The Oxford Dictionary says a gadget is “a small mechanical or electronic device or tool” and suggests added deference to those evidently ingenious or novel.

We’re not so sure about the second part. Nothing about the word — etymology or otherwise — suggests a thing must be ingenious or new to be a gadget. A humble suggestion: a gadget is a small mechanical or electronic device or tool that makes your day better. Gadgets grease the tracks of the daily grind. We submit they are useful, not “novel.”

Gadgets are gifts. A gift for yourself, your significant other, your dad or your mail carrier alike. Something to use, not stare at (sorry, whiskey stones, that means you’re out). They’ve got staying power. What fits the bill? From Bluetooth speakers to beard trimmers, here are 25 of the best gadget ideas — what they are, why they rule and which to buy — recommended by Gear Patrol staffers.

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