Getty Images; Tyler Le/BI
- Business Insider editors share their top holiday gift wish list picks for 2025.
- Editors' choices include kitchen gadgets, stylish bags, and wellness-focused footwear.
- Gift ideas range from Vitamix blenders to Salomon running shoes and Beats headphones.
The editor-selected companies were not involved in the sourcing or writing of this story. The views contained within represent the editor's personal views.
The holidays are creeping up faster than our unread Slack messages, which means one thing: wish list season is officially on.
I went around the Business Insider newsroom, asking editors about the gifts we're hoping to unwrap — everything from a kitchen thermometer, a tea set, to beaded bags — as targeted ads quite literally manifested in our lives.
Whether you're shopping for someone else or, let's be honest, adding things to your own cart "for later," here are the 11 things our editors are crossing their fingers Santa — and various family group chats — come through with this year.
Courtesy of JW PEI
I've had my eye on JW Pei all year, and when the Livia Beaded Floral Hobo Bag popped up on my Instagram stories, I knew the targeted ads had finally gotten me. I'm a sucker for anything beaded, and I think the rich browns will pair well with outfits all winter long, so it was an immediate send to the family group chat. Plus, it's on sale for $165, which seems like a total steal for that level of detail.
Mykenna Maniece, Associate Editor, lifestyle & entertainment freelance
Courtesy of Calamitywear
There's nothing I love more than a modern spin on vintage, and the porcelain goods from Calamityware fit the bill perfectly. The designs from this Pittsburgh family business are at first glance old-fashioned but, on closer inspection, a deliciously wry commentary on the, shall we say, cacashow of the current moment.
This tea set on the theme of "Things Could Be Worse," festooned with monsters, invading aliens, and pirates, is a literally useful reminder to keep calm and carry on. Plus, it's on sale at $140 right now.
Tracy Connor, standards editor
Courtesy of Hulken
Initially, I was going to ask for a Timex watch since, as a mom of three young kids, I can't have nice watches (yet!). Then, on a recent trip with just my husband, I saw another mom of three rolling the new Hulken rolling tote bag, and I knew immediately I needed to have it.
My family travels a lot by car, and I'm always in charge of packing. This rolling bag works as a catch-all during road trips, since you can easily fit things like blankets, stuffed animals, or even clothes in cubing packs. It has four 360 wheels, which makes it easy to drag around, and it folds flat to put away. The larger size retails for $125 and comes in 10 different colors.
Conz Preti, Deputy Editor, health & parenting
Courtesy of Anthropologie
My closest friends and family know one truth about me: I am always cold; incessantly. And in the winter months, I finally have the perfect excuse to cozy up. If there's anything I want under the tree, it's something to help me do just that. Anthropologie already keeps me coming back because of their home decor, and their spot-on choices don't stop at furniture, candles, or dishware. This throw, a tipped puffer faux fur throw in ivory, is exactly what I want as part of my New York winter survival kit; it's what I need to endure these frigid winters. Plus it's currently on sale for $76.80
Joi-Marie McKenzie, editor in chief, Life
Courtesy of beats
I've been debating purchasing over-the-ear headphones for the entire year. I love my AirPods, but everyone I know swears by their bulkier, over-the-ear option. I've finally decided to bite the bullet and add a pair to my Christmas wish list, especially after moving into a new apartment that faces loud subway tracks. I'd love to drown out that sound with noise reduction.
My preference would be Apple's headphones, but the price is unimaginably high. The Beats Solo 4 headphones are a great alternative at half the price (currently $149), and since Apple owns Beats, I'll be getting similar technology and features.
Frank Olito, Editor, health & parenting
Courtesy of Salomon
I recently decided I want to start running (OK, let's be honest, lightly jogging) again, and I'm much more likely to do so if I have some shoes I'm excited about putting on. I've been eyeing the Salomon XT-6 sneakers for a while, and since I love a practical gift, they're going to the top of my list. They're made of lightweight materials that won't weigh me down as I'm getting back out there (or, you know, getting coffee), and they also just look good — I love the sleek, all-black look with the strip of color right up the middle. They currently retail for $180, and I'm just as likely to throw them on with my running shorts as with a pair of jeans.
Rosemary Donahue, Editor, health & parenting
Courtesy of Vitamix
Is spending $500 on a blender ridiculous? Yes. Could it still be worth it? Maybe. The time has come to replace the blender my wife and I got as a wedding gift more than six years ago. Sure, my smoothies would probably taste fine with a standard blender. But sometimes in life you need to treat yourself, which is why I'm hoping for a Vitamix 5200 blender.
Beyond some of the cool features the Vitamix has — its blades move so fast they heat up so you can make soup directly in it — I'm also in it for the long game. The 5200 edition is on sale for $450 and comes with a seven-year warranty; many people report using their Vitamixes well past a decade. By that time, I might have run through several blenders, which actually makes this a bargain. (At least, that's what I keep telling myself.)
Dan DeFrancesco, Deputy Executive Editor
Courtesy of Kuru
As a health editor, I roll my eyes at most "wellness gift" recommendations — the best thing you can do for your health is eat real food, sleep well, and move regularly. But I make an exception for foot care. Increasingly, evidence suggests that taking care of your feet has cascading benefits on your body and overall health.
Good shoes like Kuru's Loft Indoor/Outdoor Moccasins can reduce back pain and improve posture, which in turn supports your metabolism, breathing, and natural energy levels. These slippers retail for $149 and are podiatrist-recommended — they have great arch support, firmly cup the heel, and cushion the impact of your foot as you take a step. I'm also eight months pregnant, so these are top of my list!
Mia de Graaf, Deputy Executive Editor, health
Courtesy of thermoworks
I just wrapped up a six-week advanced culinary boot camp at A Culture Factory that has me going all in on my home-cook era. My wish list this year features a KitchenAid pasta attachment, soufflé dishes, more cooking classes, and a Thermapen One. I've been intimidated by cooking meats beyond chicken breast or thin-sliced pork chops for years, but I'm ready to conquer my fear of undercooking and overcooking steaks and bigger cuts. The Thermapen One has thousands of rave reviews and instant temperature-reading capabilities. Plus, it comes in lots of cute colors, and it's currently on sale for $75.
Paige DiFiore-Wohr, Deputy Editor, lifestyle & entertainment freelance
Courtesy of Lake
When it's cold out, my family likes to have the fireplace going more often than not. I want to be comfy, but not frumpy, while I'm playing games, watching movies, and curling up with a good book fireside. This year, I'm asking Santa (and my husband) for the DreamModal Kimono Pajama by Lake, which retails for $148. The set features a tailored fit for an elevated take on loungewear and comes in several sophisticated prints, so I won't mind if the neighbors or delivery drivers happen to catch me in them.
Jennifer Beck Goldblatt, Senior Editor, health & parenting
Courtesy of Cambro
I moved house in the spring, and have become obsessed with the idea of running my home kitchen in the most efficient and waste-free way possible. In my mind, a New York deli is the blueprint for achieving both. Full disclosure, I've never been to New York, much less a deli there — but I envision a life where vegetable peel and chicken carcasses are transformed into moreish stocks for huge vats of soup, and there are always at least three perfectly seasoned salad toppings in my fridge, alongside as many types of dip.
This Christmas, I would like a home kitchen-friendly (read: compact) set of Cambro storage containers, which retail for less than $5 each. A label printer would be a bonus, allowing me to note when the contents expire. However, scribbling on some masking tape with a Sharpie feels more authentic. I truly believe this is all that stands between me and domestic bliss.
Kashmira Gander, senior editor, health, business contributors
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