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

The waterproof leather on Adidas’ handsome golf shoes is, ahem, pitch-perfect for dewy mornings on the green, while the spiky outsole anchors his stride when it’s slippery underfoot.

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

Norda’s 001s are distinctive enough on the trails to rack up compliments, with a lightweight, ripstop-looking fabric that looks cool without being too on-the-nose gorpy.

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

He might not have revamped his cologne game since he was in high school, but this scent from Ralph Lauren—which has Aaron Judge’s stamp of approval—might get him to switch things up.

Cardon

SPF 30 Moisturizer

At a certain point, you accept the things you can’t change about your parents. And if he’s not worn a drop of sunscreen a day in his life, maybe it’s time you got him a moisturizer that sneaks in SPF. Hey, you can’t stop photo-aging but you can certainly slow it down.

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

For the dad whose beard has been getting a little unruly since November, our favorite all-in-one trimmer will clean up his neck, and even dip into his nose and ears for a trim.

Filson

Tin Cloth Travel Kit

A thoughtful gift that combines two things dad loves: Filson and a place to organize all his TSA-friendly toiletries.

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

We’ve sung the praises of Patagonia’s legendary, basically indestructible Black Hole duffels many times over. On long-haul trips, they’re almost as essential as TSA Pre-Check.

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)

After you score him that sick new turntable, he’s going to have to replenish that record collection he had gotten rid of to make room for you.

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

One of our favorite weekender bags will have him fully packed for his next adventure, and he’ll look good on the roundtrip commute.

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

The last thing the old man needs is another lukewarm cup of coffee, and this Ember mug will keep his joe—or any other hot beverage—at the exact temperature he wants for up to an hour and a half.

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

Thankfully for your old man, all he needs is an affinity for stripes and not a British boarding school education to pull off a preppy rugby shirt. Taylor Stitch’s ones are vintage-inspired, with a soft, lived-in feel to match.

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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