Why does it feel like fathers (and father figures) are always the hardest to shop for? More often than not, finding the best gifts for dads of all stripes involves putting your thinking cap on to mentally trawl through all of the very practical things they already own, along with the stuff that they’d just never use. Having a bit of a cheat code to help with that process certainly helps, and we’re here to serve.
While the internet has plenty of ideas on what to get your old man, a lot of those gift guides feel kinda…sad, if we’re being honest. Novelty ties and patterned socks used to reign supreme, but it’s time to think beyond the low-hanging fruit and level up your gifting this year. To that end, we’ve put together a pretty comprehensive list of best gifts for dads across a handful of categories, including style, fitness, home, grooming, food and drinks, and even tech, that all speak to his varied interests. Hopefully this makes shopping less of a hand-wringer, especially if he’s the type that “doesn’t want anything this year.” (He’s lying.)
Browse all of our gift guides in one place, and get even more GQ-vetted-and-approved gift ideas by signing up for the GQ Recommends newsletter.
The Best Gifts for Dad, According to GQ
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Surefire Hits
BowFlex
SelectTech 840 Adjustable Kettlebell
Sony
HT-5400 Speaker and Subwoofer
There are few things music lovers take to faster than a high-fidelity audio setup. Luckily, this speaker and subwoofer combination from Sony does just that, while being budget-friendly in the process. NFL Sundays will sound a lot better now, thanks to you.
Garmin
Vivoactive 5 Smartwatch
His doctor (and pretty much everyone in his life) has been telling him to get more active, and a trusty smartwatch from one of the brands that does them best will make sure each and every step towards a healthier lifestyle counts.
Apple
AirPods Pro
He’s not tuning you out on purpose, but with a pair of AirPods, he might actually be now.
New Balance
990V6 Sneakers
Encourage him to pair these trendy sneaks from New Balance x Todd Snyder with some darker denim and his coolest vintage crewneck sweatshirt.
Theragun
Mini Massage Gun
Every dad could use Theragun’s mini massage gun, whether they’re aiming for a PR or just need to wind down after a tough day full of meetings. This one provides plenty of percussive relief while also being small enough to toss in an overnight bag.
Freaks of Nature
Deeper Dive Moisturizer
Founded by Kelly Slater, Freaks of Nature packs all kinds of smart and eco-friendly elements in its moisturizer that helps skin stay hydrated. Plus, it feels great on the skin and packs up nicely for travel so there’s no excuse for dad to miss out on taking care of his skin.
Braun
All-in-One Style Beard Trimmer
Anova
Culinary Sous Vide Pressure Cooker
For the home chef, a good gadget that’s also a cooking gadget is always a welcome choice. Now he can make restaurant-quality steaks at home without the $$$ bill, as the Anova Sous Vide will have him channeling his inner Gordon Ramsay.
Truff
Jalapeño Lime Variety Pack
Another cooking essential worth its weight in gold is Tuff’s line of fuego hot sauces. While the brand is known for its original hot sauce, this three-pack sampler is a quick and easy way to familiarize him with some of the brand’s other standouts.
Fitness
Norda
001 Trail Running Sneaker
TRX
All-in-One Suspension Training System
Tell Pops not to, ahem, resist doing some good resistance training, as it’s an easy way to build and maintain muscle without lifting weights. It’s also easy enough to toss in a carry-on bag if they’re really on the go but don’t want to skimp out on a workout.
Hyperice
Normatec 3 Compression Recovery System
Dad can kick back on the couch and enjoy a pressurized massage with this compression recovery system. Sore legs? Never heard of ’em.
Linus
Roadster 7i Bicycle
That exercise bike never got any mileage, but this two-wheeler is sure to hit the road. Plus, he’ll get an outstanding evaluation from his annual physical this year.
Grooming
Ralph Lauren
Polo 67 Eau de Toilette
Cardon
SPF 30 Moisturizer
Filson
Tin Cloth Travel Kit
Mason Pearson
Pocket Comb
While Shania wasn’t that impressed about a dude having a comb in his pocket just in case, your dad will be really impressed with a sturdy yet slim comb to file away in his Dopp kit. Mason Pearson’s is a solid choice considering the brand’s been making combs since 1885 (!), i.e. almost as long as the old geezer’s been around.
Home
Tom Dixon
Green Tank Whiskey Gift Set
Something that’ll make even his cheapest whiskey feel like a vintage Macallan.
Stanley
Classic Wide-Mouth Flask with Never-Lose Cap
Whether it’s for the camping trip or for sneaking into the function, the wide mouth on this eight-ounce flask means no messing with funnels or spilling whiskey when you fill it.
Patagonia
Black Hole Duffel 40L
L.L. Bean
Boat and Tote Open-Top Tote
Tired: toot it and boot it. Wired: boat it and tote it.
Fluance
RT81 Elite High Fidelity Vinyl Turntable
Just like everything else from his past, vinyl is cool again. And he didn’t hoard those old records for nothing, so let him listen to his oldies the best way he knows how.
Tecovas
Barlett Weekender Duffel
Oyster
Tempo Cooler
A cool dad needs a way to keep his bevvies cool, too.
Houseplant
Ceramic Ashtray Set
Whether it’s some fresh Cali green or a rolled and imported Cuban, dear old dad needs a stylish upgrade to his smoke set. And no one does that better than Houseplant, which is suited well for all kinds of flower thanks to its dual ashtrays and mini-vase.
Kitchen
Ooni
Karu 16 Pizza Oven
Once you get him hyped up on wood chips and firing his own pizzas, there’s no turning back. Ooni’s industry-standard pizza ovens for home use are a great gateway, with multiple fuel options to get a flame going.
Made In
Carbon Steel Griddle + Press
A versatile carbon steel griddle from chef-approved cookware brand Made In will help him master his own diner breakfasts at home. From sizzling bacon to pressing burgers and flipping flapjacks, it’s got all the real estate for a mean breakfast or lunch, and is just one other reason to stop by for a visit.
Everdure
CUBE Portable Charcoal Grill
His BBQ king status remains undefeated, and with this cute portable grill, he’ll be transporting his primo cuts anywhere there’s good weather and open air.
Fly By Jing
Triple Threat Variety Pack
He’s not a regular dad—he’s a spicy dad.
Style
Taylor Stitch
Bow Black Striped Organic Cotton Rugby Shirt
Levi’s
1966 501 Original Fit Selvedge Jeans
“They just don’t make them like they used to,” might be his most famous (and annoying) sayings, but when it comes to jeans, he’s kind of right.
Blundstone
Black Full Grain Leather Chelsea Boots
Blundstones are almost as classic as pumpkin spice in fall, and much more useful for clomping around in leaves. If he’s never gone in on one of their Chelsea styles, now’s the time to make an introduction.
Merrell
Moab 2 Loafers
Sensible slip-ons that he can use to clomp around the yard and from the mailbox and back.
Lululemon
ABC Classic-Fit 5 Pocket Pant
Two things dad love: Stretchy pants for the post-dinner bloat and a little extra give around the, ahem, crotch area. For all of the above, Lululemon’s beloved ABC pants (ask him to look up what it means on Bing) deliver.
Joshua Ellis
Reversible Tartan Scarf
The only thing better than one scarf is two—which is exactly what he’ll get with this reversible tartan scarf from Alex Mill (a collab with English cashmere brand Joshua Ellis). With both a gingham and traditional plaid, he’lI have two handsome patterns to toggle between.
Wythe
Washed Flannel Workshirt
Hestra
Deerskin and Merino Wool Gloves
What’s great about merino is that it’s a natural fiber that regulates body temperature really well. In the case of these gloves, that means they’ll keep his hands warm even when they get sweaty. Plus, the leather palms will get better with age, just like he has.
Morjas
Penny Loafer
The “old man shoe” gets an upgrade for your old man.
AYR
The Captain
This Indiana Jones-esque shirt is called “The Captain”—he’s gonna love that as much as he’ll love the functional front pockets, we promise.
Tech
Courant
MAG:2 Classics
He’s always running on 5% battery because he’s always forgetting to charge his phone, but this wireless charger will ensure he’s never close to a technological meltdown again.
Bose
QuietComfort Ultra Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones
Sometimes all he needs is some peace and quiet, even if it’s from you.
Sonos
Era 300 Speaker
Sure, he’s going back to his roots with the vinyl, but dammit if he doesn’t appreciate the spatial audio that the Era 300 speaker supplies, then this is just a great addition to your speaker setup.
Vaonis
Hestia Smartphone Telescope Ultimate Set
He taught you to aim for the stars, now you can help him see them up close with this compact telescope that clips onto his smartphone and allows for a 25x zoom. It’s great for a cloudless night and light enough to toss in a bag for a camping trip.
Breville
The Paradice 9-Cup Food Processor
Always the sous chefs, dad will love this Breville food processor which can automate his job so he can get on with whatever hobbies cement his dad status.
Fellow
Aiden Precision Coffee Maker
It’s high time the Mr. Coffee that’s been sitting in the corner of the kitchen was sent to its retirement. Fellow’s precision coffee maker is a mighty fine replacement choice and even includes dedicated pre-sets for different roasts to ensure he’s getting the best cup of Joe every morning.
