Holiday Gifts for College Students That They’ll Actually Use

Aka a must for any serious note-taker. It’s light, fast, and plugs right into their computer via USB, so no external battery is needed. If you know a college student who prefers handwritten notes but needs a little help getting (and staying) organized, this is the college student gift that’ll keep on giving throughout the school year. ($99.99, Amazon)

This compact device can make almond milk as well as oat, cashew, hemp, soy, and other non-dairy alternatives with the push of a button. All your giftee has to do is add their base of choice, water, a dash of salt, and voila. No more dealing with any preservatives or artificial ingredients. ($169, Nutr)

So they can ditch disposables and plastics at the same time. This set comes with everything they’ll need for a complete lunch (or breakfast or dinner). They’ll get one bento-inspired lunch box, a seal-tight bowl, a silicone snack bag, a portable utensil set, and two dressing containers. They’re made with dishwasher-, microwave-, and freezer-safe materials and are infinitely reusable. And use code SKIMM15 for 15% off sitewide. ($90, W&P)

Shopping for a student who’s moved out of the dorms and into their own space? This two-in-one robot vacuum mops while it picks up debris, and has a self-emptying base that can hold up to 60 days of dirt. It’s also got three modes of cleaning options, for different floor surfaces in the home. Carpets? No problem. Piles of dust in hard-to-reach corners? Gone. Bonus: There’s also a free app they can use to schedule cleanings and view their floor plan. It’s time for them to embrace the hands-free lifestyle so they can spend more time hittin’ the books. ($299+, Amazon)

This one’s got 40 endlessly reusable pages that feel like looseleaf. It’s made with a hard vegan leather cover and an embedded hotspot so their notes can be uploaded wherever they are. The pages can be erased with a touch of water and can be swapped in and out to create their ideal notebook, planner, daily/to-do, etc, and it comes in three colors and two sizes. The future of note-taking is now. ($49.50, Amazon)

It holds 40 gallons of water — enough to fill nine 24-ounce reusable water bottles — and is designed to be fridge-friendly with an easy-pour spigot and easy-locking lid. So if they’re sharing a home with tons of roomies they won’t have to worry about constantly refilling it. Plus, it’s compatible with the brand’s Elite and standard filters. So they can stay hydrated all semester long. ($37.99, Amazon)

It’s great for heating up bagels, pizza, paninis, or even cookies. This personal toaster oven will fit on even the smallest countertop space and comes in four fun colors. It’s got a removable baking tray, oven rack, and crumb tray that they can pop in the dishwasher. We’ll toast to that. ($24.95+, Amazon)

It comes in four different patterns — a trippy swirl, a color-blocked mix, and two Sanrio themes — and is insulated so their lunch or snacks will stay cool (especially with the addition of an ice pack). It’s made from recycled ripstop nylon so it’s durable enough for daily use and can be spot-cleaned and line-dried. Psst...check out more of our fave adult lunch boxes and bags here. ($38, Baggu) 

Super-tasty coffee? Sustainable toss pods? This single-serve HQ’r fave coffee machine ticks all the boxes. It can brew seven different styles — espresso, Americano, cold brew, matcha, and more — and the pods have up to 40% more coffee than the ones used in other typical home brewers. We love the touch screen with 11 different setting options, the easy pull handle, and pod selection. (Psst…they’ve even got a matcha latte coming soon.) ($298, Bruvi)

With a hand-drawn, woven (not printed) design, this 100% cotton zipped carryall is the perfect size for stashing cash, keys, or makeup. Choose from over 25 different colleges, and use it to house a gift card or stocking stuffer. Repping their current school or alma mater off-campus has never looked so cute. ($33, Uncommon Goods)

If they’ll be working from home at a desk or studying on a desk that doubles as a lunch counter, messes are inevitable. This waterproof pad will keep counters and tables from unwanted spills, spills, scratches, stains, and dust. It’s got a non-slip pad and a dual-sided surface that’s easy to wipe down. Plus it comes in a variety of colors and sizes. Win-win-win. ($9.99+ Amazon)

These will help them filter out unwanted background sounds (think: sirens, loud roomies, etc.) as they’re trying to work or study. The headphones have indoor, outdoor, and transportation-noise modes. And they can last for 40 to 60 hours on a single charge (plus a five-minute charge provides four hours of listening). Hear that? It’s the sound of intense focus coming their way. ($79.99+, Amazon) 

Even when the semester’s over. An annual membership to MasterClass offers insightful video lessons and tips from icons across tons of fields. Think: Annie Leibovitz on photography, Shonda Rhimes on writing for TV, Kelly Wearstler on interior design, and so much more. They’ve got classes on just about anything you can imagine, from cooking to sports. Hop to it. ($180 per year, MasterClass)

Gift this annual membership to Alo Moves to give them an array of yoga, meditation, and fitness classes at their fingertips. The on-demand classes work on the web, Apple TV, and phones and tablets. All they need now is a cute mat. ($199 annually, Alo)