When I was little, my brother and I tried to think of the best gifts to get our dad for Father’s Day. We watched him closely, studying the thing he reached for the most — thinking that once we figured it out, that would be his most treasured item.
It wasn’t difficult to decipher. What my dad prized the most in the world was … handkerchiefs. (This was a time before cellphones.)
The bandana-style squares he always kept in his back pocket were like Swiss Army knives made of fabric. They were perfect for wiping our runny noses, cleaning up a mess in a jiffy and becoming a sock puppet in moments when emergency humor was required. So every year, we got him a new pack in bright colors, delighted in the knowledge that he would think of us every time he sneezed.
This tradition was meaningful not for the expense of the item, and certainly not for its beauty; we liked it because it made us a part of his day when we weren’t around. This year, I asked the dads I know for the useful tools that would make their lives a little happier, easier and more fun. Because let’s be honest, you’re not getting him a fancy watch, and he probably has enough whiskey rocks. (The correct amount of whiskey rocks is zero.)
Below, some shopping ideas and thematic inspiration for kids of all ages as they try to show their gratitude to the guy who can be the hardest to shop for: dear old dad.
For Adventure Dad
DURABLE HEADPHONES. The H20 Audio Tri 2 Multi-Sport headphones ($150) are waterproof and can be used while swimming laps or running in all weather conditions.
A HOT HAT. Upgrade his Mountain Gear hiking cap with a hat that has some actual shape to it. Melin’s Odysea Stacked Hydro hat ($89) beads away water, while its perforated rear panels allow air to flow through his hair. Choose between colors like pink, emerald and crimson.
THE BEST CHEST PACK. Whether he’s hiking, hunting, trail running or just needs his gear (and snacks) handy, a Kuiu Pro chest pack ($179) keeps everything from binoculars to beef jerky within arm’s reach.
AN APPLE WATCH UPGRADE. Does Dad love his Apple Watch but wish it looked a little more substantial? Get him the rugged Nomad Stratos bracelet ($185), with titanium links and a flexible, high-performance rubber spine. It won’t show dirt like the bright straps that come with the watch, and it will take a licking in the yard, at the gym or in the pool.
A HIGH-CLASS HAULER. If he’s less of a mountaineer and more of a mileage warrior, arm him with the most functional carry-on bag there is: the Briggs & Riley medium cargo backpack ($399), which can fit a 15-inch laptop in a special rear sleeve, has a slip-through back panel for placing it on your rolly suitcase handle, and has enough pockets and interior compartments to satisfy his obsessive organizational impulses.
For Culture Dad
A TURNKEY TURNTABLE. Audiophiles will geek out over this McIntosh MTI100 Integrated Turntable ($8,000), which is a record player, preamplifier and amplifier all in one. It can handle analog and digital inputs and just looks peachy on the console.
THE DAD DIARY. You may know that Detroit-based watchmaker Shinola offers well-made leather goods, but you might not know it also sells sturdy notebooks ($30) that make great journals. Get it monogrammed with his initials so he can feel like a true TC (Truman Capote).
AN EASEL AND PAINTS. Does Pop need a hobby? An acrylic paint and easel set from Medeen ($190) is a great way to kick-start his dreams of being the next Bob Ross. Bob’s old episodes are up on YouTube , and if Dad starts now, maybe his work will also be worth hundreds of thousands one day .
A DESKTOP DUO. Alessi’s manual Kastor pencil sharpener ($110) looks like an eager beaver and doubles as a sleek chrome-plated paperweight. Pair it with the magnetic Chip paper clip holder ($125), and suddenly Dad’s desk doesn’t look so sad anymore.
A CLEARER E-READER. If he’s a bookworm, he probably already has a Kindle, so treat him to an upgrade with the latest 7-inch Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition ($199). An auto-adjusting front light makes it easier to read in bright or dim scenarios.
For Sporty Dad
BETTER BIKING GLASSES. A pair of polychromatic cycle shades from Kask, like the $200 Spectro vented single lens glasses , ensure that his range of vision is wide and clear in any kind of light. You can pick the color for him, because you’re the one who has to look at him wearing them.
A PROPER POLO. If he’s not already a fan, Peter Millar makes perfect performance polos (say that five times fast) for better style on and off the golf course. Start him on the nice striped Coda ($125), and you can gently encourage him to take longer shots with their upscale separates and even suiting .
BOOT BLISS. Nobody likes lugging ski gear around. Super useful Stratton boot carriers ($13 for a pair, so you get one too) make mornings on the slopes easier on everyone.
REGULAR BALL DROPS. He may be a regular tennis player, but is he great at keeping track of his ball supply? Take out the guesswork by setting up a subscription for cases of fresh Penn cans ($35 for 12) to appear at his doorstep however often he needs them.
TWISTY TOWELS. If Dad’s a swimmer or paddler, a quick-dry camp towel from L.L. Bean ($33 each) will make his days on the deck a whole lot lighter. Big enough to wrap him up, it comes with a handy mesh carrying case to keep mustiness at bay.
For Kitchen Dad
AU POIVRE ON DEMAND. The Männkitchen Pepper Cannon ($200) turns the average spice grinder up to 11, with a multitude of settings and a cap that twists with pleasing smoothness to blast out maximum spicy flecks with minimum effort. Trust us.
UNCOMMON GROUNDS. If Dad is still seeking his “God shot” let a subscription from Craft Coffee help get him there. Its Roasters Choice program ($20 per 8 oz bag) will cycle through beans from different farms, with explanations of origin, and over time the selections can be customized to his tastes.
A PIZZA AX. If his outdoor pursuits are limited to cooing over his beloved backyard Ooni pizza oven , allow him a rugged little flourish before dinner time with this pizza ax ($58) from kitchen emporium Marcellin.
THE BEST PUSHOVER. File under “Tool he never knew he needed but will use all the time”: Milk Street’s bench scraper ($50), with its beveled edge and engraved measurements, allows easy tidying of chopped veggies, slicing dough and transferring ingredients like a proper kitchen pro.
TIME PLUS TEMPERATURE. The Wi-Fi-enabled Combustion Inc. predictive meat thermometer ($229) uses eight sensors to estimate the exact right moment to remove his steaks from the grill to allow carryover cooking to reach the perfect medium rare.
For Geek Dad
LASER FOCUS. Whenever one is in doubt while shopping for a gift, one should go to the MoMA Design Store. There you’ll find inventive versions of everyday objects, like this Hoto laser measuring tool ($33) with an app that can record data directly onto photos or create digital floor plans in real time.
A CHROME POLISHER. He may already have a Philips Sonicare electric toothbrush in boring black or white, but a shiny Zina45 Deluxe Sonic Pulse Electric Toothbrush ($175) in rose gold or silver adds some noble flair. Users praise its 45-degree angled bristle head and interchangeable polishing attachment for an exceptionally smooth smile.
DELIGHTFUL DICE. Is your Pops a tabletop gamer? Up his ante with this Dice Dungeons amethyst set ($80) and display box, so every campaign will have a bit of treasure right from the start.
A SHOWER SOUND SYSTEM. Save him from blasting podcasts from his phone while it’s balanced on the sink. The Sharper Image shower surround sound system ($104) features onboard controls so he can change volume and take calls while all wet.
A TRAVEL ALARM CLOCK. Yes, obviously Dad can use his phone to wake him up on the road, but the new chargeable Clock ($499) from Japanese home appliance brand Balmuda not only tells time through light — not hands — but uses a gentle fade-in alarm to help him fight off jet lag. And, since he got it from you, his homesickness too.