Why we all need a bit of Valentine’s spirit – and the gifts worth giving

2026-02-09 - 15:05

We’ve picked the best non-naff pressies for partners and friends. Plus, the best boots and soup makers, tested • Don’t get the Filter delivered to your inbox? Sign up here You can be a Grinch about it or, as Jess Cartner-Morley wrote in her latest Filter edit, you can embrace it for the “daft festival of joy in the bleakest moment of the calendar” that it is. Valentine’s Day, if nothing else, is a reminder in the depths of unromantic February to cherish those you love. And let’s be honest, the world needs a bit more of that sentiment right now. But there are Valentine’s Day gifts, and there are Valentine’s Day gifts. In our guide, we decided to eschew the throwaway and unimaginative in favour of a selection of thoughtful, creative ideas that will last well beyond 14 February (we included flowers, because who doesn’t love flowers, but opted for longer-lasting stained-glass alternatives and subscriptions over a single bunch of blooms). The best flower delivery for every budget: eight favourites, freshly picked The best women’s lingerie: 22 favourites for every mood and budget Dyson PencilVac Fluffycones review: an ultra-light vacuum you’ll actually enjoy using I tried 75 low- and no-alcohol drinks: here are my favourite beers, wines and spirits The best treadmills for your home: up your indoor miles with our runner-approved picks 15 of the best men’s coats for winter – from puffer jackets to parkas to trenchcoats The best soup makers for healthy, thrifty meals – tested ‘Opened with a satisfying phwummp’: the best supermarket sauerkraut, tasted and rated Continue reading...