Hands-On Gifts for Hackers, Makers and the DIY Obsessed

Hi there, I'm Phil. I live in an electronics factory, and regularly need to pluck microcontrollers out of my feet when walking around barefoot. I thought I could bring some of that joy to you in a gift guide.

It's going to be a little different than just the usual crap you can buy—it's a guide that can start you on an amazing journey of building electronics, learning new skills. If you're really motivated, you just might invent something new.

Let's get started! The question I get asked the most is "where to start"—lots of people see all the DIY projects here on Gizmodo and just don't know where to begin. I've put together some favorite tools, resources and beginner electronics kits that will get you going and give you something fun to show your friends. You don't need to buy many things either, since many of the kits and gadgets are "open source"—you can buy the parts, etch a circuit board, "breadboard" it or in some cases just build parts of them with what you may have at home by cannibalizing a junk drawer of fail-gadgets.

BTW, if you hate the gallery format as much as the Grinch hated Christmas, click here.