This past holiday season, the Filter recommended gifts for temperamental tweens, skiers, minimalists, fitness buffs and of course the person who has everything. We told you about reincarnated Furbies, banned books, fermentation crocks and a giant circular treadmill for cats.
In short, we’ve recommended a lot. So, for the new year, we decided to flip the script with a different question for our writers and editors: what do you want in 2026?
It’s a little early for Santa, of course. But like asking a sommelier what elusive wine she still hasn’t been able to snag a glass of yet, we thought it might be fun to see which products our experts have scribbled away on their secret wishlists – and which we might swipe for ourselves. Here is what they told us.
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Cuisinart Fast Freeze Ice Cream Maker
I am an ice cream lover and thus have my eye on the Cuisinart Fast Freeze Ice Cream Maker. It seems very easy to use: you freeze your base overnight, let it sit for a few minutes, use the electric wand to process it into ice cream (with milkshake, sorbet and slushy options), and then add in your desired mix-ins.
I love that you only have to commit to half a pint at a time, which is great if you like experimenting with flavors or have to cater to the tastes of multiple household members. I originally wanted the viral Ninja Creami, but as someone who lives in a city apartment with limited space, its countertop footprint has been dissuading me from purchasing. Aside from being easier to store, the Fast Freeze is also a little less spendy – who doesn’t love a deal?
– Bernadette Machard de Gramont, food contributor
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Paramount+ streaming
You might not be able to tell just by looking at me, but you will know the second I open my mouth. I am a nerd. I’ll even go one step further: I’m a Trekkie. I grew up watching The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine and Voyager. I’ll even champion Star Trek: Enterprise, including the opening credits song.
However, I haven’t seen any of the new Star Trek material since it was moved on to Paramount+. I already have too many subscriptions on my card, and I wasn’t looking for another. But after spending a night with a friend who went on about his love for Lower Decks, I may be officially swayed. So, yes, I covet a subscription to Paramount+ this holiday season, preferably a yearly one to take my time perusing the content, which I know includes well-reviewed originals and access to the Champions League for soccer fans.
– Jon Chan, home contributor
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Cuyana Travel Case Set
2025 was the year I streamlined every step of my travel routine, from laying out an airplane uniform to nailing down my lineup of on-the-go essentials. I became particularly strict about organizing the contents of my personal item bag – my snacks, tech cords, wallet and passport, and any other item I need easy access to. Right now, I put everything in zippered pouches, which makes me feel more put together – I no longer dig through my bag in a panic trying to find my lip balm or portable power bank. Next year, though, I want to invest in more elegant travel pouches, namely the Travel Case Set from Cuyana.
I’ve been a fan of Cuyana for years – the Classic Easy Zipper Tote is one of my go-to personal item bags, and its leather goods are the definition of timeless. This pebbled leather set comes with two different-sized pouches: one designed for toiletries, the other for beauty essentials. I would probably use the larger one for my skincare products (sunscreen, moisturizer, etc) and the smaller version would hold my keys, wallet and cash. The bright poppy color is, hands down, my favorite color, but I also gravitate toward the red and burnt orange pouches.
– Lydia Mansel, travel contributor
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Diptyque Baies scented candle
I’m mildly obsessed with scented candles. But most synthetic fragrances in grocery store candles give me a headache and even some of the lighter, natural scents don’t match my vibe.
Since I tend to light candles most days in my home, I am eternally searching for one that will smell like a real-life scent, and I particularly appreciate herbaceous, floral notes. Recently, I came across the oversized Diptyque Baies candle. With a cult following and a price to match, the “Very Large” size starts at $350, depending on the store. The scent mixes two of my favorites: elderberry and rose. But for the price, this big, beautiful candle may remain a fantasy – though I might start with the smallest size, which is $48.
– Dr Julia Skinner, food and gift guide writer
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Sunday Best Rib Hood
When I selected my most fashionable friend for our secret Santa gift exchange, I couldn’t recall ever being so intimidated by an undertaking. Not only is her style effortless, but it borrows from a mix of contemporary trends and timeless flair. This detached and adjustable merino wool and cotton hood from Aritzia, which I’m seeing all over my TikTok algorithm and the icy streets of Montreal, seems to check off all those boxes.
The concept is simple: if you’re wearing hoodless outerwear or looking for an extra layer of insulation under an existing hood, this makeshift option offers your head impromptu warmth. Beyond its utilitarian appeal, its oversized, slouchy look imparts an unbothered quality to your outfit while acting as a nod to a sweet and innocent babushka look my Polish grandmother rocks unironically. Now that this hood has my most stylish friend’s stamp of approval, I might just have to add it to my cart for the second time.
– Marissa Miller, fitness and gift guide contributor
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Positive Grid Spark Neo headphones
I’m actively trying to rekindle my love of playing guitar, and earlier this year, my wife surprised me with a very nice Fender Telecaster for my birthday. It’s far beyond my current ability level, but great instruments have a way of pulling you in.
The problem is volume. With a two-year-old daughter who goes to bed early and still takes frequent naps, cranking a traditional amp to the right level of overdrive just isn’t realistic. The Spark Neo replaces a traditional amplifier – just plug the wireless transmitter into your instrument’s 0.25in output jack and start strumming. This feels like the right solution for my dad-rock aspirations. It’s also an easy win for anyone living in cramped quarters, or with a significant other who (understandably) doesn’t want to listen to Free Bird butchered dozens of times in a row.
After recently borrowing a friend’s Spark Neo Headphones, I was immediately hooked. The sound quality is rich and dynamic with no perceptible delay from the wireless connection. And as a bonus, Positive Grid’s app opens up a deep library of amps, effects and presets, with backing tracks and lessons that make it easier to practice with purpose, not just noodle.
– Josh Patterson, outdoor contributor
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Ninja Crispi air fryer
A portable air fryer that you can cook in and eat out of? Sounds like a winner to me.
The Ninja Crispi 4-in-1 Portable Glass Air Fryer tops my list for two reasons: it’s multifunctional and it doesn’t take up a lot of space. My kitchen is fairly small, so I’m usually on the hunt for cookware that won’t clutter my countertop (extra points if the product is cute and comes in different colors).
Ninja’s tiny but mighty air fryer promises to cook your single-serve meals in just seven minutes. It has four cooking functions (air fry, bake, max crisp and recrisp) and it’s portable – which is ideal for making lunch and other meals on the go. Although I mostly work from home, portability is a major selling point. It also includes 6-cup and 4qt glass containers with lids. Yes, that means you can cook, eat and store your Crispi creations in one bowl.
– Latifah Muhammad, gift guide contributor
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Bambu A1 3D printer
If you got a Bambu A1 3D printer for the holidays, congratulations. To say that I envy you is an understatement.
This printer solves 3D printing’s fundamental problem: the fiddling. I’ve been 3D printing for years and I still have to spend a lot of time calibrating, bed leveling, tweaking temperatures only to watch first layers fail. The A1 aims to eliminate this through intelligent auto-calibration that adjusts all the finicky settings for every print. You can set it up in under an hour and get print quality that rivals machines costing twice as much.
The basketball-sized build volume is big enough for most projects, and it can print quickly without sacrificing quality. If you want four-color printing, add the optional AMS Lite attachment.
At $299 ($399 with the AMS), it’s an entry-level machine that doesn’t feel like one. The software is polished, you can remotely monitor prints through the built-in camera, and the community support is A+. For anyone who’s been curious about 3D-printing but was scared off by horror stories of endless troubleshooting, this is your machine. And it’s firmly on my wish list.
– Christopher Allbritton, tech and DIY contributor
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Celestron NexStar 8SE telescope
I love to stargaze. Honestly, I love space, so I like to look at it whenever I can. To that end, I would love to get a computerized telescope like the Celestron NexStar 8SE. A device like this can help democratize astrophotography to a level where I could actively participate and capture some amazing images myself – allowing me to not just browse images of galaxies and nebulae, but contribute my own photos as well.
Why splurge for a computerized telescope? The big difference here is that it gets its position via GPS, then allows you to choose from a catalog of space phenomena. Once you make your pick, the telescope will then aim itself at that area and even track it as it moves across the sky. Not only can you take longer looks at what it zeros in on, but it also enables the longer exposures necessary to effectively capture images from space.
– Adam Doud, tech contributor
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Osetra caviar
When I was in my 20s, I had my first taste of caviar at a fashion week press event. Just a small dollop, presented atop a potato chip smothered in creme fraîche, sent my taste buds reeling – and I have been chasing that salty, crunchy, deliciously extravagant bite ever since. Of course, now that Rihanna is spooning this luscious roe atop her fried chicken, even my shamelessly spoiled teens are dying to try it.
So, this 1oz tin of Osetra caviar from The Caviar Company is at the top of my wish list. Less than $150, more affordable than the top-tier Beluga, I would even consider sharing, though I’m thinking of swapping out the chips for crispy potato pancakes. I also especially covet it because the company prioritizes sustainable fish farming and is transparent about its direct relationships and specific sourcing of the famously overfished sturgeon.
– Tobey Grumet Segal, tech and lifestyle contributor
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TourBox Elite Plus photo editing controller
I edit a lot of photos every month – including hundreds of shots of cars and gadgets and, when I get lucky, my little dog, too. That means a lot of time adjusting tiny on-screen knobs and sliders in photo editing apps, clicking away with my mouse. Which is why I have been sorely tempted by the TourBox Elite Plus. It would replace a lot of mouse-clicking and dragging with actual knobs and buttons to twist and turn, which I feel would make the process much more pleasant. Plus, it’s designed to work with the primary photo editing apps I use, Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop, but and can also work with DaVinci Resolve, another app I spend a fair bit of time in. It’s a bit of a splurge, but it should be worth the amount of time it will save me.
– Tim Stevens, tech and travel contributor
