Why does it feel like fathers (and father figures) are always the hardest to shop for? More often than not, finding the best gifts for dads of all stripes involves putting your thinking cap on to mentally trawl through all of the very practical things they already own, along with the stuff that they’d just never use. Having a bit of a cheat code to help with that process certainly helps, and we’re here to serve. While the internet has plenty of thoughts on what to get your old man, a lot of those gift guides feel kinda…sad, if we’re being honest. Novelty ties and patterned socks used to reign supreme, but it’s time to think beyond the low-hanging fruit and level up your gifting this year. To that end, we’ve put together a pretty comprehensive list of best gifts for dads across a handful of categories, including style, fitness, home, grooming, food and drinks, and even tech, that all speak to his varied interests. Hopefully this makes shopping less of a hand-wringer, especially if he’s the type that “doesn’t want anything this year.” (FYI: He’s lying.)
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“They just don’t make them like they used to,” might be his most famous (and annoying) sayings, but when it comes to jeans, he’s kind of right.
Blundstone
Black Full Grain Leather Chelsea Boots
Blundstones are almost as classic as pumpkin spice in fall, and much more useful for clomping around in leaves. If he’s never gone in on one of their Chelsea styles, now’s the time to make an introduction.
Lululemon
ABC Classic-Fit 5 Pocket Pant
Two things dad love: Stretchy pants for the post-dinner bloat and a little extra give around the, ahem, crotch area. For all of the above, Lululemon’s beloved ABC pants (ask him to look up what it means on Bing) deliver.
Wythe
Washed Flannel Workshirt
He’ll actually do work in this workshirt—more than can be said for most workwear wearers.
Morjas
Penny Loafer
The “old man shoe” gets an upgrade for your old man.
Bather
Solid Marine Swim Trunk
For cliff-jumpin’, ocean-lovin’, leg-showin’ dads, these classic, 5.5-inch inseam swim trunks are about as cool as they get.
Shinola
Runwell Watch
Shinola makes classic watches that a) tell time and b) look great. The leather strap will patina over time, giving Dad a unique piece he’ll be able to show off for years to come.
Ariat
Bench-Made Clanton Western Boot
Durable, timeless, and made from premium American bison leather, these boots will last Dad a lifetime, whether he’s a bona fide rancher or a city slicker who just likes Western style.
Skims
Mens Zip Up Hoodie
Sunday’s were made for lounging on the couch and watching the tube. The weekend uniform? This cozy zip-up number from Skims.
Ten Thousand
Distance Short
For the dads who never miss miles, even when on vacation—or, especially when on vacation, you can’t go wrong with this stellar pair of shorts.
For the Gym Rat Dad
TRX
All-in-One Suspension Training System
Tell Pops not to, ahem, resist doing some good resistance training, as it’s an easy way to build and maintain muscle without lifting weights. It’s also easy enough to toss in a carry-on bag if they’re really on the go but don’t want to skimp out on a workout.
Hyperice
Normatec 3 Compression Recovery System
Dad can kick back on the couch and enjoy a pressurized massage with this compression recovery system. Sore legs? Never heard of ’em.
BowFlex
SelectTech 840 Adjustable Kettlebell
Linus
Roadster 7i Bicycle
That exercise bike never got any mileage, but this two-wheeler is sure to hit the road. Plus, he’ll get an outstanding evaluation from his annual physical this year.
NÜOBELL
Adjustable Dumbbells
Whether he’s a casual garage-gym hero or training to dominate the Masters division at the local powerlifting meet, these top-of-the-line adjustable dumbbells will take his training to the next level.
Lululemon
The (Big) Mat
If crushing a yoga class is Dad’s idea of a perfect Saturday morning, make sure he’s not slipping and sliding with this luxuriously grippy yoga mat from Lululemon.
For the Dad Who Loves Gear
Tom Dixon
Green Tank Whiskey Gift Set
Something that’ll make even his cheapest whiskey feel like a vintage Macallan.
Stanley
Classic Wide-Mouth Flask with Never-Lose Cap
Whether it’s for the camping trip or for sneaking into the function, the wide mouth on this eight-ounce flask means no messing with funnels or spilling whiskey when you fill it.
Patagonia
Black Hole Duffel 40L
We’ve sung the praises of Patagonia’s legendary, basically indestructible Black Hole duffels many times over. On long-haul trips, they’re almost as essential as TSA Pre-Check.
L.L. Bean
Boat and Tote Open-Top Tote
Tired: toot it and boot it. Wired: boat it and tote it.
Fluance
RT81 Elite High Fidelity Vinyl Turntable
Just like everything else from his past, vinyl is cool again. And he didn’t hoard those old records for nothing, so let him listen to his oldies the best way he knows how.
Tecovas
Barlett Weekender Duffel
One of our favorite weekender bags will have him fully packed for his next adventure, and he’ll look good on the roundtrip commute.
Oyster
Tempo Cooler
A cool dad needs a way to keep his bevvies cool, too.
Kaweco
Classic Sport Fountain Pen
If you’ve never used a proper fountain pen, it’s hard to explain just how nice the experience is. Dad will be making up excuses to write things down once you gift him this model from Kaweco.
Ooni
Karu 16 Pizza Oven
Once you get him hyped up on wood chips and firing his own pizzas, there’s no turning back. Ooni’s industry-standard pizza ovens for home use are a great gateway, with multiple fuel options to get a flame going.
Made In
Carbon Steel Griddle + Press
A versatile carbon steel griddle from chef-approved cookware brand Made In will help him master his own diner breakfasts at home. From sizzling bacon to pressing burgers and flipping flapjacks, it’s got all the real estate for a mean breakfast or lunch, and is just one other reason to stop by for a visit.
Anova
Culinary Sous Vide Pressure Cooker
For the home chef, a good gadget that’s also a cooking gadget is always a welcome choice. Now he can make restaurant-quality steaks at home without the $$$ bill, as the Anova Sous Vide will have him channeling his inner Gordon Ramsay.
Yeti
Wine Chiller
The poor man’s wine cellar is right here, delivering the perfect amount of chill to his vino so he doesn’t have to sip it room-temp with dinner.
For the Techie Dad
Apple
AirPods Pro
He’s not tuning you out on purpose, but with a pair of AirPods, he might actually be now.
Theragun
Mini Massage Gun
Every dad could use Theragun’s mini massage gun, whether they’re aiming for a PR or just need to wind down after a tough day full of meetings. This one provides plenty of percussive relief while also being small enough to toss in an overnight bag.
Sometimes all he needs is some peace and quiet, even if it’s from you.
Sonos
Era 300 Speaker
Sure, he’s going back to his roots with the vinyl, but dammit if he doesn’t appreciate the spatial audio that the Era 300 speaker supplies, then this is just a great addition to your speaker setup.
Sony
HT-5400 Speaker and Subwoofer
There are few things music lovers take to faster than a high-fidelity audio setup. Luckily, this speaker and subwoofer combination from Sony does just that, while being budget-friendly in the process. NFL Sundays will sound a lot better now, thanks to you.
Fellow
Aiden Precision Coffee Maker
It’s high time the Mr. Coffee that’s been sitting in the corner of the kitchen was sent to its retirement. Fellow’s precision coffee maker is a mighty fine replacement choice and even includes dedicated pre-sets for different roasts to ensure he’s getting the best cup of Joe every morning.
For the Perfectly Groomed Dad
Ralph Lauren
Polo 67 Eau de Toilette
He might not have revamped his cologne game since he was in high school, but this scent from Ralph Lauren—which has Aaron Judge’s stamp of approval—might get him to switch things up.
Cardon
SPF 30 Moisturizer
At a certain point, you accept the things you can’t change about your parents. And if he’s not worn a drop of sunscreen a day in his life, maybe it’s time you got him a moisturizer that sneaks in SPF. Hey, you can’t stop photo-aging but you can certainly slow it down.
Freaks of Nature
Deeper Dive Moisturizer
Founded by Kelly Slater, Freaks of Nature packs all kinds of smart and eco-friendly elements in its moisturizer that helps skin stay hydrated. Plus, it feels great on the skin and packs up nicely for travel so there’s no excuse for dad to miss out on taking care of his skin.
Braun
All-in-One Style Beard Trimmer
For the dad whose beard has been getting a little unruly since November, our favorite all-in-one trimmer will clean up his neck, and even dip into his nose and ears for a trim.
D.S. & Durga
Grey Blazer
Fragrance heads know: D.S. & Durga is the cool kid’s scent brand. Grey Blazer is one of three recent additions to the brand’s mens lines, and smells like it was tailor made for the Dad that’s still as cool as he was when he was your age.
Aesop
Shine Hair & Beard Oil
If your pops loves his beard about as much as he loves you, he’ll absolutely appreciate this top-tier beard oil. It smells incredible and is one of the easiest ways to add some life to his scruff.