Shopping for Dad can be rough. We love to make him happy, but sometimes nothing seems like the obvious choice. Here are a few gift ideas that stood out to us.
1) Orba by Artiphon
Orba is a tiny musical device that fits in the palm of your hand but can make drum beats and loops. If the dad in your life loves the idea of making music, this might be a fun fit. It is compact, surprisingly capable and can connect to a speaker.
2) Coffee Grinder by EffiSoo
What a simple and straightforward device, but still fun. We didn’t have a coffee grinder at home, so this served two purposes: fresh-ground coffee and something tactile to fiddle with while making it.
3) SinFit Seasonings
SinFit’s seasonings were positioned as lower-sodium, gluten-free and MSG-free options. The part that mattered to us was simple: they still tasted good.
4) Hawthorne Grooming Set
We’ve covered Hawthorne before and liked the quality. Their packaging looks sleek, and this three-piece set included shampoo, conditioner and body wash. Considering my husband seems perfectly happy bathing with free hotel soap, this was definitely a step up.
5) TruEats Mixes
Okay, this one may have been partly a present for me. My husband loves making pancakes every weekend, and TruEats offered mixes with added protein and fiber. Same basic ritual, but with a nutritional upgrade.
6) Bill F 18-Piece Knife Set
I was surprised by how affordable this knife set was. I opened it, handled the knives and found them perfectly respectable for the price point. For someone who cooks often, a full set can make a practical gift.
7) Personalized MaykoBags
These personalized leather goods looked gorgeous. The eyeglass case and passport holder both had a polished, giftable look without feeling overly formal.
8) John Kelly Chocolates
John Kelly Chocolates felt luxurious, with flavors that went beyond the usual box of chocolates. The Kentucky Straight Bourbon and spicy dark chocolate stood out in particular.
9) Dr. Tusk
Dr. Tusk leaned hard into rugged men’s grooming, with soaps, lotion, shaving products and other basics packaged with a playful identity. The brand also tied its identity to elephant conservation, which gave the products another angle beyond grooming.
10) Cookies Take a Bite
This family-owned Santa Rosa company made cookies that genuinely impressed us. The Triple Chocolate Threat and Classic Company Chips were standouts. There were other flavors, including Ginger Honey Snaps and Snickerdoodle Sugar, but the chocolate options were the ones I kept thinking about.