Syntax - Tasty Web Development Treats · Wes Bos & Scott Tolinski - Full Stack JavaScript Web Developers

958: 2025 Holiday Gift Guide

November 26, 2025·1 hr 5 min·5 clips

Wes reveals his 3D printer has been running 20% of the time he's owned it, proving doubters wrong.

Syntax is a web development podcast hosted by Scott Tolinski and Wes Bos with a wider team, and this holiday gift guide episode is an annual tradition that the team skipped once, generating significant listener complaints. The episode is explicitly designed for two audiences: developers looking for gift ideas to share with family, and non-developers looking to shop for the developers in their lives. Scott Tolinski leads with two picks he describes as cheating because he cannot choose just one. First is the Bambu X1C 3D printer, which he acknowledges has been through multiple product generations since his purchase, meaning listeners should check current models. He addresses the common prediction that 3D printers end up collecting dust by reporting that his unit has been printing for 67 days out of the roughly 10 months he has owned it, representing approximately 20% of all hours, and he has purchased a second one. Second is the Leatherman Arc multi-tool, which he describes as possibly the best gift he has ever received, using it four to five times daily for everything from opening packages to cutting materials. The one-handed operation and premium build quality justify the 300 dollar price for people who use tools regularly. Marketing manager Kaylin Bloom brings the team's dog podcast energy to her pick: the Ruffwear Rompr bungee dog leash, which stretches to 11 feet, includes a handle for quick grabbing when a dog lunges, clips around the waist for hands-free walking, and can be tied to furniture at outdoor locations. Ruffwear as a brand is praised for build quality across its product line. The full team contributes additional picks covering tech gadgets, kitchen equipment, and lifestyle items in various price brackets, with explicit callouts for the under-30 dollar category for people shopping on a budget.

As heard by us

A practical holiday gift guide with tech picks, kitchen odds and ends, and a few broader surprises.

Syntax's annual holiday gift guide keeps things useful and broad, moving through tech gear, kitchen items, knives, hot sauces, and a few less expected buys, with the whole crew weighing in.

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Need a developer gift that lands before the return window closes?

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