What do you do for gifts when the man in your life is hard to shop for? I’ve been trying to answer that question for years. It always seems tougher to find good gift ideas for men than it does for women.
Men usually aren’t as happy with some herbal tea and a new skein of yarn for a knitting project. And motorcycles and football tickets are bigger ticket items. The best gifts for men are something they’ll enjoy and actually use!
This post includes some of the best gifts I’ve found over the years. It also includes gifts other family members have enjoyed and items on their wishlists. You can also check out my Christmas gifts for men gift guide for even more ideas!
If you need a great gift idea for Dad that isn’t a tie or cufflinks, then read on.
Material Gifts Dad Will Love (& Use!)
Your dad, husband, uncle, etc., probably don’t need a paperweight or another gift card. And a lot of gift guides for men recommend things like an Apple Watch, iPhone apple airpods, and gadgets like Bluetooth speakers. These give off a lot of EMF waves that I’m not comfortable with.
If you’re looking for a gift he’ll use and love, here are some of my favorite ideas for men that I have given or that my dad mentioned he loves.
Solo Outdoor Fire Pit
We got this amazing backyard fire pit as the final step in our backyard makeover. We can’t say enough good things about it and it would make the perfect present for any dad! Through its smart design, the Solo stove burns wood much more efficiently and directs heat exactly where you’d want it, without the smoke. It looks super sleek too.
Blue-Light Blocking Glasses
I’ve worn blue-blocking glasses for years. These glasses help reduce eye fatigue from computers and reduce blue light for better sleep. I put them on after the sun goes down each night to block the blue light from computer screens, television, and phones. These are some stylish blue-light-blocking glasses and I like that they’re metal instead of plastic.
A Good Knife
This folding knife is high-quality and something your husband or dad can use all the time. Many men carry knives that they use for anything and everything. It’s handy for opening boxes, cutting threads off a sweater when you’re out, etc. A folding knife (or any knife really) is a classic guy gift and a pretty safe bet he’ll love and appreciate it.
Another really great option is this Gasper 4 Knife from Rewild.
Good Wine + An Aerator
If your man is a wine drinker, wine is always a great gift option. It’s consumable and typically lends itself to spending quality time together. Sometimes even just sipping wine on the back porch with your sweetie can be a great date night.
Just try to choose a high-quality organic wine. I always stick to natural wines whenever possible, which are grown organically and lab tested to have no mold and mycotoxins or additives. This wine aerator also improves the flavor of wine and removes sediment as you pour it.
The Last Wallet He’ll Ever Need
Men are tough on wallets! My dad used to go through one every year or two. That was almost always what we knew we could get him for Christmas each year. If your husband or dad likes the best of things (that will last!) here’s a wallet from Amazon that will meet their expectations.
A Notebook or Journal
Every man needs a good notebook or journal. They’re perfect to jot down thoughts and ideas, take notes, set goals, and keep track of schedules. This dot matrix bullet journal is a popular option because it’s so nice and easy to use. It also serves as a journal, calendar, and notebook in one. And at under $15, it’s a great value too!
Another popular notebook he’ll love is the Moleskine. They have many different sizes and styles available.
Fitness Equipment Gifts For Men
It’s hard to come up with gifts that are both useful and fun. So when I saw this kettlebell in the shape of a gorilla I knew it was a winner.
Guys will love Onnit’s six-week bodyweight program as well as their free kettlebell digital course. What I’ve spent on fitness equipment doesn’t even come close to a gym membership. Plus he’ll save time by working out at home.
In between (and during) workout days I like to get some sauna sessions in for better fitness too. Try gifting Dad this portable and compact sauna blanket from HigherDOSE (they also make great PEMF mats!). Use code WELLNESSMAMA15 for 15% off.
Some Good Ol’Fashioned BBQ
It’s a well-known fact that most dads consider the grill their domain. A grill upgrade or new set of grilling tools is a classic Father’s Day gift. It’s the gift that keeps on giving in the form of delicious barbecue all summer long. And you can learn some tips for keeping grilling as healthy as possible here.
The Spice of Life
Looking for something small for the kids to give? This gourmet BBQ spice rub and marinade set comes in hot or mild and has a list of ingredients I can get behind. Another option is Laila Ali’s spice blends. My friend Laili Ali (yes, the daughter of Mohammed Ali!) handcrafted her own line of delicious spices and seasonings with quality ingredients. Pick up some here and get 20% off with code WellnessMama20
You can even make your own gift box or gift set with a variety of seasonings, marinades, and unique yet healthy food items.
More Foodie Gifts for Men
If the man in your life likes unique tasty foods, try some of these.
ButcherBox – Forget the fruit of the month club (although I’m not hating on fruit!). Dad can get grass-fed and organic meat with a subscription box from ButcherBox.
Coffee maker – Get him an espresso machine or a new French press for flavorful coffee. Try it with Purity Coffee for a smooth flavor without any of the toxins or pesticides found in regular coffee. And Four Sigmatic mushroom coffee is the perfect portable, convenient coffee mix that’s also healthy.
Hot Sauce – Gift Dad some tasty (and healthy) buffalo sauce or steak sauce from Primal Kitchen. Or try some of this organic habanero hot sauce.
Pizza Oven – This is a bigger item but adds ambiance to your outdoor space. Ooni pizza ovens can be more affordable than the handbuilt brick versions and they cook the food on a stone surface for amazing flavor. They’re not just for pizzas (which usually have unhealthy grains), but it’s great for adding a smoky flavor to meat and veggie dishes.
A Great Flashlight
Our family loves this Surefire flashlight and it goes with us when we travel. This flashlight is super bright and small enough to fit in a pocket. We’ve had this flashlight forever and use it for everything! It makes for a practical and functional gift for the dad in your life.
Clothing
Some dads really appreciate a pair of warm wool socks or a new cozy hoodie. Get Dad a new beanie hat, some comfy organic joggers, or a new sustainably made blazer jacket. This company sells organic cotton, linen, and hemp clothing with some really great options for Dad.
Better Shaving Tools
For men who have sensitive skin or really thick facial hair, natural shaving options are a great gift.
Disposable and conventional razors (even good ones) have a reputation for irritating skin. And then there are the toxic and synthetic chemicals in regular shaving cream. An old-fashioned style shave set is a unique gift many men will love!
Try gifting a classic double-sided safety razor with a brush, mug, and razor stainless steel set. Dad will go from dreading shaving to actually enjoying it. You can make homemade shaving soap for him to go in the mug (recipe here). There are also some really good store-bought 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. He can always upgrade to the nicer version if he likes it.
Skincare Gifts For Men
We often think of skincare when it comes to women, but men have skin too. If your man doesn’t shave, consider a high-quality beard oil like this one. Or make your own DIY beard oil here.
He also might enjoy some homemade men’s lotion or a good-quality organic face cleanser.
Rumble Roller
The rumble roller is one of my favorite gifts of all time too. Basically, it’s a deep tissue massage at home. It’s a lot cheaper than regular massages in the long run! The big spikes make it great for athletes and people who get stressed out/tense easily (me). The rumble roller is also the perfect gift for someone who doesn’t like taking an hour out of their day to get a massage.
It doesn’t take up much room and it’s 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’s the Rumble Roller I got and there are two different sizes and firmness levels.
Myobuddy Massager
If I had to pick one favorite gift on this list, this would be it. There are a lot of massagers out there but the Myobuddy is like getting a professional massage at home. It’s similar to the theragun from Therabody, but the head is wider and more comfortable.
This has 3 speeds and uses heat and percussive technology to work trigger points and relieve sore muscles. It’s not only relaxing but is like getting a therapeutic massage at home.
Camping Gear Gifts For Men
These gifts are great because they combine a physical gift that leads to an experience of camping as well. Camping is a great family activity with some major health benefits. One study found that a week of camping without artificial light drastically improved circadian rhythm and sleep. If your guy likes camping, here are a few great gear options:
- Firestarter Kit – Useful tool to start fires without matches or a lighter.
- Lifestraw or Sawyer Water Filter – Survival water filters that fit in your pocket.
- Smart Wool Socks – Warm but not sweaty and they keep feet dry. Great for hiking, skiing, or everyday use.
- 30-Day Lantern for Camping – A really long-lasting lantern for the outdoorsman who loves to camp.
- Tactical Pen – More than just a pen, it works in all conditions and can break a car window if a person is trapped.
- Camping Hammock – Portable hammock that fits in a small bag and is great for travel, camping, or lounging in the backyard while listening to podcasts.
Protective EMF-Blocking Laptop Board
If your guy works on a computer a lot, a protective laptop board is a great gift. This board makes it easier to work with a laptop on your lap. It also protects the legs and stomach from the heat and radiation from a laptop. We use the Defender Pad and love it.
DIY Fleece Quilt (The Easy Way!)
If your husband or dad has a lot of old, sentimental t-shirts, here’s a fun way to get some more use from them. As opposed to them sitting in a box in the closet for years. You can use them to make a handmade quilt.
All of the patterns I found required layers of batting, interfacing, and backing and would cost a lot more than I was willing to spend. After being told by the lady at the fabric store I couldn’t do it, I decided to use fleece as a backing (a challenge?). I couldn’t be happier with the results. This quilt has lasted for years with very little wear!
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! Get the easy tutorial and instructions here (it really is simple to make!).
A Drone!
The dream of flying is something most men have all had at one time or another. A drone is a great way to experience it by manning his own personal aircraft. There are a lot of options available now, but this is one of the better drones on the market and would make any man a happy camper!
TechRadar.com rates this drone as an excellent budget choice (in comparison).
“I Love You Because” Calendar
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly gift that’s also sentimental, try a scrapbook calendar. You can add your own photos from date nights, your wedding, family trips, etc. to each month. To make it extra special you can handwrite a note for each day of the year with something you love about them. These can range from heartfelt and romantic to silly.
They’ll actually use the calendar and look forward to reading the reason you love them each day. I think it is one of the few sentimental gifts that he still has to this day. You can make your own at Shutterfly. To be really budget friendly, you could even make or print the calendar on your computer and write the reasons in.
I make photobooks from Mixbook for the kids every year and they’re a great way to document fun memories. Try making one for Dad or your significant other!
Experience-Based Gifts for Men
I firmly believe the best gifts are sometimes not something you can wrap. In our house, experiences always beat material gifts and we choose these whenever possible.
I share all of our favorite experience-based gift ideas here if you’re looking for some ideas. If you want to give a physical gift, just make sure it’s practical, useful, and long-lasting. This way it doesn’t end up in the back of the closet or a landfill.
These are some experience based gifts for Father’s Day or birthdays:
Time Off
One thing all parents need is some time off to recharge! Find some time in the schedule for him to camp, hunt, go hiking, or play sports. If you like, buy him some gear to go with the experience present so he has something to open.
Massage Classes
Can you tell how much I love a massage?! The Melt online massage course (all PG, I promise!), makes a great gift for couples. Pair it with some homemade massage oil. Get more details on the massage videos here.
An Adventure/Experience
Think fishing charter with his friends, a surfing or water skiing lesson if you live by the water, or if your guy is adventurous, sky diving! Scuba certifications can make a great couple’s gift too. You can go through the process together and end up with a great hobby to enjoy in the future.
Another favorite experience has been pole vaulting lessons. Search your area for adventurous offerings like pole vaulting, fishing, diving, sailing, rowing, kayaking, or even juggling! Mixing it up keeps things interesting and could lead to a new date night idea or family pastime.
Something to Inspire a Hobby
If your man likes beer get him an organic (or at least non-GMO) beer. You can also get him a home-brewing beer kit as a fun hobby. This book is a great guide for getting started and you can find the ingredients and supplies in-store from a local homebrew place.
You can get him a complete homebrew kit here with some organic hops to go with it.
Sports Gifts For Men
Sports-related experiences are a hit with many guys. One of my biggest gifts ever was gifting tickets to spring training for their favorite team. Tickets to go see their teams play are also a big hit. These all tend to be more expensive, so I had to save several years for one of these surprises. It can end up being an amazing and memorable experience for him though!
Tell Him You Appreciate Him!
I suspect most husbands/dads would love to hear more that we appreciate them! A handwritten card and a big hug can go a long way when it comes to Father’s Day gifts for men.
What gifts for men have been a hit in your experience? Which of the ideas above do you think he’d like? Leave a comment and share below!
Ooh great list. My husband has so many eclectic hobbies that it’s easy to get him something he likes but so hard to find something he really loves. He absolutely hates shaving and has super sensitive skin so I think this may be the perfect time to make the swith to a more natural product. His all time favorite gift I’ve gotten him is a drawing table. He’s been working on a year long project that involves him drawing every day so it’s been well used. He was like a kid at Christmas when he first saw it, I love making him smile like that.
This is a great list, thanks Katie! Here are some of the well-appreciated gifts I’ve given my guy: a really good chef’s knife with a honer and good quality cutting board; a handmade leather satchel for carrying books; a nice fountain pen; and a manly black martini glass. 🙂
My hubby is tough to buy for and he already has about 4 of these things! But you gave me some really good ideas!
The only problem with this list is there are too many good ideas!!
Earthing mat just ordered. Hope you get some kick back from them!!
Great list! My hubby is forever looking for his ideal wallet. Now I’m going to investigate the Saddleback Leather wallet. Some of the best gifts I’ve found for him were: wooden lap desk (Leverington), atlas (he loves maps), Tennessee toothpick (beautiful mini jackknife), good pens (Pentel Energel .7). Fun post and helpful. Thanks.
This is actually a really, really helpful list! I’m considering the shaving set option and also the wallet. Thanks!
This is a great list! I was skeptical when the first thing I glanced at was the fingered shoes, but I also admit that I probably noticed those first because my fiance just bought a pair, and is enjoying them. 😛 (I just can’t get over how weird they look!)
Bookmarking this, and very much considering both the wake up light and the rumble roller…. though the wallet would also be great… and a shaving kit is something I’ve been looking at….
I bought my husband a universal remote one year and he says it’s the best present he’s ever gotten. He loves it, and, like you said it’s nice and practical.
Thank you for this list!
Well, there are two gifts…
The first, he kept making comments for say, two years, how fun it would be to go treasure hunting with metal detectors. If you’ve ever seen how a metal detector is packed, you’d have no idea what was in the box. I got him two so our daughters could go along with him. He was so excited & so were the girls. They’ve found so many oddball things out on our property, we even went to a friend’s campground near an old gold mine. That was fun too!
The second. My husband loves to look at the stars at night. So I surprised him with his own telescope. The box was huge and heavy & he was very concerned with the fact that his gift was the biggest under the tree. LOL He loved it and now sets it up all the time so the girls can see everything up close. We’ve even planned family campouts on the back lawn to watch stars all night and get a close look at the constellations & the moon.
i LOVE my wake up light. i used to have so much trouble waking up and now i dont!
Great list! I’ll keep these in mind for the hubby. I’ve never heard of the “Earthing Mat” before and I enjoyed reading up about it on your previous post. Thanks for sharing, I’m excited to learn more about it and eventually buy one! ( :