35 Great Gifts for Men Even the Pickiest Guy Will Appreciate
Whether you’re looking for something small or big for your father or husband for Christmas, his birthday, or another occasion, we’ve got you covered with these awesome gifts for men.
Peak gifting season is nearly upon us, which means it’s time to think up the perfect gift ideas for the men in your life—a notoriously challenging bunch to shop for. There are likely more than a few gift-worthy men in your life, and there are so many gifting occasions—Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries, retirement, the list goes on—that you could probably use more than a little help in finding those just-right gifts for men, whether you’re brainstorming gifts for your boyfriend or presents for a beloved uncle.
While a lot of gift lists offer you a general top 10 when it comes to the best gifts for men, we took a deeper dive into cool gifts for every type of guy you know, from ages 20 through 90, whether they revel in facial hair coiffing, love talking sound system intricacies, are invested in the latest and greatest tech, or are the sentimental type who appreciate personalized, thoughtful gestures.
We’ve rounded up both big and small gifts for men in your life, whether you’re shopping for your father, husband, cousin, or friend. From unique gift ideas for your brother or husband to practical gifts for men that the whole family can benefit from, this list of gift ideas really does have something for everyone. Instead of worrying about how you’ll ever come up with the perfect gift for your very picky dad, you can rest assured that you’ll find the best gifts for men on this list, even if you think they have everything already.
From the simple to the playful and cutting edge, here are the best gifts for men of all ages and personalities in 2020 that will surely be hits on Father’s Day, Christmas, a birthday, a milestone, or any other holiday or event you celebrate during the year.
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This collectible gaming device reimagines the original 1980 Nintendo handheld gaming system. Whether he’s a huge Mario fan, he’s a gaming junkie, or he’s the nostalgic type, he’ll love unwrapping this special-edition system, which includes three Mario games.
2
Whether he’s constantly complaining about his aching back or he just refuses to ditch his old (too old) mattress, he’ll benefit from this plush foam topper. It has an incredibly soft top layer, so he’ll be plenty comfortable, with a breathable foam base that offers plenty of support on top of his current bed.
3
Whether he’s a fan of the podcast or just a vestibule for random knowledge, he’ll spend hours absorbed in this book. Fresh from the hosts of the beloved podcast of the same name, this book has all-new subjects with charts, illustrations, footnotes, and more features he can’t get from the podcast. He’ll be filling your ears with fresh knowledge from this gift for years to come.
4
Whether it’s for the grandfather you wish you spoke with more often or your tech-savvy dad, this latest iteration of the Echo smart home device will give him hours of entertainment. He can video chat easily on it thanks to the swivel base, which will follow him as he tinkers around the room, and he can even look up how-to videos for cooking, repairs, and more.
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Rather than the hassle of scheduling (and paying for) various physical therapy or massage sessions, your guy can treat his own sore muscles from the comfort of his living room. Theragun is already a favorite amongst gym-rats, and the mini version of the device makes it possible to get the restorative benefits of percussive therapy anywhere he goes. The brand also makes accessories you can bundle in if you think he’d want variety, like several different shaped attachments that work across various Theragun models.
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Whether he’s a late-night runner or an early-morning dog walker, this reflective jacket will help keep him visible (and safer) while he’s on the running path or sidewalk. It’s midweight, so he can wear it most of the year without getting overheated, and the strategic reflective points look more futuristic than safety feature, so he’ll truly enjoy pulling this on before he heads out.
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If he’s never had a Levain cookie, he’s in for a treat. Possibly the richest, most filling cookie he’s ever had, this gift for men will make any guy smile. Order a four pack so he can sample each of the four signature flavors or get 12 so he can really indulge—either way, he’ll easily call this his tastiest present this year.
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Is there a more classic and reliable gift than nice socks? Expensive socks and underwear always constitute some of the best gifts for men because they’re necessary upgrades that seem to just slip many male minds. In Heat Holders thermal socks—which are seven times as warm as a basic cotton sock—his feet will stay super cozy no matter if he's braving cold the tile floors or hitting the slopes in the winter.
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Help him upgrade his daily brew—and get some of his favorite happy hour flavors—with this infused coffee. It’s made with a signature process that infuses the taste of barrel-aged bourbon into coffee for a bold, smooth final flavor. Even better, 10 percent of net proceeds are put toward causes helping first responders.
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Scrabble fans—you know there’s one in your life—will be delighted to play a round (or several) with this deluxe game set. It comes with a solid maple wood cabinet and real wood letter tiles and tile racks for an elevated gaming experience. As a gift for men, this is an idea that gives back year after year with quality time (and bragging rights for the best player).
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Perhaps the best gifts for men are the ones that help them better themselves. Give your husband, father-in-law, or friend the gift of further learning by giving him a credit for a wine tasting course or photography class. (You can also gift an annual subscription for unlimited classes.) He’ll love exploring a new hobby or expanding one he already has, and you’ll be happy knowing you’ve given him a Christmas gift or birthday present he’ll truly use.
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Think of this gift for men as the blowout gift of the year. Yes, it’s pricy, but it’s also sure to be his favorite present (possibly ever). Given a Home Depot Innovation Award, this genius grill can smoke, grill, sear, bake, roast, and more. It has smart digital tools (that connect to his smart phone, of course), heats quickly, and has a built-in temperature gauge and meat probe thermometer. If he’s the grill-master in the family—and you’re craving better home-cooked meat—this is a splurge worth going for.
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While the athleisure trend may have been easiest for women to partake in originally, the outfit options for men to go from work to happy hour to any other activity have finally expanded, providing some great gift ideas for men. Lululemon’s ABC Pant Classic Warpstreme is modeled in the image of a classic jean or khaki but crafted with the flexibility of gym clothes. The technical fabric provides freedom of movement and all-day comfort, and the pants come in seven neutral and earthy tones to best fit your guy’s wardrobe wants and needs.
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If you’re searching for one of the best tech gifts for men in 2020, shop the SoundLink Micro Bluetooth speaker. The compact and smart sound system packs a serious volume punch, and the tear-resistant silicone strap on the back means it’s easy for your giftee to hook the speaker onto his hiking backpack, golf bag, or any other equipment for an active day. Shop the waterproof, portable Bluetooth speaker in black, midnight blue, or bright orange, and help him design soundtracks for all the places you'll take it.
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If the man you’re shopping for doesn’t own a robe yet, he hasn’t been lounging at peak coziness. Gift your guy this fleece bathrobe so he can hop out of the warm shower right into a plush cloud and get cozy reading in bed or watching TV on the couch. The luxurious robe is machine washable, so he can toss it in his regular laundry, and comes in six color options. Just be warned—you’ll probably be so jealous of his new at-home look, you’ll want to steal his gift for yourself.
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Keep the men around you ready for outdoor adventures with a classic Carhartt mock zip hoodie. The sweatshirt comes in solid gray, navy, or black, with a cell phone pocket inside the kangaroo pouch and reinforced rib knit cuffs. The hoodie is even water repellent, making it essential outerwear for multiple seasons and the perfect gift for an active and casual guy.
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Help support the grooming habits of your dad, brother, husband or best mate with a travel grooming kit from Dollar Shave Club. Inside, men will find all the essentials they need to groom on-the-go, including cleanser, toothpaste, shave butter, and a razor complete with extra cartridges.
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Food and beverage container company Stanley makes durable, cool-looking gear that any man will be excited to own (and show off). This stainless steel, vacuum-insulated thermos will keep his beverages or soup at the ideal temperatures for up to 15 hours, whether he’s bringing the thermos along on his commute or out on a camping trip. If you’re already thinking ahead to the hypothetical spills when he throws this thing into his work bag, you’ll be relieved to know the cap is leak-resistant (and can even be used as a cup or bowl for the thermos’ contents).
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Get his taste buds buzzing with this gift box of five flavor-packed hot sauces. Each bottle in the gift box channels a different regional cuisine, from Ethiopia to the Chesapeake Bay, to give the foodie men in your life a chance not just to spice up their food but also to experience diverse flavor profiles from around the world without leaving their homes.
20
From tailgating to fishing, camping to a day at the beach, every guy needs a good cooler to store all his ice-cold beers and goodies in—and there’s no better cooler on the market than YETI. The Hopper Flip Portable Cooler can fit up to 12 cans plus ice and comes with a waterproof exterior, making it perfect for taking just about anywhere.
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If your dad, husband, brother, or best bud is a would-be grill-master, help him step up his BBQ game by giving him this BBQ Smoker Gift Set. Each set comes with a premium stainless steel smoker box, specialty BBQ thermometer, three flavors of smoking wood chips, and a few delicious smoking recipes. Now, it’s just up to him not to overcook the meat.
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Help the men you know step up their outdoors style with a classic Patagonia quilted vest. The lightweight material will keep him dry and warm without weighing him down, and the style will make his understated wardrobe a bit more fun. Shop the vest in gold or red depending on which look will suit him best.
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Men’s clothing retailer Mack Weldon makes elevated wardrobe basics that aren’t just stylish but also are extremely comfortable and functional. The brand should definitely be on your radar when shopping for gifts for him, especially the 4-Way Active Short. The design of these shorts looks put-together for summer events, but the fabric is also water-repellent, lightweight, and stretchy enough to take your guy from the restaurant to a bocci ball game on the beach without needing an outfit change.
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Away luggage turned traveling on its head when it first released hard-shell suitcases with built-in battery packs. And with each new release, Away products continues to ease the lifestyles of the brand’s adoring customers. Great gifts for men are often functional or practical items they haven’t thought to buy themselves yet, and the Away Everywhere Bag definitely fits the bill. Help him get where he needs to go in style with the sleek nylon or pebbled leather carry-on bag, and add his initials for the perfect personalized touch.
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Get your next group get-together going with a grown-up style drinking game. Beeropoly works by having players complete a series of beer challenges, like a rhyming competition and dance battle, during turns rolling the dice and moving their bottle caps around the board. When players can’t complete the challenge, they face elimination from the game and miss out on the winning opportunity to drink from the Community Cup. This handmade pinewood board game is the adult activity your Saturday nights at home have been missing.
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This sleek tap system will let your giftee turn any beer from a can, bottle, or growler into a draft-style brew. Like an adults-only SodaStream, the Fizzics device will give him access to crisp beverages from the comfort of his own home—and the DIY element will let him feel like he’s opened his own craft brewery in his kitchen. The beer system is even portable and can be charged via batteries or USB cord, so he can carry it with him to his friend’s next Sunday football get-together.
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A high-end sweater that requires low-maintenance care is the perfect luxury item to gift any man in your life. Everlane’s cashmere sweater is made from high-quality fabric that doesn’t pill, but the best part may be that it gets softer with wear, making this a gift sure to become his newest wardrobe staple – so much so, you might even get sick of seeing it!
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Make sure he can hear all his favorite music as it’s meant to be heard by gifting him a pair of noise cancelling wireless headphones by Sony, one of the leaders in the space. These Bluetooth headphones boast nearly 3,000 perfect five-star reviews on Amazon, with audiophile reviewers commenting that the Sony headphones outperform those from other leading brands like Bose and Bowers and Wilkins. While the headphones are pricey, the technology is innovative, with features like touch control, built-in Alexa, and smart listening, and shoppers report they’re very comfortable to wear.
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With this subscription box, you’re giving a gift that keeps on giving. Each month, a box filled with handpicked snacks from a different country will be delivered to your giftee’s door. Choose from three sizes to make sure you’re getting the best option for your man’s appetite.
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Why just give one present when you can give 12? Gift the special man in your life a one-year subscription to Gentleman’s Box. In each box, the giftee will find goodies like Aristo designer ties, Deadsoxy socks, grooming essentials, lifestyle accessories, and more.
31
Every guy needs a pair of shades, but if you’re going to get him a pair, you may as well get him something timeless that he’ll wear forever. Persol is probably the high-end, Italian-made alternative to the sunglasses he bought himself in his younger days, so step up his shade game with a debonaire style featuring classic tortoiseshell touches. The square frames are flattering on many face shapes, and you have 15 easy-to-match colorways to pick from.
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This tent sets up in 15 minutes (really!), has room for four, and blocks 90 percent of sunlight for a more restful night at camp. A tent like this is definitely a top 10 gift for men who want to sleep under the stars and enjoy some old fashioned peace and quiet.
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Help the fellas around you gain a little bit more knowledge about the world with all the incredible facts in Things They Don’t Teach You In School. The trivia game comes with 400 facts—some of which are really just hilarious pieces of useless information—that will keep your entire family entertained for hours. So while this may technically be a gift idea for your dad or partner, it’s also a gift your loved ones can enjoy with him.
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With many homes ill-equipped to handle an influx of WFH days, WiFi extenders have become increasingly popular in recent months. Shop the functional must-have for your dad, boyfriend, grandpa, husband, or any father figure in your life. He’ll be impressed with your internet know-how, and even more impressed once he realizes the compact gadget makes his connection much faster and stronger. Five-star reviews on Amazon (of which there are nearly 14,000) call this a “two-story home must have” and say it’s “the best WiFi extender” they’ve ever used, especially because it’s easy to set up and “doubled the WiFi speed upstairs.”
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If the guy you’re shopping for loves cooking but also tends to get a bit distracted socializing while the meat is on the grill, he would definitely benefit from having this smart thermometer in his life. This great gift for men includes a rechargeable stainless steel probe that wirelessly connects to a corresponding app to tell him both the exact temperature of the meat and the ambient temperature of the grill or oven. The app will send alerts throughout the process to keep everything on schedule and running smoothly.