Estimate Rocket’s 2018 Gift Guide

Our team put together a list of ideas to make it easier to find the perfect gift for the contractor, homeowner, or tough-to-buy-for person on your list.

For travel

Portable AC Battery Pack - Jackery PowerBar $130

If the person you’re buying for is always on the road, a portable battery pack can be invaluable. There’s no need to worry if there’s an outlet nearby. The Jackery Powerbar has an AC power outlet and USB and USB C outputs, so they can still charge all their devices.

Mobile Wifi Hotspot - Verizon Jetpack MiFi 7730L $100

We’ve mentioned mobile wifi hotspots more than once before, and for good reason. When working from the car or on a job site, a strong internet connection is important. Mobile wifi hotspots provide more reliable wifi than the hotspot a phone can create. And since the phone isn’t being used for the hotspot, it's available for more important things.

Item Tracker - Tile Pro $35

The Tile Pro helps keep track of your recipient’s most important items so they’re never left behind. They can attach a Tile and use the phone app to find their wallet, keys, and other important items.

Outdoor Security Camera - Nest Cam Outdoor $165

An outdoor security camera is a great option for those who travel often but still like to know their home is safe. The Nest Cam Outdoor is weatherproof, has the option to review footage, and can even send mobile alerts.

Wireless Headphones - Jabra Elite 65t Wireless Earbuds $166

The Jabra Elite 65t Earbuds are comfortable, noise-blocking, and also happen to be wireless so they're great for people on the go. They also have a better sound quality during calls and a higher battery life per charge than other similar headphones.

For getting things done

Smart Speaker - Amazon Echo Dot $40

Voice-controlled speakers like the Amazon Echo Dot are great for getting things done hands-free. The Dot is cheaper than other full-size smart speakers but can do many of the same things, like check the calendar and the weather. It can also play music, pull up a recipe, order delivery, turn on the lights, and make and answer phone calls.

Alarm Clock - Philips Wake-Up Light Alarm Clock $100

Waking up can be a struggle, especially in the colder, darker months. The Philips Wake-Up Light Alarm Clock can make getting out of bed easier. It has a dimming light for nighttime to help with better sleep and simulates the sunrise and natural sounds to make waking up less difficult.

Multitool - Leatherman - Wingman Multitool $50

The Wingman Multitool has everything your giftee needs to get the job done. It has 14 tools including pliers, screwdrivers, scissors, a knife, and a can opener. It also has a pocket clip so they’ll always have the tools they need, no matter where they are.

Cooler - Coleman 16-Can Soft Cooler $21

Whether they take their food and drinks to the job site, the office, the game, or the beach, this Coleman Cooler will keep the items cold and un-crushed. It has a removable hard plastic liner, is large enough to hold 16 cans, and is leak-proof.

Notepad - Aqua Notes Water Proof Note Pad $9

Sometimes, a great idea is constructed in the shower with no place to write it down. It ends up forgotten until the next shower, and the cycle continues. The Aqua Notes Water Proof Note Pad makes it easy to jot those notes down so they’re not lost down the drain.

For managing a business

Tablet - Apple iPad (6th generation, 32 GB) $329 or Asus ZenPad 3S 10 $298

If the person you’re buying for is on the road a lot, but still needs to get work done, a tablet is a perfect gift. The 6th generation iPad is easy to use, has a ton of apps, and a long battery life. It's a great choice if your recipient prefers Apple products. If they’d rather have an Android tablet, the Asus ZenPad 3S 10 is also a good choice. It has more storage and quick charging at a lower price than the iPad.

Laptop - 2017 13-inch MacBook Pro $1299 or Dell XPS 13 $1000

There are times when it’s easier to work on a laptop than a phone or tablet. Both of these laptops are great portable options. They're thin and light, but also have good screens and battery life so they can handle the work that needs to get done. If your recipient would rather use an Apple or Mac operating system, the MacBook Pro is the right choice. The Dell XPS is great if they prefer Windows, and it’s also a bit cheaper than the MacBook.

Portable Document Scanner - Epson ES-300W $250

If the person you're buying for is a business owner, they may have receipts and paperwork piling up. Help them get organized with a portable document scanner. The Epson ES-300W can scan and convert papers into searchable files for easy access on any device.

For fun!

Portable Bluetooth Speaker - UE Roll 2 $80

Your recipient can take their favorite music to the backyard, job site, or beach with a portable Bluetooth speaker. The UE Roll 2 has great sound quality and volume, is watertight, has a long battery life, and a mobile range of 65 feet.

Smart Golf Caddie - Arccos Caddie Smart Sensors $250

The Arccos Caddie Smart Sensors can help the golfer in your life improve their game. They can track and analyze their shots and get help figuring out what to work on all in one handy app.

E-reader - Kindle Paperwhite E-reader $130

For the person who enjoys reading books in their spare time, the Kindle Paperwhite E-reader is a perfect pick. It’s thin, light, and can store tons of books so they can take it with them wherever they go. It’s also waterproof and the Paperwhite display makes it easier to read on than other devices.

Board Games - Carcassonne $32 and Santorini $23

Board games can be a great way to relax, unplug, and spend time with friends and family. In Carcassone, 2-5 players place cities, roads, and other tiles to create a map. Then workers are placed on those tiles to get points. In Santorini, 2-4 players use building blocks to create a city, then race to the top to win.

Gift Card

Give your friend or family member the gift of choosing what they want. Give a gift card for their favorite coffee shop or restaurant, Netflix if they’d rather stay home, or Amazon so they can choose their own gift.

For more ideas, check out 2016 and 2017’s Gift Guides!

Are we missing any great gifts? Let us know in the comments, on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn!