Believe it! I found some cool, cheap Black Friday gems for nerds on Amazon Haul
Amazon Haul is Amazon’s back shelves: You’ll find random items, with a lot of junk mixed in with some gems. If you’re looking for suggestions to fill the stocking of the nerd you love, think about these.
One of the big caveats, of course, is that shipping isn’t free. You’ll need to buy a certain amount — usually $25 or so — to unlock free shipping. So while you can certainly create your own gift bag of random tech goodies, you can also use this list to fill out a list that just needs an item or two to get it over the top. Check out our list of the best Black Friday deals for more ideas.
Without further ado, our suggestions. Note that we certainly haven’t tested any of this ourselves, but they all seem to have positive rankings by Amazon shoppers.
Bonus: This list’s items totaled $27.75, so you should probably qualify for free shipping!
Table of Contents
115-in-1 Precision Screwdriver Set: $0.84 at Amazon Haul
Yes, this 115-in-1 screwdriver set is less than a dollar at Amazon. This reviewer sums up the appeal of this set perfectly:
“I got this set for a very good price on Amazon Haul and it will more than meet our needs for a screwdriver set with tiny bits,” Jean S said. “They don’t look like the highest quality bits but there is a huge variety and they will work fine for small jobs like eyeglass repair, watch repair, etc. and anything that doesn’t require a high amount of torque.”
Electronics Laser Measure, $6.79 at Amazon Haul
With a distance meter, bubble level, and IP54 resistance, this $6.79 laser measure gadget feels like a gadget that could happily live in your garage waiting for the next home repair. I kind of like the fact that it’s powered by a pair of batteries, rather than requiring time to charge an internal USB-C battery pack.
Personally, I don’t always need a laser distance finder but I’ve hung enough pictures and moved furniture around to know that some of these tools come in handier than you’d think.
Esydon Digital Caliper, $2.92 at Amazon Haul
If you work with your hands, you’re often measuring small items: bolts or screws, gaps between keys in a keyboard, how large a valve is — you name it. In that case you don’t want to haul out a ruler; instead, you’ll want to buy this $2.92 digital calipers on Amazon Haul.
The calipers measures inside and outside, and even includes a dispstick. I’m buying one.
USB 3.0 7-in-1 Hub, $3.99 at Amazon Haul
What I’ve learned reviewing the best USB-C hubs for PCWorld is that some manufacturers simply take the time and effort to test and validate their devices, while others just kind of hope for the best. It’s hard to say what this $3.99 USB hub will offer as its ratings are at or near the top, even with an undoubtedly lowball price.
“Bought this because of limited ports on my laptop,” user C. Starling reports. “I don’t use it all of the time but, it works for what I need it for. I wish that they would have made 2 of the 4 USB 2.0 connections USB 3.0. However, I am happy with the product as it gives me a lot of flexibility. I have not needed the audio port that others have had issues with. I like the “A” adapter on the leash. It is easy to connect and use. Seems to be a good quality and functional. I would recommend this product.”
Electric Candle Lighter, $2.54 at Amazon Haul
Matches worry me a tiny bit: Once lit, they can quickly light the entire box and cause a fire in your kitchen or garage. (Fun fact: A piece of spaghetti works just as well as a kitchen match in case your gas range has a problem igniting.) Use this $2.54 USB-C electric igniter instead.
The cool thing about this candle igniter is that you really don’t have to worry about any open flames. And if you’re like me and have a number of winter birthday parties to attend, you don’t have to worry about juggling a lit match while lighting candles. Problem solved!
Lenovo H110 Gaming Headset, $7.88 on Amazon Haul
My young kids go through gaming headsets rather quickly. Instead of criticizing them for not taking care of their things, I simply realize that they’re at a stage in their lives where some of their gadgets are just going to be chewed through rapidly. This $7.88 Lenovo headset is cheap enough that it can double as a “permanent” headset, or one that will tide them through until a birthday where they can ask for a replacement.
This is one of the few items on my list with just an average rating by users. Still, if it does the job, that $7 price tag is easy to deal with.
Mouse Jiggler, $2.79 on Amazon Haul
This tiny little $2.79 dongle has a very specialized purpose: It keeps your PC from falling asleep by electronically “jiggling” the mouse, helpful if you’re in the middle of a prolonged task. People who work from home also know that it simulates you working for a nosy boss, in the case that you may have to step out to use the restroom or feed your cat.)
“This mouse jiggler works perfectly,” user Anthony Barrera says. “I’ve used it on both Windows and Mac, and it keeps me online across all platforms without any issues. It’s simple to use, plug-and-play, and works exactly as advertised. Pros: Compatible with Windows and Mac. Keeps the system active and prevents sleep mode. No software required, truly plug-and-play. Very compact and discreet.”
