Is there anyone harder to shop for than Dad? This year, we’ve come up with a guide to excellent unique gifts for Father’s Day, all under $35 and guaranteed to please.
Click on the first image to start the slide show and view our gift selections. >>
Escape With A Close Shave.
Starter Kit, $25, The Art of Shaving.
A sophisticated man likes a sophisticated shave. This snazzy kit includes pre-shave oil, a brush, shaving cream, and after-shave balm, plus a $25 coupon for a full-size kit (in case Dad refuses to go back to drugstore stuff afterwards).
Get Wired.
iPhone or iPod Portable Battery Charger, $8, Amazon.
Help Dad enjoy his favorite gadgets even more fully with this portable iPod/iPhone battery charger—it’s affordable but extremely useful, and it means that he’ll never be able to use the “I ran out of battery” excuse again.
Kick It Up A Notch.
Toppings Basket, prices vary.
Our dad is a nut for hot sauce, salsa, mustard, barbeque sauce, and other zesty condiments he can use when showing off his skills at the grill. Box up an assortment and send it his way (along with a new grill apron).
Get Your Grill On.
Thermometer Fork, $29.95, Williams-Sonoma.com.
It’s summertime, so if your dad is always the guy at the grill, consider this as a companion set. This gadgety, stainless steel fork will digitally display the internal temp of what’s cooking.
Clint Collection.
The Clint Eastwood Star Collection, $16.49, Amazon.com.
Even though we make fun of him for being old-timey, our dad knows and loves his movies. This DVD set contains A Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More, The Good the Bad and the Ugly, and Hang ’em High.
Go Mad. Mad Men, That Is.
Vintage Tie Clip, prices vary.
Ties are passé, but our two most stylish friends told us that this year’s go-to fashion accessory is a vintage tie clip—inspired by Mad Men. We found some great vintage tie clips on Ebay and Etsy for as little as 99 cents. The site Affordable Vintage Jewelry sells this one for $35.
Drink Without Fear.
This is like the Cadillac of travel mugs. It keeps hot beverages hot for 4 hours and cold ones cold for 8. Plus, it’s got a leak-proof top, fits most car cup holders, attaches easily to a bag or backpack, and looks slick, too.
Power Up.
Solar Dynamo Radio Light, $29.95, L.L. Bean.
Is your dad a gadget guy? Handy for emergencies, this radio/cell phone charger/LED flashlight is rechargeable by solar power or crank.
Laugh It Up.
The New Yorker T-shirt, $24.95.
The Cartoon Bank on The New Yorker’s site has a bunch of funny prints (search by professional, theme, or type of gift). This t-shirt with, “Good news honey – seventy is the new fifty” reminded us of something our dad would like.
Open Here.
Bottle Opener, $6.95, Sur La Table.
Remind Dad of his rambunctious college days with this bottle opener that says “open here” and screws into the wall—so he can always pop open his beer or soda in that cavalier way he has about him.
For The Sophisticated Sipper.
Milagro Reposado Tequila, $34.99, Astor Wines & Spirits.
Good quality tequila isn’t meant to be pounded back—or mixed into a sweet, headache-inducing drink. It’s supposed to be sipped and enjoyed. More unusual than scotch, but just as satisfying.
Superior Sportsman.
Bionic Golf Glove, $25, Brookstone.
We’re not exactly sure what’s going on here, but it marries two of dad’s great loves: sports and gadgets. Talk about win-win.
Three For The Bookworm.
Mint Condition: How Baseball Cards Became an American Obsession by Dave Jamieson, $16.50, Amazon.com.
This book is a must for any father who collected baseball cards in his youth—or still keeps boxes of ‘em out in the garage.
Operation Mincemeat: How a Dead Man and a Bizarre Plan Fooled the Nazis and Assured an Allied Victory by Ben Macintyre, $15, Amazon.com.
Whether he’s a history buff or likes books about espionage and mystery, this rave-reviewed non-fiction book—with a plot so unbelievable it has to be true—will thrill.
61 Hours by Lee Child, $15, Amazon.com.
Child’s 14th Jack Reacher thriller just came out, with plenty of action and excitement to suit an easily-bored reader. Whether your dad’s read any of Child’s books before or not is irrelevant, as he’s bound to get caught up in this gripping tale. (When he’s done, ask him to borrow it. You’ll be as engrossed as he is.)
Classic Rocker.
The Rolling Stones Exile on Main Street reissue, deluxe edition, $22.99, Amazon.com.
Widely considered one of the Stones’ best albums (if not the best), the reissue of Exile on Main Street contains ten very worthy bonus tracks. Buy the two-CD deluxe version so that your father can rock out in the privacy of his own office.
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