The term "gadget" has developed a little bit of a nerdy reputation over the years, conjuring images of high-tech trinkets that likely have no use to anyone who's not a one percenter or an early adopter. But we like to think of a gadget as any item that makes life easier — and that’s precisely what makes them such awesome gifts.

A great gadget is all about ingenuity. It provides a foolproof solution to a daily struggle that society should have solved long ago. (Giving up on chips and salsa because you couldn't open the jar? In this economy? No way. You’re going to open that jar, damn it!) This means some of the best gadgets aren't high-tech at all. They're simply the result of outside-the-box thinking.

But let's not equate "gadget" with "dinky last-minute gift that'll get lost in a junk drawer," either. The good ones typically achieve a nice balance of coolness and utility. They run the gamut from time-saving kitchen tools and car hacks to self-care solutions and entertainment enhancers, assisting us with all sorts of pesky little issues in every realm of our lives. And, when purchased with a specific person's needs in mind, gadgets make great gifts.

Here are 49 of Mashable's favorite gift-worthy gadgets and tech gifts.