Gallery: Last-Minute Geeky Christmas Gifts
01red-swingline-stapler
Is it too late for holiday shopping? Not at all. If you act fast, you can still get some cool gifts for the geeks on your list. Some are available online and some require a trip to a local store — but all of the items on this list are likely to be well-received by any *Wired* reader. This is a partial list, of course. Got any great last-minute nerd gift suggestions? Hit us in the comments! __Above:__ Red Swingline Stapler --------------------- This might appeal more to the dorks than the geeks on your shopping list, but anyone who has seen and loved *Office Space* (and what nerd hasn't?) will appreciate having their very own red Swingline stapler. [$22 from ThinkGeek](http://www.thinkgeek.com/homeoffice/supplies/61b7/), which will ship in time for Christmas if you order by 12/21 at 11:59pm Eastern time.
02h2o-audios-surge-2g-headphones
Earbuds ------- The cheap earbuds that come packaged with most phones and MP3 players are usually pretty poor quality. Fortunately, it's not hard — or expensive — to make an upgrade. We are big fans of [Jays' t-Jays](http://www.jays.se/products/earphones/t-jays.html), which deliver excellent, rich, and well-balanced sound for about $80. Buying for a more sporty geek? [H2O Audio's Surge 2G headphones](http://www.h2oaudio.com/store/waterproof-headphones/surge-2g-waterproof-headphones.html), which we've also been testing, are waterproof, sweatproof, and durable — and their sound quality is quite good too. At just $50 they're a great deal. Both are available from [Amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com/), which offers free two-day shipping with Amazon Prime (it's free for one month), if you order today.
03dvd-spindle
Spindle of DVD-Rs ----------------- Useful for backups, making copies of DVDs (for backups and personal use only, of course), or flinging across the backyard into a snowdrift, DVD-Rs may not be sexy. But they're one gift you can sure will get used. A spindle of 100 costs about $20 and you can get it an any local office-supply store.
04gorillapod
GorillaPod ---------- Joby's [cute, bendable tripods](http://joby.com/gorillapod) are flexible enough to use on any surface, no matter how irregular, and you can even wrap them around poles and other solid objects. They're compact, so you no longer have any excuse for not carrying a tripod. And if your gift recipient is an iPad user, the GorillaPod doubles as a nifty and workable iPad stand. $25 to $100 from Joby, which offers a [25 percent discount for several packages](http://joby.com/joby-holiday-gift-guide-2010) (so you can get one for yourself, too).
05victorinox-swisstool
Multitools ---------- What geek doesn't appreciate having a multitool to strap to his or her belt? You don't need to worry if they already have one, because there's really no such thing as too many multitools. Leatherman and Gerber make popular models, but our favorite is the durable (and shiny!) [Victorinox SwissTool](http://www.swissarmy.com/MultiTools/Pages/Product.aspx?category=doityourself&product=53905) or [SwissTool Spirit](http://www.swissarmy.com/MultiTools/Pages/Product.aspx?category=doityourself&product=53800&). About $100 from REI or any local outdoor-supply store. Is your recipient a bike geek? The [Park Tool Rescue Tool](http://www.parktool.com/product/rescue-tool-1) is a compact gadget that fits in an under-seat pouch or jersey, and has enough widgets to get you out of most any field-repair emergency. You can find it and similar tools at any local bike shop.
06fisher-space-pen
Fisher Space Pen ---------------- The great thing about Fisher Space Pens is that, thanks to their pressurized ink cartridge, they can write upside-down. Try that with an ordinary ballpoint! They also work well in wet or dusty conditions. And the bullet shape is both pocket friendly and easy to hold while writing. Unfortunately, these little things are also easily lost — which is why, even if your geek friend knows, loves and uses Space Pens, she could still use another one. About $20 at a local art-supply or stationery store.
07crazy-aarons-putty
Crazy Aaron's Putty ------------------- For me, there's no holiday memory more vivid than playing with Silly Putty: pulling it, stretching it, smashing it with a hammer, and using it to pull ink off the Sunday comics. Crazy Aaron's Putty takes that to the next level, with heat-sensitive, magnetic, translucent and other varieties. [Wired.com's GeekDad blog](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/geekdad/2010/12/8th-day-of-geekmas-2010/) has been featuring it as part of the "12 Days of GeekMas" celebration. If you order from Aaron's by noon on December 22 and choose next-day air, you can still get it in time for Christmas. [$14 from Crazy Aaron's Putty World](http://www.puttyworld.com/).
08moleskine-notebooks
Notebooks --------- What nerd doesn't need a nerdy, fashionable notebook to organize their many thoughts and ideas? You can never have too many of these notebooks. Just make sure you know which "religion" your geek practices: [Moleskine](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/gamelife/2010/09/pac-man-moleskine/), [Field Notes](http://fieldnotesbrand.com/) or [Doane Paper](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2010/09/pr_doane_daily_arsenal_kit/). $10 and up, from local art-supply or office-supply stores. Want to give something more substantial? [Field Notes offers a subscription plan](http://fieldnotesbrand.com/colors/) where you get a new pack notebooks every few months; the company often throws in free pens and other goodies with their shipments. Feeling really cheap? [Doane Paper offers free download](http://doanepaper.com/)s of their unique 1/8-inch grid plus 3/8-inch lined paper pattern, so you can just grab the PDFs and print a few hundred copies on your laser printer.
09batteries
Batteries --------- Ever bought a Magic Mouse or a BlueTooth keyboard recently? Or Wiimotes, PlayStation controllers or mini Mag Lites? Then you know how quickly you can go through AA and AAA batteries. Get your geek a brick of each type, and you know your gift will be received with gratitude. About $10 apiece at any drugstore or supermarket. For a green geek, you can never have too many rechargeable batteries. Sanyo's Eneloop system is convenient and comes with a charger and adapters to turn your AA batteries into underpowered C or D batteries. About $20 for a pack of eight batteries only, or $30 to $50 for a pack of batteries with adapters and a charger. Available at drugstores, Costco or Amazon.com.
10usb-flash-drives
USB Flash Drives ---------------- Everyone needs storage — the more capacity the better! We'd love a 64-GB memory stick, but would we actually buy one for ourselves? Probably not. That's why we'd love it if someone gave us one. [SanDisk's Ultra Backup 64-GB model](http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Ultra-Backup-Flash-SDCZ40-064G-A11/dp/B001T9AT52/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1292958015&sr=8-1) would do the trick nicely — for just $100 on Amazon.com.
11paper-jamz
Paper Jamz ---------- [Paper Jamz toy "guitars"](http://www.paperjamz.com/) are printed on cardboard but actually make real music. They're super fun, and not that expensive. $15 to $18, available at toy stores and drug stores.
12knog-led-lights
Knog LED Lights --------------- These tiny LED safety lights are small, cute and bright. And because lights always end up getting lost or stolen, bike commuters can't get have too many of these things. They come with plastic, rubberized coatings in every color of the rainbow. Gadget Lab's Charlie Sorrel reviewed the tiny [Knog Frog](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/04/hands-on-with-the-knog-frog-bike-light/) and liked them, though he noted their coatings do attract dust. White LEDs are for the front, red LEDs for the back. $10 to $30 each at any local bike shop.
13star-wars-themed-cooking-gear
*Star Wars*-Themed Cooking Gear ------------------------------- Williams Sonoma offers *Star Wars* cooking gear, including a Darth Vader spatula, X-wing fighter and Tie Fighter cookie molds, and even a *Star Wars*-themed adult sized apron. All should be available at your local Williams Sonoma mall store. Or, if you order today, you can get them from [Williams Sonoma's online store](http://www.williams-sonoma.com/search/results.html?activeTab=products&words=star+wars). $12 to $25.
14star-trek-pizza-cutter
*Star Trek* Pizza Cutter ------------------------ Is your geek from the *Star Trek* tribe instead of Star Wars? Our favorite Trekkie gadget this year is this pizza cutter shaped like the *U.S.S. Enterprise*. [$25 from ThinkGeek](http://www.thinkgeek.com/homeoffice/kitchen/dea2/).
15polar-rs800cx
Polar RS800CX ------------- For nerds, it's not enough to just get exercise: You have to convert every workout into a data-intensive analysis of your performance, charting heart rate, cadence, VO2max and anything else you could conceivably cram into a spreadsheet or online workout-tracking application. The [Polar RS800CX](http://www.polarusa.com/us-en/products/maximize_performance/cycling/RS800CX_ Pro_Training_Edition_BIKE) does all that for bicyclists, runners and swimmers. At $450 (not including a running stride sensor or GPS) it's a bit pricey, but then, so is a heart attack. Hit the trail! Find it an online retailers like Amazon, or at sports stores near you.
16polytune
Polytune -------- The perfect gift for the geeky guitar player in your life ... and as a bonus, it will improve the lives of anyone living with said guitar player. That's because the [Polytune](http://www.tcelectronic.com/polytune.asp) tunes all of a guitar's strings at one. It's only $100 — and if that means never listening to another off-key rendition of "Stairway to Heaven," we're all in favor of it. You can buy it at online electronics retailers, or locally at stores like Best Buy, music stores and the like.
17tesla-roadster
Tesla Roadster -------------- Honestly, you probably can't get one in time for the holidays, even if you are as loaded as you'd need to be in order to buy one of these massively impractical but wildly cool electric vehicles. But if you do manage to get one for your favorite geek, we have a favor to ask: Can you get one for us too?
