The Ultimate Gift Guide for Geeks in 2024

Everyone has that special geek in their life -loveable, socially awkward, super smart, and particular about… well, everything. This can make gifting this person a tough pursuit, so we took a deep dive into the interwebs and rounded up some of our favorite gifts for computer geeks. (You’re welcome!)

But first, where does the word “geek” come from?

 

The term “geek” is supposed to have originated in Middle Low German or Middle Saxon during the Middle Ages. It essentially meant “fool” or “idiot” at the time. But as we know, words evolve and things that meant one thing even 50 years may mean the exact opposite today.

We love this article on www.todayifoundout.com, which delves into the first recorded usage of the word “geek” in the early 20th century. At this time in history, the word “geek” was used to refer to circus performers who dabbled in dark and strange circus acts that would be considered freakish.

Today, most people associate geeks with being very knowledgeable, albeit often focused on one particular area, which often is computers. A lot of the time, they’re really into technology and quickly adopt new gadgets and tools into their life.

Why Is It So Hard to Buy Gifts for Geeks?

 

One of the hardest parts about buying gifts for geeks is not so much the high cost of tech-related gifts as that geeks don’t often talk about their current obsession without being prompted. Another tough angle to consider when buying gifts for geeks is that they’re usually very selective about the tech and gadgets they love to use.

How Do I Know What Gift to Buy the Geek in My Life?

 

Never fear! The very obstacles to finding the perfect gift for the geek in your life are also part of the solution. Here are a few tips to help you figure out what gift to buy for the geek in your life.

1. Ask Them What They Really Want or Need

 

It’s totally okay to ask! In fact, you’re doing them a favor. This way, you’ll know exactly what gift to buy, and your hard-earned cash won’t go to waste on another dust-collecting gadget. Even better, have them give you a list of things they might want or need. As a result, you have choices (including price ranges), and they’ll still be at least somewhat surprised when the time comes.

2. Use Their Pickiness to Your Advantage

 

A geek’s pickiness can be used to your advantage with gift giving. All you need to do is pay a little attention to their routine, likes, and pain points, and it won’t be long before you know exactly what gift to buy. Maybe they want an expansion pack for an old game they want to play again, ambient lighting for their office or gaming room, or a decent chair to help with their back pain. Just listen in, and all will be revealed.

Top 2024 Gift Ideas for Geeks

To help you find a gift for the geek in your life, we’ve scoured the web and rounded up a few of our favorite gadgets to make any geek go weak at the knees. Here goes!

1. Take a Stand!

 

They say sitting is the new cancer! Geeks tend to do a lot of sitting. So, putting one and one together, a standing desk is the perfect geek gift. Standing desks can be expensive, though. There are fancy things like a standing desk converter, though, which helps you get all the height you need without the crazy price tag.

Check out AnthroDesk’s range of standing desk converters that’ll get your geek from sitting to standing in no time. As an added bonus, they can casually browse the web on the couch without crouching over their laptop with this gadget.

2. Measure up with the Force

 

Geeks might not spend a ton of time in the kitchen, but when they do, it should be worth it, right? Right! Add a little Star Wars magic to every geek’s culinary pursuits with the ah-dorable Star Wars R2-D2 Measuring Cup Set from ThinkGeek.

R2-D2 is made of four measuring cups in 1/4, 1/3, 1/2, and 1 cup sizes. He also has detachable arms that turn into nested measuring spoons of 1/4, ½, one teaspoon, and 1/3 tablespoon. The dome is both 1/2 cup and 1 tbsp and made of food-grade BPA-free ABS plastic. Plus, they can take R2-D2 to the office as a fancy lunch box with every part of lunch in its own container! Meep morp!

3. Amen to Ramen!

 

Quick to make, umami for days, and easy to inhale in front of a PC or laptop, ramen noodles are the ultimate geek food. The only downside: They don’t perform that well on the nutritional front.

To address the issue, Vite Ramen has combined what we love about ramen noodles and added real nutrition that’s backed by science. To prepare this bowl of deliciousness, just add (boiling) water, and you’ve got a convenient meal packed with 27 vitamins and minerals, 9g of fiber, and 31g of protein. (That’s more protein than a fast food burger!)

Vite Ramen is made by gamers, for gamers. If your geek is of the gaming variety, Vite Ramen is the perfect addition to a care package. Regardless of how busy or distracted they are, they need to eat and with this gift, they’ll at least eat nutritionally well!

4. A Musical Movement

 

Know any musical geeks? This one’s for them!

Genki Instruments has created a ring that gives the musical geek the power to take their music-making skills to the next level. The Wave Ring is a wearable MIDI controller ring that gives the musician the power to control sounds and shape effects with gesturing.

The Wave ring fits on the index finger and allows the user to pan, tilt, roll, and tap to make and manipulate sounds. It connects to all major music software over Bluetooth and comes with an LED display for visual feedback, a micro USB charging port, and an 8-hour battery life. Imagine having a recording studio on your index finger and editing your music while you’re creating it! We suggest you watch one of their customer videos on their site to get a real impression.

5. Straighten Up!

 

We all know posture can take a dive when we sit for hours on end, and poor posture can cause all kinds of other problems, like back pain, discomfort, and even a lowered self-esteem.

Luckily, the people at Alignmed have come up with a posture shirt that not only improves posture, but also helps retrain the brain for better carriage, which can improve productivity at work, relieve pain, and improve overall health.

Perfect for the desk-bound geek showing signs of slumping. And really, this one is a gift to anyone who works in a sitting position!

6. Roving Robot

 

Keen to get that special someone a geeky gift that’ll get them away from their desk and moving? The gita robot from Piaggio Fast Forward is a follower robot that will inspire any geek to leave their chair and get active!

This compact little robot is designed to help people move better and further, with the key element of fun every step of the way. It moves intuitively along with its owner, rolling behind and carrying up to 40 pounds of goods, including laptops, groceries, drinks, and any other goods a geek might deem essential. Imagine going shopping with your own little pet robot who carries all your stuff!

7. No More Dry Eyes

 

Gamers and developers know that blue light from computer screens can cause dry and tired eyes. Over time, this puts a strain on the eyes and it becomes difficult to focus. In bad cases, you risk long-term damage to the retinas. If your geek is always complaining about itchy or dry eyes, this could be your cue to give them the gift of happy eyeballs with gaming lenses made to combat the harmful effects of blue light.

Tifosi Optics has a slick range of gaming glasses that are specially made for people who spend a lot of time in front of screens. They provide 100% UV protection, are lightweight, durable, and shatterproof. You can choose from their pre-built models, or customize a pair for a more personal touch.

That’s a wrap on our roundup of the top gifts for geeks in 2024! We hope you loved our suggestions, and feel confident and inspired when shopping for those perfect geek gifts.