The best gifts are a chance to show the people that you love that you know them as well, if not better, than they know themselves. But not every gift has to be the best. Sometimes, you just need to flaunt a little, or at least give the impression that is what you are doing. Here are a handful of gifts that, to most recipients, will come off as much more expensive than they actually were.
1. Nike Element Top Half Zip 2.0
Price: $39
From: Jackrabbit.com
Nike running stuff is crazy expensive, right? Not this discounted half-zip, for as low as $39 depending on the color or size.
2. Wolo Bad Boy Air Horn
Price: $40
From: Sportsmansguide.com
Giving your daily driver a big rig-worthy horn seems like it would cost an arm and a leg, no? Well, no. This one-piece horn includes its own compressor, can fit in any car or truck (or even motorcycle), is easy to install and delivers a blast twice as loud as the stock horn. Best of all? Only $40.
3. Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Price: $40+
From: Your local liquor store
Everybody knows Knob Creek Small Batch – it’s medium proof, reasonably aged and tastes decent on the rocks or mixed. Single Barrel Reserve is Small Batch’s older, fancier brother. Its (much) higher proof, aged longer but it’s typically only $10 to $15 more at a decent liquor store.
4. Amazon Fire 7 Tablet
Price: $50
From: Amazon.com
Oh a tablet?! That must have cost at least $200!! Little do they Amazon’s hyper-budget Fire 7 tablet is a mere 50 bucks.
5. Oakley Sliver R Sunglasses
Price: $55
From: Backcountry.com
Oakley is the kind of name brand that just implies a three-digit price tag. No one needs to know you scored this fine-looking Plutonite lens, O-Matter frame pair for $55, 62 percent off the $143 regular price.
Gear Patrol Magazine Subscription
Price: $39
From: store.gearpatrol.com
Gear Patrol Magazine is a deep dive into product culture. Inside each issue, you’ll find seasonal buying guides, rich maker profiles and long-form dispatches from the front lines of product design. Get four print magazines — delivered quarterly — with an annual subscription.
6. Analog/Shift Watch Straps
Price: $75+
From: Analogshift.com
For many years you had to pay upwards of $100 to $200 for a serious leather watch strap. Not so any longer — NYC-based vintage watch retailer’s new Italian-made is available in 15 different models, with pricing starting at just $75 and no corners cut with respect to quality.
7. Alex Mill Cashmere Beanie
Price: $95
From: Alexmill.com
Most cashmere accessories cost hundreds of dollars — sweaters can reach into the thousands. This great ribbed beanie sits squarely under $100 and comes in 11 versatile colors.
8. Baltic HMS001 Automatic Watch
Price: ~$366
From: Baltic-watches.com
Classically styled vintage watches from the 1940s generally command high prices, but you can actually rock the same aesthetic in a modern package (with an automatic movement) for less than $400 with the Baltic HMS001, available in six varieties.
American Bench Craft Leather Dog Leash
Price: $55
From: store.gearpatrol.com
This dog leash is constructed from a single piece of premium vegetable tanned leather that is thick enough to hold even the strongest of dogs. It is double riveted at all the stress points for utmost durability. Solid brass and stainless steel hardware round out the construction for a dog leash that is built to last.