12 Best Gifts We’ve Ever Received in 2024

Here at NBC Select, we’re professional shoppers: It’s our job to hunt for the most unique, memorable and practical options to meet all your gift-giving needs. But when it comes to receiving gifts, we are not easily impressed. So, when we get that perfect one, whether it’s a gift we wouldn’t think to get ourselves or a purchase we use daily, it’s a big deal.

I spoke to NBC Select staffers about the gifts they’ve found the most useful or memorable. Below, I’ve compiled the best gifts NBC Select editors have ever received across product categories and price points, and how they use each one.

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The best gifts NBC Select editors have ever received

Calpak Luka Belt Bag

My mom bought me this belt bag for my birthday years ago and I didn’t know just how badly I needed it for city living. I own the large version, which has numerous roomy pockets on its interior and exterior — I’m consistently shocked by how much I can fit inside. I wear the bag everywhere to carry my phone, keys, wallet, headphones, lip balm and a snack or two, and even then, there’s still room for more. I love wearing it across my body because it allows me to keep my belongings close and makes all my essentials easy to access. In addition to wearing the bag around town, it’s become a travel essential for me: I put my most important items inside it while I’m going through the airport, like my passport and ID. Then, when I get to my destination, I use it as an everyday bag. — Zoe Malin, NBC Select reporter

Taskrabbit Cleaning Service

When it comes to gifts, I will always want experiences over tangible things. I’ve been gifted a cleaning service by others (and myself) a couple of times this past year and I can’t recommend it enough. There are moments in life when I just can’t, and the last thing I want to do is wash dishes or wipe down my furniture. And what I don’t need is more cleaning products — I need someone to simply help me so that the clutter doesn’t make things worse. In those moments when I couldn’t afford it, I was so grateful for friends and family who stepped in to cover the cost. – Nikki Brown, NBC Select SEO editor (Please note: final cost depends on several factors, including location, task size and time needed to complete task.)

Furbo 360 Dog Camera

When I first got my dog Bella as a puppy, she was extremely mischievous — I would often come home to find she had escaped from her playpen and ripped up papers, shoes and anything else she could find. One of my friends gifted me the Furbo pet camera as a way to keep tabs on her while I was away, and it was a complete game-changer. Using the Furbo app, I could see and hear everything she was doing in real time, plus I could talk to her if she was doing something she wasn’t supposed to. Though Bella is much calmer six years later, I still turn it on when I leave my house as a safety measure. The camera even has a treat-throwing feature, so I can fill it up with her favorite snacks and give her a reward throughout the day. Though the one I have is stationery, this newer version, which I’ve gifted to my parents after they got their own dog, can turn 360 degrees to track your pet around the room — Mili Godio, NBC Select updates editor

Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 Camera

I love capturing special moments in real time with friends and family, and this Fujifilm Instax Mini Camera was the perfect gift to help me do it. The camera has a nice focus to it so that the polaroid photos are vibrant and clear. It is a good enough size that I can take it on the go to events and experiences. While the film is sold separately, batteries and the hand strap are included. The camera lasts several years, too (as long as you properly take care of it). – Ella Morrissey, NBC Select page

Tumi Just In Case Backpack

My father bought me this backpack when he was sending me off to college, and it has truly stood the test of time. I use this backpack for everything — for school, the gym and even as a shopping bag if I want to go hands-free. I can fold the whole bag down into a smaller pouch, so even when I’m not actively using it, I’ll throw it into my suitcase or duffel bag while I’m traveling or shopping. It has a front pocket to drop my phone or chapstick in, and it’s large enough to comfortably fit my 13-inch laptop. The back of the bag has a sleeve so I can secure it to my suitcase and keep the weight off my back when I’m traveling. – Aksha Mittapalli, NBC Select editorial intern

Vankyo Leisure 470 HD Mini Projector

I’ve always loved a gift that keeps on giving, and that’s exactly what this projector is. Since moving away from home, I’ve used it in every apartment I’ve lived in, and it’s been the source of many movie nights with friends and family. I initially got it as a Christmas gift from my mother a few years back, and the very first thing I noticed was how easy it was to set up and take down. The simple setup makes it easy to take with me everywhere, including on cottage trips with friends, outdoor bonfire nights and even on a beach vacation. It’s played such a huge part in creating so many fun memories and unique viewing experiences for myself and my loved ones, which is really the ultimate gift for any movie lover. – Ashley Morris, NBC Select associate SEO reporter

Away The Carry-On Suitcase

I got this carry-on from Away in navy blue last year for Christmas, and it now comes with me on every trip. I love that it has a simple yet recognizable design. The wheels roll smoothly across the floor, so I don’t have to pull hard to get it moving when I’m speed-walking through the airport. The inside fits all of my clothing and toiletries without me having to press them down, too. – Cory Fernandez, NBC Select editor

Ralph Lauren Robe

The moment winter rolls around, the only thing I care about is sitting on my couch with a cup of coffee in the coziest clothing possible. I got this robe as a Christmas gift last year and it checked those boxes so exquisitely I almost didn’t bother opening the rest of my gifts. It’s so comfortable that I have to stop myself from wearing it in the summer. I still do, and I sweat, but a little perspiration is well worth the bliss that comes from feeling like I’m wrapped in a velour hug. — Ariadne Night, NBC Select editorial assistant

Hulken Bag

“Best gift ever” and the Hulken Bag are synonymous in my opinion. After I bought myself the large one, I quickly realized that one Hulken is simply not enough for the amount of schlepping I do. My parents must have heard me talking about wanting the medium Hulken thousands of times before the holidays last year, and on Christmas morning, it was waiting under the tree for me. I quite literally use it for everything: bringing products back and forth to the NBC office, rolling my groceries home from the supermarket, hauling my clothes to my building’s laundry room… the list goes on and on. I also love that it has a cover, which protects what’s inside if it’s raining or snowing. I genuinely cannot imagine my life without the Hulken, and since I know how revolutionary it is, I’ve bought it as a gift for my friends and family, too. — Zoe Malin, NBC Select reporter

Taylor Stitch Minimalist Wallet

I had a bulky bifold wallet until my dad gifted me this minimal alternative nearly a decade ago. I’ve used it daily ever since — the leather is pleasantly worn, and I’ve never lost any of the cards I’ve stored. Most importantly, it fits comfortably in my front pocket without looking bulky or wearing it out. — Harry Rabinowitz, NBC Select reporter

Sloth Warmies

I was given this microwaveable stuffed animal years ago and I still use it to this day. You can choose from a bunch of different animals, and you just heat them in the microwave. Since they are weighted, they are perfect to cuddle with and to relieve stress. The plush Warmies are also scented with real dried fresh lavender and can help with sleep, easing anxiety, and relaxation, in my experience. You can even put them in the freezer for some cooling relief. I have a sloth one and absolutely love it. The best part is there’s no age limit to this wholesome gift. – Ella Morrissey, NBC Select Page

Aura Digital Picture Frame

Despite how many times I tell myself I’m going to, I never end up printing out my favorite photos, so they stay hidden in albums on my phone. But that changed when I got this digital picture frame as a gift. Via an app, I upload photos and videos to the frame, which automatically slides through my memories all day. It makes me so happy to walk by the frame and see photos of my pets, favorite places, family and friends. And since I constantly add content, there’s always something new to see. The Aura Digital Picture Frame is definitely the gift that keeps on giving. — Zoe Malin, NBC Select reporter

Why trust NBC Select?

I am an editorial intern at NBC Select and frequently work on gift guides and product roundups. For this story, our staff, who try and research hundreds of products to build gift guides every week, share the best gifts they have ever received.