If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. Learn more. Please also consider subscribing to WIRED
A Water Bottle That Won’t Spill
Hydro Flask Wide Mouth Vacuum Bottle
Read more
A Changing Robe for Everything
Dryrobe Advance Long Sleeve
Read more
A Nostalgic AirPods Case
Zhaowenjian Cell Phone AirPods 2 Case
Read more
A Tiny Tablet
Apple iPad Mini (2021, 6th Gen)
Read more
Speaking as a mom myself, I know that the best gift you can give your mother is you. Vaccines, effective N95 masks, and at-home Covid-19 tests are now widely available, so traveling to see your parents and loved ones in person is feasible (though flying is more of a pain than ever). But if you’d rather not arrive empty-handed, you’d better hop on it, because Mother’s Day is approaching soon, on May 14. Scrambling for ideas? We’ve got a bunch of gift recommendations below.
Your mom may be the person who loves you the most in the world, but she’s probably got a lot of other things going on, like working out, serving on nonprofit boards, or hanging out with friends. I consulted other WIRED parents for their favorite picks. These are our top gift ideas to help moms work from home, annotate their books, or dip into the world of gaming in their downtime. And while you’re at it, check out our many other product guides, like the Best Gift Ideas for New Parents, Best Kid Podcasts, or the Best Kid Tablets.
Updated April 2023: We removed older picks and added new ones, like the Victrola Re-Spin and Dryrobe Advance.
Special offer for Gear readers: Get a 1-year subscription to WIRED for $5 ($25 off). This includes unlimited access to WIRED.com and our print magazine (if you’d like). Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day.
-
Photograph: Hydro Flask
A Water Bottle That Won’t Spill
Hydro Flask Wide Mouth Vacuum Bottle
The perfect water bottle is a matter of hot contention amongst the WIRED Gear Team. I prefer the lightweight Yeti Yonder; my colleague Medea Giordano sings the praises of the Owala Free Sip, while product reviewer Matt Jancer has a whole selection in his Best Reusable Bottles guide.
However, a mom’s water bottle has two solid requirements. It can’t spill when it’s sealed and you toss it into your Bottomless Tote (TM), and it has to be easy to wash—no fiddling with moldy valves or nozzles when it’s late at night and you just want to go to bed. I have several of these 32-ounce Hydro Flasks that keep water and other beverages ice-cold for hours. They also come in a variety of appealing colors.
-
Photograph: Dryrobe
A Changing Robe for Everything
Dryrobe Advance Long Sleeve
The biggest misconception about changing robes is that you only need them when you’re going into, or out of, cold water. A giant, warm, fleecy robe that fits over whatever you’re wearing (or not wearing), has a weatherproof exterior, and has deep internal and external zip pockets? And a big hood? Sign me up! In addition to outdoor adventures, I also wear one around the house while I’m working, when walking the dog, and when I’m playing video games on the couch at night.
Dryrobe was founded by British surfer Gideon Bright and offers a variety of robes in a bunch of bright colors and sizes, for both adults and kids. The synthetic lambswool interior feels the heaviest and the most premium of the robes we tested. The only downside of presenting your mom with one of these is that you will then have to buy one for everyone else in your family.
-
Photograph: Zhaowenjian
A Nostalgic AirPods Case
Zhaowenjian Cell Phone AirPods 2 Case
I guarantee you know at least one mom who was tapping away on one of these immediately after giving birth, propped up in her hospital bed. “Gr8 2 c u! thx 4 flwrs!”
But no, this tiny, adorable trinket is not really a cell phone—this is an AirPods case, compatible with both the first- and second-gen models. A cutout on the bottom lets you charge the case, and the top stays secure. A personalized AirPods case is a small, nice token to show any moms in your life that you were thinking of them. For more options, check out our Best AirPods Cases guide.
-
Photograph: Apple
A Tiny Tablet
Apple iPad Mini (2021, 6th Gen)
Your working mom probably already has a desktop and a laptop; what she doesn’t have is a delightfully smol iPad Mini (8/10, WIRED Recommends) to rewatch all of The Lord of the Rings movies while washing dishes or traveling for work. The updated slate packs Apple’s latest processor, a Touch ID button on the edge, a bigger display, and an upgraded camera complete with Center Stage—which helps keep Mom in the frame during FaceTime calls. With support for the second-generation Apple Pencil and Smart Folio case (both sold separately), Mom can replace her notepad, ebook reader, and TV with this petite and portable tablet.
