SHREVEPORT, La. - My kids never checked their stocking growing up. Who could blame them for not getting excited about a piece of fruit and Lifesavers? Now that I put some tech surprises in there, the stockings are never overlooked.
First up, a TikTok-famous gadget for scrollers: a wireless scrolling ring. It lets you flip through reels and pages without touching your phone -- great on a treadmill or in bed with a Kindle. They're under $15.
One of my favorite gadgets of the year is a phone grip. The OhSnap! grip snaps onto any phone without the bulk of a PopSocket. The ring pops out when you need it and clicks back when you don't. OhSnap! also has tilt-able magnetic mounts for the car to keep the phone off your lap.
When the phone's light isn't bright enough, a Bolder rechargeable flashlight is what they need. Small enough for a purse or glove box, and bright enough at 900 lumens to light up a room.
For the backyard, a ThermoPen meat thermometer gives lightning-fast readings. Some models even check infrared temperatures for skillets and griddles.
Everyone needs a portable battery. These come in all shapes and sizes. Some attach magnetically to phones; others have built-in cords and are powerful enough to charge a laptop. If they have one, consider one of these three-in-one charging cables as an add-on -- one cable that works for almost any device.
If they're always on the go, a portable solid-state hard drive adds 2 to 4 terabytes of storage to their laptop. Prices have dropped a lot this year. Or go smaller with a high-capacity flash drive.
Small gadgets. Big upgrades. And fun. And no more empty stockings on Christmas Eve.