The 10 Best Gifts For Men
This wiki has been updated 39 times since it was first published in June of 2015. Not every man is easy to shop for when it comes to birthday and holiday presents. If you're struggling to find the perfect item for your favorite gentleman, take a look at our comprehensive selection of gifts. Something on this list is sure to suit him nicely, and we've ranked the options here by their usefulness, construction quality, and the likelihood that he'll love them. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. DeWalt 20 Max Combo Kit
2. Leatherman Tread LT Bracelet
3. Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical
Editor's Notes
July 26, 2020:
While getting the right gift for a man is going to come down largely to their individual personality, there are some reliable things to consider when choosing from among our list. We wanted more than anything else for the selections here to either be useful on a daily basis, or to offer a kind of hobby-level engagement that might get him away from his everyday. To that last point, we love the Mr. Beer Gold Edition, which can quickly set him down a path toward a life of refining his brews. It is a problem in the long term that the bottles are plastic, as you'll eventually want to upgrade them, but it's also a smart way to safely see if he has a knack for it without the risk of shattering glass all over your garage.
New additions to this list include the Leatherman Tread LT Bracelet and the Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical. Now, we already have a watch in our special honors section, but that's the kind of timepiece you get your husband on an anniversary, as it's something of a luxury item. The Hamilton can be his daily wear, adding a bit of casual flare at the office or fitting in perfectly on a fishing trip. And the Leatherman bracelet — the smaller version of the company's full-size Tread model, which we thought was to bulky — is an outstanding traveling companion that might just save his life in a pinch.
We upgraded one of the offerings in our special honors, as well, in the Leica M10-R. For a long while Leica was slow to meet the demands of a growing mirrorless marketplace, content with lackluster screens and low pixel counts simply because their lenses could pick up the slack. But with this new release, and their new Monochrome, which was a bit too niche for the list, they've really stepped into competition with the best mirrorless cameras out there.
July 18, 2019:
While some of the gifts on our previous ranking were timeless enough to retain their spots, others needed to be updated or replaced altogether to keep the selection relevant. The Sonos Playbar at number one on our old list, for example, was a little to outdated to still be considered a smart buy, but we didn't replace it with a similar product because a) we felt these gifts needed to have a more individual usage pattern, and a good speaker system is kind of a gift for the whole household, and b) we already had one top notch piece of audio equipment on here with the Sony headphones currently at number eight.
We also updated the Playstation bundle, which had suffered from some availability issues, to a simple PS4 Slim, so readers don't have to feel locked into a purchase that includes a particular game. The previously included Porter Cable tools set is still a fine option, but we went ahead and replaced it with the DeWalt set, which comes with a bag for transporting the tools from site to site, and includes an impact driver instead of Porter Cable's reciprocal saw. Both systems run on a capable, 20-volt lithium ion battery pack, so there is little to no difference in power.
Finally, we found a few luxury items worthy of special honors that exist well outside the price range of the main list or are custom tailored. These include a very fine automatic watch by Omega, one of the most coveted camera systems in history, and a clothing company that makes its pieces to order in the United States based on very specific measurements.
Special Honors
Todd Shelton Classic Sweatshirt Off-the-rack clothes tend to lack both the fit and thoughtfulness you want in a present, so this option allows you to submit exact measurements and receive clothes that fit exceptionally well. All of the garments are made by hand in the United States. toddshelton.com
Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra Since Pierce Brosnan took over the role of James Bond in 1995's Goldeneye, the Seamaster has been the international spy's watch of choice. That alone would make it an excellent present, but this particular iteration is also one of the most stylistically versatile timepieces on the market, looking great on any strap and nearly any occasion. omegawatches.com
Leica M10-R Among photographers, this is likely the most coveted brand name on the market. If the guy you're shopping for is a shooter, he'll lose his mind when he sees their logo peeking out at him underneath the wrapping paper. This particular model boasts a 40-megapixel sensor, with lossless compression of RAW files and an extremely quiet mechanical shutter. It's an expensive choice, but it's sure to last. leica-camera.com
4. Parker 96R Shave Set
5. PlayStation 4 Slim
6. Sony Bluetooth Headphones
7. Kattee Messenger Briefcase
8. Caddy Bay Vintage Watch Display
9. Mr. Beer Gold Edition
10. Got Me Tipsy Go Away
How To Pick The Right Gift For The Man In Your Life
Try to get him something that he wouldn't buy for himself, either.
Let's face it — it's difficult to shop for men. The things they typically want are either outrageously expensive, incredibly stupid, or both (seriously, do not buy him that vodka-powered jetpack). Still, if you love him, you don't want him walking away from his special day empty-handed, so here are a few tips for finding a present he'll actually like.
The best rule of thumb is to stick to something you already know he enjoys. If he hasn't already expressed an interest in going for a mani-pedi with you, he's probably not going to be thrilled with that gift certificate. On the other hand, if you know he likes the Dodgers, season tickets will always be appreciated.
Try to get him something that he wouldn't buy for himself, either. It's important to realize that this can be a version of something he already has, provided you're getting him a better model. If you know he loves woodworking, but he uses a budget saw, spring for a souped-up version.
Your gift can also give him permission to spoil himself a little bit. If you're always getting mad at him for playing Xbox when he should be helping with the kids, giving him some games can let him know that it's okay for him to blow off some steam. Just make sure he knows that he still has to help around the house once he's done saving the world.
Don't feel any pressure to get too creative. This isn't a contest, and getting him something simple that he loves will be welcomed much more than the avant-garde sculpture you had commissioned (unless, of course, it's a sculpture of John Wayne). Sometimes, just buying him more of the things he already has is enough — like topping off his whiskey collection, or replacing his old, worn-out robe with one that won't get him arrested for indecent exposure.
Ultimately, you're the best judge of what will make a good gift, and if you're not sure, ask. We'd much rather you spoil a surprise than force us to act like we're excited you got us a framed portrait of your mother.
Helping Your Kids Buy Presents For Dad
Before we get started, I have to acknowledge that, yes, it is true — something the kids make themselves will be even more special than anything they could buy. But that doesn't mean that Dad will like it as much.
Regardless of what you get him, he'll love and treasure anything that comes from his kids.
While we're on the subject of free presents, any parent knows that the most precious gift children can ever bestow on their parents is the gift of their own absence. Arranging to alternate babysitting weekends with another couple will always be appreciated, as will finding activities that the children can go do for a day while Dad stays home and gets re-acquainted with his flat screen.
Of course, this is also a great opportunity to provide him with the ability to spend more quality time with his children. Arranging for them to do something they all enjoy, like a fishing trip or a day at the movies, will help him create memories that he will treasure for the rest of his life, while also distracting him from the fact that you pawned babysitting duties off on him for the day.
Just stay away from tired, clichéd gifts, like anything that says "#1 Dad" on it. He's seen the official Dad rankings — he knows better. Personalizing his gift is still a good idea, and this can be a good chance to razz him a little. A flask engraved with "Mom's First Husband" or something sarcastic like that will make him laugh, and he'll want to show it off (of course, if he gets fired for showing off his flask at work, that's on you).
Regardless of what you get him, he'll love and treasure anything that comes from his kids. After all, he has to — it's part of the job description.
Buying Gifts For Male Acquaintances
Sometimes you have to buy a gift for a guy you don't know very well. Whether it's your boss, a neighbor, or that loan shark who's getting tired of asking for his money, a thoughtful gift can go a long way towards keeping relationships running smoothly.
There's only one problem, though — as we already mentioned, you don't know this guy very well. That makes it a little harder to be thoughtful.
It should be noted here, however, that there are a few things to stay away from if you're clueless.
In these situations, it's okay to be superficial. If the one thing you know about him is that he smokes cigars, buying him a box of stogies is perfectly acceptable. If you can, take the time to scope out his home or office for any clues (note: I am not condoning breaking and entering here). Anything that he displays prominently is something that he feels strongly about, and that represents a possible in.
If you have absolutely no idea what he's into, then there are still some options that he's likely to appreciate. It's important to remember that default gifts became default gifts for a reason: most people actually like getting gift certificates. Try to stick with the most general places you can, though; Amazon is a good choice, whereas a voucher for "Bob's Beekeeping Supplies" represents quite the leap of faith.
It should be noted here, however, that there are a few things to stay away from if you're clueless. Booze is a bad choice, as you don't want to be accidentally responsible for someone falling off the wagon. Also, stay away from anything that could be construed as criticism, such as a gym membership or a self-help book.
When getting a gift for anyone, though, it truly is the thought that counts. That said, it's always better to give them something they desperately want, which is why I've always believed in stealing and then returning their car.
Daniel Imperiale holds a bachelor’s degree in writing, and proudly fled his graduate program in poetry to pursue a quiet life at a remote Alaskan fishery. After returning to the contiguous states, he took up a position as an editor and photographer of the prestigious geek culture magazine “Unwinnable” before turning his attention to the field of health and wellness. In recent years, he has worked extensively in film and music production, making him something of a know-it-all when it comes to camera equipment, musical instruments, recording devices, and other audio-visual hardware. Daniel’s recent obsessions include horology (making him a pro when it comes to all things timekeeping) and Uranium mining and enrichment (which hasn’t proven useful just yet).