The holiday season is back, along with the pressure to find the right gifts. Here are our favorite gift ideas that won’t break the bank – all gifts are under $100 – for that special (and slightly geeky) someone in your life.

Sure, the holidays are festive, but they can also be stressful, with family obligations, travel arrangements and office parties all rooting for our attention. Given these distractions, actually getting around to shopping for presents may end up being the last thing you do.

To ease the burden, we present our latest list of gift suggestions for the engineer, do-it-yourselfer, science buff, gadget hound or out-and-out geek in your life — in other words, stuff we at IMT like.

GIFTS UNDER $20

Executive Decision Maker
This pendulum decision maker combines the art of management with the science of magnetism — it sways, swings and even waffles between choices, but it’s sure to settle firmly on one in the end.
$14

Image credit: Kikklerand

Geek Dad T-Shirt
Having a child means having another person with whom to share your geek wisdom. Show the world that parenthood and geek appreciation go hand-in-hand.
$15.99

Gevalia Stir Mug
This insulated stainless steel mug automatically stirs your 12-oz. beverage at the push of a button and keeps coffee hot for hours.
$18.95

Image credit: Gevalia

War Games DVD
Matthew Broderick stars as a whiz-kid whose technological savvy puts him in a position to stop a nuclear war. Keep an eye out for the most dazzling high-tech computers 1983 has to offer.
$11.99

For more movie ideas, check out Top 100 Sci-Fi Films and 81 Movies for Geeks that Do Not Suck.

Office Voodoo Kit
Tired of waiting for that promotion or sick of having to deal with the many types of irritating coworkers? Take matters into your own hands with the workplace voodoo kit, which includes special pins for both bad spells and good.
$12.95

Image credit: Office Playground

Calculator Belt Buckle
It takes a bold personality to really pull off the belt-buckle-calculator look, but the math fiends, engineers and accountants out there might like to give it a shot.
$14.99

Star Trek Tribbles
Tribbles are trouble — as anyone who’s boldly gone where no man has gone before can attest — but who wouldn’t want to own an interactive furball? These plush tribbles shake and quiver when disturbed, come equipped with AA and AAA batteries and are guaranteed not to reproduce.
$14.99

Image credit: ThinkGeek

Pocket Protector T-Shirt
Love the look of a pocket protector but lack a reason to wear one? This handy t-shirt will provide you with the too-cool-for-missing-school aura.
$17

GIFTS $20-$100

Star Wars: The Complete Visual Dictionary
True Star Wars fans are willing to argue about their favorite subject, and having a comprehensive reference book nearby can be a great way to settle those disputes, or just look up a particular detail (e.g., Chewbacca is not from Chewbaccaland).
$26.40

iH85BX
This portable, water-proof iPod speaker is specially designed to attach to a bicycle frame and features a handlebar remote control to enable safe cycling while the music plays. The speaker is also convenient for use on the beach or at a picnic.
$49.99

Image credit: iHome

The Hitchhiker’s Trilogy
This “trilogy” actually features five complete works from science-fiction author Douglas Adams, including the seminal The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe and Life, the Universe and Everything.

Related book ideas: Top 100 Sci-Fi Books

Planet Earth DVD Set
Our planet is an astonishing place, and this series provides a glimpse of some the most rarely seen environments and creatures on Earth.
$39.99

50 Years of the LEGO Brick
The world’s most famous building brick has had a long and sometimes surprising history. Officially licensed by the LEGO Group, this book offers a fascinating look at the half-century of development between the LEGO brick’s invention up to its current design and looking forward toward its future. (Also, see Nevin Martell’s newly released The LEGO Book)
$29.70

Image credit: Barnes & Noble

Modern Marvels Fan Collection DVD Set
Celebrating engineering excellence, this DVD collection features 45 episodes exploring man-made wonders and technological breakthroughs from large-scale construction projects to hand-held gadgets across the modern world.
$52.95

Powermat
The number of hand-held devices we rely on seems to increase each year, as do the many cords and adapters necessary for charging them. The Powermat offers a streamlined solution, allowing up to three devices to charge wirelessly on a single strip — just place your cell phones, personal organizers or gaming devices on the mat and they’ll power up without having to be plugged in.
$99.99

Image credit: Powermat

Leatherman Freestyle CX
For the DIY-er who likes to be able to work on the go, this compact multi-tool is only 3.45 inches when closed but features five full scratch- and corrosion-proof tools: a stainless steel knife, two types of pliers and two types of wire cutters.
$59.99

Joby Gorillamobile
Holding up a digital camera, iPod or cell phone for protracted lengths of time can become tiresome or inconvenient. The GorillaMobile accessory from Joby, which features a set of flexible legs, can hold up nearly any type of virtual device and be attached to most surfaces, freeing up those weary hands.
$29.95

BARGAIN BIN: GIFTS UNDER $10

Staple-Free Stapler
Metal staples are useful and ubiquitous, but how many times have they shredded up the corners of a document or gotten caught against a piece of clothing? To spare us the agony, the staple-free stapler locks pages together through tiny cuts and folds.
$5.99

Image credit: ThinkGeek

Six-in-One Utility Key
It looks and feels like a key, but snap it open and you’ll find a pocket knife, a pair of screwdrivers and a bottle opener all in one tiny package that attaches to any standard key ring.
$9.99

Image credit: ThinkGeek

Multicolored Mood Light with USB Hub
This seemingly basic alarm clock features a changing mood light and doubles as a four-slot USB port hub. Who said mood lighting couldn’t be functional?
$8.99

Rubik’s 3×3 Cube Keychain
Kill a little time with the world’s most famous six-sided puzzle. The three-by-three mini-Rubik’s cube is attachable to key chains, meaning you can take with you anywhere you need a distraction.
$6.99

Image credit: Rubik’s

Happy holiday shopping, folks!

Earlier

2007 Holiday Gift Guide

IMT Premier Edition: The Great Engineering Gift Guide — 2005