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It's time to remind your partner, parent, or friend how much you care about them on V alentine's Day. It's easy to treat the holiday as an excuse to get cool stuff for the people you care about most, if you're not one for elaborate bouquets and gushy, traditional displays of affection. After all, who doesn't like a warm pair of slippers or a clever co-op title?
To gather gift ideas, we've cast a wide net and enlisted The Verge's staff to submit products they would love to receive. Our gift guide includes suggestions for people who are active and free-spirited, as well as some ideas for people who are homebodies or prefer a gift that is a little more low-key. While most can be used by one person at a time, some of them can involve everyone in the relationship, making them a great excuse to ditch the screen and spend some quality time together.
The price range.
Under $20 $20 to $50 $50 to $150 $150 to $400
In It Takes Two, you are a married couple on the verge of divorce, unexpectedly sucked into a fantasy story with co-op action. While the last-gen title wrestles with some serious themes, the game is platforming joy with your Player Two. The price is between $20 and $40.
Amazon.
Best buy.
A bouquet is a thoughtful gesture, but flowers tend to die quickly. This heart-shaped hoya sweetheart plant is endearing and can last as long as you don't kill it. And if you do? Well, get a nice pot for it so you're ready for the next one. And the next one. Come on, you're bound to get the hang of it eventually, right?
Price: $7 to $35
Pistils nursery
It's called Etsy.
Frigid days call for more than a decent pair of wool socks and a warm beverage. L.L.Bean's sheepskin-lined moccasins live up to their name, though, providing something supremely cozy to slip into when the temperatures start to dip. The treaded mocs also come in several cuts and colors, ensuring they won't look out of touch with the rest of your partner's wardrobe.
Price: $79
L.L. Bean.
Even with the recent COVID-19 vaccines and booster shots, not everyone is comfortable visiting a message therapist right now. Thankfully, a portable message gun like the three-speed Theragun Mini is a convenient way to reduce muscle aches and give your partner a soft tissue massage without leaving the safety of your home.
Price: $175 to $200
Amazon.
Target.
Best buy.
A candle might sound cliche, but few are made with the kind of shelf life afforded by Paddywax's Form Candles. Each 12-ounce candle can burn for up to 80 hours, and once your loved one has filled their home with the scent of fig, pomelo, and cedar, they can use ceramic vessel as a planter for their favorite succulent.
Price: $26 to $38
Amazon.
There is Paddywax.
One of the biggest board game franchises out there is Ticket to Ride, and the Nordic Countries variant is perfect for couples that don't mind a bit of competitive, one-on-one gaming. If you complete your train routes along the beautiful snowy landscape, you're good to go. The price is $42.
Amazon.
Walmart.
Cooking together is a timeless romantic tradition, one that is far more enjoyable with the right set of tools. Teakhaus' professional-grade cutting boards come in all shapes and sizes, but each is thick enough to resist warping and offers a durable wooden surface for chopping, carving, and slicing your way through date night.
Price: $70
There is a crate and a barrel.
Build-A-Bear Workshops offer incredibly adorable offerings from licensed lines of Pokemon and Star Wars plushies, and their optional clothing and accessories take the cuteness-factor to the next level. Who doesn't love a Snorlax in a sleeping cap and PJs? Someone without a heart, that's who.
Price: $56 to $100
Amazon.
A bear is a Pokemon.
A bear is from Star Wars.
Mario Party isn't for everyone. This franchise has tested friendship, but the couple that steal stars from one another and still talk to each other will probably stay together. If you or your partner played the classic titles, Mario Party Superstars is perfect. The price is $50 to $60.
Amazon.
Target.
Walmart.
Everyone wants to keep themselves warm and cozy in the winter. Socks make for a popular gift, but they're a bit played out. Enter the thermal heated socks by Busy Socks. These keep your extremities warm even in the extreme cold (and look rather cute doing it).
Price: $13
Amazon.
Say Anything is a seminal rom-com that doesn't need a boombox to play love songs. The Tribit StormBox Micro is a small, portable speaker that has up to eight hours battery life, a surprising amount of sound, and an integrated strap that makes it the perfect fit for the handlebars on your bike. The price is between $44 and $50.
Amazon.
Best buy.
Buying roses for Valentine's Day is about as cliche as it gets. But buying a two-pack of vibrant Lego roses you can build together that last forever? That's some next-level relationship-ing right there. Apparently, relationships are built like everything else: brick by brick.
Price: $13
Lego.
You could easily spend $300 on a backpack that doubles as a 48-hour ice chest, but why spend a fortune when something basic will do just fine? Carhartt's Cooler Backpack sports a classic, no-fuss design, a robust dry compartment, and an insulated bottom that's big enough to hold a picnic for two.
Price: $65
Amazon.
Carhartt.
Do you want to work with your sweetheart on a fun word game? Codenames Duet is a spinoff of the popular Codenames. Give your partner the best one-word clues you know they will get, just get into the mindset of your partner. The price is between 14 and 16.
Amazon.
Target.
Walmart.
At first glance, the Oura Ring might seem like the kind of jewelry you might gift your high school sweetheart. Despite the band's simple design, however, the subscription-based smart ring touts a slew of health-tracking features designed for rest and recovery, allowing your signifcant other to keep tabs on their heart rate and sleep habits without reaching for a Fitbit.
Price: $299
Oura.
Love Linguals is a fun activity if you feel comfortable talking to your partner. There are different questions on each card, ranging from topics like the past and future, sex and intimacy, and those tailored toward both couples and individuals. Love Lingual makes card packs that are meant for friends, meaning that you don't have to be in a romantic relationship to join in on the conversation. The price is $25
Amazon.
Love Lingual.
When in doubt, it's hard to go wrong with a practical gift like the minimalist Carter Everywhere Mug. Fellow's stainless-steel container is a bit more elegant than most travel mugs and features double-walled insulation, a wide mouth, and a ceramic coating on the inside that does away with metallic taste coffee snobs know and loathe.
Price: $30 to $35
Amazon.
There is a store called Nordstrom.
Using NASA data, SpaceTime Coordinates creates a picture of what space looked like the moment you met your partner or got married — or during any other signficant event you should choose. The pictures can be delivered as digital files starting at $29 but also as posters, shirts, hoodies, necklaces, home decor, and other products at various price points.
Price: $29+
The coordinates of space time.
The hygge game is a low-stakes group activity for friends and family. It includes 300 thought- provoking questions that are meant to ask participants to reflect on the good things in life, which, according to the makers of this game, is a loose English translation for the Danes word hygge. The price is $20
Amazon.
Uncommon goods.
There is a store called Nordstrom.
If you know someone who's a fan of adding a smoky flavor to just about anything (cocktails, fish, cheese, you name it), this Smoker Gun from LeafIdeas will allow them to add it to their food and drinks at home. You burn the included wood chips inside of the infuser, and it propels the smoke into the dome lid to enrich your goodies with that authentic, tough-to-replicate smoke flavor.
Price: $70
Amazon.
Why cozy up with just one good book when you can cozy up with thousands? The latest Kindle Paperwhite has USB-C charging and a larger, 6.8-inch display with adjustable color temperature for nighttime reading. It's an excellent gift for when your partner needs some quiet time away from you.
Price: $140 to $160
Amazon.
Target.
Best buy.
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