26 Mother’s Day Gift Ideas for the Superhero in Your Life
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A Water Bottle That Won't SpillHydro Flask Wide Mouth Vacuum BottleRead more
A Changing Robe for EverythingDryrobe Advance Long SleeveRead more
A Nostalgic AirPods CaseZhaowenjian Cell Phone AirPods 2 CaseRead more
A Tiny TabletApple 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 May 8, 2023: We added new picks, like the Prana Luxara Dress and the Davek Mini Umbrella.
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- Photograph: Hydro Flask
A Water Bottle That Won't Spill
Hydro Flask Wide Mouth Vacuum BottleThe 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 SleeveThe 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 CaseI 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.
- Photograph: Twelve South
A Floating iPad Stand
Twelve South HoverBar Duo 2.0OK, now you've gotten her an iPad Mini. But you don't want to add trouble to her life as she figures out where and how to prop it up without craning her neck at weird angles.
Twelve South's newest Duo has both a clamp and a stand. She can clamp the iPad to her nightstand to catch a few episodes of Wallander as she's going to bed. But then she can remove the stand and place that in the kitchen when she's cooking and slot the iPad into whichever holder she wants. Or attach them together! There's even an included hex key to tighten it up if the hinges start feeling loose. For more, check out our Best iPad Accessories guide.
- Photograph: Fujifilm
Instant Memories
Fujifilm Instax Mini 12Everyone loves a tangible, instant photo that they can tape on a wall or stick on a fridge. Fujifilm's latest Mini instant camera (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is simple, cheap, and easy to use. The Instax Mini 12 offers a few necessary improvements to the Mini 11. First, it offers parallax correction in close-up mode—meaning you can take great close-ups without having to guess where the center of the frame is. It also has a new twist lens that makes it impossible to turn on by accident and an automatic flash control that only fires up when necessary.
That said, young and old alike will enjoy even older versions of this already cheap camera. My parents took my children on a recent trip, and everyone used the Instax Mini to record their adventures for their journals. If your mom wants something a little more grown-up-looking than this fun little bubble of a camera, we have some other picks in our Best Instant Cameras guide.
- Photograph: Victrola
A Portable Record Player
Victrola Re-Spin Bluetooth Suitcase Record PlayerThere comes a time in every millennial's life when Spotify has ceased to suffice, and you don't have the time (or the ability to stay up late) to go to live shows as often as you'd like. And no one needs this many band T-shirts. That's when you pick up a turntable and start collecting vinyl.
WIRED reviews editor Julian Chokkattu tested this portable Victrola and liked it a lot. It's an affordable way for your mom to begin playing those Harry Styles and Taylor Swift (or Pavement!) records. She can just plug it in, open it up, and start playing tunes, and it's easy to pack up and put away when she's done. Bonus: Once she gets hooked, you can just start buying her more records for her birthday and the holidays!
- Photograph: Arc'teryx
The Best Waist Pack
Arc'teryx Mantis 2If your mom is on TikTok, she's probably already heard of the viral Lululemon Everywhere bag, or the Uniqlo mini shoulder bag—comfortable, relatively affordable bags she can sling around her shoulder or cinch around her waist. They're big enough for a wallet, phone, and a couple of lip balms, plus durable enough to take anywhere.
My recommendation is the Arc'teryx Mantis 2. It's made from 100 percent recycled nylon, with a slim profile I can tuck under my arm, and a padded slot on the back for your cell phone (you can see me wearing it here). It's big enough to fit my Kindle and even a small water bottle without feeling bulky, and it packs down small enough to fit in a carry-on when I'm traveling. It also comes in a wide variety of fun colorways. For more picks, check out our Best Recycled Bags guide.
- Photograph: L.L. Bean
A Bottomless Tote
L.L. Bean Hunter's Tote BagThere's a lot of debate over what makes the perfect parent's tote. Many WIRED parents of younger children love the Dagne Dover Indi diaper backpack ($195), which has internal pockets, rear hooks to carabiner it to your stroller, and easy-to-clean neoprene. Others (including myself) use this ultralight convertible Patagonia tote ($99), which is, well, light and easy to pack.
But as someone who is now eight years into this parenting gig, I have to say that the bag that has gotten the most constant use over the years is a bottomless tote bag that can go seamlessly from the beach to the grocery to an afternoon at the park. WIRED Gear editor Michael Calore loves this affordable tote from L. L. Bean, which has rugged construction designed to survive the muckiest New England conditions forever. The seams are double-stitched, and the inside is lined with rubbery plastic, perfect for wiping off muddy boots or various body fluids. You can also get it monogrammed! For more picks, check out our Best Laptop Totes guide.
- Photograph: Andsons
Beautiful Chocolates
andSons Signature Collection ChocolatesYes, you can do better than a box of Russell Stover grabbed at the drug store. This year is the 40th anniversary of andSons, a California-based chocolatier that got its name because two sons (Phil and Marc) inherited the business from their mom.
Their signature collection starts from $23 and everything, from the packaging to the chocolate bonbons themselves, are absolutely stunning handmade works of art. The flavors change seasonally, but the sampler box that I tried had a tart and tangy passionfruit bonbon and a crunchy, perfectly-bite-sized hazelnut gianduja. Text 310-276-2776 to make sure that the box will arrive on time.
- Photograph: Sonos
The Best Portable Speaker
Sonos RoamMoms love good value, and there's no better-value Bluetooth speaker than the Sonos Roam (9/10, WIRED Recommends). Sonos generally offers excellent sound, easy connectivity, and sleek design at a premium price. At $179, the Roam is one of the more affordable ways to start building Mom's Sonos ecosystem.
It has both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, so it's easy to play both at home and on the go. It's also IP67 dust- and water-resistant, you can play it at loud volumes without distortion, and it's the size of a large can, so it's easy to bring along. If Mom is reluctant to ditch her convenient smart speaker, it also works with Alexa and Google Assistant.
- Photograph: Prana
A Simple, Versatile Dress
Prana Luxara DressMy colleague Pia Ceres loves the viral Halara Everyday Dress, but she's also a lot taller than I am. I'm only 5'2" and it wasn't adjustable enough to fit my Gimli-length torso. This year, Prana released the Luxara exercise dress and I finally see what the hype is all about.
This is the summer version of an adult onesie. First, it's extremely light and stretchy; it has a built-in shelf bra with adjustable straps (finally!) and the built-in shorties fit my equally short torso. The scoop neckline and slate-blue colors are also extremely flattering. It's perfect for the mom who bikes everywhere but is a little sad about showing up for pickleball and school events in grungy cutoffs and a T-shirt. (The only downside is that unlike Halara's, it doesn't have pockets, but pockets would also make the sides of the dress bulge out.) This weekend, I'm wearing mine to bike in our annual neighborhood summer parade, along with the shoes below.
- Photograph: Hoka
A Stylish Pair of Hiking Shoes
Hoka Anacapa Breeze LowIn my eight years of being a mom, I've discovered that mom-ming is a surprisingly rugged occupation (two words: Disney World). Your mom needs a pair of equally rugged, yet comfortable shoes to carry her through her days.
At less than 0.79 grams per shoe, these are incredibly light and breathable. They have a 100 percent recycled upper and a liner that's made from 50 percent soybean oil. The deep lugs provide a firm grip when your mom has to climb a tree to retrieve a lost paper airplane, and the sole will cushion her feet when she's standing for 37 straight hours at a soccer tournament. We know these as “the hipster hikers,” so they will also give your mom street cred, just in case she also wants to try wearing baggy jeans. Check out our guide to the Best Hiking Shoes for more sturdy and durable picks.
- Photograph: Nimble
An Eco-Friendly Portable Charger
Nimble ChampWhenever my mom visits, she immediately rustles through my electronics cabinet to steal cords and power banks she forgot to bring. This is a great passive-aggressive gift if she doesn't already have her own. When he was testing for our Best Portable Chargers guide, WIRED reviewer Scott Gilbertson noted that the more environmentally friendly Nimble charger has enough power to keep a phone topped up a few times.
- Photograph: Davek
A Travel Umbrella
Davek Mini UmbrellaThis is the actual Mother's Day present that I got for my mom (Mom, you better not be reading this), who travels a lot for work. If you've already gotten your traveling mom a nice cashmere wrap, a portable charger, and the nice water bottle, you might want to consider a small umbrella.
The Davek Mini is about 7 inches long, small enough to stow in a purse or a big jacket pocket. In his testing, reviews editor Julian Chokkattu takes this steel- and fiberglass-framed umbrella out on his dog walks. Davek also offers a lifetime warranty and loss protection. For more picks, check out our guide to the Best Umbrellas.
- Photograph: Belkin
Use Your Phone as a Webcam
Belkin iPhone Mount With MagSafe for MacBooksAre you tired of peering at your mom through a grainy laptop camera? Now MacOS Ventury and iOS16 have a feature called Continuity Camera that lets you use your phone's excellent cameras as a webcam. It supports everything from FaceTime to Zoom, and you can use it pretty easily with this one tiny device that magnetically sticks to the back of the iPhone. When it's time for her to call for your weekly (or daily!) check-in, she can just pop it on the top of her MacBook. It can also be used as a phone grip or a kickstand.
