20 Gifts for Him: Ideas by Budget and Personality

The Dime is small enough to live on a keyring, and it carries the tools that get used most: spring-loaded pliers, a small blade, scissors, a bottle opener and a package-opening hook. That last one earns its keep every time a delivery arrives. It is a gift he will reach for weekly, and at this price it works as a stocking stuffer or an add-on to something bigger.

Best for

The practical guy who fixes things on the spot.

Skip if

He flies carry-on only. The blade isn't allowed through airport security, and it will get confiscated.

Paying this much for one pair of socks sounds silly until you know about the lifetime guarantee: if they ever wear through, Darn Tough replaces them. They are merino wool, cushioned underfoot, and warm without getting sweaty. Men who hike, work on their feet or just run cold tend to become loyal after one pair, which makes a second pair an easy gift next year.

Best for

Hikers, tradesmen and anyone on his feet all day.

Skip if

He only wears thin dress socks. Try their lighter-weight lifestyle socks instead.

Guessing when a steak is done is the most common grilling mistake, and an instant-read thermometer fixes it for good. The ThermoPop 2 reads in a couple of seconds, its display rotates so it is readable from any angle, and it is splash-proof. ThermoWorks is the brand serious barbecue cooks use, and this is their affordable model. It is useful every time he cooks meat, not only on the grill.

Best for

Grillers, smokers and anyone who cooks chicken nervously.

Skip if

He already owns a Thermapen. Get him a leave-in probe thermometer for long smokes instead.

Coffee that is still hot at 11am is a small daily pleasure. The Rambler is double-wall insulated stainless steel, dishwasher safe, and the MagSlider lid closes with a magnet, so it doesn't leak down his shirt in the car. It is tough enough for a job site. Plenty of cheaper tumblers exist, but YETI's durability is why so many men carry the same one for years.

Best for

Commuters, tradesmen and early risers.

Skip if

He already has a favourite tumbler. Men tend to stick with the one they have.

Lodge has made cast iron in Tennessee since the 1890s, and their 12-inch skillet comes pre-seasoned, so it is ready to use out of the box. It sears steak better than any non-stick pan, goes from stovetop to oven to campfire, and gets better with use. Treated well, it will outlive him. Pair it with a chainmail scrubber so cleaning is easy.

Best for

Steak lovers and men learning to cook.

Skip if

He has wrist or grip problems. The 12-inch skillet weighs about 8 pounds, so choose the 10-inch.

Whiskey stones are the classic gift for whiskey drinkers, but they barely chill a drink. A better pair: two Glencairn glasses, whose tulip shape concentrates the aroma (it is the glass most distilleries hand you on a tour), plus a silicone mold for large ice cubes that melt slowly. It is a noticeable upgrade to how he already drinks, not a gadget.

Best for

Bourbon and scotch drinkers.

Skip if

He doesn't drink spirits. The same budget buys a good set of pint glasses for a beer drinker.

Most home kitchens run on dull, cheap knives. The Fibrox Pro has long been a favourite of test kitchens and culinary schools because it is sharp out of the box, light, easy to resharpen and has a grip that doesn't slip when wet. It performs like knives costing three times as much. Add a honing rod if your budget allows.

Best for

Men who cook more than they let on.

Skip if

He already owns a good German or Japanese knife. He will have opinions, so buy for a different hobby.

If he has watched the Hot Ones interview show, he will recognise these bottles. The trio moves from approachable to seriously hot, so it works as a tasting flight on game night. It is a consumable, which makes it a good choice for the man who says he owns everything. Everything gets used up and nothing becomes clutter.

Best for

Foodies, chili-heads and fans of the show.

Skip if

He can't handle spice. Choose a barbecue rub sampler instead.

Keys, wallet, watch and loose change pile up somewhere every evening. A leather valet tray gives them a home on the dresser, and an embossed initial makes it feel like a considered gift rather than an accessory. Look for full-grain leather with snap corners. Small leather workshops on Etsy often do better work than mass-market brands at the same price.

Best for

The tidy man, or the one whose keys are always lost.

Skip if

His dresser is already minimal. He may see it as one more thing to find a place for.

Noise cancelling used to cost $250. Anker's Soundcore Liberty 4 NC brings it under $100, with an app to adjust the sound and a fit that stays put at the gym. For a man who still uses the earbuds that came with an old phone, they are a big daily upgrade for commuting, calls and workouts.

Best for

Commuters and gym-goers.

Skip if

He's an iPhone user who wants seamless switching between devices. AirPods Pro are worth the extra for that.

A headlamp is the most-used piece of camping gear, and it is just as handy under a car hood or during a power cut. The Spot 400-R is bright, waterproof and recharges over USB, so there are no batteries to replace. It also has a red-light mode that doesn't ruin night vision. It is useful the first night he owns it.

Best for

Campers, anglers and DIYers.

Skip if

He already has a good headlamp. Most outdoorsmen own one, so check his gear bin first.

Men rarely buy themselves good slippers, and they wear bad ones for years. These are lined with sheepskin shearling and have a rubber sole, so he can step out to the mailbox without changing. L.L.Bean offers a generous return window, which helps when you are guessing his size. A gift he will wear every evening.

Best for

The homebody, and any man with holes in his slippers.

Skip if

His feet run hot. Shearling is warm, so choose a lighter felt or cotton slipper.

A heavyweight flannel shirt jacket is the layer men end up wearing from September to April: over a t-shirt, under a coat, on a job site or at a bonfire. Carhartt's sherpa-lined version is warm and built to take abuse. It is one of the few clothing gifts that feels safe, because the fit is relaxed and forgiving.

Best for

Outdoorsy and hands-on men.

Skip if

You don't know his size, or he dresses sharp and tailored. It's a workwear look.

Bulky wallets fall apart and ruin trouser pockets. The Note Sleeve holds a full set of cards and flat bills in a slim leather design with a pull-tab for rarely used cards. Bellroy offers a long warranty. It is a good grown-up upgrade for a man still carrying the wallet he had in college.

Best for

The classic dresser and new professionals.

Skip if

He carries a lot of cash or receipts. He'll want a traditional bifold with more room.

Men keep sentimental gifts far more than they admit. A hardcover book of trips, family photos or years together (Artifact Uprising and Mixbook both print lovely ones) takes an evening to design and gets pulled off the shelf for years. Add short captions with dates and places, because those details are what make it personal.

Best for

Partners, dads and grandfathers.

Skip if

You're short on time. Design and shipping take one to two weeks, so order well before the date.

For a man who flies, commutes or works in an open office, these are the gift he will use most. Sony's over-ear line has been a benchmark for noise cancelling for years, with long battery life and comfortable padding for long flights. The previous XM5 model is often discounted and is still excellent if the budget is tighter.

Best for

Travellers, commuters and remote workers.

Skip if

He mainly wants audio for the gym. Over-ear headphones are hot and bulky there, so choose earbuds.

A portable gas pizza oven turns backyard cooking into an event. The Koda 12 reaches around 950°F, so a pizza cooks in about a minute with a blistered crust that a home oven can't match. It becomes a hobby: dough experiments, pizza nights with friends, bragging rights. It needs a propane tank and a pizza peel, so budget for both.

Best for

Backyard cooks and hosts.

Skip if

He lives in an apartment with no outdoor space. It is strictly for outdoor use.

Every home needs a drill, and many men make do with a borrowed or corded one. The DeWalt 20V MAX kit includes two batteries, a charger and a bag, and it handles everything from hanging shelves to building furniture. The batteries also fit a huge range of other DeWalt tools, so future gifts are easy.

Best for

New homeowners and weekend DIYers.

Skip if

He already owns tools from another battery platform, such as Milwaukee or Ryobi. Stay in his system.

For the runner or cyclist, a Garmin tracks pace, heart rate and training load properly, and the battery lasts days rather than hours. The Forerunner 165 has a bright AMOLED screen and does smartwatch basics like notifications without the daily charging an Apple Watch needs. It suits men who train, not just men who want to count steps.

Best for

Runners, cyclists and data-minded athletes.

Skip if

He's deep in the iPhone world and wants apps and payments. An Apple Watch suits him better.

Percussive massage guns went from pro-athlete gear to everyday recovery tool, and the Mini is the size people actually use. It fits in a gym bag and is quiet enough for the couch. It works on tight calves, shoulders after a long day at a desk, or a back sore from physical work.

Best for

Athletes, lifters and manual workers.

Skip if

He has a medical condition such as blood clots or recent injuries. Check with his doctor first.