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These birthday gifts are useful, thoughtful, and great for celebrating the newest 18-year-old in your life.
Amazon/Vans
From graduating high school to voting in our first elections, 18 is the milestone age where we take our first steps into adulthood. As a newly fledged legal adult, the responsibility of many new life-changing decisions is now in your 18-year-old’s hands, but it’s also a time to celebrate all they’ve accomplished and the bright future ahead.
Whether they’re your child, best friend, or sibling, this list includes gifts that celebrate their 18 years, prepare them for what’s next, or help them have fun in the meantime. From a jacket that they’ll use every day to a premium music subscription, the 18-year-old in your life is sure to love these gifts.
Amazon
LA Dodgers ’47 Clean Up, available at Amazon and ’47, from $24.49
You can’t go wrong with a classic — everyone needs a solid baseball cap to throw on over bad hair days or lazy days. They’ll be reaching for this cap more often than they think and it’s sure to become a staple in their closet. Bonus points if you know their favorite team or city to rep!
Ray-Ban
Frank Legend Gold, available at Amazon and Ray-Ban, $163
An essential for any sunny day, a pair of high-quality sunglasses will last them a long time. From running errands to chilling poolside with friends at the college dorm, these sunglasses will be with them at all times. With free returns, prescription capabilities, and customization options, Ray-Ban glasses can suit all your giftee’s needs.
B&H Photo Video
Fujifilm Instax Mini 40 Film Camera Bundle, available at Amazon and B&H, from $99.95
When you’re an 18-year-old, life moves fast and memories are being made every day. With an instant film camera, they’re able to capture the memory while still being present in the moment. With one shot and one print, each photo is unique and special — just like this moment in their life.
Bearpaw
Loki Vegan Slippers, available at Amazon and Bearpaw, from $37.99
A solid pair of slippers will carry them far and we love these Bearpaws because of their durable rubber outsole, which makes them comfortable enough to wear indoors or outdoors. These slippers are also vegan and feature a plush polyester blend lining to regulate their foot temperature and provide additional softness.
Levi Strauss & Co.
Levi’s 90s Trucker Jacket, available at Levi’s and Nordstrom, $98
Things to do, people to see, work to be done — there’s a lot happening in the life of an 18-year-old and this jacket is a great companion for all their excursions. With multiple pockets to stash their gear and an iconic look, this jacket pairs well with any outfit.
Best Buy
Apple iPad Air 4th Generation, available at Walmart, Best Buy and Target, from $469
From watching movies or shows to writing essays or even drawing digitally, an iPad can assist them with any of their hobbies and even help them develop their skills even more. Check out our full review of the iPad Air here.
Vuori
Vuori Performance Joggers, available at Vuori, REI and Nordstrom, $94
Stretchy, easier to put on than leggings, and available in a variety of colors, these Vuori joggers have been getting rave reviews for years — with good reason. Infinitely more graceful than traditional cotton sweats, they’ll find themselves reaching for these joggers daily. Check out our review here.
Best Buy
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds, available at Amazon, Best Buy and Target, $199
Noise-canceling earbuds (and wireless earphones in general) are a gift many don’t realize they need. From study sessions to traveling, noise-canceling earbuds are vital in creating a comfortable atmosphere for yourself, and the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds are our favorites. Check out our full list of the best noise-canceling headphones and earbuds here.
Vans
Old Skool Vans, available at Vans and Foot Locker, $70
For shoes with a universal appeal, the Old Skool Vans debuted in 1977 and have been a consistent bestseller ever since, with the iconic “jazz stripe” showcasing Vans’s quintessential look. From the comfortable footbed to its iconic style, you can’t go wrong with this gift.
Amazon
JBL Clip 3, available at Amazon and JBL, from $37.75
Small in stature but loud and proud in performance, the JBL Clip 3 is waterproof and has up to 10 hours of playtime, ensuring their tunes can continue long after the party is over. You can even customize the design with their favorite colors or a picture of something they love.
Tile
Tile Pro, available at Amazon and Tile, from $29.60
If you often hear the birthday star ask where a certain object of theirs has gone, consider getting them a Tile. Tile ensures that they always know exactly where their missing item is, even if it’s 400 feet away. It’s also great for dorm life so they can find everything they need quickly if they’re late for class.
Tech21
Evo Check, available at Amazon and Tech21, from $39.95
From texts and calls to navigational systems, your phone does a lot for you and it’s important to keep it protected. A new case is a welcomed style refresh and Tech 21’s offers enhanced camera protection, advanced antimicrobial tech, and FlexShock multi-drop protection.
Amazon
Jujutsu Kaisen Volumes 1-6, available at Amazon, $57.99
Whether they’re a huge manga fan or just discovering the genre, the “Jujutsu Kaisen” series is a great way to enjoy fantastic writing, huge concepts, and awesome worldbuilding. From all-out battles between cursed spirits and jujutsu sorcerers, they’ll fall deep into the world of Jujutsu (and hopefully will make it out of The Shibuya Incident alive).
Rei
Fjällräven Kånken Backpack, available at Amazon, REI and Fjällräven, from $60
The Fjällräven Kånken was inspired by backpacks designed for Swedish schoolkids in the 1970s but has been modified to withstand most of the earth’s elements. Made from hard-wearing fabric that deflects light rain and snow, this pack is large enough for all the essentials and has two side pockets that are perfect for small items, water bottles, or umbrellas.
Hydro Flask
32oz Hydro Flask, available at Amazon, Hydro Flask and Cabela’s, from $34.97
From going to class and work to running errands or hitting the trails, having an adequate supply of water is necessary during our day. The Hydro Flask is a sturdy water bottle that guarantees that your cold drinks will stay cold for 24 hours while your hot ones will stay hot for 12 hours.
Amazon
BestSelf Self Journal, available at Amazon and BestSelf, from $31.99
Life at 18 is bound to get a little more hectic. Help your loved one schedule their time with a planner, a nifty tool that helps them view their goals from a bird’s eye perspective while also outlining their day-to-day tasks. Zoom into daily thoughts and goals on the weekly sections while using the monthly reflection prompts to dive into deeper intentions. You can find more of our favorite planners here.
Armitron
Ridgemont Watch, available at Armitron, $75
Surprise them with a stunning watch, a great gift for any budding adult. The Armitron is one of our favorite watches, due to its dual analog and digital display and its water-resistant capabilities. Check out our full list here.
Shiseido
Shiseido Everyday Sunscreen and Skincare Kit, available at Ulta, Macy’s and Shiseido, $50
This gift is a hydrating and protecting set featuring everything they need for their active day. The kit includes Shiseido’s best-selling Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream, new Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate serum, and oil-free sunscreen, so they’ll be ready for anything the day has to throw at them.
Target
Settlers of Catan, available at Amazon, Target and Catan Shop, from $44.95
Trade. Build. Settle. A great game to practice long-term strategies and communication skills, Catan is fun without being overwhelming.
Best Buy
Spotify Annual Subscription, available at Amazon, Best Buy and Walmart, $99
If they don’t have it yet, a Spotify Premium membership is one of the best gifts out there for music lovers. This gift card is good for a year of Spotify Premium, allowing them to listen to any song they want at any time with no ads and they can download their favorite playlists for offline listening.
Original Skateboards
Pintail 40, available at Original Skateboards, $265.38
Original Skateboards is one of the most well-known skateboarding companies in the industry and their Pintail 40 is the best longboard for those just starting out. It’s comfortable enough for long-term cruising or commuting and is great for skateboarders of any skill level.
Amazon
Nintendo Switch, available at Amazon, Best Buy and Target, $299.99
The Nintendo Switch is the perfect console for solo or party play. It’s also portable for on-the-go gaming or can hook up to a TV for big-screen, multiplayer fun.
Best Buy
Samsung T7, available at Amazon, Best Buy and Walmart, from $104.99
It may not be the most exciting gift but this external hard drive may come in handy more than they realize. Whether they’re in school or starting a new job, they can use this gift to store extra photos and documents and keep their computer storage free for new projects or creations.
Amazon
West Bend Stir Crazy Popcorn Machine, available at Amazon and West Bend, from $42.89
Popcorn is a perfect late-night snack. With this 2-in-1 bowl and popper, they can make popcorn fresh, fast, and with minimal cleanup.
Anthropologie
Sophie Faux Fur Throw Blanket, available at Anthropologie, $128
A good blanket goes a long way. Anthropologie’s plush faux fur blanket is top-rated and is guaranteed to be soft and cozy, even after multiple washes.