Celebrate May the 4th With Our Staff’s Favorite ‘Star Wars’ Stuff

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With an ever-expanding line of movies and TV shows in the pipeline, the Star Wars franchise has only seen its cultural popularity grow over time. With that growth has come a wide line of toys, puzzles, books, video games, and, of course, LEGOs—and you bet the Popular Mechanics offices are full of Star Wars fans and their favorite memorabilia.

Considering the franchises have been building since the 1970s, there’s enough Star Wars gear that you could never parse through it all on your own. We asked our own staff to choose their very favorite Star Wars stuff that warms their Rebel (or Imperial) hearts, so you, too, can have a nerdy totem to add to your desk.

If you are looking for some inspiration on a gift for the biggest Star Wars fan that you know, or simply have an itch to get a new item for your own collection, take it from a staff that spends a lot of time thinking about space—the best Star Wars items according to our staff. Enjoy all the items we loved as kids and to this day, and as always, may the force be with you.

Want to know what else our editors love? Check back for next month’s Staff Recs.

Darth Vader Die Cast Disney Racers

Growing up, I had a lot of Star Wars toys and games I could have chosen, but for anyone that knew me as a young boy, the only thing I really cared about were toy cars.

I used to spend hours lining up my cars in elaborate races and organized displays based on which ones I found the coolest. This all changed when I received the Darth Vader Disney Racers car.

The hierarchy of my entire list of favorites shifted to favor the Dark Lord and the sporty, menacing car he was manifested as. For any other kids obsessed with toy cars, this Darth Vader toy is a must-have.

‘Star Wars’ Millennium Falcon Starship Construction Set

For any Lego enthusiasts out there, our director of product content, Will Egensteiner, has a pair of products he absolutely—and perhaps with frustration—loved putting together.

“My wife and I decided to while away the time at home one summer during peak lockdown with puzzles and Lego sets,” Will says. He has this Millennium Falcon, as well as the Razor Crest below.

“I’m a Star Wars die-hard, so I talked her into these two, as she’d never assembled a Lego set before. Their piece counts are manageable, and both have nice bits of interior detailing,” he says.

Star Wars The Razor Crest Mandalorian Starship Toy

Like the Millennium Falcon, Will says this Mandalorian starship is as enjoyable to put together as it is to interact with once it’s built.

“In the Razor Crest, you can fold down the walls to peek at the bounties frozen in carbonite Mando has hanging from the ceiling,” Will says.

“The easy-to-follow directions and satisfaction of completing the sets were soothing amid a crazy time. Next up: the 4,000-plus-piece Star Destroyer//can we get a link to this?//. We just need to set aside a weekend (month?) to put it all together.”

L0-LA59 (Lola) Droid Toy

If you are a fan of the Star Wars Disney+ originals, Obi-Wan Kenobi is practically required viewing. The show provides us a look at the beloved character in those crucial years between episodes III and IV that we’ve never seen before.

It also introduces us to L0-LA59, or Lola. The droid is a doting companion for a young Leia, and has an adorable bright center eye and flapping back panels, just like a ladybug.

One of our staffers chose this product simply because Lola is “so cute,” and we’re inclined to agree. This Lola toy comes with movable panels, a tilting head, and bright lights just like the droid on the show for maximum authenticity.

The Star Wars Little Golden Book Library

“I love hearing ‘You’re all clear, kid! Now let’s blow this thing and go home,’ come out of my 6-year-old’s mouth,” says notoriously deadpan SEO manager, Sean Abrams. He’s been reading this Star Wars book set with his kid for years.

“We have the Complete Skywalker Saga taking us through the nine movies with great illustrations—and the Star Wars: I Am A...series, where we get to meet many of the characters, the heroes, and the villains,” Sean says.

“This is ‘my’ favorite because they continue to be our go-to bedtime books,” he adds. “When my son was younger, they had enough action for him to enjoy and were easy enough for him to follow along. Now he is able to read these books by himself!”

Ewok Plush Rope Frisbee Dog Toy

For any of us with pets, buying them their very own Star Wars toys can be just as fun as buying them for ourselves. This is certainly the case for our VP of growth, Christine Anderson.

The teddy bear-like creature from Endor was a favorite for Christine’s dogs, who “completely demolished” the plush before she could snap a pic of them with it.

The Ewok plush dog toy takes the cutest creation from the original trilogy and turns it into a toy our dogs can have by their side, except this time with a squeaker in the arm.

‘Star Wars’ Racer and Commando Combo

For both the casual and hardcore gamers among us, Star Wars has produced some all-time classics including my personal favorite, Battlefront II for the PS2.

Commerce editor Kevin Cortez has his own favorite in Republic Commando.

When describing the game, he says, “I don’t love the Star Wars movies as much as I do its universe, and there’s no better way to explore that than in its video games.”

“Originally released in 2005, Republic Commando is a tactical first-person shooter that lets you command and control the Delta Squad, a special ops unit that takes on various missions during the Clone Wars. It’s got a lot of grit, and the soundtrack is fantastic,” says Kevin, whose taste in music should be revered.

“But it shines best when you’re running and gunning through planets like Kashyyyk, breaching doorways to surprise enemies, and strategically planning your next move.”

‘The Lightsaber Collection: Lightsabers from the Skywalker Saga’ by by Daniel Wallace, illustrated by Lukasz Liszko and Ryan Valle

For all of us who love the lore and complex universe of the Jedi and Sith, fear not—senior features editor Jennifer Leman does too, and she recommends The Lightsaber Collection: Lightsabers from the Skywalker Saga.

She says, “Seeing the Darksaber power up for the first time in season two of Star Wars: The Clone Wars truly took my breath away. This reference book features more than 50 lightsabers (including my beloved Darksaber) from across the galaxy.”

“It delves into the history of these weapons, how they work, and what makes each particular blade unique,” she says. “It’s a really neat book, and I revisit it often.”

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