Gift Ideas: Man Presents

Shopping for men is quite often hard. Things they want usually fall into two categories: inexpensive items (that they’ve already gone ahead and purchased for themselves) and unfeasibly expensive items (boats, planes, jet skis, dump trucks etc.). There’s a third category of lame things they don’t want at all, and that’s what they usually get.

Here are some gift ideas I’ve gathered from my experiences living with a champion man-shopper:

1. Paste Magazine – Magazine subscriptions are usually a cop-out but this one comes with a CD of hot songs each month. To be honest, I usually tear it out and throw the rest away. Great for the music loving brother, BF or SO.
2. Total Trolley – It’s a step ladder! A hand truck! A dolly! A source of incredible joy to Rob and I’m sure many others like him. They’re hard to find online right now, though.
3. Archery Set – I can’t vouch for the quality of this set, but archery in general is a great hobby to introduce to a man in your life. Especially if they have an outdoor range or a large backyard nearby.
4. Sperry’s – Sperry Top-Sider is a shoe company with 72 years of serious boat cred. Rob likes the slip-on’s pictured here (you can find them at Nordstrom Rack sometimes). Dads might like the traditional boat shoe design more.
5. Camp Axe – For the outdoorsman on your list. This portable axe and saw combo is another item that has brought Rob hours of joy. Perfect for making kindling around a campfire or sawing the base off a Christmas tree.
6. Dangerous Book for Boys – Everyone and their brother is getting this for the holidays, and there’s a reason why. The SAS Survival Handbook is another good choice.
7. Dremel Tool – Most men love Dremels, it seems to be part of their DNA. A starter set or an accessory pack is always welcome.
8. Sweater – Nothing something they necessarily want, but they’ll definitely appreciate and use. Rob and many others I know are addicted to these half-zip sweaters.
9. Headlamp – Another great outdoorsy gift, and affordable enough for that hard to shop for brother-in-law or cousin.