29.50) is a perfect gift of small travel-sized items for them to try for size. Included in this soft zipped toiletries bag are Verbena Shower Gel, Shea Butter Shower Oil, Gentle & Balance Micellar Shampoo, Cherry Blossom Body Lotion, Shea Butter Hand Cream, Shea Butter Milk Soap and Relaxing Pillow Mist.
Experimenting with different beauty products is fun, and L’Occitane is a luxury brand full of amazing products. There’s also the added benefit of them smelling nicer (teenagers can get mighty whiffy!)
PLUS PLUS PUZZLE BY NUMBER: RAINBOW
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About …
We have only recently discovered Plus Plus – and we really like it! We previously reviewed the Plus Plus Advent Calendar and that introduced us to the # shaped building blocks, and all the things you can make with them. This kit is a ‘Puzzle by Number’ Rainbow set (RRP £22.99). It contains 500 different coloured pieces and a chart for you to follow, resulting in this bright and lovely rainbow!
LONELY PLANET KIDS BIRD ATLAS
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About …
Officially this Bird Atlas (£12.99) is for Lonely Planet Kids. But as a 51 year old, I read it cover to cover! Lots of fascinating information, fold-out pages, lift-up flaps … filled with maps, photographs and illustrations … so many birds I’ve never even heard of before. It’s such a lovely book. A great present for, well, anyone really!
GRAVITRAX STARTER SET BOUNCE
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About …
Ravensburger GraviTrax Starter Set Bounce (£39.99) contains 101 pieces with multiple track layout options. GraviTrax is an advanced marble run. Aimed at children aged 8+ the Bounce Starter Set has two additional action elements (trampolines and a spiral) so you can construct a track with bends, tricks, spins and bounces to challenge the marble across the courses. There are additional Extension Kits you can purchase to enhance and grow the Starter Kit too.
This is such a great guide. You covered pretty much all the interests I can think of here. You even have something for the crafty teens. Fantastic.
I know this is a gift guide for teens, but I need those screen eye drops for myself. I’m always on a screen. I guess I am my own teen. LOL
Great ideas again! I must say, I struggle to know what to buy for teens as they don’t always give you much of an idea. I find headphones are always well received.
You are very right, My cousins told me that they want a headphone for a Christmas gift. And of them want the same thing.
Great gift ideas especially the light up rucksack, I was driving last night and saw something in front of my car and was someone dressed totally in black
My teenage nieces and nephews can be difficult to buy gifts for. There is something for each of them in this gift guide!
I don’t know any teens so I’d have no idea what to buy, so this is really helpful. Some great gifts here and I have some of those erasable gel pens and I love them x
My son has been talking about wanting a new backpack, I think he would love the one featured here since it lights up! Great gift ideas, thanks for putting this together and sharing it with all of us.
What a cool discovery! Longboarding does seem like a fantastic and effortless way to cruise around, and your encounter in the park adds a touch of adventure to your summer memories.
The Ramz Lokz 38″ longboard sounds like a fantastic find, especially with its high-quality construction and stylish design. The combination of 8 ply Canadian Maple and the trendy black, blue, and white image underneath makes it not just a means of transportation but also a statement piece.
Great list for the teens…they’re hard to shop for especially the boys! I also need to check out screen eyes because I think most of us would benefit from that haha!
Buying for teens is such a challenge! Thank you for this gift guide list – I really needed the tips!
The Paperblanks Whale and Friend Midi Notebook is simply adorable! Your guide has made my Christmas shopping for teens a breeze.
This is a really good gift guide. I love the variety. My kids would really enjoy that popcorn.
Loving all of these gift suggestions for teens and kids alike. I always can use a bit of help when it comes to finding the perfect gift for everyone on my gift giving list and I appreciate you sharing!
These are some amazing gift ideas. I can surely pick few for my teen cousins.