Secret Santa Gifts for Coworkers That Aren't Boring (2026)

For the coworker who sits by the loudest desk

• Who it's for: Anyone in an open-plan office, a noisy commute or with a snoring partner, and you don't need to know their taste to get it right.
• Why it's worth it: Reusable silicone earplugs that muffle chatter, keyboards and engines without the stuffed feeling of foam. SoundGuys measured an average 72.8% reduction in outside noise and called it a good pick for focus.
• Price: Good value At $19.95 it costs less than Loop's other models and lasts far longer than a box of disposable foam plugs.
• Know before you buy: Comes with several ear-tip sizes (XS to L) in the box. Colors: white, violet, black, mint. They block noise; they don't play audio.
• Skip it if: They already wear noise-canceling earbuds all day, or they need to follow meetings and conversations (Loop Engage 2 is made for that).
• What testers say: SoundGuys found Quiet 2 noticeably quiets airplanes and busy offices, but it blocks less than the pricier Experience 2 Plus with its add-ons. Pack Hacker also covers it as a travel staple. Loop shoppers average 4.2 stars, and the main complaint is fit for very small or very large ears.

Reviews: SoundGuys · Tom's Guide

For the coworker who brings hot sauce to lunch

• Who it's for: Food-curious colleagues who cook or upgrade takeout, which describes most offices.
• Why it's worth it: Two jars of crunchy Sichuan chili crisp in a ready-to-give box; you choose the pairing, including a not-spicy Mild jar. Sporked gave the original Sichuan Chili Crisp a 10/10 and called it an all-purpose condiment.
• Price: On sale $22.50 is 25% off the usual $30 for the boxed pair. Usually $30.00.
• Know before you buy: Pick the pairing at checkout: Original with Mild, Xtra Crunchy, Sweet + Spicy or Xtra Spicy. Contains soy and sesame; it's food, so check allergies if you can.
• Skip it if: You know they avoid spicy food, soy or sesame, or your office bans food gifts.
• What testers say: Sporked ranked the original first of seven Fly By Jing products for its layered ginger, shallot and seaweed flavor; other rankings say it's pricier than supermarket chili crisp. Shoppers average 4.9 stars, and 98% would recommend it.

Reviews: Sporked

For the coworker who needs a reason to log off

• Who it's for: Colleagues who like a slow, screen-free hobby, or a team that wants a puzzle running in the break room.
• Why it's worth it: A 1,000-piece puzzle with a playful Paris collage of baguettes, champagne and a grumpy cat, in a box nice enough to leave out. NBC Select named Piecework its best overall puzzle brand pick in 2025, praising the detailed art and ribbon-cut pieces.
• Price: On sale $28 is 30% off the usual $40, which puts a premium-brand puzzle in mass-market territory. Usually $40.00.
• Know before you buy: 1,000 pieces, so it takes several evenings and a table. The sale is part of Piecework's holiday promotion and may end.
• Skip it if: They have a small apartment with no table space, or they've never shown interest in puzzles.
• What testers say: NBC Select liked Piecework's artwork and two-sided or tricky cuts but flagged the higher difficulty as a drawback. That test covered a different Piecework design (Sugar & Spice), not this one.

Reviews: NBC Select

For the coworker who's always borrowing your charger

• Who it's for: Anyone with a USB-C phone who runs low during long meeting days or commutes.
• Why it's worth it: A lipstick-sized battery with a fold-out USB-C plug, so it clips straight onto the phone with no cable. Consumer Reports gave it a Smart Buy rating in 2026 for portability and recharge speed.
• Price: Fair price Anker's own store charges $29.99; you'll often see it a few dollars cheaper during sales elsewhere.
• Know before you buy: The built-in plug is USB-C: it suits iPhone 15 and newer and most Android phones, not older Lightning iPhones. 5,000mAh is roughly one phone top-up. Several colors.
• Skip it if: They have a Lightning iPhone, or they already carry a MagSafe battery.
• What testers say: Consumer Reports praised its portability, recharge speed and two-device charging. Buyers like the no-cable design; the most common complaint is that 5,000mAh doesn't go far on big phones.

Reviews: BGR (on Consumer Reports' Smart Buy rating) · Tom's Guide (Anker Nano in gifts under $50)

For the coworker who joins every call on the go

• Who it's for: Someone without good earbuds, or who'd like a cheap spare pair for workouts and travel.
• Why it's worth it: Very small earbuds with real active noise canceling, multipoint pairing and Apple Find My for the case. Digital Trends gave them an Editors' Choice in October 2026 and found the noise canceling effective for the price.
• Price: On sale $33.99 is $9 off the $42.99 list price, cheap for earbuds with ANC. Usually $42.99.
• Know before you buy: Launched at CES 2026. Works with iPhone and Android; Find My tracks the case, not each bud. IP55 sweat resistance, not waterproof.
• Skip it if: They already own AirPods or similar earbuds they love, or they care about audiophile sound.
• What testers say: Digital Trends praised battery life (up to 5.5 hours with ANC) and fit, but said sound needs EQ tweaks, call mics struggle with traffic, and there's no auto-pause when you remove a bud.

Reviews: Digital Trends

For the coworker who carries coffee from home

• Who it's for: Coffee and tea drinkers who like a pared-back design and a compact bag-size cup.
• Why it's worth it: A slim, double-wall stainless steel tumbler with a lid you can sip from at any point around the rim. Gizmodo Japan's reviewer said hot coffee stayed drinkable for 2 to 3 hours and found the lid quick to clean.
• Price: Fair price More than generic travel mugs, in line with design-led brands like Corkcicle ($30–40) for a smaller, simpler cup.
• Know before you buy: 12 oz is small for big coffee drinkers (a 500 ml version costs $36.80). Several colors; white was out of stock on 2026-11-10. KINTO rates it for about 6 hours hot.
• Skip it if: They want a big tumbler with a handle and straw, or a cup that's fully leakproof when it rolls around a bag (the review didn't test for leaks).
• What testers say: Gizmodo Japan liked the smooth rim and easy cleaning; the reviewer noted the white finish shows scuffs and dirt. The review was first published in 2024 and reposted in October 2025.

Reviews: Gizmodo Japan