Gifts for teen boys 12-16

[ZeroFucksGivenToday]

I'm after some collective help please.

I volunteer at a Christmas toy appeal and every single year our emptiest tables are the teen boys. People just don't seem to know what to donate to them.

I have been given a donation which I will convert to gifts, but does anyone have any ideas what I could get. I normally go for footballs, rugby balls and smelly sets.

Key things.
we don't give cash nor vouchers, (mainly as lots of these kids don't have PS or Xbox to spend them on) and money is not the aim of what we do.
I aim to spend around £10-£15 per gift.

Any brilliant ideas on what I could add to the boys tables this year?

each child comes out with one main gift, one smelly set and some chocs.

stuff i buy for my teen nephews:

rubix cube (the works have a nice gift set for £10)
fidget pen that is magnetic
pocket size frisbee
ball that bounces on water
card games like monopoly deal

Can you raid Sports Direct? They offer have some quite good discounts on "2 for" type deals which might bring an Adidas T-shirt into range or perhaps a 3 pack of branded socks (white, crew length). Anything by Nike, Adidas or Under Armour would be suitably status worthy and be practical.

Lego sets.
Ones that are more aimed at older kids (so not the "18+" ones because they are usually £££).
The Speed Champion cars are pretty good.

Also a lot of boys are very into art so fancy colouring pens etc.

I have two boys within that age range and are very different
Speed champions lego (ferarri f40)
Taco cat goat cheese pizza game
Night light projector
Primark aftershave dupes
Nike socks
Nike cap
Nike/adidias manbag
Fidget toys
Earbuds - can get anker ones for £16 at the minute

Mine is just out of the top end of that age range. I have bought him these over the years.

Travel coffee cup - can be used for other drinks but ideal if working outside on cars, bikes, motorbikes. Or traVelling or at an event (eg football, festivals)
Key ring.
Bendy Torch, hands free torch that allows you to light up hidden areas. Useful if working on cars etc. You hang it round your neck or round other fixed objects
Decent small screwdriver set
Lego

Rubiks or other puzzle toys
Sports brand beanie hat
Bop it toy
Mug cake set
Slipper socks

DS is nearly 13 and the best thing I’ve ever bought him is a football on a string. About £15 from Smyths.

Do you have any idea where the gifts go?
Something like a football is no good if they are living in a hostel with no safe outdoor space.
I always think it needs to be something that can be used indoors and no extras required (batteries, glue, scissors etc).

thanks so much.

The gifts go all over. So we have women's refuges, social workers etc and they all
come in with lists and in lots of cases preferences too.

Art supplies are a great shout. We have a nice art table too and a separate book one so they can take stuff off there as well. So these gifts would be separate to that.

Nike/Adidas man bags seem a great shout and possibly getting some UnderArmour/Nike/Adidas T shirts.
Lego we get lots donated for younger age, but great shout for teens. I'll see what's on offer. The joy of this donation I have is that I can spend it on what I want and just send the receipts in, so I'm not limited to certain shops. Obviously it's not all to go on this age range, but I have a good £350 I can spend on this.

Pocket Frisbee also sounds ideal and fidget pens.

Rubiks
Lego
Laser pen
games such as Pictionary air
Design your own comic book
Sharpies pens
Oragami kit
Paper aeroplane book kit
Tennis ball and racket
Books

fake oodie/hoodie thing. Primark often have them for £15 ish. My teen boys live in thiers!

Lego still goes down well

small card games like uno. more or less, kluster, maponioes

funky USB stick for school work (if using school laptops might not be able to save work to the device)

Beanie hat with a built in torch

trainer cleaning kit

guinness book of records

wallet

headphones

Insulated bottle
Pack of cards
Head torch
Fancy hot chocolate
3D puzzle like this https://www.board-game.co.uk/product/iq-puzzler-pro/?msclkid=d45a1c0307e819184b9178613ff06c7a&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Zatu+Shopping+Campaign&utm_term=4587025079858944&utm_content=Zatu+Shopping

My ds likes those finger skateboard sets which come at various price points depending on whether they are ready made or need building or have extra ramps etc.

Also footballer gloves went down well. Goalkeeper ones I mean.

He also likes older lego. And things like travel chess or travel connect 4 - small versions of bigger games iykwim.

You guys are amazing. There are so many cool ideas here. :) I'll get searching.

Some plain T-shirts

Nice underwear (boxers with wide elastic band is popular with my ds)
nice socks (for your budget you’d be able to buy Nike but you’ll be able to buy twice as many at Primark or go for a white and black set)
Gloves that work with touch screens
Beanie (many teen boys don’t wear a coat but wear gloves and beanie)
Cheap headphones or earbuds so they can listen to music
a Dressing gown or fleecy blanket to keep warm
Basketball is more popular than football and rugby during the muddy months here but I’m assuming what your parks are like

Wireless over ear headphones

White Nike socks. They all love them.

If heating and being warm is an issue for the boys families I'd definitely go for the Primark Oodies, or thicker ones are available from kudd.ly and they are cheaper the more you buy.

Packs of playing cards and a book of card games
Uno cards
3D Puzzles as linked above, puzzle balls, rubix cubes
Board games or travel versions battle ships etc
Skulduggery or Alex Rider books tend to be popular with younger teen boys

Boring but a good phone charger bank?
Beanie hat with built in head torch
Whittling kit?
Lockpicking kit?
Book of magic tricks you can do with cards, plus a pack of cards?
Conversational card game like 'more or less'

If they are into racket sports then a decent light weight tennis racket or badminton racket

Or if they like scooters then maybe a proper stunt scooter

Ah it’s made me sad that I clicked on this to get ideas for my son but there are boys his age who wouldn’t get nice gifts without people like you so thank you for volunteering.
Things my son likes:
Nike socks
American sweets
Football/rugby ball/basketball/cricket ball or mini versions of these
sports drinks bottles
aftershave
oodie
silver chain
pot noodles
hair products (wax/salt spray/texturing powder)

Lynx/Gillette toiletries set
Hoody
YY to Sports Direct multibuys. Mountain Warehouse also do multibuys on hats/gloves/thermal mugs/torches/ some outdoor games etc.