Handheld Tesla Coil Lightning Gun
Your mad-scientist phase has a rechargeable battery now. This handheld Tesla coil makes arcs over five inches long, with trigger control or continuous…
Vintage McDonald’s Changeables Happy Meal Toys
The Happy Meal toy was the main course anyway. These 1987-1990 McDonald’s Changeables include food transformers and McDinos, sold individually so you can…
Buy on Etsy
$6.60
Cool Things to Buy
Looking for cool things to buy? This is a running list of 2,400+ clever gadgets, funny gifts and genuinely useful oddities, from $5 stocking stuffers to ridiculous splurges. New finds go up every week, and every pick links straight to the store that sells it.
ZBiotics Pre-Alcohol Probiotic
A genetically engineered probiotic is a nerdy addition to the pregame lineup. Take the 0.47 fl oz bottle before drinking; it’s designed to…
Mattel Brick Shop Xbox Building Set
Even the gloriously chunky Duke controller gets the brick treatment. This 1:1-scale original Xbox build has working controller buttons that trigger four light-and-sound…
Massive Telephoto Zoom Lens
You don’t have to be an astronaut to photograph moon craters. And you don’t have to get close to a lion to capture…
Boona Tandem Shower for Two
Sharing a shower shouldn’t mean a custody battle over the hot water. Two showerheads and an insulated hose keep the water temperature even…
Not sure what to get?
Describe who you are shopping for and we will dig through all 2,438 products to find things that actually suit them.
Peak Design Wireless Charging Station 2-in-1
Your nightstand probably has a cable for every gadget you own. The Peak Design Wireless Charging Station 2-in-1 swaps that nest for two…
Check it out
$99.95
Giant Pile of Cassette Tapes
Got a friend who refuses to retire their tape deck? This grab bag delivers 24+ vintage cassettes, including the occasional home-dubbed tape. They’re…
Buy on Etsy
$31.50
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Strawberry Pyramid Planter Plans
Give your strawberries the penthouse treatment. These downloadable PDF plans walk you through building a five-tier pyramid planter that stands 35 inches tall…
Buy on Etsy
$4.27
225-Year-Old French Sourdough Starter
For the friend who names their sourdough, here’s a new kitchen pet with a 225-plus-year-old French backstory. The basic option contains 0.5 oz…
Buy on Etsy
$8.10
The coolest things to buy this week
Ranked by what readers clicked most in the last 7 days.
- Dwarf II Smart Digital Telescope You can capture nebulas and 4K daytime wildlife without hauling a heavy rig or fussing with setup.
- FX Aegis Ultra AI Robot Dog You can tinker with Python, SDKs, APIs, and 4K video with this speedy robot dog.
- Real Avid Pistol Tool Your spare mag pouch gets a side gig with this 19-in-1 tool, keeping tools in place.
- NERF Sniper Rifle You get two action styles, an adjustable stock, and quick reloads for close or long-range battles.
- Desktop Music Tesla Coil You get desk lightning, buzzing 8-bit tunes, and mad-scientist vibes in barely four inches.
- Flaming Fire Wallet You can make splitting dinner theatrical with a leather bifold that bursts into real fire.
- Bioluminescent Bio-Orb $69 Swirl it in the dark and watch thousands of tiny PyroDinos glow neon blue.
- AirZooka Air Blaster You can launch living-room air battles with puffs reaching 20 feet and a pop-up sight.
- Automatic Shoe Cover Dispenser Cover your shoes without bending or using electricity, thanks to this handy mechanical pedal dispenser.
- Sorcerer’s Potion Light Give your character sheets a suspicious green brew glow with this d20-inspired light and castle base.
No Image Puzzle
A thousand irregular pieces, and not a single reference image to bail you out. Give this to the puzzler who keeps calling regular…
Cool things to buy: quick answers
What are some cool things to buy?
This week, readers keep clicking the Dwarf II Smart Digital Telescope and the FX Aegis Ultra AI Robot Dog. Good places to start: funny gifts and desk and office stuff. Feeling rich? Window-shop the ridiculously expensive list.
What are some trendy things to buy right now?
Whatever people are actually clicking. This week that includes the Real Avid Pistol Tool, the NERF Sniper Rifle and the Desktop Music Tesla Coil. Our "coolest things to buy this week" list re-ranks daily from the last 7 days of reader clicks. Shopping for the holidays? Start with our Christmas gift ideas.
What are the coolest gadgets you can buy?
The most popular gadgets on the site right now are the Byrna SD Kinetic Launcher Bundle, the Smart King Bed with Massage Chair and the Zippo FireFast Bellows. The best ones do one oddly specific thing really well, and plenty of our cool gadgets cost under $25.
What are some cool but cheap things I can buy?
The most popular cheap picks right now are the 225-Year-Old French Sourdough Starter ($8.10), the Nite Ize DoohicKey Keychain Multi-Tool and the Car Cleaning Putty, all under $10. We have 210+ things under $10 and 740+ under $25. Cheap, small and a little weird is also the recipe for a good stocking stuffer, and most of our stocking stuffers cost under $25.
What fun things can I buy for myself?
Go small and a little silly. The geeky stuff list is a good rabbit hole, and plenty of it is cheap enough to grab on a whim. Weird enough to show off, too.
What should I buy?
Pick something you use every day and find a more fun version of it, or grab one of this week's most-clicked finds above. Buying for someone else? The gift guides sort ideas by who they're for and what they're into.