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There’s no one-size-fits-all gift for dads. There are dads who are more tech-savvy than their kids, dads who watch the forecast for golf weather, and dads who will cross state lines for a rare beer. To find the best gifts for every kind of father, I’ve trawled The Strategist’s deep archive of cool-dad content and put together the following list of 51 options, many of which Strategist staffers have tried and loved ourselves (or gifted to our own parents over the years). To make it even easier to shop this list, we’ve arranged the items by price, from an inexpensive, ingenious lawn-raking tool to a splurge-y cannabis infuser.
Update on July 25, 2024: Updated prices and checked stock for all products.
$25 and under
For the dad who spends all day on his feet
This analog wooden foot massager is a favorite gifts for doctors — it’s even compact enough to fit under a desk.
For the dad who hikes
For a pair of socks he’ll actually be excited to open as a gift, try Darn Tough — according to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, they sell some of the best wool socks out there. They’re made in Vermont and come with a lifetime guarantee.
For the dad who doesn’t believe in bad weather
These are John Wilson’s favorite everyday notebooks — and they’re waterproof, so he can jot down notes anywhere.
For the dad who can’t just let the kids win
Try the quick, addictive card game that “threatened to tear my family apart,” according to Strategist contributor Laura Guidry.
For the dad who watches the same movie over and over
A three-quarter teaspoon of this magical flavored salt and he’ll swear he’s at the movie theater (even though he’s just rewatching Master and Commander on the couch).
For the dad who gets competitive about bird-watching
A field guide is a great gift for a bird-watcher, whether they use it for its intended purpose of identifying birds or just flip through the pages to look at illustrations. (This one comes recommended by a research associate at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.)
For the dad who refuses to use a propane grill
Help him fine-tune his grill setup with these charcoal logs, which are made from the wood of the rambutan tree. (Contributor Regan Stephens discovered these logs via the Philadelphia restaurant Laser Wolf, where they’re the secret to “the most tender, wildly delicious poultry I’ve ever tasted,” he writes.)
For the dad who can eat an entire seafood tower on his own
Pair this chef-approved oyster knife with a trip to the seafood market (and cue up a YouTube playlist of how-tos for shucking oysters).
For the dad who waxes philosophical
If he’s pondering life’s big questions, give him How to Live, which chronicles the life of 16th-century essayist and philosopher Michel de Montaigne. Architect Christopher Choa recommended it (paired with How to Be a Stoic) when we asked people who have turned 60 about the best 60th-birthday gifts.
For the dad who drinks Heady Topper from the can
If he’s adamant that certain IPAs are better from the can versus in a glass, he’ll love this gadget that removes the tops of aluminum cans for a better drinking experience. I heard about it from Strategist writer Brenley Goertzen, who found out about it from her dad.
For the dad who runs late
A reliable retro watch that Brynn Wallner, founder of watch website Dimepiece, says can “very quickly go from dorky to a cool summer-in-the-’80s-in-Italy vibe.”
For the dad who still buys Barbasol
For a few dollars more, you can upgrade him to Italian brand Proraso’s toning aftershave, a brand recommended by barbers as the best on the market and what they use on their own faces.
For the dad who makes a legendary grilled cheese
Spencer Rubin, the founder of the Melt Shop, uses this handsome, very giftable grill press, which he prefers to heavier options: “You don’t end up pushing the cheese or ingredients out of the bread,” he says.
For the dad who is lotion averse
“It’s a funny invention, no?” says pastry chef Jacques Torres of these exfoliating gloves. “Call me lazy, but these make things so much more efficient.”
For the dad who mutters “phone, wallet, keys” before leaving the house
If your dad is the type to spend 15 minutes in a panic trying to find his keys before leaving the house, Apple AirTags will be a gift that keeps on giving. (Pair with an AirTag-holder carabiner so he can snap it onto his keys immediately.) They’re about the size of a quarter and can track all his valuables.
$50 and under
For the dad who refuses to play Settlers of Catan ever again
I recommended this cooperative party game for a reader’s “neurosurgeon son who is into Magic: The Gathering,” and it would also be great for dads who get too heated when they don’t have enough sheep to build a settlement.
For the dad who orders a beer flight
Sure, he can drink an IPA or a grisette out of a normal tumbler, but this set of beer glasses from expert-recommended brand Spiegelau will elevate the experience.
For the dad whose favorite book is The Autobiography of Malcolm X
Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power chronicles work created by Black artists from 1963 to 1983. It’s a “must-read for anyone interested in the history of American art and the importance of Black artists in that history,” says Andria Hickey, curator at large at the Shed.
For the Deadhead dad
This coffee-table book focuses on bootleg tapes, which “have become cultural currency in the world of the Grateful Dead,” says Strategist writer Tembe Denton-Hurst — an irresistible topic for any die-hard fan.
For the dad who has Autocorrect typos in his texts
If he hates texting on a small phone screen, this nifty Bluetooth keyboard will turn his iPhone in to a tiny typewriter. It’s an especially good gift for frequent travelers.
For the single-origin-only dad
He’ll appreciate a three-pack of French roast straight from New Orleans’s iconic Café du Monde. (If Dad’s the type to go through several bags of beans in a month, you might consider a coffee subscription instead.)
For the dad who taught you how to use a French press
According to some coffee people, the AeroPress system makes a more consistent cup than pour-over. It’s also easy to travel with, if Dad’s the kind of coffee snob who needs to bring his brewing setup on vacation.
For the dad who’s still mourning the closure of Noma
This kit should cover all his Nordic-inspired fermentation experiments.
For the dad who prefers doing things the old-fashioned way
The Merkur 34C is our best-in-class safety razor; the expert barbers we spoke to praised its reliable engineering and ease of use. It’s also attractive enough to gift, with its chrome finish and knurled grip.
$100 and under
For the grill-master dad
This Tom Colicchio–approved thermometer will allow him to monitor internal temperature from his phone (up to 165 feet away) for “perfect meat every time.”
For the dad who plans the family vacations
Help him get into vacation mode with a comfy hemp and lyocell camp shirt recommended by travel writer Rick Steves. “I feel good about hemp because it’s an environmentally positive kind of crop,” he says.
For the dad who makes pesto all summer
He’ll never kill windowsill basil again. “The roots of herbs are somewhat simplistic,” says Sera Rogue, the owner of the Brooklyn gardening company Red Fern. “They require daily watering” — which the AeroGarden, our best-in-class hydroponic smart garden, does automatically.
For the dad who likes to tour breweries
Extend his brewery trips with an insulated growler, which will allow him to keep his favorite IPA cold on the way home, as any beer nerd should.
For the dad who’s a picnic pro
An expert-recommended portable grill (the legs fold up for easy storage) that will allow him to cook burgers and veggies anywhere there’s a flat surface.
For the dad who loves a hike with elevation gain
These lightweight telescoping aluminum poles — one of our favorite gifts for hikers — will help him navigate steep terrain. (They’re also great for snowshoeing.)
For the dad who’s getting into skincare
This rich moisturizer from Vermont brand Ursa Major is especially good for healing dry or irritated skin.
For the dad who goes to design museums
He’ll love this striking stovetop espresso maker from 102-year-old Italian manufacturer Alessi, designed by Memphis Group member Michele De Lucchi (who also made a design-nerd-favorite chair).
For the dad who loves to lounge
It’s a collapsible camping chair and a rocking chair in one. The Dyrt co-founder Sarah Smith recommends it to everyone because it’s “super-comfortable and slightly decadent.”
$200 and under
For the dad who’s been going to the same barber for decades
The Wahl Magic Clip, one of the Strategist’s best-in-class beard trimmers, will be a welcome upgrade to his shaving routine. “It’s the top product to own if you want to re-create a barbershop experience in the comfort of your home,” says barber Miles Wood-Smith.
For the fragrance-head dad
Gift him Smokey Robinson’s signature scent, which the singer has been wearing for over 20 years. It has notes of bergamot, sandalwood, and amber.
For the dad who uses his phone in a cup as “speakers”
This audiophile-recommended speaker is both portable and waterproof, so it’s safe to bring on camping trips, beach trips, or to the pool.
For the dad who loves getting cozy
These Danish wool clogs are at the top of our list of the best slippers to gift — they’re soft, warm, and mold to your foot, perfect for lounging around the house and also have a rubber sole that allows for quick trips outdoors. They “really do deserve their reputation as the best slippers,” writes former Strategist writer Karen Iorio Adelson.
For the dad who owns every NPR sponsor gift
This stylish radio is just that — a radio. It does AM/FM and nothing else. But as Dad will tell you, that’s the point.
For the dad who’s a bit of a gent
There’s always something dashing about whipping out a nice umbrella. After testing 37 of them, we declared Davek’s wind-resistant, comfortable-to-hold, stylish-looking, fast-drying model as one of our absolute favorites.
For the dad who can ID every bird in the backyard
Strategist writer Jeremy Rellosa gifted his parents this solar-powered smart bird feeder and it was an immediate hit. It functions like a Ring doorbell, streaming video of avian visitors to the feeder’s “front porch.”
For the dad who still buys pre-ground beans
This burr grinder from Fellow, the maker of a “the gold standard of electric kettles,” will get him hooked on freshly ground coffee.
For the dad who needs to relax
This chiropractor-recommended massage tool would be a lifesaver for any dad who deals with back and neck pain.
Gifts under $500
For the dad with an encyclopedic record collection
Audio-Technica turntables are a favorite among experts — they won’t scratch records and are “built like tanks,” says record-store owner Jake Sullivan.
For the dad who reads five books at once
Strategist tech writer Jordan McMahon loves the Kobo e-reader — he prefers it to the Kindle Paperwhite for the ease of taking margin notes — and he writes that the brand’s new color reader is the best model yet.
For the dad who hosts the barbecue
It’s the “Birkin of coolers.” If you’re feeling extra nice, stock it with his favorite drink for a two-part gift.
For the 420-friendly dad
The Levo II took the top spot in our roundup of cannabis infusers. And it even makes a great gift for dads who prefer baking the traditional way: “You can even get extra chef-y and play around with making non-cannabis infusions in it as well,” says confectioner and cookbook author Stephanie Hua.
For the dad on a quest for the perfect char
“If you want to see a grown chef cry, gift them an Ooni,” Strategist food and dining writer Emma Wartzman says. If he’s been fiddling with his pizza setup, he’ll love this compact outdoor oven, which can get as hot as 950 degrees Fahrenheit.
For the dad who lives for starry nights
If he’s really into stargazing, a pair of binoculars designed specifically for observing the night sky like these from Celestron will allow Dad to see constellations much faster than setting up a telescope.
For the dad who hoards wine
Give him the gift of not having to edit down his wine collection with this 12-bottle cooler, which comes recommended by sommelier Katie O’Byrne. “It was able to reach 50 degrees Fahrenheit within 20 minutes of plugging it in, which meant I was on to my third bottle of chilled white wine an hour after it arrived on my doorstep,” she says.
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