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Best weird gifts: Odd but useful gadgets and gear

This is 2020. Predictable is out, and it's the perfect time for weird, yet surprisingly useful, gifts.
Written by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes, Contributing Writer
Milwaukee Tools M12 Heated TOUGHSHELL Jacket | Warms on demand!
Milwaukee Tools M12 Heated TOUGHSHELL Jacket
Milwaukee Tools M12 Heated TOUGHSHELL Jacket
Warms on demand!
View now View at Home Depot
FreeKey 2825 Key Hook System with 3 Group Rings | No more split nails!
FreeKey 2825 Key Hook System with 3 Group Rings
FreeKey 2825 Key Hook System with 3 Group Rings
No more split nails!
View now View at Amazon
Folding Titanium Craft Scalpel Knife | Sharp, yet safe!
Folding Titanium Craft Scalpel Knife
Folding Titanium Craft Scalpel Knife
Sharp, yet safe!
View now View at CountyComm
Shire Post Mint Moon Coins Fidget Toy | Beautiful pieces for your desk
Shire Post Mint Moon Coins Fidget Toy
Shire Post Mint Moon Coins Fidget Toy
Beautiful pieces for your desk
View now View at Shire Post Mint
Titanium 4 Inch Adjustable Wrench | A great — and practical — fidget toy
Titanium 4 Inch Adjustable Wrench
Titanium 4 Inch Adjustable Wrench
A great — and practical — fidget toy
View now View at CountyComm
Kizen Instant Read Meat Thermometer | Not the time for food poisoning!
Kizen Instant Read Meat Thermometer
Kizen Instant Read Meat Thermometer
Not the time for food poisoning!
View now View at Amazon
Essential Oil Diffuser | Transform your office into a tranquil paradise!
Essential Oil Diffuser
Essential Oil Diffuser
Transform your office into a tranquil paradise!
View now View at Amazon
Ever Ready Titanium Bonded Bandage Shears | Stop ruining good scissors
Ever Ready Titanium Bonded Bandage Shears
Ever Ready Titanium Bonded Bandage Shears
Stop ruining good scissors
View now View at Amazon
Yeti Rambler 14 oz Mug | Keep your coffee warm for longer
YETI Rambler 14 oz Mug
Yeti Rambler 14 oz Mug
Keep your coffee warm for longer
View now View at Amazon
Upcycled bowling ball worry stones | Who couldn't do with a worry stone at their desk?
Upcycled bowling ball worry stones
Upcycled bowling ball worry stones
Who couldn't do with a worry stone at their desk?
View now View at Shire Post
Slice Micro Ceramic Blade | Open packages without opening an artery
Slice Micro Ceramic Blade
Slice Micro Ceramic Blade
Open packages without opening an artery
View now View at Amazon
BlueDriver Bluetooth Pro OBDII Scan Tool | What does that check engine light mean?
BlueDriver Bluetooth Pro OBDII Scan Tool
BlueDriver Bluetooth Pro OBDII Scan Tool
What does that check engine light mean?
View now View at Amazon
Show more (7 items)

Some gifts are predictable -- think socks or that box of chocolates, where a high proportion of them are the hard caramels. Other gifts are weird, wacky, and off the wall. But there are a lot of weird gadgets and gear out there that will also make someone -- or maybe you -- a great gift this holiday season.

Here I bring you a selection of the weird gadgets and gear that I've come across this year that I've found to be surprisingly useful. I mean, I never knew that battery-heated jackets were a thing before this year!

I used to think that I was too tough for a heated jacket. I was wrong. 

This is perfect not only for people who have to be out and about in the cold for work, but also for those who have a dog that needs walking no matter the weather, or who just enjoy nature no matter what the weather.

How come we can put people on the moon, but keyrings still were a massive pain to use? Not any more! A simple squeeze and these keyrings open up, allowing you to sort out your messy, out-of-date bundles of keys.

Scalpel blades are cheap, disposable, and super sharp, but unless you have a decent handle, they can be super dangerous and lead to unexpected trips to the ER. I love this craft knife because the oversized handle works great for my paws, and it offers ample grip, even when sweaty or wet.

2020 has been the year for things to fidget with on your desk, and these moon coins make the perfect desk toy. Absolutely stunning reproduction of the lunar landscape, condensed down onto 1-inch and 1.5-inch coins. Truly blown away by the quality of mine!

And prices start from $7!

Is it a tool, or is it a fidget toy? It's both! 

This lightweight yet super tough titanium adjustable wrench is at home both on a desk or a toolbox. 

Perfect way to check the temperature of your Thanksgiving roast, and when BBQ season comes around again, you're prepared for everything!

2020 has been one heck of a year, and "self-care" should be a phrase that we all know and use. And this diffuser not only humidifies and puts essential oils into the air, but the LED lights are quite soothing and calming!

I've got a few of these on my desk. I use them for cutting things that would ruin good scissors. Robust, last for ages, and can cut quite thick wire or sheet metal.

Everyone needs a good mug. Here are the highlights of Yeti's Rambler:

  • 18/8 stainless steel made with kitchen-grade stainless steel, so they're puncture- and rust-resistant
  • Dishwasher safe because no one needs more work to do
  • Thick gauge steel makes for stronger, more durable drinkware to resist dents and dings
  • Double-wall vacuum insulation keeps cold drinks cold and hot drinks hot until the last sip
  • No sweat design say adios to damp or frostbit fingers

I have a couple of these on my desk. They're not only super nice to play with, but also look good and get people's attention.

This unique worry coin is upcycled from a discarded bowling ball. They have shaped them with one concave side for maximum satisfaction when holding between forefinger and thumb. Each Bowling Ball Worry Coin will have unique colors and patterns. 

This tool is Pperfect for scrapbooking, news articles, coupons, art projects, and plastic packages. 

  • Finger friendly design
  • Features a high-tech ceramic blade that's almost as hard as diamonds; lasts longer than steel and never rusts
  • Non-Slip Rubberized Finish with Built-in Magnet and Key-Ring Hole
  • Cutting tool that's quick, easy, and safe
  • 1% of Slice sales are donated to fund Autism research at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital - Stanford University

You can use this to read and clear your Check Engine Light and all other vehicle systems. Here are the features:

  • Get your unlimited free vehicle-specific Repair Reports, generated from our database of millions of fixes verified by Professional Automotive Technicians
  • As easy to use as a code reader with all the capabilities of an expensive handheld scan tool, plus the benefits of your smartphone or tablet (free app updates, portability, saving data, interactive graphing of live data)
  • Officially licensed and certified for Apple and Android devices
  • The BlueDriver App and BlueDriver Sensor work exclusively with each other to ensure quality
  • BlueDriver is the Professional OBD2 Diagnostic Scan Tool trusted by mechanics and developed by Professional Engineers in North America

Need more gift ideas?

Check out our ZDNet Recommends directory or Holiday Gifts hub for some more inspiration. 

Our sister sites also have the following gift guides: 

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