Before it was bought by GameStop and turned into a soulless purveyor of collectibles, ThinkGeek was “Sharper Image for sysadmins”. It’s eclectic mix of gadgets, puzzles, and yes even collectible merch made it a fun and reliable place to find a novel gift.

Why It Matters

Sharper Image feels like a mediocre replacement. ThinkGeek was unapologetic. It seemed like they put in the effort to find novel items that were genuinely useful or fun. It was a labor of love in a way most stores are not.

Products I Would Put on ThinkGeek Today

• Moft iPhone Wallet Stand
• Larq Waterbottle PureVis
• GuliKit’s Game Controllers and Nintendo Joystick Repair Kit
• Folding iPhone Travel Charger
• FLIR One Edge Pro Thermal Camera