Top 14 Gift Ideas for Men

Do you have a man in your life who is impossible to shop for? I do…

My husband is a perfectionist who insists that anything he buys is of the utmost quality. He doesn’t like things that sit around or take up room without a purpose, so strictly sentimental gifts are out (though I did think of one sentimental gift that was also useful so he loved it… see below). He also hates being surprised, so keeping the gift a secret without him finding it is another challenge!

Men can also be tough to shop for because their hobbies vary so much. Below is a list of gifts that my husband enjoyed getting and actually uses. When I asked on Facebook, a lot of you indicated that guys are the toughest ones on your list too, so please share you best ideas in the comments!

DIY Fleece Quilt (Easy Way!)

My hubby had a ton of t-shirts from college, and he didn’t want to get rid of any of them, since they had sentimental value. I wasn’t thrilled with the idea of them sitting in the closet forever, so I decided to make them into a quilt.

All of the patterns I found required layers of batting, interfacing and backing and would cose a lot more than I was willing to spend. After being told by the lady at the fabric store that I couldn’t do it, I decided to use fleece as a backing (a challenge?) and couldn’t be happier with the results. This quilt has lasted for over a year with very little wear and he actually uses it!

Bonus: It only took me a few hours to sew, all on the machine! This would actually be a great gift for a child or other relative as well!

Click Here for the easy tutorial and instructions (it really isn’t tough!).

“I Love You Because” Calendar

For our first Christmas, money was pretty tight and I wanted to find a gift that would be budget friendly and also sentimental. I got a scrapbook type calendar like this one and added photos from our dating, engagement and wedding to make the picture for each month. Then, I wrote on every day of the year a reason that I love and admire my husband. Reasons ranged from really heartfelt/romantic “You still make my heart skip a beat,” to the silly “your crooked toe from when you broke it,” to others that aren’t appropriate for the blogosphere.

He actually used the calendar and looked forward to reading the reason I loved him each day, and I think it is one of the few sentimental gifts that he still has to this day. This was also one of my favorite gifts to give, and it was fun to think of all the reasons I love him.

To be really budget friendly, you could even just make or print the calendar on your computer and write the reasons in…

Vibram Five Fingers

 This may not be a gift for some men, but for a guy who is in to sports/outdoors, they can be great (especially if he has joint problems). I got my hubby some Five Finger KSOs (stands for “keep stuff out”) for Christmas a few years ago and he has used them a lot! There are newer models like the Tech Sport, which provide a little more foot protection and are great for trail running or biking, camping, canoeing, etc.

 

Natural Shaving Options

For men who have sensitive skin or really thick facial hair (like my husband), natural shave options are a great gift. I was proud that this was one I actually thought of on my own, and he is really glad he switched!

His face used to get irritated from conventional razors (even the good ones) and I didn’t like the chemicals in regular shaving cream, so the old-fashioned options seemed to be the best choice.

He now uses a double-sided safety razor which he got with a brush, mug and razor stainless steel set (he loves it!). he used to hate shaving and actually enjoys it now. I make homemade shaving soap for him to go in the mug (recipe here) but there are also some good ones available if you don’t want to make it.

If you aren’t sure your guy will go for the old-school shaving, there are cheaper sets available and he can always upgrade if he likes it.

Earthing Mat

I’ve written about Earthing before and how an earthing mat helps me sleep a lot better. Since my husband and I used to fight over the earthing mat, I finally decided that he should have his own. The basic concept is that it electrically grounds your body to help reduce inflammation, improve sleep (and even stop snoring!).

Here is the one we use, and it comes with a book about the benefits of Earthing, and an outlet checker to check the ground of your outlet.

 

Rumble Roller

This is one of my favorite gifts of all time too. Basically, it is a deep tissue massage at home, so it is a lot cheaper than regular massages in the long run. The big spikes make it great for athletes (my hubby and a lot of men) and people who get stressed out/tense easily (me). My hubby also doesn’t like taking the time to get a massage, especially since the sitting-still-and-doing-nothing for an hour really annoys him. This is the solution!

It doesn’t take up much room and it is wonderful for sore muscles! I use this regularly and it has made a big difference in my muscle tension. Plus, it looks manly and tough, so men don’t mind using it. Here is the Rumble Roller I got and there are two different sizes and firmness levels.

Phillips Wake Light

For men who have to get up early for work, a natural wake up light can make a big difference in waking up and energy levels throughout the day. Basically, it is an alarm clock that gradually brightens with a daylight-type bulb and nature sounds instead of a blaring horn sound.

This particular one is recommended by the National Sleep Foundation and waking up gradually and naturally can have a big impact on energy levels and proper hormone production throughout the day.

Kettlebell

If your guy is a fitness buff, or just wants to find a fast workout that yields big results, a kettlebell is a great option. Cheaper than a gym membership, much less space consuming than weights, and endlessly versatile, kettlebells are a great at-home fitness option.

I first discovered them through my brother-in-law who is a certified instructor, but I love them for their simplicity and results, and besides softball and basketball, this is one of the only workouts my hubby does.

Natural Cologne

Cologne is a classic and classy gift… the chemicals in it- not so classy! Thankfully, there are a lot of good natural options emerging. Burt’s Bees makes a Natural Bay Rum Cologne, made from essential oils of herbs and spices. If you are so inclined, you can also create a personalized version for the guys on your list using essential oils and alcohol.

If you go this route, I suggest starting with “manly” essential oils like bay leaf, fir, patchouli, cleary sage, clove, citrus, cedar or cinnamon and figuring out what combination creates a scent you like.

 Last Wallet He’ll Ever Need

Men are tough on wallets! My dad used to go through one every year or two and that was almost always what we knew we could get him for Christmas each year. I mentioned my hubby likes the best of things, and I found a wallet that meets his expectations.

It comes from Saddleback Leather, and has a 100 year warranty (so his grandkids can use it one day)! They also have a bigger wallet if he likes that kind. Saddleback Leather also makes briefcases and bags (which has been on his wish list forever) and they even recently started making a purse for women (all are covered by the 100 year warranty). They are more pricey up front, but considering they will never need to buy another one, they are a great gift for someone who values quality.

Moleskine Notebook

My husband loves these notebooks which are classy and versatile. He uses them for work, for taking notes or just to have on hand when he needs to write something down.

I actually like these too, and getting one as a gift gave me the resolve to start journaling… I also keep a small notebook in my purse for jotting down recipe ideas, blog post outlines, etc

 

Pull Up Bar

If your guy is into fitness (or you’d like him to be), a pull-up bar can be easily mounted on any standard door frame without any drilling or holes in the wall or doors. It is also easy to take down and is a great way to get in pull-ups, ab exercises, etc at home.

We have this one and my hubby uses it (almost) daily.

 

Books

The ultimate classic gift idea, since there is literally something for everyone. My guy tends to like the business/marketing/sports type books, but this definitely varies by guy. I personally love ordering used books on Amazon (saves money and paper since they are re-used) but used book stores are also a great option (and I can spend hours there!).

We haven’t made the switch, but a lot of people love using a Kindle instead of regular books since it takes up so little room and literally hundreds of books can be put on it. I’m a fan of holding a real book when I’m reading, but Kindles are a popular gift this year.

A Good Knife

I didn’t buy this for my husband, but his folding knife is an item that he uses daily. He has carried a knife since I met him and he uses it for “anything and everything.” I actually find myself asking him to borrow it pretty often when I need to open boxes, cut a thread off of a sweater in the car, etc… A folding knife (or any knife really)  is a classic guy gift and a pretty safe bet.

The Classics:

Depending on his hobbies and likes, the classic gifts of tickets to a sporting event or concert, an experience or time away with you is almost always a safe gift. In fact, a night away as a couple can be great gift for either spouse (*hint-hint* *-cough-cough* honey…)

Is your guy hard to shop for? What is the best gift you’ve ever gotten him? Would any of these be a good fit? Share below!