Happy holidays!! Halloween is over, so I guess that means it’s officially time for the holidays! So excited for all of the food and family time to come.
However, if you’re like me, this also means that you may already be a little bit stressed thinking about gifts for your family. So to help us all get a jumpstart on some ideas, today marks the beginning of my Holiday Gift Guide series! I’ll be covering ideas for men, women, and kids.
I enjoy gift giving SO MUCH. That feeling when you find the perfect gift for someone and know without a doubt that they will love it? Yup, the best.
But then there are also the folks that are really hard to shop for.
My dad, for example, is notoriously the most difficult person in the world to buy gifts for. He has everything, wants nothing (except things that are impossibly unaffordable), and can’t seem to offer any ideas to help a girl out. One year, I bought him a pack of gum that was labeled “Tastes Like Chicken” (inside family joke), and it was his favorite gift that year. Possibly ever. I wish I were kidding.
Since my husband is not far behind on the difficulty meter (noticing a pattern here?), I’m going to start this year’s guides with gift ideas for the guys in your life.
These work for dads, brothers, husbands, boyfriends – you name it. Also, all of these are either products I have personally bought, or that have great reviews/come highly recommended. Feel free to also share your best gifts for men in the comments!
This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using one of my links.
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ONE // Xbox One S
Quality Option for the Casual Gamer: I randomly asked my husband what has been the best gift he’s ever received, and one of his first answers was an Xbox. I may or may not have tried to high-five myself, since that was a gift from me!
Video game systems are usually a sure-fire hit, and the Xbox comes with the added bonus of acting as a substitute for cable TV as well, because there are a ton of apps that you can use to watch sports or other shows live.
TWO // Roku Streaming Stick
Don’t Want Cable? Try A Roku: More techy goodies! Slight pattern here, but the Roku is a streaming device that allows you to watch live TV and a ton of different channels and movies. These little things are powerful and very affordable. We have an older version of the Roku Streaming Stick that has worked really well for us, but you can see all the details and compare the different models on their site.
Sale Note: Target’s Black Friday Sale Preview ad shows the Roku Streaming Sticks at $20 off!
THREE // Neck Massager
For the Guy that Needs a Break: Ah, massagers. This is a tried and true gift, and perfect if you have a loved one with any sort of back or neck issues, or even just a high stress job. This one has amazing reviews.
FOUR // Fitbit
Let’s Get Physical: Fitbits are great for tracking your exercise, heart rate, and sleep, and also a great motivator to keep you moving throughout the day and the week. There are a ton of different Fitbit models and the majority are much more affordable than most of the other comparable sport watches on the market. The newest model, the Versa 2 is $199.95 ($149.95 at Target for Black Friday!), and their simplest model, the Inspire, is only $69.95.
FIVE // Sleep Shorts
Clothes for the Guy Who Never Shops: Sleepwear is always a go-to for me, and it always ends up being a well-loved gift, because it’s something that neither my dad nor my husband will ever really buy for themselves.
I am a huge Nordstrom fan, because of the huge selection, the free shipping and free returns, and the great customer service. These Polo sleep shorts are great quality and have lasted longer than any of the ones my husband has randomly bought.
SIX // Touchscreen-Friendly Gloves
Smart Gloves: We don’t live in a cold climate right now, but when we did, I bought tech-friendly gloves for my husband and they are such a great idea. It’s really annoying to have to repeatedly put on and take off a glove, and let’s face it, we’re all very connected to our phones, so being able to wear your gloves while answering a phone call, or just browsing the web on the subway, is kind of key these days. These Amazon gloves get incredibly reviews and are only $10.
Another option: these touch-screen friendly gloves from the North Face. I have yet to purchase anything from the North Face that wasn’t great quality.
SEVEN // Fossil Money Clip
Nix the Bulky Wallet: This is a straight-from-the-husband pick. Apparently, men routinely sit with their wallet in their back pocket, and besides this sounding ridiculously uncomfortable, it’s terrible for your posture. Money clips are smaller, compact, and can fit in your front pocket. I bought this one years ago for my husband, and he loves it.
EIGHT // Photo Book
Get a Little Sentimental: Photo books are a great gift, male or female. For grandpa, you could do a book of your family or the grandkids; for a husband or boyfriend, a book of your best memories as a couple or a family.
Shutterfly always has great deals on photobooks, and the quality is solid and dependable. If you’re looking for a very high quality product and willing to spend a little more though, Mpix is my go-to for all of our photo-related projects. Keep an eye out for Mpix sales, as they do happen often.
NINE // Yeti Mug
For the Coffee Lover: I bought Yeti mugs for both of my parents last year, and proceeded to use my mom’s while I was visiting. No shame! haha. These get amazing reviews, and they really do work well. I find myself wishing I had one every morning as my tea gets cold in nanoseconds.
TEN // Hot Sauce Gift Set
Add a Little Spice: When in doubt, get something food related! We love hot sauce, and this sampler gift pack has sauces inspired by flavors from all across the world. Yes, please.
ELEVEN // Home Brewing Kit
Creative and Craft Beer Lover: If you have a beer lover in your life, they may have not necessarily thought of trying to brew their own beer, but these kits make it fairly easy to do. This Northern Brewer kit gets great reviews for flavor and for being a good starter kit.
TWELVE // Docking/Charging Station
For the Guy Who Has Every Electronic Device: I’m a big fan of smart organization systems, so charging stations are a great tool in my mind. This one has space for ipads, cellphones, keys, and can fit on your nightstand. It also gets great reviews and has a great price.
THIRTEEN // Portable Charger
Always on the Go: Portable batteries can be incredibly useful, whether you travel a lot or just need your phone constantly at work. My husband uses his all the time, and loves the convenience of it. There are tons of options. This INIU charger is a cheaper option at just $19.99 (plus a $4 off coupon). If you’re ok with spending a little more, this Ankor charger gets strong reviews — and has over 16k reviews total.
FOURTEEN // Zojirushi Insulated Bottle
Best Travel Mug for a Long Day: Having an insulated bottle to keep either your coffee hot, or your water cold, is so convenient. My husband has had this specific bottle for a few years and it WORKS. It’s also held up really well over the years, and never spills his beverage even though he likes to test it by putting it in his workbag sideways.
FIFTEEN // Whiskey Decanter
Fancy Bar Decor: My husband suggested this one all on his own, so I think I just found a gift for him! Whiskey decanters are great for the guy who appreciates a nice glass of whiskey, though this can be used for wine, bourbon, anything. A decanter is especially nice if you have a bar or even just a bar cart in your home. As a bonus, you could get this monogrammed or engraved with a special date.
Additional Ideas
These include some other gifts I’ve given in the past, as well as suggestions from friends!
- Tickets to an event – a sporting event, comedy show, musical…the options are endless.
- Custom Cornhole Boards
- Custom Beer Glasses
- All-Weather Car Floor Mats
- Quality Workbag/Laptop Bag
- Bottle of his favorite fancy liquor
- Personalized Whiskey Glasses
- Custom Night Sky Print – give them the coordinates of a special location, and add a message to the print. Totally unique and custom.
- Personalized Luggage Tags – own these and they have held up really well through tons of travel
- Duffel Travel Bag – this company makes amazing, super high quality bags
Great ideas! Love it!
Great ideas for the hard to shop for men in your life! Thanks!
Thanks! Hope these are helpful!
I got my babe a Fitbit a couple of years ago. That hot sauce collection is a fantastic idea! I’d love it too haha.
Ha – same! I already use a lot of the things I’ve bought for him on this list as though they were mine.
This is such a great guide! Def saving for later 🙂 Love those sleep shorts and gloves!!
Thank you! The sleep shorts are so good and hold up really well!
Great list. I always have a hard time deciding on what to get my husband. He is the man who has everything. And on black friday buys what he wants ha. There are a few options on this list I will look into!
Ha – I have a friend whose husband does the same thing! I feel for you guys. Mine just never shops at all, but also doesn’t seem to want anything, so he’s a toughy. Good luck this year!
I never know what to buy my husband, so I’m happy to see some great ideas for him on this list! Thanks for making my Christmas shopping a little easier!
Yay – so glad to hear that!
My husband has tried to use my Yeti mug a few times and I’ve said no way! 😉 So he will be getting one of those for Christmas. The cornhole game idea would be a great one too. Love that it is also something the whole family can enjoy. It can be so hard to shop for the men in our lives – thank you for all the great ideas!
haha! I feel like the Yetis are basically gold. I love the cornhole idea too – that one actually came from a friend’s husband!