Our Hottest Picks for Summer 2025
Getting a genuinely great promotional product can catch someone off guard in the best way. Maybe it’s a stylish hoodie, a cool speaker, or a water bottle they’ve seen all over TikTok. When it’s done right, it doesn’t feel like a giveaway; it feels like a gift.
At Strategies, that’s exactly the point. We’re not interested in helping you hand out cheap stuff that ends up buried in a junk drawer, or worse, in a landfill. We’re here to rethink branded merch with smarter, more intentional choices. Because when people actually want to use what you give them, everybody wins: they feel seen, your brand gets exposure, and we all waste less.
Thoughtful, well-designed products and campaigns stick around. They get used, and when that happens, the people who receive them remember who gave them the product they love. They feel good about your brand. And often, they feel a little tug to return the favor. Psychologists call it the reciprocity principle: “They gave me something useful, I kind of want to give back.” That can lead to loyalty, engagement, or even a purchase.
“We define and execute new business development kits with promotional products and messaging for EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association). They have a great database for identifying potential new customers as well as the individual(s) within an organization that they should talk to. Their biggest challenge was to get that person(s) to respond to their phone call. In their decades of experience, ‘The kits Strategies produces for us have been the most successful new business development campaigns we have ever executed,’ according to Kathy Griese, Director of New Business Development.”
– Don Klingseisen, Product Solutions Specialist, Strategies
In short, good promotional products work. And trending promotional products that are also useful? They work even better and align with the way modern brands should be showing up in the world.
Let’s walk through 15 trending promotional products that are not only popular right now but also smart investments in brand visibility, perception, and long-term ROI.
1. Luminous Pro 3.0 Power Bank
A sleek charger that lights up your logo while powering a phone and Apple Watch. This one feels premium, looks impressive, and delivers on utility. It triggers that “wow, thanks” moment that creates an emotional link to your brand.
2. Maggy Magnetic Waffle Golf Towel
A practical, elevated take on the classic golf towel. With a strong magnet built in, it’s easy to use and hard to miss. Great for on-course exposure and especially effective if your audience includes golf lovers or event attendees.
3. Energizer H2O-Mag Speaker
Waterproof, magnetic, and great-sounding. It even doubles as a power bank and lights up while playing music. Products like this get used in social settings, tailgates, beach days, and road trips, which means your logo gets seen and talked about at home and on the go.
4. Owala FreeSip Water Bottle
You’ve probably seen this bottle around. It’s trending for a reason: double-insulated, modern design, and a clever dual-sip lid. People want these, so when your brand is the one handing them out, all the positive feelings people already have about the product rub off on you. That’s called affective conditioning, and it’s real.
5. Sweeter Cards with Sea Salt Caramel Chocolate
Part greeting card, part gourmet chocolate bar. It’s personal, creative, and leaves a great impression. It also triggers reciprocity almost instantly. You give someone chocolate, and they won’t forget you.
6. Tearaway Pano Desk Pad
A notepad with more presence. This panoramic pad sits right in front of a keyboard, ready for daily to-do lists and ideas. Your branding gets a front-row seat in their workflow, day after day.
7. Woven Straw Beach Tote
Trendy, eco-inspired, and perfect for summer. A tote like this has staying power and style. People carry it in public as they run errands, shop at markets, and take vacations. That gives your brand visibility and signals, “We get what’s cool right now.”
8. Smasher Pickleball Set
Pickleball is exploding, and this set taps into that excitement. Gifting something that aligns with popular lifestyle trends sends a clear message: We’re paying attention. We’re part of this moment.
9. Hometown 5-Panel Cap
A modern take on the classic cap. This isn’t a throwaway. It’s clean, well-made, and a hat people actually want to wear. When someone puts your logo on their head and walk around in it, that’s social proof in action.
10. Unisex Avenue Hooded Sweatshirt
It’s comfy, oversized, and looks like something you’d buy at your favorite store. Nothing about it feels like a typical promo. When a trending promotional product blends into someone’s daily wardrobe, your brand becomes part of their day, not just a logo they forget about.
Shop all Hooded Sweatshirts >>
11. Urban Peak Cryo 24-Can Cooler
This cooler’s ready for whatever the weekend throws at it! It’s tough, waterproof, and made from recycled materials. It’s the kind of gear that gets used again and again, delivering on sustainability, function, and serious brand visibility out in the wild.
Shop all Eco-Friendly Products >>
12. Dye-Sublimated Cooling Towel
It works. And it feels like something you’d buy for yourself, which makes it even better as a giveaway. Full-color printing means you can go bold with your branding, and people will keep it around for workouts, races, or summer outings.
13. Battery-Powered Tire Pump and Power Bank
This is the kind of tool that turns a minor emergency into a great story: “Thankfully, I had that tire pump.” When your brand shows up at the right time, it builds serious goodwill. Plus, this one gets stashed in cars and garages for years.
14. District Perfect Tri Tee
There’s nothing worse than a promo tee that’s stiff or boxy. This one’s the opposite: soft, modern, and genuinely flattering. People will wear it, and that’s the goal.
15. 3 Ft. 4-in-1 Charging Cable 2.0
Works with multiple devices and fits easily into a bag or desk drawer. It’s one of those “oh thank goodness I have this” items. Your brand gets remembered every time it saves the day.
Why These Trending Promotional Products Work
“There are three questions people instantly ask in their head when they receive a promotional product:
1) Is this useful?
2) Is it of good quality?
3) Is it attractive or cool?
Hitting on all three of these are crucial to getting a recipient to keep and use the branded merch you give them. When you understand the psychology behind what people actually keep, use, and talk about, you make smarter choices for your brand.”
– Doug Dobbe, President/Founder, Strategies
Well-executed branded merchandise also:
- Triggers reciprocity: A thoughtful gift often leads to a desire to give something back, whether that’s loyalty, referrals, or a purchase.
- Builds a positive association: When your brand provides something people already like, those good feelings transfer to you.
- Elevates perception: Trendy products show that your brand is modern, relevant, and paying attention to what people care about.
- Boosts visibility: Useful products are used frequently and in public, which means increased exposure and social proof.
- Stands out: Trend-forward items catch people’s attention. When it’s something new or genuinely cool, it’s more likely to be remembered.
In other words, a good promo product isn’t just functional, it’s emotional. It creates a spark. It quietly shifts how someone sees your brand.
Instead of saying, “We’re a great company,” you’re showing it.
You’re saying:
We see you. We get it. And we value your time and attention.
That’s what drives real ROI.
