In the spirit of both playfulness and practicality, here is the 2011 edition of IMT’s annual geeky gift guide — with everything under $100.

Gifts small and large are expected to make big impressions this year, according to the findings of the National Retail Federation’s 2011 Holiday Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey.

“In 2009 it was all about personal and practical, and last year consumers wanted to treat their loved ones to something special — this year it’s a little bit of both,” according to Pam Goodfellow, consumer insights director at BIGresearch. “Limited budgets and a desire to make the most out of gift-giving will drive consumers to shop at a variety of retailers while also thinking outside the box for great gift ideas.”

In the spirit of playfulness, practicality and thriftiness — like last year, all gifts listed cost less than $100 — here are some of IMT’s ideas for gifts this holiday season.

FOR THE DO-IT-YOURSELFER

MAKE guide
MAKE magazine’s Ultimate Kit Guide 2012 has 175 fun DIY kits to make anything from siege weapons to autonomous drone planes and helicopters. $9.99

_{Credit: MAKE}

Annihilator
The Dead On Store’s Annihilator is a multipurpose de-constructor, referred to as the “ultimate wrecking bar,” that will help that special DIYer in your life quickly undo what he or she took great pains to build. $57.32

_{Credit: Amazon}

FOR THE COUCH POTATO

Roku wireless movie streamers
These fist-sized Wi-Fi devices connect easily to the television and enable viewers to stream HD-quality movies or music from popular services such as Netflix, Hulu, HBO, Amazon, TED, NASA, Pandora and MLB.TV. The Roku LT earned CNET’s Editors’ Choice Award. Starting at $44.99

_{Credit: Amazon}

National Archives DVD history of aviation
Through historical newsreels and documentary features, the U.S. National Archives’ DVD history of aviation provides 23 hours of footage on aviation’s most seminal moments — from 1909 to the present day — in 29 films. $80.99

_{Credit: Archives.gov}

FOR THE BOOKWORM

Amazon Kindle 2011
The Kindle Fire and Nook Tablet might be tempting for their video-playing capabilities, but the newest, smallest and cheapest Kindle is one of the best buys for the no-frills bookworm in your life. Although there is no touchscreen and users do have to accept some “screensaver” ads, they’ll be able to store as many as 1,400 books at an impulse-buy price. Pay $30 more if you don’t want the ad-supported Special Offers version or $20 more for the ad-supported Kindle Touch. $79

_{Credit: Amazon}

Literary baseball T-shirts
Score points with your favorite bookworm with one of Novel-T’s literary baseball T-shirts. These jersey tees sport the names of major characters and authors in the literary league, from Tom Sawyer and Charles Darwin to Captain Ahab and Kurt Vonnegut. $24.95

_{Credit: Novel-T}

FOR THE COOK

iGrill
For the gadget-loving foodie, this wireless grilling/cooking thermometer and app sends up-to-the-second data to your iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad via a secure, long-range Bluetooth connection, enabling grill masters to multitask between the grill and the guests with the peace of mind that the food is cooked at target temperature and safe for consumption. $99.99

_{Credit: Apple}

Star Trek pizza cutter
Considering the shape of the original Star Trek starship, it was only a matter of time before the USS Enterprise became a pizza cutter. The officially licensed Star Trek collectable has a laser-etched stainless steel blade with a solid zinc-alloy chromium-plated body, making it perfect for precision pizza slicing. $14.99

_{Credit: ThinkGeek}

FOR THE APPLE FANATIC

Steve Jobs biography
Apple products tend to inspire cult-like worship, so what better gift for the Mac lover in your life than Walter Isaacson’s recent biography on the late Apple co-founder (who came to Isaacson looking to tell his story)? Based on two years’ worth of interviews with Jobs, his friends, colleagues and rivals, this book is considered by many to be the most complete retelling of the innovator’s life and career. $17.87

_{Credit: Amazon}

iPhone case/bottle opener
It’s simple: an iPhone case with a bottle opener on the back. The built-in device easily opens your beverages of choice while ensuring your iPhone is protected from scuffs. $10

_{Credit: X-treme Geek}

FOR THE CUBICLE DWELLER

Superhero socks with capes
Give the gift of caped socks and the wearer will be a superhero from the knees down. Choose from Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman, and that special person in your life can keep his or her secret (nerd) identity well guarded but ready to unveil at a moment’s notice. $10-$15

_{Credit: Nerd Approved}

Bubble wrap calendar
Liven up each day of the office worker in your life with this poster-sized calendar with a daily bubble to pop. It’s like an Advent calendar, but in lieu of chocolates you get the supreme satisfaction of popping bubble wrap. Best of luck resisting the temptation to blow through the entire year in one sitting. $20.12

_{Credit: BubbleCalendar.com}

FOR THE NASA ENTHUSIAST

Spacesuit history book
The spacesuit used on shuttles and International Space Station missions is like a personal spacecraft, protecting the astronaut and enabling much of the work that needs to be done in space. It’s also a marvel of ingenuity in design and engineering. Architect/historian/educator Nicholas de Monchaux’s thorough and artful history of the American spacesuit, Spacesuit: Fashioning Apollo, is now “the definitive investigation of this terrain,” according to The Atlantic. $23.07

_{Credit: Barnes & Noble}

LEGO Shuttle Expedition
LEGO and NASA? Consider us sold. Standing 17.5″ tall and 10″ from wingtip to wingtip, this detailed shuttle model features engines, retractable landing gear, an opening cockpit with seats for two astronauts, opening cargo compartment with a crane that can hold the satellite and a ground maintenance vehicle. The 1,230-piece set includes two astronauts (male and female) and a service member. $99.99

_{Credit: Amazon}

For a roundup of other 2011 holiday gift guides, check out Core77.

Earlier

IMT’s Geeky Holiday Gift Guide 2010

2009 Gift Guide for Geeks like Us

2008/2007 Holiday Gift Guide