The Perfect Gift for Him: Presents for Dads, Husbands, and Brothers They Won’t Just Return
For a group that takes such a laid back approach to gifting…
What do you want for your birthday? Nothing.
Is there anything you’ve been hoping to get for Father’s Day? Nah, I’ll pick something up.
I know you’ve been needing a new [insert clothing item here]... what size? I don’t know.
… guys can be seriously tough to shop for. If the guy in your life needs or wants something enough, chances are he’ll just buy it for himself. And even if he does have something sitting at the top of his wishlist, psychologists suggest that he might feel awkward about asking for it.
So what’s a thoughtful gift giver like you to do?
Well for starters, try not to stress too much – finding the perfect gift for him can seem daunting, but our gifting experts have culled the internet for the best of the best. From research-backed gift ideas to best-selling practical items that have a place in any brother, partner, or parent’s life, we’re taking a look at thoughtful gifts he *won’t* leave in his trunk for a month until he can return or exchange them.
💳 Gift Cards for Him
Okay, bear with me here. Gift cards tend to get a bad reputation because people think they aren’t thoughtful or personal enough, but the truth of the matter is that most people appreciate the gesture more than you might think.
For men in particular – who, even in the 2020s, report feeling psychological distress about whether or not they’re providing enough for their partners/families – a gift card for their favorite video game platform or sporting goods store can be a nice way of saying, “Hey, you spend enough money on bills, so why don’t you treat yourself to something fun?”
A recent Bank of America study found that a whopping 96% of consumers would be just as satisfied (or more satisfied) with a gift card compared to a physical gift. Only 4% of respondents reported that they would be happier with a physical gift over a gift card. Men have also just overtaken women as the primary buyers of gift cards – so clearly, they don’t think it’s too shabby of a gift!
That’s the case for why to get your favorite guy a gift card, but what gift cards are actually at the top of his list? According to this year’s data, here are a few of your top options:
Amazon: Not only can they get practically any item imaginable delivered to their doorstep in two days flat with Prime shipping, they can also use an Amazon gift card on streaming, music, books, or even groceries. That’s hard to beat in terms of utility.
Home Depot: Forget knocking items off of the honey-do list – giving him a gift card to Home Depot is like setting a kid loose in a toy store. Only these toys are bigger, louder, and have rotary blades.
REI: For the guy who loves the great outdoors, REI is their one-stop shop for camping, biking, hiking, rock climbing, and so much more.
Nike: Whether he’s in the market for a new pair of kicks, his gym gear deserves an upgrade after that last PR, or he’s fully committed to the athleisure lifestyle, a Nike gift card is always a great gift for him.
Best Buy: Does the dude in your life prefer the higher-tech things in life? Give him free reign to upgrade his gaming setup or home office with a Best Buy gift card.
Plus, it’s easier than ever before to personalize a gift card – whether you’re having them delivered by text, email, or mail. With Perfect Gift, you can create the perfect physical or digital gift card for any occasion in just a few clicks.
🎧 Cool Gadgets for Him
For guys who are plugged into the latest tech innovations, it can be hard to snag a gift that aligns with their interests before they get it for themselves – particularly if they’re the type to line up outside the Apple store for the latest iPhone release or upgrade their keyboard and headphones any time their go-to brand puts out a new model.
Luckily, there are plenty of other tech toys that make great gifts for the gadget freaks and non-geeky alike! GLANCE Scoreboard
Image courtesy of GLANCE.
This one has tons of cool applications. For the sports fan, it can track and display the score of his favorite teams in real time. For the armchair (or pro) investor, it tracks stocks, mutual funds, FOREXs, commodities, precious metals, and more.
The best part is, the GLANCE Scoreboard has an easy, no-code setup – so all he has to do is power it up, choose his favorite teams and assets, and it’ll start rotating through 30+ assets live all day long. Score.
Camp Snap Camera
Smart phones have crazy good cameras these days – like, better than the fancy DSLR I saved up and bought for myself when I got into photography in college. And it’s just right there, at his fingertips, all the time. But putting a screen in between yourself and the moment you want to capture breaks the magic in a way old point and shoot cameras didn’t.
That's where the idea for Camp Snap cameras came from. They’re digital cameras without a screen, so he can stay immersed. Plus, the photos have a cool vintage effect to them for instant nostalgia.
LOOI Desk Robot
Image courtesy LOOI.
Technology is a complicated topic these days. Setting aside for a second concerns about AI takeovers, economic crashes, and environmental impact… didn’t we all imagine having a robot buddy at some point as a kid? The LOOI Desk Robot brings that magic to life with a friendly little companion he can keep by his side on those long, boring work days.
🖋️ Elevate His EDC
His EDC (aka, Every Day Carry) is the set of items he has with him, you guessed it – every single day. Think wallets, keychains, pocket knives, lighters, pens, and even functional jewelry like fidget rings or paracord survival bracelets. There’s a whole website dedicated to “pocket dumps” showing off real people’s most essential stuff for inspiration, but these are some of the hottest EDC items of the last year or so.
Ekster Wallet
Image courtesy of Ekster.
Low-profile, RFID-blocking wallets are a big deal in the EDC world, and for a long time, shiny carbon fiber ones reigned supreme. These days, the preferred look is a more classic leather finish with all of the same modern amenities.
The Ekster wallet holds 12 cards (yes in that little wallet!), has a handy quick access button to slide them out of the case, and is made with sustainable materials and environmentally certified manufacturing processes.
Imalent BL70 6000lm Flashlight
Image courtesy of Flashlight To Go.
You never know when you’ll need a small, versatile light, and this flashlight fits the bill. The BL70 offers six distinct brightness levels ranging from a cozy 10 lumens for close up tasks to a powerful 6,000 lumens for maximum visibility.
Leatherman Bond
Image courtesy of Leatherman.
Leatherman is the gold standard in multitools. If he doesn’t have one he inherited for a dad or grandfather… chances are, he wants one.
Or at the very least, will use it all the time if you get it for him.
The lightweight tool has all sorts of handy attachments, like pliers, screwdrivers, and a blade.
💆 Self Care Gifts He’ll Actually Use
No 3-in-1 shampoo/conditioner/body wash monstrosities here. Guys deserve to treat themselves too, and these self care gifts for him will encourage him to luxuriate a little bit.
Philips Norelco Wet & Dry Electric Shaver
Image courtesy of Philips.
A clean, close shave that won’t irritate even sensitive facial skin? Now that’s a quality of life upgrade. Philips Norelco shavers get great reviews thanks to their 5D pivot and Flex Head technology, which ensure a comfortable shaving experience every time.
Manta Sound Sleep Mask
Image courtesy of Manta.
Did you know that 61% of Americans fall asleep with the tv on for background noise? And nearly half of millennials and gen z-ers report that they simply can’t fall asleep in silence. But leaving a screen on to bathe you in blue light all night can actually disrupt your circadian rhythm, alter your sleep-wake cycle, and even cause health issues. Yikes.
The Manta Sleep Mask is a simple solution. The ultra thin bluetooth can play music, white noise, podcasts, or whatever he prefers to snooze to, all while the comfortable zero-pressure 100% blackout eye mask helps him get the most restful shut eye of his life.
Graphite Body Wash
Image courtesy of Bath & Body Works.
Bath & Body Works might be known for their perfumes, home fragrance, and most of all, their three-wick candles – but they have a solid selection of masculine personal fragrance items as well! If he’s not usually the type to indulge in some fancy body wash, he might chuckle when he unwraps it… but once he takes a whiff of scents like classic Honorable, invigorating Ocean, sultry Noir, or smooth Bourbon, he’ll be reaching for it every time he showers.
Our rec? Graphite. Available in body wash and hydrating lotion, the rugged notes of leather woods, sage, and bergamot are a fan favorite.
Art of Shaving Sandalwood Shaving Kit
Image courtesy of Art of Shaving.
Take his shaving routine to the next level! He’ll get the barber shop experience every time with this four-piece, full-sized Shaving Kit in the scent sandalwood.
🎮 Gifts for His Gaming Setup
Whether he’s a console gamer or a PC man, prefers classic Nintendo titles or is always waiting on the latest release, any guy who games is sure to appreciate some new gear for his gaming setup.
Luckily, you can go as big or small as you want with gifts for gamers and still find just the thing.
GOVEE Gaming Pixel Light
Image courtesy of GOVEE.
Take him back to a simpler time, when all of his enemies could be beaten with a super missile or a Master Sword. The GOVEE Gaming Pixel Light lets him customize his battle station with dynamic gifs, 150+ preset scenes, and the ability to generate new displays with a combo of his own creativity and the power of AI. Plus with a variety of dynamic music modes, he can create a custom visual and auditory environment that’s perfect for kicking back with his favorite casual game or bringing down every enemy with his buddies.
Custom Gamer Tag Neon Sign
Image courtesy of Etsy.
Gamers take their tags (aka, usernames) pretty seriously. Make his setup that much cooler by getting his emblemized in neon with a custom gamer tag sign from Neonopia on Etsy.
UC INNOVATE Acrylic Keyboard Stand
Image courtesy of Amazon.
Not all game-related gifts have to be big and flashy. This simple keyboard riser will make his PC gaming setup WAY more ergonomic, which means he can game more and more comfortably than ever before. It improves posture, minimizes muscle strain, and has a programmable backlight for the aesthetic aspect, too.
🥩 Soup Up His Kitchen or Grill Station
Calling all home chefs and grillmasters! These cooking gifts for him are *chefs kiss*.
Pizza Grill
Image courtesy of Uncommon Goods.
Give his home made pizza pies even more flavor with this ingenious little oven. The Boska Holland Grilled Personal Pizza Maker lets him cook a delicious, brick-oven style pie right on the grill.
Derek Wolf Dry Rub Bestsellers Set
Image courtesy of Spiceology.
Derek Wolf’s Beer-Infused Dry Rubs get a lot of love online. Now, he can sample four to find his favorite brew!
📚 Gifts for the Bookworm
Looking for something a little more cerebral? We’ve got you covered. These bookworm approved gifts would look great in his office or next to his favorite reading chair.
Author Clock
Image courtesy of Authorclock.
Telling the time with book quotes seems… impossible, right? A different quote for every single minute of the day? But Author Clock makes it a reality! With 13,000+ literary quotes spanning seven centuries and six continents, it’s the most unique way to tell time on the market… and a gift any reader will be thrilled to unwrap.
Book Nook Reading Valet
Image courtesy of Uncommon Goods.
Books make great decor – just ask anyone with a big bookshelf full of novels, textbooks, or WWII memoirs. The Book Nook Reading Valet gives that corner where he throws his glasses and keys a much needed upgrade. It has a dedicated spot to hold his place in his latest read, along with his drink of choice and other personal essentials.
🎸 Gifts for the Music Lover
Sick of gifting concert tickets and guitar picks? Not to worry. The musician in your life will love these totally unique music-themed gifts.
Carmine Street Guitars Pickguard
Image courtesy of Carmine Street Guitars.
Run by Rick Kelly, Carmine Street Guitars is an NYC-based shop known for making handcrafted guitars out of wood salvaged from some of the Big Apple’s most historic buildings. The brand’s star studded clientele has included Bob Dylan, Lou Reed, Patti Smith, and more… and they’ve even crafted guitars out of wood from legendary music landmarks like CBGB and Hotel Chelsea.
If you don’t have a couple grand to drop on a new guitar, there are plenty of cool items with lower price tags – like scratch guards, home decor, and apparel to choose from.
Sound Wave Wall Art
Image courtesy of Etsy.
Make (sound) waves with this 100% unique gift! Turn his favorite song into one-of-a-kind sound wave art he can hang in his home thanks to WestridgeART on Etsy.
Every man is unique, and finding the perfect gift for him ultimately comes down to knowing the guy you’re shopping for.
Ultimately, the perfect gift for him can be many things – and what’s perfect for one guy might not necessarily be the perfect gift for every guy. But these top-rated gifts should be a good start! Put on your thinking cap, consider the things he likes and the things he needs, and you’re sure to find a gift your guy is going to love. Good luck, and happy shopping!
