10 Best Gifts for Engineers in 2025

Gift-giving season is here. But tracking down a unique gift for engineers (or anyone interested in science and technology) can be a tricky task. To make shopping a little easier this year, the Mechanical Engineering staff has gathered 10 gift ideas, from toys to apparel, and even a motorized surfboard, for engineers of all ages.
 

Pixicade

Kids of the 1970s and 1980s will remember crafting their own makeshift video game platforms when mom and dad weren’t yet willing to shell out for the real thing. But if you’re looking for a STEM-friendly gift for anyone with an interest in creating, check out this innovation that actually transforms hand sketches into functioning video games—without breaking the bank. Pixicade imports drawings on good old-fashioned paper with a simple photo, then the app then converts those drawings into one of seven game types. The kit comes with five washable markers and a 100+ page interactive booklet that teaches about game design concepts and examples. Bonus: this kit was one of TIME's top inventions of 2025. 

$19.97 from Amazon.com

 

Skunk Works: A Personal Memoir of My Years at Lockheed 

This classic engineering memoir of Lockheed Martin's famed Skunk Works division is a must-read for engineers—even the non-bookish ones attest to its greatness. Packed with secret labs and radical innovation that changed aviation, no engineer’s bookshelf is complete without it. Written by Ben Rich, who led Skunk Works for nearly 20 years, this treatise is filled with narratives from Air Force and CIA pilots who flew classified, risky missions, pushing aviation to new heights. 

$22.99 from Barnes & Noble

 

Nike Air Max 95000

Additive manufacturing is an engineer’s best friend. So why not gift your engineer with a 3D-printed shoe? In October, Nike unveiled its new Air Max 95000, which is the first shoe created using Nike’s Project Nectar, which is a specially formulated printing process. This is also Nike’s second shoe developed with Zellerfeld as part of an effort to advance 3D-printed footwear. These sneakers have a “Big Bubble” Max Air unit in the heel and a smaller Max Air unit in the forefoot for what Nike calls a “just-springy-enough feeling underfoot.” The Air Max 95000 launched on Nov. 28 and is currently sold out, but keep an eye out for restocks.

$249.00 from Zellerfeld.com

 

Hanayama Cylinder Brainteaser  

Puzzles are a classic gift. But this cast metal puzzle is a bit different, offering no visual clues to reach a solution. Hanayama’s knurled cylinder brainteaser is also compact at just 4.72 inches by 2.99 inches by 1.88 inches. It’s like cracking open a safe, but once you separate the cast metal cylinder into its components, the question is whether or not you put it back together again. Surely any engineers worth their salt can solve this one.

$11.19 from Amazon.com

 

LEGO Technic Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport Hypercar

Engineers love cars, especially fast ones. (If one of ASME.org’s most-read articles is to be believed, that is.) While the price on some of these hypercar beauties is a little beyond us common-folk who don’t have a spare several million dollars, here’s an option that’s a little easier on the pocketbook. One of LEGO’s newest Technic sets features a Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport Hypercar. These sets feature realistic movements and mechanisms, including the steering, movable doors and hood. And the after building the car, your engineer can unlock a digital version of the Chiron in the ASPHALT LEGENDS online video game. The set is available for preorder now and will release on Jan. 1, 2026.

$64.99 from LEGO.com

 

Keyboard Switch Tester 

Before the engineer in your life completely disassembles their keyboard to ensure it has the perfect click or clack for their taste, let them test-drive some switches first. The Mechboards Switch Tester lets users feel the difference between tactile, linear, and clicky switches so they can pick the smoothest or clickiest of the bunch. This hands-on demo of force curves and actuation mechanics also doubles as a fidget toy, making it perfect for anyone who loves understanding how things move and feel—or who just like pushing buttons.

$7.00 from Mechboards

   

Smartphone-Controlled Paper Airplane

Ever wish the paper airplanes you’re throwing around at school or work were a little more responsive? Here’s an airplane that you can steer with the help of your bluetooth-enabled phone or tablet. Just take a template, attach the kit’s bluetooth device to the folded plane, launch the app, and watch that paper masterpiece soar. This pint-sized jet needs half an hour to charge for 10 minutes of flight time and can reach speeds up to 25 miles per hour. It has a range of about 230 feet and gyro stabilization, plus two motors. The kit includes templates for four different plane designs. If you’re looking for more options, there’s also a larger Flight Manual Bundle that features detailed instructions on how to fold 10 different airplanes, along with 10 paper templates and two waterproof paper templates. 

$60 from Uncommon Goods

 

Weatherproof Notebook

Sure, everyone has a phone or tablet, but there are still some folks out there who appreciate the tactile feel of a sturdy notebook. Engineers who need to take notes while on the go, especially out in the elements, will appreciate this weatherproof notebook from Rite in the Rain. These spiral-bound, notebooks fit in your pocket (at just 4 inches by 6 inches) and can deal with anything the world throws your way, from rain to mud, sweat, snow, oil, and grease. The paper is also legible in bright sunlight—unlike your phone’s memo screen. Each book has 50 sheets and comes in a range of colors.

$17.85 for a three-pack at Rite in the Rain
 
 

Fliteboard 

If you know an engineer who loves the water, consider this splurge. The Fliteboard is an electric powered hydrofoil or eFoil—basically a motorized surfboard—that can travel at speeds up to 30 miles per hour. Made from carbon fiber or fiberglass, Fliteboard can be equipped with a 60, 75, or 80-centimeter mast that sits partially underwater and interchangeable wings for stability and hydrodynamics. The device’s unibody fuselage is machined from a single block of aluminum in a 14-hour process and its Dual Drive propulsion system allows users to change from a propeller to jet at the push of a button on the handheld controller.

$8,350 and up from Fliteboard.com 

 

KeySmart iPro 

Does your engineer constantly lose their keys? Or have too many keys? A smart solution might help with both tracking and streamlining a noisy bundle of keys. The KeySmart iPro can hold up to 14 keys within a smooth, compact setup and is even equipped with a few tools, such as a flashlight and bottle opener. It also works with the Apple Find My network, so a quick ping and your keys will emit a sound when you’ve misplaced them—or even when you wander off too far without them. 

$49.99 from getkeysmart.com

 

ASME Swag

What better way to show off your engineer’s ASME membership than with official swag. You can find accessories ranging from coffee mugs to headphones, magnets, and other knick-knacks. We have apparel options that will fit adults, kids, and babies, so there’s something for everyone, current and future members alike. ​​​​​​You can even suggest products that you’d like to see in the future in the menu at the top of the page. (Official ASME pet gear? Laser pointers? Slippers?)

Multiple options are available from the ASME Heritage Collection.

  

ASME Memberships

And we can’t forget about one of the most helpful gifts for an engineer. From training to technical journals, certification and accreditation, industry-focused conferences, and of course, Mechanical Engineering magazine, the benefits that come with ASME membership make for the perfect gift. Engineers at all stages of their careers gain access to an expansive community of more than 70,000 and opportunities to connect with likeminded individuals through ASME’s Sections and Professional Divisions. We have different rates for members at various stages of their career, from students to retirees.

Learn how you can give a professional, early career, or student membership with 25 percent off the regular rate.