Your dad probably won't complain about any gift you give him. For better or worse, most modern dads don't care about gifts. You know that meme of an older bearded gentleman with a goofy smile opening a shirt similar to the one he's wearing? There's a lot of truth to that. In fact, WIRED hasn't had a gift guide for dad in several years. No one complained; Maybe no one noticed.
However, I'm not just a dad and a gadget reviewer, I'm also someone with a specific philosophy about what makes a suitable gift for middle-aged men like me. You'll notice some themes running through this manifesto helpful guide: the best gifts for dad are those that not only suit his interests but can fairly be described as “overkill.” Dads actually tend to like things that are overbuilt but useful. I'm sure some dads like to be “pampered” but this is not me or the dads I know who all cringe when they read this sentence.
If you rule out an idea, I hope that when it comes to a gift for dad, you can rarely go wrong with giving an expensive but cool version of something we use. We especially like things that win the admiration of our peers—nothing makes a dad happier than having another older guy pay attention to the stupidly expensive tire pressure gauge idiot and then say “Oh, my kids got me that—they're a bit pricey but I have to say, they always work great.”
Check out the rest of us gift guideinclude Gift for mother, Technology gifts for childrenAnd Gifts for people who enjoy outdoor activities.
Updated April 2024: We've added a great pepper grinder, weather station, smokeless fireplace, apron, and updated prices throughout.
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