Gift Guide #11: Guys
Nice guys finish first.
Is it just me, or are most gift guides for men boring? Flannel shirts, tools disguised as keychains, oh and yet another record player for a man who listens to audiobooks. Snooze. Let’s step up our game, Gift Guide Factory!
The men I know have surprisingly strong opinions on how their shirts fit, already have plenty of water bottles thank you very much, and at the end of the day place usefulness far above following trends.
With this in mind, I tried to select gift ideas that match the men I know. Men like my friend D, a former colleague, who never fails to encourage me when I’m in a hard spot. Or my brother who traveled up and down the East Coast with me to see Coldplay before they got kind of weird. Or my dad whose tender presence seems to instantly sooth each fussy baby that crosses his path. And of course my dear husband who always deserves more and better than he asks for.
This list is divided into categories in an effort to make these suggestions manageable, but the gifts should hopefully work for any guy in your life — nephew, colleague, cousin, college buddy, etc. Hopefully this list doesn’t bring on a nap like some of the other lists out there!
What is it with guys and fire? If your brother is living the apartment life and can’t fulfill his Solo Stove dreams, maybe a small fire will do? The FLIKR is a clever version of a fire pit that’s safe for indoor use and uses rubbing alcohol for fuel. Because these are made of concrete, they cost a small fortune to mail. Order via Jeff Bezos, and let him pick up the tab for shipping! Pro tip: throw in a bottle of rubbing alcohol to get this fire started pronto.
There are a million Bluetooth speakers out there, and chances are your bro may have one. But does he have a JBL Speaker? It’s a workhorse when it comes to durability and battery life.
For a long spell, my brother essentially lived in airport lounges and Hampton Inns. This 2-in-1 garment duffel would have come in handy as it will store a suit, shoes, and several days’ worth of clothes. Exterior pockets are perfect for stashing a laptop, papers, and an iPad.
There’s something about doing ordinary things overseas that feels magical. Like golfing abroad. I have it on good authority (mostly from men who golf) that golf is better when you had to use your passport to get there. Malin & Mizen makes incredibly detailed maps that memorialize things like golfing in Ireland or surfing in Spain or camping in Britain. They even classify pub crawls as a sport – ha! My kind of people.
Not everyone can have an outdoor kitchen. No, the rest of us lug a bunch of stuff from the kitchen to the outdoor grill and then back again. And for those people like us looking to upgrade our lug life, there is this wooden grill caddy.
This next idea might not be for everyone, but it most certainly is for the fishers and hunters among us. Especially those who like beer.
Here is a collection of buttery-soft blankets adorned with NFL team logos that isn’t garish. These are on super sale!
If your brother is saying no to screen time, he might enjoy this non-fiction book that reads like a novel and comes to us courtesy of the guy who brought us Killers of the Flower Moon. “On January 28, 1742, a ramshackle vessel of patched-together wood and cloth washed up on the coast of Brazil. The Wager is a grand tale of human behavior at the extremes told by one of our greatest nonfiction writers.”
As I get older, I’m starting to have a lot more rules for traveling. Have a bag of toiletries packed at all times. Bring slippers or flip flops with you for hotel rooms. And a set of nice pajamas somehow makes me feel more relaxed when I’m away from home. Maybe it’s because I’ll look good in the hotel lobby during an unfortunate 3 a.m. fire alarm? Here’s a set of Lake pajamas that might help your brother feel more at home when he’s on the road.
The Solo Stove has probably been the biggest purchase I made sight unseen based off the recommendation of someone online (Five Marys, I’m looking at you!). But WHOA what a great gift this was for my husband a few years back. It’s true that you will not smell like smoke after enjoying an evening around this thing. Highly recommend buying a handle if you choose to give some lucky person one of these!
I think we are the only ones in our zip code without an outdoor griddle. Everyone seems to have a Blackstone these days!
This is on the smaller side of gifts, but the Thermapen is an excellent tool for the cooks in your life. It’s easy to use and doesn’t have weird cords that will choke everything in your utensil drawer.
Why should kids be the only ones who get to enjoy nice pajamas at Christmas? This set of cotton pajamas in plaid will feel special and come in handy when you visit the relatives during the holidays. Monogram them if you want to feel like a Rockefeller.
You can thank my Instagram algorithm for this next one, and let me tell ya that algorithm knows me better than I know myself! This button up shirt from Poncho is ideal for Southern weathers as it features a fast-drying and light weight performance fabric. The company also makes heavier-weight shirts, all outfitted with their clever secret pocket and built-in lens cloth.
One day I was scrolling through the website of a British bookseller wondering why the artwork on their books is always so much better than our books, and then I came across acclaimed novelist Len Deighton. I purchased one book from a series of three books about spies moving back and forth across the U.K. and Germany during the Cold War. I was hooked by page 3. Because sharing is caring, I also got my husband hooked on Len Deighton books. Since that gateway book, my husband and I have devoured several books — my husband is at 10 books read, while I stand at a measly 3. But the holidays are a-comin’, and Santa may bring me (and you!) more books. This is a set of Deighton’s I’ve yet to read, and it includes: Berlin Game, Mexico Set, and London Match.
I have a confession. I strayed from my beloved (and pricey) Aesop shampoo, and my hair has not forgiven me. To make amends for my recklessness, I would like to introduce you to another product of theirs. The Aesop Moroccan Neroli shaving duet feels like you’re on vacation. In a really nice hotel. In some faraway location with beaches and sun but not so much so that you get sunburned or have sand in your luggage. Quiet luxuries in turbulent times for the win.
A lightweight messenger bag for when he’s traveling without you and can’t put his things in your purse.
This one is a bit out there, but boy is it guaranteed to be a surprise – a custom neon sign. Now, they aren’t really “neon” but really LED lights. And they aren’t heavy cumbersome things because they are made of lightweight acrylic. You can even have it displayed on a built-in stand! If your partner has a space of his own, like a basement bar, this could be a unique – and affordable – idea for a gift.
My closet resembles a very small Rothy’s store, so you’ll have to take my word that I am not biased (or paid) when I say their slippers make a wonderful gift.
If the dads and fathers-in-law in your life are like mine, they have a Mission Control Center beside their recliner. This charging tray may come in handy for keeping that center tidy. Add a monogram to look like the world’s most clever gift giver.
An authentic Irish woolen blanket for those men in your life waving the tricolor, and an authentic Scottish woolen blanket for those men in your life waving St. Andrew’s cross.
Dad jokes fit just about anywhere, including on tea towels.
I know Last Train to Paradise is a perfect non-fiction book for dads because my dad gave this book to me. “The fast-paced and gripping true account of the extraordinary construction and spectacular demise of the Key West Railroad—one of the greatest engineering feats ever undertaken, destroyed in one fell swoop by the strongest storm ever to hit U.S. shores.”
And Water to Angels, another non-fiction book by the same author, because deep down my dad is always going to be as in love with Los Angeles as I am. “The author of Last Train to Paradise tells the story of the largest public water project ever created—William Mulholland’s Los Angeles aqueduct—a story of Gilded Age ambition, hubris, greed, and one determined man whose vision shaped the future and continues to impact us today.” Go, Dodgers!
If your dad is handy in the kitchen, maybe he’d like a Sous Vide? My dad sure did! Set him up for cooking success with this container and this comprehensive book filled with tips and recipes.
Happy shopping!
Amazon affiliate links abound in this post, and you know what that means. I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase via one of these links. I do solemnly swear I only suggest products that will make you look like a genius gift giver!