As title suggests…trying to think of interesting/unique gifts for my son who is at college cross country. Obviously don’t want to bog him down with items that will then need to be packed and stored at the end of the school year.
The past few years, we’ve been giving our kids more experience type gifts - concert tickets, plane tickets, ski passes, etc. unless they have specific practical clothing needs to be addressed. They are in a transient phase in their lives so more stuff isn’t what they need. We’ve also been contributing to Roth IRAs for them the past few years in lieu of more stuff.
One is not going to be here for Christmas so she’ll get nothing, maybe some cash to shop at the sales when she returns. The other is going to study abroad next spring, so if she gets anything it will be related to travel. I think her grandparents will give her money too.
Boring.
^^^^ boring but practical! 
The best gift my parents ever sent me when I was in your son’s situation was a 12-pack of tube socks. I was very, very happy to receive them haha.
I always sent some favorite home-baked goods before finals for them to share with friends (sent 2 day mail). Cookies were holiday-themed in the fall semester. That always went over well!
I also found some establishments close to campus that the kids liked that they considered to be a splurge (ex. the nice coffee shop) and would get gift card for one or two of those.
If there was a reasonably priced show/concert/sporting event they wanted to go to I’d offer to buy the tickets. When you are not looking to accumulate things, an “experience” based gift is a great option.
I sent a gift basket of fruits (free shipping) to D–loved it! Every time there is free shipping of produce, I’m happy to ship them to D, especially if they’re on sale. S travels too much, so I don’t send him perishable edibles. I don’t want things going bad when he’s on travel. I try to get him travel related gifts, but he’s hard to shop for. I get D some warm things as well (she rarely buys clothing for herself).
Subscriptions to the NYT, Washington Post, the New Yorker. (student rates)
We need to keep our young folks engaged.
Are there any regional foods you could send? Whenever S hits a tough patch, we ship him a case of Cheerwine. He’s in school in the Midwest, and Cheerwine just isn’t available there. I also periodically send him movies we’ve watched as a family - yes, some he could watch on Netflix, but it’s a little taste of home to send him something like “The Sandlot” to watch.
@InigoMontoya
Early on I sent him a huge box of Sees Candies as it isn’t available back east. His suite mates enjoyed it too
When I first read this, I thought you were asking about gifts for you to give him when he’s home for the holidays and then wouldn’t want to haul back to school. If you are asking for gift ideas to send TO him at college, then I’d suggest Amazon Pantry items. I love it. I send my daughter all kinds of toiletries, food, ziplock bags, baking stuff, toilet paper. Things she doesn’t like to ‘waste’ her money on but needs. Lots of edibles.
If it is for his Christmas gift, I’d send some towels, new pillows, anything he might need for sports (my daughter got a case of pre-wrap, but girls use it in their hair and need a lot more than boys), gift cards for restaurants and movies. If he needs one big thing, how about a bike?
@twoinanddone
Was asking for when he comes home during the holidays but it may make more sense to send him something when he’s back at school…less to carry back in a plane.
Yes he’s an athlete…what is “pre-wrap”?
Amazon gift card, low cost to send too; or some appliance he can use for food such as hot pot, small microwave, keurig etc.
@preppedparent
Funny thing you mention appliances. The school was very strict about which items WERE NOT allowed. I suspect at some point something has caught fire while attempting late night culinary delights 
He really wanted a keurig but those are banned too…
I did send him a “pouch couch” (something he saw at BBB) when I found out he and suite mates still were sitting on the floor in the common area. Pouch Couch is, amazingly, still alive and hasn’t sprung a leak!
What hobbies/interests does your son have, @tonymom?
Say no to the Kuerig. Those pods are a scourge on our planet unless he is getting the refillable pod.
I made a couple photo pillows at Shutterfly from photos my freshman posted on fb of her with her friends. I hope she’ll be surprised. They are bulky but lightweight, Truly one of a kind. Toss pillows on the bed always welcomed for studying. Throw away at end of year, if you don’t want to store them.
Small appliances are always good. Remember when every kid had a popcorn popper? What about ice cream maker if keurig isn’t allowed? A good electric hot pot is good for soup. My student picked up a noodle maker on a trip to HMart.
@doschicos
He’s pretty easy going. Not really into clothes or gadgets so maybe a subscription
A man of little needs…well, except sleep and caffeine…
DD lives in an apartment. She is here this week. I’m sending her back with holiday hand towels, holiday dish towels, a really neat holiday apron (she cooks), a holiday spatula, and some Christmas bells to hang in her front door. She has lights.
Just a little something to holiday up the place until,she gets home Christmas Eve.
Well, not sure how strict his school is with appliances but given his caffeine love, I’d recommend in lieu of the Kuerig an electric kettle with automatic shutoff like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Proctor-Silex-K2070YA-Electric-1-Liter/dp/B00IWOJS9A/ref=sxts_k2p_hero3?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=2668835602&pd_rd_wg=bPcDF&pf_rd_r=T88056M6DTJWAGHF4NG4&pf_rd_s=desktop-sx-top-slot&pf_rd_t=301&pd_rd_i=B00IWOJS9A&pd_rd_w=dw1yk&pf_rd_i=water+kettle+electric&pd_rd_r=QHB9EB4CSFHEB5VFR4A0&ie=UTF8&qid=1479261022&sr=3
They heat water super quick and dorms are usually okay with them because of the shut off feature. Add in a french press, a selection of gourmet coffees, and a thermal travel mug for taking to classes.
My son loves pecans from Youngs Plantation in SC. He especially likes their praline pecans. They have gift boxes to try various ones. I get a tin for the house, and he gets his own special boxes.