Besides another “#1 Dad” mug and a game of catch in the backyard, these are the gifts your dad will love (and actually use)
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He was “cool” before cool. He helped you ride your first bike. He’s the big cheese — your dad. When it comes to shopping for your old man, there are a few misconceptions and cliches you’ll want to avoid. Your dad, in general, tends to be viewed as “the man who has everything”, therefore making it difficult to gift anything that’ll truly surprise them — but that’s just not true.
Besides another “#1 Dad” mug and a coupon for one game of catch in the backyard, the best gifts for dad are unique and tailored to your specific flavor of dad. There are tech-savvy dads that keep up with the latest Apple releases more than their kids, dads who obsessively watch the forecast for ski season weather, and dads who would be willing to cross state lines to try out the latest restaurant opened by their favorite celebrity chef.
If you want to show them your love this season (or just finally out-gift him for once during the holidays), we’ve consulted a self-proclaimed “cool dad” (my dad) to see what dads actually want to receive this year. The picks on this list are made up of editor-tested, dad-approved items (i.e. not another striped tie), along with top-rated 4+-star products anyone would love.
From personalized accessories, to big-ticket items and experiences, these gifts will make your dad-io the talk of the town (or at least the neighborhood block). But no matter what, just remember that what he really wants is for you to text him back every once and a while (just ignore those spelling mistakes, ‘k?).
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Ninja CREAMi Deluxe
Image Credit: Amazon We all know a dad who loves their superflous kitchen gadgets, whether it be the smoker they lovingly babysit for hours at a time, or the at-home nitro cold brew maker they use to avoid the coffee shop.
Coincidentally, at the top of my dad’s list this year is the Ninja CREAMi Deluxe, the next best thing to an “all expense paid trip to Dairy Queen”. Your dad can make pretty much any creamy treat this heart desires (ice cream, sorbet, even italian ices) in three simple steps: simply prepare your base, freeze overnight, process, and enjoy.
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Jabra Elite 10 True Wireless Earbuds
Image Credit: Jabra We’ve tested a lot of earbuds here, and many a wireless pair has also gone through their own rigorous third-party testing process (aka, asking my dad what he also thinks). No matter how many have been thrown his way, the ones he always comes back to are these Jabra Elite 10 buds. Not only does their semi-open design make them comfortable to wear for a full workday, their six-mic technology picks up your voice and nothing else, making them superior for phone calls.
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Flint and Tinder Aran Cable Knit Crewneck Sweater
Image Credit: Huckberry A cozy sweater is always a good holiday gift — and nothing is as cozy as a traditional Irish Aran sweater. We’re a big fan of this lambswool cable knit crewneck from Flint and Tinder, inspired by the pattern worn by style icon Steve McQueen in The Thomas Crown Affair. But it’s the opposite of stuffy, with the kind of charm that’s begging to be shown off, whether he’s around the house or just out running errands.
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Kizik Lima Slip-On Sneakers
Image Credit: Amazon “Your dad needs a good slip-on sneaker for knocking around the house, not just Hokas”. Billed as ‘the easiest shoe you’ll ever put on’, Kizik’s Lima kicks combine the convenience of a slip-on sneaker with the adjustability of a lace-up. They provide plenty of cushion for standing on your feet for hours say, mowing the lawn, and the heel is wide enough that you can slip these on and off without crushing it.
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NFL+ Subscription
Image Credit: Verizon Don’t let your old man be caught scrambling to get his streaming setup ready for the 2024 NFL season. Another dad-approved pick, finish off the official NFL season right by gifting him the ability to catch all the game-winning plays live. Through Verizon’s +play, you can get him an NFL+ Premium annual subscription, which includes access to live local and primetime games on mobile, NFL RedZone, NFL Network, game replays and more – all for just $39.99 a year.
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Flash Limp Adjustable Dumbbells
Image Credit: Amazon Forget that home workout rack your dad has collecting dust in the basement — get him something simple and effective with these best-selling adjustable dumbbells. They come fully assembled with up to 25 lbs, and adjusting the weight is incredibly easy, thanks to a nifty dial system on either end of the dumbbell. In our testing, we were able to switch weight in just a few seconds.
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Stanley Tumbler Cup
Image Credit: Amazon “Your father wants that cup,” my mom texted me a few days back. “You know the one. The BIG one.” Stanley’s Quencher H2.0 Flowstate is not only a perfectly dad-sized tumbler, but will answer all your dad’s complaints about the temperature of his beverages. It promises to keep his hot drinks hot for seven hours and cold drinks cold for 11 hours (for iced bevvies, you’ll get up to a whopping two days). The new rotating lid is also great for sipping on the go, designed for three positions: a splash-resistant straw opening that holds the reusable straw in place, a drink opening, and a full-cover top.
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FYY Travel Cable Organizer
Image Credit: Amazon For the dads that are traveling plenty for work, that means shlepping all their tangled cables, power adapters, and power banks with them. Finding the right place for all of these accessories can be tough, which is why we’ve been recommended FYY’s Travel Cable Organizer. The travel tote is filled with straps — some adjustable, some fixed — and dual bungie pockets that designed specifically to hold cables and similar accessories. This’ll make grabbing his charger mid-flight without disturbing his seat neighbors a breeze, we promise.
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ProXR The Story Pickleball Paddle
Image Credit: Amazon “One word: PickleBall. Get your old man off the couch…if he has an ounce of athletic ability and is doing nothing, get him moving with this paddle and go whoop his butt on the court.” Yes sir! Designed with the same grip tech used by MLB and NHL players, ProXR’s game-changing paddle was specifically engineered to optimize your hand’s connection with the handle. Based on design alone, this racket will have your old man playing like a pro (or at least looking like one).
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Mr. Coffee Mug Warmer
Image Credit: Amazon Yes, dad, an optimally warm cup of Joe can achievable: this Mr. Coffee Mug Warmer proves it. “Get him a coffee heating pad like this one…it has to be very HOT or else 150% of Dads will complain ‘my coffee isn’t hot enough.’” The wireless heating device — essentially a powered coaster — is something he’ll use every day, and costs just $15.
“You could also get him this heated tumbler,” my dad adds. “But it has to be ripping hot!”
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Crescent 150-Piece Professional Tool Set
Image Credit: Amazon “Your toolkit should cover most tools versus whatever hodge-podge of loose tools he might have laying around the garage,” according to my dad. “It has to be over 100 tools, or it’s lame.” Well, Crescent’s professional tool set is decidedly not lame, featuring a carefully-selected assortment of hand tools needed for most jobs around the house. He’ll get adjustable wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, all made from chrome alloy steel for a stronger, longer life to his tools.
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Qobuz Subscription
Image Credit: Qobuz It might be hard to get your dad to part with his favorite throwback radio stations (believe us, we’ve tried), but there’s no better music streaming service for audiophiles than Qobuz. He can listen to all his favorites, from Bob Dylan to The Allman Brothers, in better-than-CD-quality high resolution. Not to mention he can also get access to albums with digital liner notes, something we’re sure he laments about physical releases these days — all for as low as $10.83 a month.
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Aura Mason WiFi Digital Picture Frame
Image Credit: Amazon With high-quality photos, Aura’s Mason picture frame works via a companion app that connects to your digital library. The app boasts unlimited cloud storage for endless photos and sends pictures to any frame in your Aura network. This means you can have a few frames around the house, or send images on a shared network from different households. But no matter what, “it should include all great picture of you and him together!”
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Ooni Karu 12G Multi-Fuel Pizza Oven
Image Credit: Ooni If your dad is obsessed with making his own pizza as mine is (his assistance was instrumental in helping out with this review), then Ooni’s Karu 12G is the best you can get. The outdoor oven runs on wood pellets, charcoal, or gas, which makes it incredibly versatile depending on how smokey you want to take your pie. It reaches a top temperature of 950 degrees, and for making 12-inch pies in as little as 60 seconds, your dad can easily turn his backyard into the best pizza party spot on the block.
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NBA Tickets
Image Credit: NBA “Court side tickets to their favorite NBA team might be expensive, however…you might want to go for it. Only if the team is good, though,” advises my dad. No matter how the season is going for him this year, surprise your old man with tickets to a seat (maybe not neccesarily courtside) to see them play live. Favorite team not in his area? Let him stream his favorite teams with a service like DirecTV Stream, fuboTV, or NBA League Pass.
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Parkit The Voyager Chair
Image Credit: Parkit If your dad is the designated beach chair-lugger, cooler-roller, and bag-holder, then make his life easier with Parkit’s best-selling Voyager outdoor chair. Right below the seat is a welded and sealed cooler, with easy access to quickly grab a cold one, and it all packs up to a lightweight 12 lbs with hands-free back straps to carry home.
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Casio A158WA 1DF Watch
Image Credit: Amazon This reliable retro watch can transition with your dad’s style, from “just a little dorky with the tucked in polo and New Balances”, to “chic, Eighties summer vibes”. The quartz-powered watch has a classic, easy-to-read digital face with a sturdy mineral dial window. Bringing him a sure fit, this is soon to become his new every-day favorite watch.
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Stetson Legend Cologne
Image Credit: Amazon You’re dad’s a legend in his own right, so get him this Stetson Legend cologne to help him step out of the house everyday feeling like one. It’s a little woodsy, not too musky, and definitely not the same Old Spice he’s been layering on for years. With notes of sage, mesquite, cedarwood, sandalwood, and worn leather, it’s the perfect scent for a true (sub)urban cowboy.
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Theragun Mini Massage Gun
Image Credit: Amazon “Ow, my back!” is the international dad mantra — but with a Theragun on hand to massage his sore muscles after a workout, road trip or a day of sitting at the office, he may be saying it less than usual. The company’s Mini 2.0 massage therapy device can last for up to two hours per charge, is super easy to grip, and it features Theragun’s QuietForce tech. In other words, it’s not going to be super loud when your dad wants to use it for his workout recovery.
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AirFly Pro
Image Credit: Twelve South For any dad who hates those crinkly little earbuds on airplanes, Twelve South’s AirFly Pro is an essential accessory if he’s got a pair of Bluetooth earbuds and just wants to zone out on his next flight. The wireless transmitter allows him to connect headphones to wired sources, like a plane’s in-flight entertainment center, or modern gym equipment.
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Velotric Electric Bike
Image Credit: Velotric Got a dad with a need for speed? An electric bike a great upgrade to dad’s transportation options this holiday season. If you want to treat him to an e-bike, this Discover 1 from Velotric is a great choice. It boasts a 500-watt battery that has some serious kick, and you can expect up to 60 miles of range, depending on rider weight and speed (in our testing, we got around 45, which is more than enough for a commute).
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Grateful Dead Hedley & Bennett Apron
Image Credit: Hedley & Bennett Jamming out to “Friend of the Devil” while cooking dinner isn’t the only way for your dad to bring the Grateful Dead into the kitchen. Get your Dead Head dad this tough, stretchy Hedley & Bennett apron, with stitched on tie-dye patchwork pockets so he can free up his hands and store utensils, a bottle opener, or any other tools while he’s prepping a meal.
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Breville Bambino Espresso Machine
Image Credit: Breville For the java-obsessed dad, this Breville Bambino Plus will do more for his morning cup of Joe than any instant powder. The machine holds a 19-gram dose of ground coffee to deliver full flavor and barista-style performance, in addition to letting him adjust the milk temperature and texture to suit his taste. Dads want their coffee fast, fresh and with the quality of their favorite local café (who doesn’t?), so he’s sure to love this small but mighty espresso machine.
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Vinyl Me Please Subscription
Image Credit: Vinyl Me Please There’s no school like the old school, and dad’s that can’t get enough of the “warmth” of the vinyl sound will love a Vinyl Me Please subscription. This is a record-of-the-month club that ships exclusive LPs straight to his door, so he won’t have to go crate-digging himself. You can gift a three-month, six-month, or 12-month membership, and members can choose the genre they want from there, from classics to new releases alike.
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Abercrombie Pattern Button-Through Sweater Polo
Image Credit: Abercrombie & Fitch While dads are notorious for their decades-old t-shirt collections and color-blocking golf shirts, this one from Abercrombie & Fitch is a classy, timeless style that won’t cramp his style. It’s got a luxe sweater-knit feel and relaxed-fit silhouette that will look as good as the bar as it will at a backyard BBQ or on the golf course.
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Sonos Roam Bluetooth Speaker
Image Credit: Sonos If your dad loves to take his tunes wherever he goes, upgrade his sound with this portable Bluetooth speaker from Sonos. The handheld Roam is the brand’s smallest wireless speaker yet, but he won’t have to worry about anything happening to it thanks to its drop-resistant and waterproof design. Your dad can connect it to his phone to stream his playlists for 10 full hours, or use Alexa and Google Assistant to check the weather forcast before he turns the grill on.
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