Why does it feel like fathers (and father figures) are always the hardest to shop for? More often than not, finding the best gifts for dads of all stripes involves putting your thinking cap on to mentally trawl through all of the very practical things they already own, along with the stuff that they’d just never use. Having a bit of a cheat code to help with that process certainly helps, and we’re here to serve.
While the internet has plenty of ideas on what to get your old man, a lot of those gift guides feel kinda…sad, if we’re being honest. Novelty ties and patterned socks used to reign supreme, but it’s time to think beyond the low-hanging fruit and level up your gifting this year. To that end, we’ve put together a pretty comprehensive list of best gifts for dads across a handful of categories, including style, fitness, home, grooming, food and drinks, and even tech, that all speak to his varied interests. Hopefully this makes shopping less of a hand-wringer, especially if he’s the type that “doesn’t want anything this year.” (He’s lying.)
Browse all of our gift guides in one place, and get even more GQ-vetted-and-approved gift ideas by signing up for the GQ Recommends newsletter.
The Best Gifts for Dad, According to GQ
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Fitness
Adidas
Tour 360 24 Golf Shoes
Nike
Nike Utility Elite Training Backpack
Sleek, spacious, and with more pockets than the inside of a cartoon trenchcoat, this Nike backpack is ideal for the man who lives by the mantra “everything in its right place.”
Norda
001 Trail Running Sneaker
BowFlex
SelectTech 840 Adjustable Kettlebell
Hyperice
Normatec 3 Compression Recovery System
Dad can kick back on the couch and enjoy a pressurized massage with this compression recovery system. Sore legs? Never heard of ’em.
Linus
Roadster 7i Bicycle
That exercise bike never got any mileage, but this two-wheeler is sure to hit the road. Plus, he’ll get an outstanding evaluation from his annual physical this year.
New Balance
990V6 Sneakers
Encourage him to pair these trendy sneaks from New Balance x Todd Snyder with some darker denim and his coolest vintage crewneck sweatshirt.
Theragun
Mini Massage Gun
Every dad could use Theragun’s mini massage gun, whether they’re aiming for a PR or just need to wind down after a tough day full of meetings. This one provides plenty of percussive relief while also being small enough to toss in an overnight bag.
TRX
All-in-One Suspension Training System
Tell Pops not to, ahem, resist doing some good resistance training, as it’s an easy way to build and maintain muscle without lifting weights. It’s also easy enough to toss in a carry-on bag if they’re really on the go but don’t want to skimp out on a workout.
Grooming
Gillette
King C. Gillette Safety Razor
A safety razor is effective, old-school, and never goes out of style—just like your dad. This set gets him a chromed-out new handle plus a five-pack of blades to give him a running start on his stubble into the coming weeks.
Geologie
Broad-Spectrum SPF30 Face Sunscreen
As he always says, he’s not getting younger, but it’s not too late to convert him to an SPF diehard. Geologie’s one is lightweight and hydrating, plus mattifying so he doesn’t walk out the house looking like a greaseball.
Ralph Lauren
Polo 67 Eau de Toilette
Cardon
SPF 30 Moisturizer
Freaks of Nature
Deeper Dive Moisturizer
Founded by Kelly Slater, Freaks of Nature packs all kinds of smart and eco-friendly elements in its moisturizer that helps skin stay hydrated. Plus, it feels great on the skin and packs up nicely for travel so there’s no excuse for dad to miss out on taking care of his skin.
Braun
All-in-One Style Beard Trimmer
Filson
Tin Cloth Travel Kit
Mason Pearson
Pocket Comb
While Shania wasn’t that impressed about a dude having a comb in his pocket just in case, your dad will be really impressed with a sturdy yet slim comb to file away in his Dopp kit. Mason Pearson’s is a solid choice considering the brand’s been making combs since 1885 (!), i.e. almost as long as the old geezer’s been around.
Jolie
Filtered Shower Head
With the Jolie showerhead in place, bathing becomes grounds for a glowup, thanks to a filtration system that prevents heavy metals in the water from affecting a good hair (or skin) day. That’s one hell of a perk.
Home
Tom Dixon
Green Tank Whiskey Gift Set
Something that’ll make even his cheapest whiskey feel like a vintage Macallan.
Stanley
Classic Wide-Mouth Flask with Never-Lose Cap
Whether it’s for the camping trip or for sneaking into the function, the wide mouth on this eight-ounce flask means no messing with funnels or spilling whiskey when you fill it.
Patagonia
Black Hole Duffel 40L
Aerogarden
Harvest Hydroponic Indoor Garden
There’s something about watching greens grow from a seed that makes dad want to take care of it and nurture it, sort of like what he did with you.
Craighill
Eyeglasses Stand
Somewhere extremely obvious to park his bifocals when they’re not perched on his nose, from the masters of handsome design objets at Craighill.
Houseplant
Ridge Ashtray
It’s not like he quit toking just because you were born.
Vinyl Me, Please
VMP Gift Membership (3-Months)
L.L. Bean
Boat and Tote Open-Top Tote
Tired: toot it and boot it. Wired: boat it and tote it.
Fluance
RT81 Elite High Fidelity Vinyl Turntable
Just like everything else from his past, vinyl is cool again. And he didn’t hoard those old records for nothing, so let him listen to his oldies the best way he knows how.
Tecovas
Barlett Weekender Duffel
Oyster
Tempo Cooler
A cool dad needs a way to keep his bevvies cool, too.
Houseplant
Ceramic Ashtray Set
Whether it’s some fresh Cali green or a rolled and imported Cuban, dear old dad needs a stylish upgrade to his smoke set. And no one does that better than Houseplant, which is suited well for all kinds of flower thanks to its dual ashtrays and mini-vase.
Sony
HT-5400 Speaker and Subwoofer
There are few things music lovers take to faster than a high-fidelity audio setup. Luckily, this speaker and subwoofer combination from Sony does just that, while being budget-friendly in the process. NFL Sundays will sound a lot better now, thanks to you.
Kitchen
Ooni
Karu 16 Pizza Oven
Once you get him hyped up on wood chips and firing his own pizzas, there’s no turning back. Ooni’s industry-standard pizza ovens for home use are a great gateway, with multiple fuel options to get a flame going.
Made In
Carbon Steel Griddle + Press
A versatile carbon steel griddle from chef-approved cookware brand Made In will help him master his own diner breakfasts at home. From sizzling bacon to pressing burgers and flipping flapjacks, it’s got all the real estate for a mean breakfast or lunch, and is just one other reason to stop by for a visit.
Yeti
Wine Chiller
The poor man’s wine cellar is right here, delivering the perfect amount of chill to his vino so he doesn’t have to sip it room-temp with dinner.
Ember
Temperature Control Smart Mug 2
Everdure
CUBE Portable Charcoal Grill
His BBQ king status remains undefeated, and with this cute portable grill, he’ll be transporting his primo cuts anywhere there’s good weather and open air.
Fly By Jing
Triple Threat Variety Pack
He’s not a regular dad—he’s a spicy dad.
Trade
Coffee Subscription
One of our favorite coffee subscriptions for the type of dad who’s a variety seeker in the beans department.
Jack Daniel’s
12 Years-Old Tennessee Whiskey
Old No. 7 isn’t going anywhere, but this 12-year-old expression from the heritage brand is perfect for special occasions. Plus, the higher proof makes it even more versatile.
Anova
Culinary Sous Vide Pressure Cooker
For the home chef, a good gadget that’s also a cooking gadget is always a welcome choice. Now he can make restaurant-quality steaks at home without the $$$ bill, as the Anova Sous Vide will have him channeling his inner Gordon Ramsay.
Frieling
Cast Iron Spice Grinder
Any man of a discerning age will tell you that freshness makes a superlative dish. That includes freshly ground spices, which are made quick and easy through this cast iron spice grinder. Not only does it work great, but it also looks like the kind of thing he’ll be bragging about for the rest of the year.
Truff
Jalapeño Lime Variety Pack
Another cooking essential worth its weight in gold is Tuff’s line of fuego hot sauces. While the brand is known for its original hot sauce, this three-pack sampler is a quick and easy way to familiarize him with some of the brand’s other standouts.
Flamingo Estate
Richard’s Essentials Gift Set
Flamingo Estate’s lush home and garden is well-known to LA natives but for those who haven’t heard, this essentials gift set includes a bevy of quality essentials to upgrade his existing rotation. The secret weapon here? The cilantro citrus jalapeno salt, which will kick his margs up a notch.
Style
Taylor Stitch
Bow Black Striped Organic Cotton Rugby Shirt
Levi’s
1966 501 Original Fit Selvedge Jeans
“They just don’t make them like they used to,” might be his most famous (and annoying) sayings, but when it comes to jeans, he’s kind of right.
Blundstone
Black Full Grain Leather Chelsea Boots
Blundstones are almost as classic as pumpkin spice in fall, and much more useful for clomping around in leaves. If he’s never gone in on one of their Chelsea styles, now’s the time to make an introduction.
Mejuri
Black Onyx Square Signet Ring
Your future heirloom, sorted. And because it’s pure 14k gold, it’ll pass down another generation or two (or two hundred) after you.
Gitman
Archive Madras Shirt
Gitman Vintage’s archival button-ups will look like something that’s been in his closet since the ‘80s, meaning they’ll fit right in with the rest of his garms.
Lululemon
ABC Classic-Fit 5 Pocket Pant
Two things dad love: Stretchy pants for the post-dinner bloat and a little extra give around the, ahem, crotch area. For all of the above, Lululemon’s beloved ABC pants (ask him to look up what it means on Bing) deliver.
Joshua Ellis
Reversible Tartan Scarf
The only thing better than one scarf is two—which is exactly what he’ll get with this reversible tartan scarf from Alex Mill (a collab with English cashmere brand Joshua Ellis). With both a gingham and traditional plaid, he’lI have two handsome patterns to toggle between.
Wythe
Washed Flannel Workshirt
Hestra
Deerskin and Merino Wool Gloves
What’s great about merino is that it’s a natural fiber that regulates body temperature really well. In the case of these gloves, that means they’ll keep his hands warm even when they get sweaty. Plus, the leather palms will get better with age, just like he has.
Nike
Slides
The perfect shoes for slipping into so he can go get the paper from the lawn.
Warby Parker
Raider Sunglasses
“Hey, aren’t those the glasses that Tom Cruise fella wears in the movie with the planes?”
Merrell
Moab 2 Loafers
Sensible slip-ons that he can use to clomp around the yard and from the mailbox and back.
Abercrombie & Fitch
Essential Crew Sweatshirt
Whether he’s layering up to rake the yard or kicking back on the couch to watch RedZone, this go-to fall layer is essential—but not as essential as your pops, of course.
Morjas
Penny Loafer
The “old man shoe” gets an upgrade for your old man.
Banana Republic
Giorgio Linen-Cotton Sweater Polo
No matter if it’s his first sweater polo or he’s already got a closetful, he’ll love this chic addition to his autumn wardrobe.
AYR
The Captain
This Indiana Jones-esque shirt is called “The Captain”—he’s gonna love that as much as he’ll love the functional front pockets, we promise.
Jaxxon
Rope Chain
Understated, practical, and classic. Plus, Jaxxon’s sustainability will go a long way if dad is eco-conscious.
Uniqlo
Cashmere Sweater
When in doubt, go cashmere. And Uniqlo’s is one of the most affordable around, with a high-quality fabric that won’t disintegrate after one whirl in the washer.
David Yurman
Sculpted Cable Cufflinks
So the sharpest-dressed guy you know can roll up to the function in style.
Percival
Sardine Stripe Oversized Shirt
A solid striped shirt is a non-negotiable part of any guy’s wardrobe. And, as the old adage goes: Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Give a man a fish shirt… You get the point.
Gucci
GG Pattern Silk Scarf
What’s cool about this tie is that it’s sorta like those old Magic Eye puzzles that your dad may have checked out at as a kid. Look a little closer and you’ll spot Gucci’s stylish signature branding: It’s a flex that feels slightly nostalgic.
Tech
Garmin
Vivoactive 5 Smartwatch
His doctor (and pretty much everyone in his life) has been telling him to get more active, and a trusty smartwatch from one of the brands that does them best will make sure each and every step towards a healthier lifestyle counts.
Apple
AirPods Pro
He’s not tuning you out on purpose, but with a pair of AirPods, he might actually be now.
Courant
MAG:2 Classics
He’s always running on 5% battery because he’s always forgetting to charge his phone, but this wireless charger will ensure he’s never close to a technological meltdown again.
Bose
QuietComfort Ultra Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones
Sometimes all he needs is some peace and quiet, even if it’s from you.
Sonos
Era 300 Speaker
Sure, he’s going back to his roots with the vinyl, but dammit if he doesn’t appreciate the spatial audio that the Era 300 speaker supplies, then this is just a great addition to your speaker setup.
Vaonis
Hestia Smartphone Telescope Ultimate Set
He taught you to aim for the stars, now you can help him see them up close with this compact telescope that clips onto his smartphone and allows for a 25x zoom. It’s great for a cloudless night and light enough to toss in a bag for a camping trip.
Belkin
Wireless Charger Stand
For him, this will be a handy way to find and charge his iPhone. For you, it’ll finally mark the end of FaceTime calls that are framed like the end of the Blair Witch Project.
Fluance
RT81 Elite High Fidelity Vinyl Turntable
Just like everything else from his past, vinyl is cool again. And he didn’t hoard those old records for nothing, so let him listen to his oldies the best way he knows how.
Fellow
Aiden Precision Coffee Maker
It’s high time the Mr. Coffee that’s been sitting in the corner of the kitchen was sent to its retirement. Fellow’s precision coffee maker is a mighty fine replacement choice and even includes dedicated pre-sets for different roasts to ensure he’s getting the best cup of Joe every morning.
Steelcase
Eclipse Light
Those banker lamps of yesteryear are so last century. Time to swap for something a bit more modern, like this desk lamp from Steelcase which doubles as a ring light (!) so he can look his absolute best in Zoom calls.
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