Best Grad Gifts 2018

Finding the best grad gifts seems to always land squarely in the gift card realm. But what about those times that you want to give something other than monetary gifts. Since gift giving doesn't come naturally for everyone, there are a ton of idea lists out there of what constitutes the "Best Grad Gifts." After seeing everyone else's "best of" lists (and not usually agreeing with them), I thought I'd pick the best of the "best of" for my top 10. From Rachel Ray to Martha Stewart to Bed Bath & Beyond, here are my top recommendations for the grad who has everything (...or you're just at a loss of what to get them beyond an iTunes gift card!).

Top 10 Best Grad Gifts 2018

Amazon Echo Spot

By far one of the cutest commercials I've seen in a while was for this product. And it's not just for Grandma to see the kids. Get in a virtual visit with this great tech that ties in with the rest of your Alexa/Amazon smarthome products. ...Don't forget to get one for yourself (video calls are a two-way street, after all!)

Tree Hut Watches

Renewable resources to make watches? Oh, yeah! Tree Hut Designs hand-makes one-of-a-kind watches in their San Francisco studio from real wood, accented with leather, metal and other materials. You can have these pieces engraved for a personalized memento that's also environmentally friendly!

Google Chromecast Ultra

Don't have a smart TV? No problem! The Google Chromecast Ultra allows you to project most of your apps on any HDMI-equipped TV. Just plug in, install Google Home app, sync the Chromecast to your device apps and happy watching!

Keurig Rivo Cappuccino & Latte System

If your grad spends tons of time at the local coffee shop, this is the perfect gift for them. They can save a few bucks and enjoy their gourmet coffee at home. A little less social, but better on the pocketbook...and for those late nights working or studying!

Nutri-Ninja Auto-iQ Blender

Great for smoothies and blended beverages, the Ninja Bullet / Nutri Bullet are great options for making a fast, healthy meal or beverage on the go. You won't have to worry about your graduate eating right or getting the nutrition they need.

Leather Weekender Duffel Bag

Growing up means they need to look the part. This is the perfect graduation gift for the grad with a touch of wanderlust (i.e. your up-and-coming jet-setter). Invest in a solid, classy genuine leather weekender bag. It's the perfect size for a quick weekend getaway with friends or for work. It also serves as a great carry-on for those longer trips.

Beats by Dre BeatsX Wireless earbuds

On the go, in the gym, in a noisy dorm or cubical...earbuds are the perfect way to drown out the distraction. Help your grad focus freely with a pair of wireless earbuds. Great for taking calls or turning up the tunes, everyone should have a pair (you included!).  They're flexible, portable, and provide a little solitude in this crazy-active world!

JBL Pulse 3

There are a ton of options for a wireless, waterproof portable speaker, but the JBL Pulse 3 will make your grad the envy of all of their friends. This speaker not only pumps out great quality sound, but also adds a light show that syncs with the sounds of the music. Great for ambient light, or being the center of the party, this speaker is a cut above the rest. Best part: you can sync multiples together to give a surround-sound experience!

Photo Frames

It seems like everything's come full-circle. We used to print our photos and put them out in frames. Then, when cameras went digital, no one printed them anymore and the best gift was the digital photo frame. Now, everyone realizes their photos are living on social media and their smartphones...and they wish they had a few to put out on a shelf for the occasional glance. Re-enter the best gift: a classic photo frame for a printed photo!

Amazon Prime Subscription

Amazon Prime is, well, the prime gift! It's a little bit of everything under one umbrella. There's free two-day shipping on most of their items, access to some exclusive "prime only" items, and streaming of music, movies, TV shows and Amazon original content. Bonus: your grad will also get free Kindle e-books and unlimited photo storage, among the list of extras.

Best of all, you can buy them a 3-month or 12-month gift subscription...and if they already have Prime, they can swap this for an Amazon giftcard, so it's a completely flexible purchase.