Nifty and Nerdy: 10 Holiday Gifts for IT Pros

Incredibly enough, it's that time of year again. Where did 2017 go? Well, there's no time to waste pondering the passing of time: The 2017 holiday shopping season is here. Get ready to part with some cash to find special somethings for the special IT nerds in your life.

While it may seem like you're getting a jump on your holiday shopping by starting before Thanksgiving, some consumers have already started, according to the National Retail Federation. A survey of more than 7,000 consumers showed that 22% started or planned to start in October and 19% were even starting in September or earlier, the NRF said.

But if you plan to avoid the mall this holiday season, you're not alone. For the first time in polling consumers about their holiday spending plans, the NRF found that online is the top shopping destination this year, cited by 59% of those surveyed.

Even though you can shop from the comfort of your couch, online holiday shopping can still be daunting with so many choices and the pressure of finding the right gifts. If you're having trouble thinking of something unique for the IT nerds on your shopping list, we've got you covered. Our collection on the following pages includes both practical and fun items, from a high-tech pillow to a Star Trek-themed mousepad. Let the shopping commence!

An expressive mousepad

This mousepad is sure to be a hit with those who work in IT by combining the ever-popular Picard character from "Star Trek: The Next Generation" with the universal gesture for frustration.

Stranger action figures

If your nerd is obsessed with the Netflix series "Stranger Things," they may like these action figures. This pack features three characters from the wildly popular sci-fi/horror show, set in the 80s: eleven, Lucas, and Mike.

3-D pen

No regular old ink here: This 3-D drawing pen uses melted filament, which hardens into three-dimensional shapes. The gadget lets geeks design and build to their hearts' content, or at least until the filament runs out.

Take selfies to the next level

Forget the selfie stick. The AirSelfie is described by the manufacturer as a pocket-sized flying camera that connects with your smartphone to let you take HD photos from the sky with "turbo fan propellers can thrust to just over 10 meters in the air."

Expressive clothing

For network engineers, find the perfect T-shirt, hoodie, and other items at Anthony Mattke's Router Jockey store. Mattke, a network engineer based in Indiana, pens the Router Jockey blog and has a number of hobbies, including his clothing line, which he launched in 2015.

A good night's sleep

For stressed out IT pros, getting enough sleep can be a challenge. So why not give the gift of sleep with a high-tech pillow? The Dreampad is designed to reduce stress, making it easier to sleep. The therapeutic pad uses patented technology to play music through vibration to lull someone into a relaxed state. Only the user hears the music, which is a plus.

Gaming headset

If you got a gamer on your shopping list – odds are, you do -- this new headset from HyperX could fit the bill. Cloud Alpha features dual-chamber technology to reduce distortion for distinct sound, a durable aluminum frame, and detachable noise-cancellation microphone. It works with PS4, Xbox One, PCs, and other platforms.

Golf aid

An IT pro with a passion for golf may appreciate getting some tech to help his or her swing. The Zepp Golf 2 3D Swing Analyzer is a small rechargeable device that clips onto a golf club, records and analyzes a golfer's swing and sends a report to an iPhone, iPad or Android device. LPGA star Michelle Wie says she relies on it, but it is a bit pricey.

Gadget organizer

Instead of another electronic gadget, how about something to organize all the gadgets? The ProCase Travel Gadget Organizer Bag features a double-layer design to neatly stores cellphones, chargers, USB cables, portable hard drives, earphones, power banks, and other small electronics and accessories.