Believe it! I found some cool, cheap Black Friday gems for nerds on Amazon Haul
Amazon Haul is Amazon’s back shelf: you’ll find random items, with lots of junk mixed in with a few gems. If you’re looking for suggestions for stocking stuffers for the nerd you love, consider this.
One of the big caveats, of course, is that shipping isn’t free. You’ll need to purchase a certain amount – usually around $25 – to qualify for free shipping. So while you can certainly create your own gift bag filled with random tech gifts, you can also use this list to fill out a list that only needs an item or two to make it stand out. Check out our list of the best Black Friday deals for more ideas.
Without further ado, our suggestions. Note that we certainly haven’t tested anything ourselves, but they all seem to have positive rankings from Amazon buyers.
Bonus: The items on this list totaled $27.75, so you should probably get free shipping!
115-in-1 Precision Screwdriver Set: $0.84 at Amazon Haul
Yes, this 115 in 1 screwdriver set costs less than a dollar on Amazon. This reviewer sums up the appeal of this set perfectly:
“I purchased this set for a very good price on Amazon Haul and it will more than meet our needs for a screwdriver set with small bits,” said Jean S. “They don’t look like the highest quality bits, but there are a wide variety of them and they will work great for small jobs like eyeglass repair, watch repair, etc. and anything that doesn’t require high torque.”
Electronic Laser Measure, $6.79 at Amazon Haul
With a rangefinder, bubble level, and IP54 resistance, this $6.79 laser measuring gadget looks like a gadget that could live happily in your garage waiting for the next home repair. I rather like that it’s powered by a pair of batteries, rather than requiring time to charge an internal USB-C battery.
Personally, I don’t always need a laser rangefinder, but I’ve hung enough pictures and moved furniture to know that some of these tools are more practical than you might think.
Esydon Digital Caliper, $2.92 at Amazon Haul
If you work with your hands, you often measure small objects: bolts or screws, spaces between keys on a keyboard, the size of a valve, etc. In this case, you don’t want to pull out a ruler; instead, you’ll want to purchase these digital calipers for $2.92 on Amazon Haul.
The calipers measure inside and out and even include a gauge. I’m buying one.
7-in-1 USB 3.0 Hub, $3.99 at Amazon Haul
What I learned from reviewing the best USB-C hubs for PCWorld is that some manufacturers simply take the time and effort to test and validate their devices, while others simply hope for the best. It’s hard to say what this $3.99 USB hub will offer because its ratings are at or near the top, even with an arguably low price.
“I bought this because of the limited ports on my laptop,” reports user C. Starling. “I don’t use it all the time but it works for what I need it for. I wish they made 2 of the 4 USB 2.0 USB 3.0 connections. However, I am happy with the product as it gives me a lot of flexibility. I haven’t needed the audio port which others have had problems with. I like the “A” adapter on the leash. It is easy to connect and use. It seems to be good quality and functional. I would recommend this product.”
Electric Candle Lighter, $2.54 at Amazon Haul
Matches worry me a little: once lit, they can quickly ignite the entire box and cause a fire in your kitchen or garage. (Fun fact: A piece of spaghetti works just as well as a kitchen match in case your gas stove has trouble lighting.) Use this $2.54 USB-C electric igniter instead.
The cool thing about this candle lighter is that you really don’t have to worry about open flames. And if you’re like me and have to attend multiple birthday parties in the winter, you don’t have to worry about juggling a lit match while lighting candles. Problem solved!
Lenovo H110 Gaming Headset, $7.88 at Amazon Haul
My young children outgrow gaming headsets pretty quickly. Instead of blaming them for not taking care of their stuff, I just realize that they’re at a stage in their lives where some of their gadgets are going to get chewed up quickly. This $7.88 Lenovo headset is inexpensive enough that it can serve as a “permanent” headset, or one that will see them through until a birthday when they can request a replacement.
This is one of the few items on my list with an average user rating. Still, if it does the job, that $7 price tag is easy to manage.
Jiggler Mouse, $2.79 at Amazon Haul
This tiny $2.79 dongle serves a very specialized purpose: it keeps your PC from falling asleep by electronically “shaking” the mouse, which is useful if you’re in the middle of a prolonged task. People who work from home also know that it simulates working for a nosy boss, in case you need to go out to use the bathroom or feed your cat.)
“This mouse jiggler works perfectly,” says user Anthony Barrera. “I’ve used it on Windows and Mac, and it keeps me online on all platforms without any problems. It’s simple to use, plug-and-play, and works exactly as advertised. Pros: Compatible with Windows and Mac. Keeps the system active and prevents sleep mode. No software required, truly plug-and-play. Very compact and discreet.”
