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This post is all about dorm gifts.
There are so many things you need to get when you move in/live in a dorm room that it can be hard to decide on what is really the most important stuff.
Throughout the years of living in a dorm room, I have really found what is the most essential dorm room products.
So many of the gifts I received were very appreciated, but I never touched them and they just sat collecting dust in my room. Here are dorm gifts that college students will actually use.
This post is all about dorm gifts.
OUR TOP DORM GIFTS:
Best Overall: North Face Backpack
"I've used my North Face backpack for 5 years now. It has the perfect amount of storage, pockets and space and it's still in amazing shape!"
Best Under $30: Yeti Rambler
"Wow is this Yeti amazing... my drink stayed cold for a full day! Seriously everyone needs one of these."
Best Value: Echo Dot
"You can't go wrong with an Echo Dot. Any speaker with Alexa is amazing! Don't think I'll be able to go back to a regular speaker after this!"
Most Popular: AirPods
"I am obsessed with my AirPods. I wear them everywhere. They make multitasking so much easier because there's no cord that gets in the way!"
Best for College Girl: Ugg Slippers
"I'm so obsessed with these Ugg slippers. I tell everyone I know to get them, they're that good!"
Best for College Boy: Spikeball
"This is such a fun game. Me and my buddies are always playing this in our free time. Definitely a must for any college guy."
DORM GIFTS FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS:
1. Memory Foam Pillow
Beds in college are known for being uncomfortable. While a mattress pad does help a ton, having a nice memory pillow makes those little hours of sleep you get better.
2. Fuzzy Blanket
Getting a blanket is a great present in itself but especially for a college dorm room gift.
Dorm rooms are on one of two ends of the spectrum -- freezing cold or boiling hot. When your room is freezing cold, there is nothing more that you want to do than wrap up in a nice fuzzy blanket.
3. Mattress Pad
A mattress pad is something I recommend every college student has, especially if they have to be extremely comfortable in order to fall asleep.
I had this one in my dorm and it was soo comfortable. Definitely a product that any college student would get a lot of use out of.
4. Makeup Mirror
This is such a good dorm gift for girls.
Lighting in dorm rooms are terrible and it can make it really hard to put makeup on. This mirror is the best because you can move it around your room and it makes applying makeup way easier.
This is also nice for if the college student has to get up early while the other roommate is sleeping. It gives just the right amount of light that they can get ready without disturbing the roommate.
5. Customized Towel Wrap
Another high priority item on the dorm packing list!!
My mom has given these out as high school graduation gifts almost every year because everyone RAVES about them. Including me, I might actually be the biggest fan of them 🙂
My friends and I used these shower wraps on the daily when we walked from our dorm room to the showers. I even use it when I come home because they are so nice.
6. Velvet Hangers
These are a fun dorm gift that will add a little flair to a regular college closet. Plus, these velvet hangers are the best at maximizing space in the basically nonexistent dorm closet.
7. Jewelry Organizer
This jewelry organizer is a great dorm gift for girls because it gives them a mirror AND a way of organizing their jewelry!
It can be really hard to find space to put your jewelry so this is a perfect way to do it.
8. Rain Coat
I forgot my rain jacket freshman year of college, and boy were those few weeks wet!
These rain jackets are by far the most popular on campus and even make a great dorm gift for guys.
9. Coffee Machine
If the future/current college student you are gifting is a coffee lover, they need a Keurig.
Not only do they make killer coffee, they also are perfect for heating up ramen and mac n' cheese (ya know, dorm essentials ;).
10. Hot Water Heater
If you don't want to spend the amount of money that a Keurig costs, these hot water heaters are amazing for tea and food that requires hot water.
I decided to go this route because I don't like coffee. I am a huge tea drinker though and use this daily!
11. Sound Machine
This is the best thing ever!! With this on, you don't hear any of the dorm sounds and can sleep or work on homework in peace.
12. Charger Cords
Something us college students ALWAYS need?
More phone chargers. Help us out!
13. Picture Frames
Picture frames are a great dorm gift for college students because it brings a little piece of home there.
Add a picture of you two and you've got a cheap dorm gift!
14. North Face Backpack
One of the only backpacks I know that can withstand the weight of all the books you carry around as college students!
Also, the most popular backpack by far for college students. This backpack will be a dorm gift that will last them all four years (or more) of college.
15. College Planner
It is essential for college students to stay organized or they will start missing homework assignments and test.
This is my favorite planner and the one I have been using. I also love how cute it is!
16. Small Vacuum
The dorm vacuums they offer to you are TERRIBLE. Most of the time they are 30 year old vacuums that make your room smell worse than actually cleaning anything.
I love (!!!) my small vacuum that I got for my room. I got the cheaper version so it doesn't pick up everything but it does work pretty well.
The Dyson version is a BIG gift... but, it will last years and years (and it's cordless!).
17. Tapestry
Tapestries are a great addition to any dorm room. They are super easy to decorate with and easy to hang up and take down.
Flags are also a great idea for guys!
18. Echo Dot
An Alexa is such a great idea for college dorms!
The Alexa allows you to play music without even having to get up! (College students are lazy haha)
Saying "Hey Alexa, play pop music" is a lot easier than the hassle of connecting your phone to a bluetooth speaker.
19. Hydroflask
Plastic water bottles cost money which college students don't always want to spend.
These are by far the most popular water bottles seen on campus and keep your water cold for more than 24 hours (true story, I have them!).
20. Tile - Key Finder
College students lose things a lot. And guess what? If you lose your key to your dorm it can be more than $80 dollars to replace. These Tile Key finders allow you to connect your keys to your phone through bluetooth so you can easily trace them if they get lost.
21. Laptop
Want to get the college student a gift that they will use every single day throughout their whole college career?
Get them a laptop.
No, it's not cheap. But having a laptop is by far the most important dorm gift you can purchase for them. Also, most colleges recommend Apple computers. Once again, they are not cheap. But they last SO long.
22. AirPods
The most popular college gift right now? AirPods.
And believe me, college students WANT THESE! From everyone I know that has them, they say it was the best gift/purchase they have ever received.
23. Large Duffle Bag
This duffle bag is the perfect duffle bag for those weekends you go home or go and visit a friend.
{RELATED POST: 17 Genius Gifts College Students Rave About }
24. Travel Mug
College students are constantly on the go and a travel mug is used all the time. YETI's are a great dorm gift because they will keep the drink hot (or cold) throughout the day.
25. Hammock
If you go to any college campus while the weather is nice you are almost guaranteed to see people in these hammocks.
They are very popular and a great gift for college students.
26. Shower Speaker
How fun is this dorm gift?!
This waterproof speaker allows college students to listen to music while showering.
27. Charging Phone Case
College students phones are almost always guaranteed to be dead.
Having one of these in your purse can help solve a lot of possible issues if your phone was to die (especially at a party!).
28. Amazon Prime Student Account
Did you know that you can gift Amazon prime accounts?!
Students might utilize Amazon more than anyone so having their Prime membership paid for for a year is pretty amazing.
GIFTS FOR COLLEGE GIRL:
1. Ugg Slippers
I recommend these to every college girl I know. They are amazing for the dorms and just lounging around. I've used mine for the last four years and seriously love them so much! Highly recommend!
2. Lululemon Leggings
You can't go wrong with Lululemon leggings for gifts for college girls. Leggings and a hoodie are the go-to outfit for anyone in college, so you can't have too many pairs of leggings.
Lululemon has some of the best leggings out there that will last her years to come.
3. Carry-On Luggage
College students travel a lot more than they normally would in high school. Whether it's going home for the holidays, or to the beach for spring break, college girls will definitely need a quality carry-on to pack all their clothing in.
4. Sunglasses
Ray Bans are one of the best sunglasses brand in my opinion. They are aren't too expensive but last an incredibly long time. They have a ton of classic styles but also some trendy ones.
I have this hexagon style and have been wearing them for years. They go with every outfit and will love any college girl years to come.
5. Perfume Set
Girls love their perfumes but they can get pricey. I love gift sets for more expensive items because you can try out a range of products without having to pay full price.
This allows the college girl in your life to explore a variety of scents and then if she loves one, she can purchase the full size!
6. Summer Fridays Mask
Summer Fridays is a new skincare brand that is growing rapidly. Their face masks are amazing and this one leaves your skin softer than a babies butt.
Everything from this brand is amazing and any girl that loves skincare as much as I do will love getting this gift.
7. We're Not Really Strangers Game
I came across this card game on Instagram a while back. It has a ton of really interesting and deep questions that you can ask and discuss with a group of friends or family.
It's a really great way to get to know people on a deeper level and strengthen relationships!
8. Film Camera / Disposables
Film and disposable cameras are extremely trendy among college students and the only way to get the true vintage photo look. These are so much fun to take around because you have to wait to see the photos!
I loved taking these out to parties and game days throughout college and getting fun photos of my friends.
9. Gold Hoops
Gold hoops are such a good staple to have in a woman's wardrobe. I tell everyone about this pair from Amazon because they last forever, but are super affordable.
For those of you on a budget, this is really great gift that's affordable but will last a really long time.
10. Biker Shorts
Biker shorts are super trendy at the moment and a great staple to have in any college girl's wardrobe. They are not only super comfortable but also great to wear with oversized t-shirts and hoodies.
GIFTS FOR COLLEGE BOY:
1. Sneakers
Sneakers are a go-to gift for college boys. I love these too because they're simple but still have a trendy flair to them.
2. School Baseball Cap
You can't go wrong with a baseball cap. These are great for college boys that just roll out of bed right before class. With their school logo on it, it makes it the perfect hat for them!
3. Athletic Shorts
A college guy's go-to outfit is most likely shorts and a t-shirt. Make it look a little bit nicer with a quality pair of athletic shorts from Alo Yoga.
These will last him for a long time and will make him look like a put a bit more effort into his day than he probably did 😉
4. JBL Speaker
A quality speaker is an essential for a college boy's dorm. JBLs are amazing quality and can get really loud. Perfect for any boy that loves to blast his music or maybe aspires to be the dorm that brings the party 😉
5. Spikeball
If you walk on any college campus on a nice day, you will see a ton of groups of people playing Spikeball. People love this game and get really into it. Trust me, any college boy would love getting this as a gift!
This post showed the best dorm gifts.
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