After a year spent advising readers on everything from gifts for minimalists to giant cat treadmills, the team behind the Filter US newsletter decided to turn the tables. Instead of asking what to give, they posed a different question to their writers and editors as the new year approaches: what do you want in 2026?
Kitchen Cravings and Tech Dreams
The responses revealed a fascinating mix of practical kitchen gadgets and aspirational technology. Food contributor Bernadette Machard de Gramont has her eye on the Cuisinart Fast Freeze Ice Cream Maker, priced from $99.94. She praises its compact size and the ability to make small, half-pint batches, perfect for flavour experimentation in a city apartment.
For gadget lovers, the Bambu A1 3D printer ($399) is a top pick. Tech contributor Christopher Allbritton highlights its auto-calibration features that eliminate the typical fiddling associated with 3D printing, calling it an "entry-level machine that doesn’t feel like one." Meanwhile, gift guide contributor Latifah Muhammad desires the space-saving Ninja Crispi 4-in-1 Portable Glass Air Fryer ($179.99), which allows users to cook, eat, and store meals in a single bowl.
Luxury Indulgences and Personal Passions
The wishlist also veers into luxury and personal hobbies. Tech and lifestyle contributor Tobey Grumet Segal dreams of a 1oz tin of Osetra caviar from The Caviar Company for under $150, reminiscing about a first taste at a fashion week event. For stargazing, tech contributor Adam Doud covets the Celestron NexStar 8SE computerized telescope ($1,699), which uses GPS to locate and track celestial phenomena for astrophotography.
Personal passions feature strongly. Self-confessed Trekkie and home contributor Jon Chan wants a Paramount+ subscription ($7.99/month) to catch up on the new Star Trek series. Outdoor contributor Josh Patterson, a guitarist with a young family, seeks the Positive Grid Spark Neo headphones ($249) for silent, wireless practice sessions.
Style, Scent, and Streamlined Travel
Fashion and lifestyle items also made the list. Travel contributor Lydia Mansel aims to upgrade her organisation with the elegant Cuyana Travel Case Set in pebbled leather for $178. Fitness contributor Marissa Miller is drawn to the fashionable and functional Aritzia Sunday Best Rib Hood ($48), a detachable merino wool and cotton hood seen on TikTok and Montreal streets.
Writer Dr Julia Skinner is on a quest for the perfect scented candle and is tempted by the Diptyque Baies candle, with its blend of elderberry and rose, though the large $350 size remains a fantasy. Finally, tech contributor Tim Stevens, who edits hundreds of photos monthly, wishes for a TourBox Elite Plus photo editing controller (from $252) to replace tedious mouse work with tactile knobs and buttons.
This curated list offers a unique insight into the personal desires of those who spend their professional lives evaluating products, blending practicality with a touch of dreamy aspiration for the year ahead.
