2024 Holiday Gift Guide for Your Engineer

When you have an engineer in your life, finding the perfect gift can be a chore. The staff of Mechanical Engineering magazine has rounded up a list of gifts ranging from tools and games to a piece of furniture that’s a mechanical marvel. We think there’s something here for every engineer.  
 

Star Trek: The Next Generation 100-Piece Engineering Field Kit Tool Set

There’s an entire legion of engineers who were inspired by Star Trek at one point in their lives. With this tool set, the engineer in your life can experience the thrill of saying, “Hand me the hydrospanner!” while reaching into a tool case that looks like it actually came off the Enterprise. Some of the tools in this set include a bit holder, pry knife, electrostatic ring, tweezers, screwdriver bits, and SIM card tools, among many others. (Please note: No hydrospanners are available in time for this year’s holiday season.)

$89.99 from Amazon.com
 
 

Tecsun PL990x Digital Worldband AM/FM Shortwave Longwave Radio

The internet has enabled instant communication from just anywhere in the world. However, there is still a thrill in being able to pull in an overseas radio signal via shortwave. There are plenty of low-end portable radios capable of shortwave reception, but the Tecsun PL990 is a compact model for those who want something a bit more powerful. The radio also includes Bluetooth connectivity for listeners who want to blast Radio Tirana on their best speakers.  

$269.95 from Amazon.com
 
 

3Doodler PRO+ 3D Pen Set

Forget yellow legal pads: You can now doodle in 3D. From a handmade prototype in a Massachusetts maker space, to one of the most successful Kickstarter projects of all time, 3Doodler is now one of the best-selling 3D printing product. Over 2.5 million 3Doodlers have been shipped, because the pens allow your imagination and creativity take you where you never thought you could go. 3Doodler offers several tiers of products, but the company says its PRO+ model is engineered for architects, artists, designers and engineers to test, communicate, and illustrate in 3D. 
 
$199.99 from the3doodler.com
 
 

YAZHIYI Robotic Arm Kit - Version K3

The Yazhiyi Robot Arm Kit has over 100 pieces made of strong aluminum alloy, stainless steel, other metals, and nylon gears. Remote controlled arm includes a TPE rotating gripper that can grasp up to 500 g and a McEnham Wheel which supports 360° all-around rotation. Directions to assemble are easy to follow and read like Lego instructions with all tools and parts included. It is perfect for those who are interested in an immersive experience assembling a toy.
 
$118.00 from Amazon.com
 
 

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom for Nintendo Switch

Tears of the Kingdom is a dream for engineers with a passion for old school video games. Blending a traditional Zelda backstory with elaborate building tools, TOTK is an open-world game where you can construct almost anything imaginable—from flying vehicles to aerial catapults. The popular Nintendo Switch game promotes experimentation in a playful, CAD-like environment, and the physics are so mind-blowing that it’s even inspired an entire college course. Don’t have a Nintendo Switch? Maybe it’s time for an upgrade.
 
$69.99 from GameStop
 
 

AnyCubic Kobra 2 Max 3D Printer

Home 3D printing is a popular hobby, but most desktop printers have surprisingly small build volume, more suitable for chess pieces rather than costume accessories. AnyCubic’s Kobra 2 Max doesn’t have that limitation: Its maximum print area is 16.5 inches by 16.5 inches, and nearly 20 inches tall. (One challenge may be finding space for it in the workshop.) The company promises increased print speed, too. While the printer requires careful assembly and calibration, the reward is the ability to print at sizes few other home models can match.
 
$399.99 from MicroCenter
 
 

A City on Mars: Can We Settle Space, Should We Settle Space, and Have We Really Thought This Through?

A good book is always a great gift. If NASA’s plans move forward as planned over the coming decade with the Artemis program, chances are humans might actually make it to Mars someday. But should we settle in space and have we really thought things through? Those are some of the questions husband and wife team of Kelly and Zach Weinersmith tackle in this cheeky off-world investigation into the possibilities, hiccups, and growing pains that could lie ahead as space settlement moves closer to reality.
 
$32.00 from Penguin Random House or Barnes and Noble
 
 

Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer Smart Glasses

Engineers who love staying ahead of the tech curve will nerd out over the Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarers. These smart glasses combine the classic Wayfarer style with high-tech features like camera and video integrations, real-time AI assistance, and discreet open-ear speakers to let you interact with the world in a whole new way. It’s like stepping into a spy movie, or an episode of Inspector Gadget—seamlessly connected and effortlessly cool.

Starting at $316 from Ray-Ban
 
 

Compressed Air Rocket Launcher v3.0

Many of us played with “stomp rockets” when we were kids, but none of us had anything like the compressed air rocket designed by mechanical engineer Keith Violette and schoolteacher Rick Schertle and sold via Make magazine’s MakerShed. After assembling the kit, users can pump air into a cylinder up to 130 psi. When released, the rush of air can send a paper rocket hundreds of feet in the air. Adult supervision is required, however, as this is a toy that really could put your eye out if used carelessly.
 
$139.95 from MakerShed.com
 
 

Grand Elevate 74008 Espresso Smart TV Lift Cabinet

With a thin 20-inch deep profile, the Smart TV Lift Cabinet can accommodate a flat screen television of up to 65 inches. Wi-fi enabled, engineers can lift their television to optimal viewing height and then lowers it into a sleek cabinet. The drop-down doors at the base of this cabinet provide storage space for their gaming systems. The electronics within the cabinet can all be controlled with an optional remote repeater system available for an additional $99.00. 
 
$2,799 from Touchstone Home Products
 
 

ASME Professional and Early Career Membership

We may be a tad biased here, but If there’s one thing an engineer needs to catapult their career, it’s a solid network. Give the gift of instant community and networking with an ASME membership—perfect for fresh grads, early career engineers, and anyone looking to enter the new year with a professional refresh. ASME members enjoy access to exceptional benefits, including valuable technical information, essential career resources, and the unique opportunity to build relationships that can last a lifetime.
 
Click here to give a professional or early career membership for $158. Student memberships are even less!