For our last Wirecutter Deals roundup of 2021, we want to celebrate what makes our posted deals great by collecting exceptional discounts we’ve seen on Wirecutter-recommended gear, gifts, and essentials—all for under $100. Whether you’re dreaming of crafting the perfect cocktail or picking up some practical tools for around-the-house tasks, these are the best discounts still kicking. Some of these things may even arrive prior to the holidays—just in time for you to check off those last-minute entries on your gift list.
A citrus press to help you work less
Chef’n FreshForce Citrus Juicer
Deal price: $14; street price: $17
Nothing says winter quite like curling up with a hot toddy or a warm mug of mulled wine. If your barware doesn’t already include a quality hand press, do yourself a favor and pick one up. You won’t regret it. The Chef’n FreshForce is a solidly built press made from unpainted metal and plastic with a unique geared hinge. It produced more juice with less effort than any other hand press we tested, and it prevented pesky seeds from falling into our drinks. We’ve seen better deals on this pick in the past, but this discount is only $1 shy of the best price we’ve noted this year.
Read our review of the best barware for making cocktails at home.
An artistic upgrade for your iPad
Apple Pencil (1st Generation)
Deal price: $80; street price: $100
Treat yourself or the artist in your life to a fun tech upgrade. A stylus is great for calligraphers and illustrators looking to get the most out of their iPad, and at this point Apple has truly perfected the stylus experience. There is something quintessentially futuristic about taking the once-mundane pencil and transforming it into a perfectly balanced stylus with pressure sensitivity and tap-based controls—the Apple Pencil even charges via the Lightning port on your iPad. We’d love to see a softer plastic nib that provided a little more friction, but the overall writing and drawing experience is still comfortable and adds an entirely new layer of functionality to your tablet. Cheaper options are available, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a stylus with the same features and seamless Apple integration for less.
Read our review of the best stylus for your iPad.
A wearable sleeping bag to keep you cozy and warm
Poler Napsack Wearable Sleeping Bag (Reversible)
Deal price: $91; street price: $130
You don’t have to say goodbye to the great outdoors just because the temperature is dropping. With a wearable sleeping bag, you can bring comfort and warmth with you wherever you go. The cozy and soft Poler Napsack isn’t necessarily fashionable (or 100% functional, for that matter), but what it lacks in practicality it makes up for in charm and comfort. The simple, mummy-shaped bag is made of ripstop nylon with comfortable, curved arm holes and an open bottom to make movement easier. It’s also designed with a hood and zippers to help keep warmth in. The Napsack isn’t waterproof or particularly durable, making it fairly niche overall. That said, we still think it’s fun, and it will keep you warm while you’re lounging on your porch this winter.
Read our review of the best wearable sleeping bags.
A reliable water bottle that keeps it simple
Hydro Flask Standard Mouth Water Bottle (21 ounces)
Deal price: $25 with store pickup; street price: $33
Wirecutter has spent quite a bit of time testing water bottles over the years (over 120 hours, in fact), so when we say the Hydro Flask is one of our favorites, we mean it. Always at the top of our list, this simple bottle is reliable and understated—it’s the little black dress of the kitchen cupboard. It’s comfortable to drink from and completely leakproof, and it keeps drinks cool all day (or hot for up to six hours)—perfect for folks on the go. The Hydro Flask has sold for less in the past, but this discount offers a notable drop on a wider selection of colors than we usually see. Don’t forget to select store pickup to avoid shipping fees.
Read our review of the best water bottles.
A gimbal for your next close-up
DJI OM 4 Gimbal (Refurbished)
Deal price: $70; street price: $120
Do your home movies look more like lost footage from The Blair Witch Project than preserved memories of a family camping trip? A gimbal can help. The DJI OM 4 is packed with user-friendly features and comes backed by a supportive customer service staff that impressed us throughout testing. The OM 4’s buttons aren’t as seamlessly integrated into its app as on other gimbals we tested, but they’re easy enough to learn, and DJI responded to all our questions in seconds—making this gimbal a particularly great option for new users. We also think the app is best suited for iPhones (it can capture 60 fps when paired with iOS devices versus 30 fps on Android). This deal is for a refurbished model, but it comes with a one-year DJI warranty, and this is the lowest price we’ve seen.
Read our review of the best Android and iPhone gimbal.
A drill and drive kit you’ll love to bits
Ryobi Drill and Impact Drive Kit (95-Piece)
Deal price: $18; street price: $30
Not everything in life can be fixed with a power drill—but you might be surprised by how much can be. Our soon-to-be runner-up drill bit set is barebones, but it still provides the essentials. You can expect a small set of black-oxide drill bits, four spade bits, five masonry bits, six brad point bits, and a nice selection of driver bits and nut drivers. You don’t get all the bells and whistles you may find in a more comprehensive set, but we think this kit is perfect for someone who lives in an apartment or just wants to have something simple on hand for basic repairs.
Read our review of the best drill bit set.
A camp stove for keeping it gourmet in the wild
Coleman Classic Camping Stove
Deal price: $38; street price: $44
When it comes to cooking outdoors, simplicity is king. Your camp stove should do the basics well with minimum fuss, and the Coleman Classic answers that call. Whether you’re cooking up dinner after a long hike or handling coffee duty first thing in the morning, the Coleman is fast, easy to use, and extremely durable. It’s also relatively compact—we’re talking around six pieces that neatly fold together—so it’s quick to clean and pack up when you’re done. We’ve seen better discounts on this stove in the past, but they’re rarer than steak tartare, so we recommend giving this deal a glance if you’ve been eyeing new camping gear.
Read our review of the best camping stove.
Further reading
The 29 Best Prime Day Laptop and Computer Deals
by Wirecutter Staff
Laptop deals are traditionally easy to come by on and around Prime Day. But these are especially great.
The 25 Most Popular Prime Day Deals According to Wirecutter Readers
by Wirecutter Staff
The top deals our readers bought on Prime Day 2022.
When Is Black Friday 2021? The Best Deals We Expect
by Nathan Burrow
Black Friday is coming in hot. Luckily, Wirecutter Deals is giving you all the inside information to make your shopping experience as simple as possible.
How Inflation Has Changed the Way We Think About Deals
by Nathan Burrow
Inflation has made nearly everything more expensive. Here’s how it’s affected how Wirecutter thinks about deal pricing.