A Gift for Every Type of Dad (at Every Price Point)
As is also true of moms, there is not just one type of dad. There are golf dads and tech dads and dads who drink beer, to name three of the oh so many kinds of patriarch. So we racked our brains to come up with the best gifts for the many different types of dads you may be shopping for and put together the following list of 96 options. Many are dad-worthy things that we’ve tried and loved ourselves, while others are recommendations from some of the cool people we’ve talked to over the years, like rapper G-Eazy and DJ Steve Aoki. There are even ideas from actual dads themselves. (We’ve done the same digging to find great gifts for moms, too, in case you’re looking.)
To make it even easier to shop this list, we’ve arranged the items by category; click here to jump to gifts under $25, under $50, under $100, under $200, and under $500. While we made these categories based on retail price, you’ll see that many gifts are on sale — at least for now. With December 25 getting closer and closer, there are a few items below that now may arrive after the big day. We’ve noted where this is the case but chose to keep these things on the list because the perfect gift is always one worth waiting for.
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For a few dollars more, you can upgrade him to Italian brand Proraso’s (toning) shaving cream, which barbers told us is the best on the market and what they use on their own faces.
A set of five handsome (but not precious) notebooks to help keep his scribblings in one place.
Editor’s note: Though you can order this from Amazon now, it won’t arrive until January 6 or later, according to the retailer. If you’re sold on the notebook idea, the Midori MD Notebook is a Strategist-approved pick available on Amazon for $10 and, as of now, slated to arrive by Christmas.
The black border gives this set of otherwise simple cards and envelopes a distinguished touch. Your note-writing dad will appreciate that this set comes from Crane & Co., a brand that stationery people have told us about many times.
Editor’s note: You can order these now for delivery on December 30 or later.
If he’s the only one who knows how to use the milk frother, these barista-approved stencils will let dad have a bit more fun while doing it.
Editor’s note: These stencils are sold out at most major retailers, but if you order them now on Amazon, they’ll be sent out for delivery between December 30 and January 5.
Harry Litman, a former U.S. deputy assistant attorney general in the Clinton administration, is just like your dad in that he, too, has to walk the dog. He told us this hands-free leash is the best thing he bought himself this year because it “has a waist belt,” which means he can use his hands for phone scrolling, eating, and more. “A lot of people use it for jogging with their dog,” Litman adds.
This neat tool from our list of great gifts you can get for under $10 converts zucchini, carrots, squash, and more into healthy noodles for a low-calorie spaghetti alternative.
This habanero-laced hot sauce (with the cutest mascot we’ve ever laid eyes on) should hit the spot. For value hunters, we’ve noticed that you can currently get a little more sauce for a little less money at Instacart.
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For the dad who likes oaky reds
This book on wine written by The Infatuation founder Chris Stang and Grant Reynolds, the sommelier at restaurants Legacy Records, Pasquale Jones, and Charlie Bird (which is well-known for its stellar cellar), covers everything from terminology to guides on shopping your local wine store.
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For the dad who prefers water
Nalgene’s water bottle has GOAT status (it’s on the list of our 100 most-stood-behind products ever). He’ll appreciate that and also that this looks cooler than the company-branded water bottle from that work conference in 2011 that he still carries.
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For the dad who needs a better home-office setup
First of all, he needs a better desk chair! Barring that, he might want to try this half–balance ball on his seat, which will help keep his core engaged and posture straight during the workday
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For the dad who could use a pedicure
If dad’s toes are starting to look a little gnarly, our beauty-obsessed writer Rio Viera-Newton says these heavy-duty clippers took her nails from “talons to human feet in mere minutes.”
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For the dad who keeps track of every cent
If Dad uses an old cup or bottle to collect loose change, this affordable vessel would surely be a welcome upgrade to his system. As we’ve noted, it not only holds a lot of coins but comes with a lid that can count every penny he adds and shows the jar’s total savings on a digital display.
Editor’s note: While you can order this from Amazon now, it won’t arrive until December 30, according to the retailer.
For the dad with grand plans
This is not only one of our favorite notebooks, but it was also one of the top-performers in our roundup of the 100 best notebooks. Writer Dominique Pariso tested it out and was particularly fond of the “dotted grid” page layout, which she says “gives just the right amount of constraint and freedom” — perfect for a dad who dreams big. It’s medium-size, with a hardcover and 259 pages, making this a great all-purpose notebook that’s still unique enough to stand out as a gift.
For the clean-freak dad
Strategist deputy editor Maxine Builder calls the Drillbrush — a brush attachment for your power drill — the best thing that ever happened to her shower: “The drill did all the hard work, scrubbing faster and harder than I ever could by hand, and the results were noticeable even after the first pass. All the built-up grime had basically disappeared, though I did a second round just to be sure. The nylon bristles were gentle enough that I couldn’t find a single scratch afterward.”
For the dad who is most at home in the yard
This retro-looking hammock would surely make his happy place even happier (and provide a comfy spot from which he can work on the Sunday crossword).
For the dad who always asks for socks
According to us, cool people, and former South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg, Darn Tough sells some of the best wool socks out there. They’re made in Vermont and come with a lifetime guarantee.
Editor’s note: unless you opt for expedited shipping, these may not come in time for Christmas.
For the dad whose Bics are always out of ink
When the Strategist team did a deep dive into the world of pens — testing and ranking gels, felt tips, ballpoints, rollerballs, and fountain pens to determine the 100 best — the Parker Jotter came in at a very respectable No. 7. Plus, it just looks cool.
For the dad who’s getting into skincare
For the dad who still doesn’t have wireless headphones
More than 4,000 Amazon reviewers love this super-affordable, rechargeable pair. If you think dad would prefer a fancier option, our writer Louis Cheslaw says Sony’s newest noise-canceling headphones are even better than their predecessor (which our tech contributor David Pogue called the best he’s ever tried — and he’s tried pretty much everything).
For the dad who wishes he had more time to read
In talking to authors about the best audiobooks, many said that having a book read to you means you are more likely to actually finish it because you can listen while doing other things, like the dishes, walking the dog, gardening, or driving. If Dad’s many duties are getting between him and the latest Jack Reacher thriller or Obama memoir, a subscription to Audible’s audiobook library could be just the thing.
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