Welcome to my favorite post of 2019.
A few weeks ago I asked on Instagram if gift guides were helpful and if so, what category did you guys want to see. The answers were overwhelming! So many of you responded. . but you only gave me 2 answers. Men (dads, brothers, boyfriends, husbands) and moms/mother in laws. I am HERE TO HELP. Today we are tackling the dudes, Friday we will take on the mamas.
Shopping for guys is a huge struggle for me as well so I took this seriously. The following gift guide is brought to you by my husband, dad, brother-in-laws, and guy friends. My panel of experts (especially my Dad and brother in law Justin!) spent a serious amount of time helping me. They came up with the ideas and every item has been approved by them! Here are the keys to the kingdom.
GADGETS & GIZMOS
This was the category that the guys most encouraged. Justin’s advice was to focus on treats that a guy wouldn’t usually buy himself, but would love having! I drew a total blank when he said that, so thankfully he and my dad had some ideas!
a) Apple Airpods. If I can emphasize one gift it is this! They may seem pricey but everyone should own a pair of Airpods! They are truly amazing and make the perfect gift!
b) Ember Temperature Control Smart Mug This is an electric mug that keeps your coffee hot, controlled by an app! This is a fun gift because it totally falls into the category of things you wouldn’t buy for yourself. I was given one as a Christmas gift a few years ago and it is game changing!
c) Swell Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle
d) Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker – JBL Flip 5
e) Digital Meat Thermometer for Grilling My dad spoke very highly of this!
g) Pro V 1 Golf Balls Apparently the best golf balls in all the land.
h) Electric Meat Smoker This is a PERFECT group gift. My siblings and I all chipped in for my dad a few years back and it is the gift that keeps on giving! We all reap the benefits of my dad’s meat smoking now, haha! This is the exact model we got my Dad and he loves it.
i) Measuring Tape & j) Flashlight I think this makes a great simple gift to combine. They both come in two packs so you could split them up.
k) Golf Rangefinder If you have a golfer in your life this is a total treat!
l) Roku turn any TV into a smart TV!
m) Moccamaster Coffee Brewer another splurge item that makes a great group gift. As someone who received a Moccamaster as a gift trust me when I say – you will make them ridiculously happy. It is every bit as wonderful as it seems.
n) Back & Neck Massager Sounds wonderful and has great reviews!
o) Hammock For the outdoorsy type!
SUBSCRIPTIONS
This category was my dad’s idea! All of them have price ranges and you can choose how many months to give, so you can really customize it based on how much you are looking to spend!
a) Stitch Fix for Men Spruce up your guys wardrobe with a box of clothes put together by a stylist. What is nice here is that the guy is the one who gets to customize the box!
b) Amazon Gift Card because in the words of my dad “ain’t nobody don’t want an Amazon gift card”.
c) Rounds of Golf Justin came up with this one! Call your man’s favorite golf course and buy him a couple rounds of golf, or call a local pro shop to have him fitted for a new set of golf clubs. Justin really emphasized how fun it is to receive experiences as gifts!
d) Book of the Month another subscription based totally on the recipients taste! Perfect for the reader in your life!
e) Monthly Shaving Kit Subscription I’ve heard good things about both Dollar Shave Club & Harry’s Subscription
h) Youtube TV Subscription Like cable, but better.
APPAREL
Okay lastly, apparel. It is last for a reason. Most of the guys I talked to said they would prefer not to receive clothes. That said, I know it is still a go-to gift and so I selected things that were all approved by my panel of men!
a) Charles Tyrwhitt Dress Shirts These are my dad and Dan’s favorites! They have amazing deals and are excellent quality!
b) Slippers Everyone likes cozy feet.
c) & d) Christmas Jammies. A classic!
e) Fossil Watch & f) Smartwatch A nice watch is a great gift if you know your guy’s style! I love that Fossil has both traditional watches and stylish smartwatches!
g) Sweater Half-Zip My dad said these are his favorite!
i) Chukka Boot & j) Cap Toe Boot
k) Leather Weekender Bag & l) Canvas Weekender Bag
m) Cotton Henley Comfy and great for layering!
n) Rayban Aviators & o) Clubmaster Sunglasses My dad has owned his Raybans since 1984 proving that a good pair of sunglasses never goes out of style.
p) Basic Hoodie My dad encouraged these hoodies because they don’t have a logo! A good closet staple!
s) & t) Aqua Di Gio Jake from Hollister Cologne is always a great gift (especially for a boyfriend/husband). If you are looking for something high end I love Aqua Di Gio, if you are looking to spend less honestly nothing smells as good as Jake from Hollister. Ha!
WOO. That’s all folks. This has been a FUN project to work on and I truly hoping it is helpful!! Here’s to one-stop-shopping! I’ll see you Friday as we tackle the next tricky category: moms!
These are fabulous ideas! I struggle with gifts for our sons, my husband, and most of all, my SIL, but not this year! Thanks so much for your help!