By CNT Editiors via Conde Naste Traveler
FOR THE DADS WHO LOVE TO COOK, READ, OR SPEND THEIR DAYS IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS.
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Whether you're spending this Father's Day reuniting with dad on a much-awaited family vacation or are celebrating from different cities back on Zoom, picking out a gift he'll like (and actually put to use) is a nice way to show him your appreciation from near or far. And since finding the right gift for dad can be tricky, we've rounded up more than 60 gift ideas for all kinds of fathers: first-time dads, who are most certainly more tired than usual these days; dads in need of a spa day; ones who plan entire trips around what meals to eat; and more. Below, our favorite father's day gifts to buy this year.
For the Book-loving Dad
Yes, it will probably take some convincing to get your dad to switch over to a Kindle from his beloved hardbacks—but just tell him about all the money he’ll save on overweight bag fees! This e-reader, our favorite of the bunch, is waterproof (read: beach or poolside-friendly), has an adjustable built-in front light for evening reading, and plays audiobooks over Bluetooth through Amazon’s Audible platform. Plus, you can usually hook up a Kindle to your local library’s e-book platform, so he can still read his favorite books for free.
Speaking of Audible, why not get him a subscription to the audiobook service, so he can keep learning and listening while washing the car, grilling, or putzing around in the garage—you know, dad stuff. When you give a subscription, the recipient will get one free audiobook each month, plus 30 percent off of any additional audiobooks they want to listen to. (And suggest he start with the award-winning audio version of George Saunder’s Lincoln in the Bardo, which features a whopping 166 narrators, including Julianne Moore, Ben Stiller, and Don Cheadle.)
This compendium of the New York Times’ 36 Hours series features 150 different weekend getaways, scattered across the U.S. and Canada. It’ll fuel wanderlust and trip ideas for years to come. Whether he’s eyeing a visit to the Berkshires, Boulder, or Big Sur, he’ll find quick-fire itineraries and individual maps to kickstart his own planning. It also makes a great coffee table book.
This moving memoir follows writer James Campbell and his teenage daughter Aiden as they backpack over Alaska’s Brooks Range to the Hulahula River, where they canoe out to the Arctic Ocean. It’s a return trip for them both, and one that instills a love for adventure and confidence in his daughter, and reignites Campbell’s own drive for the outdoors. Whether your dad took you camping, to Alaska (lucky you), or simply instilled a love of the outdoors in your own backyard, this gift is a thank you—and an invitation for trips to come.
There are tons of monthly book subscriptions out there these days (Book of the Month being the most popular), but we’re partial to the box from Powell’s, a Portland mainstay and indie bookstore. Its Indiespensable subscription comes every six to eight weeks and features two books (usually one signed edition), plus an exclusive printed interview between Powell’s staff and the author, and additional related knicknacks. You can peruse previous boxes on the Powell’s site to get an idea of what’s in store. This month’s box ships May 28—so think of it as an early celebration.
Any père who knows Brie from Camembert will appreciate an assortment of French cheese, and Greenwich Village fromagerie Murray’s is famed for its selection. This sampler is stocked with two and a half pounds of the stuff, including Murray’s Mini Brie (creamy, buttery), Comte Saint Antoine (sweet, nutty hard cheese), Tomme de Savoie (tangy, semisoft Alpine), Brebirousse D’Argental (milky, silky, gooey, from Lyon), and Ossau Iraty (grainy, salty, grassy, from Aquitaine).
We don’t know what the deal is with dads and grilling, or dads and making pizza from scratch…but this circular cast-iron baking pan lets them do both at the same time. Lodge’s 10.5-inch cast iron is worlds more affordable than Le Creuset’s, and still sears and conducts heat beautifully.
Just like the rest of us, dads need cold brew within reach to function on a basic level when WFH. This slow drip cold brew tool yields coffee that’s never sandy or muddy, a common problem in making cold brew at home. Instead, it mimics the coffee shop texture everyone strives for.
Who is more unabashedly obsessed with DIY than dads? This juicer is the crème-de-la-crème of juicers, powerful enough to make nut milk and well-equipped to spin up whatever smoothie concoction he's drinking this month. It even has a pulp ejector for the purest juice possible and an auto-cleaning system.
For dads who are always on the lookout for a new and exciting blend, Atlas Coffee Club's subscription will not only keep his taste buds guessing, it'll transport him to coffee regions around the globe. Each package comes with coffee, a brief history of the caffeinated stuff in that region, and tips for the best brewing method for that particular bean.
Hopefully, the dad that loves to eat has been revisiting his favorite restaurants (and trying new ones) of late. But for the nights when he's cooking dinner for himself, upgraded kitchen tools will be appreciated. This cult-favorite cooking pan can be used to braise, sear, steam, strain, sauté, fry, boil. It does it all.
Pasta devotees know Carbone, whether they've visited in New York, Miami, Las Vegas, or Hong Kong. But they might not know the restaurant sells jars of the good stuff to recreate some of the magic from home.
For the Cycle Enthusiast Dad
You can't get much better than this bike, though it is not for leisurely neighborhood rides. It's for cyclists who dream of hitting the road at 30 mph. It’s super lightweight, and the aerodynamic design means getting up to speed and staying there as easy as it gets.
Thousand’s retro bike helmets are lightweight (read: good to travel with) and come in a whole host of colors, from gold and bright red to subtler tones of navy and black. It’s also designed to double as a skateboard helmet—perfect for all those ‘cool’ dads out there.
Specially designed with cyclists in mind, Camelbak’s 24-ounce bike bottle is insulated to keep water extra cold throughout the day, and lightweight enough you won't notice you're carrying it.
Die-hard cyclists are a little divided over Rapha when it comes to performance, but if you’re shopping for a dad who wants to look good while indulging in his new hobby, this brand has the goods. There’s plenty of clothing and accessories to choose from, but we love this lightweight, breathable jersey, especially great for hot summer rides.
For the dad who could use some pampering
If he’s not a big skincare guy yet but is open to trying out new products, this set from Alder New York will convert him. It includes the essentials when it comes to keeping skin clean and refreshed, from an everyday face cleanser to serum and moisturizer.
Everyone deserves a pair of nice pajamas for lounging around in and taking on vacation, and this best-selling set from Eberjey makes for a great gift. It’s made mostly from their softest signature modal fabric (a fiber that comes from beech trees) and provides enough warmth and breathability to keep on all day, whether he's putzing around the Airbnb, reading a book in the backyard, or just watching TV at home.
Self-care may not always be at the top of his list, which is what makes this gift so special. This Voluspa Japonica candle archive set includes 12 different scents that can burn for 15 hours each. From French Cade Lavender to Moso Bamboo scents, he’ll feel relaxed and centered in any room where these candles are lit. We also love how beautiful the jewel-tone colors are, and the way they glimmer with the flames.
For the dads who have happily returned to their favorite barbershops and salons, a gift card will make his next visit feel even more like a treat. With Giftly, it’s super easy to send money (up to $1,000 dollars) for him to use however he wants at a barbershop you suggest. The money is delivered in a custom greeting card and the recipient gets to choose if they want the cash loaded on a gift card or as a credit to their PayPal account.
A gift we recommend for moms, too, this Allswell Spa Bundle brings the luxury of a hotel stay to him with a cozy, lightweight waffle robe and matching slippers.
For the tech-obsessed dad
For the dad who insists on something practical when it comes to gifts, this durable SSD will let him backup all his files now, and keep new ones safe on the road during his next trip. As for the specs, it has 500 GB of storage and is compatible with both Mac and Windows computers.
He probably owns a pair of sunglasses or two already, but we doubt it's a pair as techy as these. Harried dads in need of some zoned-out me time can (safely) listen to music or a podcast while strolling around the neighborhood, kicking back on the beach, or doing yard work, thanks to these Bose sunglasses with built-in speakers on the frames.
For the dad who doubles as a paparazzo on vacation, Canon’s portable wireless printer allows him to turn some of those digital memories into prints at the drop of a hat. It connects to a phone via Bluetooth and a free Canon app to print photos from your camera roll or social media in wallet-friendly two-inch-by-three-inch size.
If dad's in need of some organizational help, Bellroy's tech kit is a good place to start. It'll keep all his cords neat and tidy inside elastic cable organizers, with mesh pockets for things like a mouse or power bank. And since it zips open flat, it's easy to see and organize everything at once.
For the dad who could use a more restful night’s sleep, this Philips alarm clock might do the trick. It can be used as a nightlight and wake-up device, simulating both a sunset and sunrise to help you gradually fall asleep and wake up to natural sounds and what looks like natural light.
For the dad who can’t wait to return to business travel
Keeping devices powered up is a full-time job for tech geeks. If your dad swears by Apple products, the ChargeTree will quickly become his new favorite desk accessory. It’s only as tall as a hand and a few inches long, so it takes up minimal space, but puts in work: It can charge an iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods all at once.
Dagne Dover makes a whole bunch of travel bags we love, from diaper-bag-friendly backpacks to hands-free fanny packs. This laptop sleeve will come in handy on dad's next business trip. It's made of neoprene, making it durable and water/coffee resistant, with interior padding to protect his laptop or tablet from drops or falls.
Give him a cool new way to store his toiletries with Cadence's magnetic capsules; they're leakproof, too, so he can slide them into his carry-on or weekender without fear of a soapy mess on the other end.
After a year largely spent without travel, we're ready to soak up every moment of our upcoming journeys. Give him a place to gather his thoughts (and store a metro card or cash) with this compact journal.
For the bartender-in-training dad
One of the unsung heroes of the home bar is a good jigger. It should be double sided, marked every quarter ounce from 1/4 to two, and be easy to control. Cocktail Kingdom’s Leopold is all that, plus it looks damn good sitting on the bar.
Since they’ve probably memorized the basics—martinis, Manhattans, daiquiris and the like—it’s time for them to branch out. Be Your Own Bartender, by John McCarthy, who has lent his talents to some of the best bars in New York, and Traveler contributor Carey Jones, has well over 100 recipes that will get bartending dads into ingredients like Lillet and Fernet.
A good bar set up doesn’t need a dozen different glasses, each designed for a specific drink. It does, however, need a coupe. You might have seen people throwing prohibition parties back in the late 2000s trying to drink Champagne out of these without spilling (bad idea!). What they should have been doing instead was sipping martinis or Manhattans from them. These Riedel cocktail glasses are a classy way to enjoy a classy drink.
Craft spirits are no doubt a way to remind ourselves of past trips and gear up for new ones. For a taste of Ireland, tie a bow around this single malt whiskey, best served on the rocks.
For the first-time dad
Between diaper changes, late night feedings and whatever collection of minutes new dads manage to cobble together to sleep, it’s tough to find time to work out. But having recently finished my first year as a father I can tell you, you’ll feel much better if you do. A good running stroller can help dads get active while still supervising their new additions, and the Thule Urban Glide 2, with its sizable wheels, twist brake, and comfortable handlebar is as good as they come. And despite the name, it’s great if you’re heading out on a hike as well, as long as the terrain isn’t too rutted out and rocky.
Even if he has insisted his entire life he doesn’t need an eye mask, the sudden need to sleep at odd hours, whenever he can find them, makes one a welcome addition for any new dad. The MZOO is a Traveler favorite for the way it sits up off the eyes, making it seem like you’re barely wearing a mask at all. If you want some other eye mask inspiration, check out our full list of favorites.
In case you hadn’t sensed the theme yet, new dads: they’re tired. Access to hot coffee at all times of day is vitally important, and no insulated mug keeps the hot hot (and the cold cold) quite like a Yeti. The added HotShot cap keeps everything completely sealed in.
New dads won’t always admit it, but after a few months of lifting and bending they could use a massage. And the Theragun Elite will give their muscles a professional-grade working over on demand. The percussive therapy device works on everything from your feet to your neck. It’s also small enough to pack away and use after a long drive or first airplane trip as a family.
Ultra-soft, easy to clean, and neutral enough to pair with nearly any T-shirt or button-up, he'll be living in these comfy joggers—and slipping them on for his next plane ride.
Newborns are changing every day, a fact that can be lost in the busyness of, well, making it through each day. Give him a low-stress way to collect memories with a Chatbooks subscription; the company makes it super easy to pull pictures from your phone's camera roll to turn into coffee table-ready photo books on a monthly basis.
For the active dad
If dad’s in need of a new pair of athletic shoes, we recommend Allbirds’ Dashers. They’re the perfect shoe to bring on vacation—lightweight, packable, and sturdy enough to use while exercising (plus, they’re machine washable, so they couldn't be easier to keep clean).
This ultralight convertible crossbody duffel was made for weekend trips. As the name suggests, it can be worn as a backpack or crossbody or carried like a duffel, and has a luggage sleeve if he’s bringing it on a longer trip as a supplement to a suitcase. Inside, there’s a protected laptop pocket, a power bank pocket, and a phone charging dock. Plus, it just looks cool.
If he's itching to get back into a stadium and rep his favorite team, gift dad a comfortable polo to upgrade the frayed T-shirt he’s usually sporting.
A new summer hat is just what your trail-loving dad needs. This one will keep him cool and protected from the sun, all while making him feel (and look) a bit more like Indiana Jones.
If dad’s idea of a vacation well-spent is finding a new golf course to play a round at, bring the game to him with an at-home putting green. This one measures nine feet by three feet, so he’ll need a decent amount of space to put it in, or a bit of real estate in the garage or backyard.
Baboon’s Go-Bag is a Traveler favorite, especially for camping or outdoorsy trips. It has a durable, water repellent exterior coating, which means it can survive all types of weather; four external grab handles in addition to shoulder straps and a crossbody strap; and multiple interior pockets to stash away documents, snacks, and any other on-the-go essentials, plus a carabiner to keep keys handy.
For the dad who spends all his time in the backyard
For the dad looking to step up his grill game, get the whole family to go in on a PK Grill. This throwback model, which first rose to popularity in the 60s and 70s, is a cult classic that doubles as a smoker and will earn respecting nods from any grill-master. Even better, it's portable (with a tiny bit of disassembly), so despite how good it looks in the backyard, your dad can also pack it up for a camping trip or future smoke-out.
PK grill and smoker
Help your dad install a hammock in the backyard and you’re essentially bringing vacation to him. Yellow Leaf’s Hammocks, which are ethically made by weavers who produce them by hand, are lightweight yet totally sturdy, and come in a range of colors and neutrals that will suit any backyard aesthetic. While we love a classic hammock shape, they also come in “chair” styles, if your dad prefers more of an upright-lounging position. The best part? Each hammock is easy to pack up and take on the go, and comes with a carrying bag.
For the beach days and road trips to come this summer, there's nothing better than a Yeti. This mid-size cooler is perfect for day trips, built to fit behind the driver’s or passenger’s seat of a car, and is completely bear-proof, in case he wants to bring it on that next camping excursion.
For everything from gardening and pulling weeds to moving firewood and repairing the back fence, these Carhartt work gloves are a backyard essential—but they won’t break the bank. Like most of Carhartt’s work goods, their low price is no indication of quality either: These cowhide suede gloves are built to last, and have thoughtful details like a wraparound palm and thumb patch and a vented cuff. Plus, they promise a classic, all-American look that will fit any dad’s style.
To turn the backyard into a retreat without going full tiki torch, scoop up these rattan lanterns that your dad can position on the back patio. Inside, they’ve got flameless flickering candles that will safely set a mood. The exterior, made of cane and rattan, is lacquered so it can hold up in outdoor environments (just make sure these lanterns stay under an overhang or umbrella—the brand recommends keeping them in covered areas if outdoors).
Even more gift ideas
For the sentimental dad: Pick out one of your best photos from your favorite family trip and send it to dad in one of Artifact Uprising's metal tabletop frames for a simple, thoughtful gift he can add to his desk.
For the hang loose dad: Inspired by 60s surf culture, these swim trunks will quickly become part of his summer uniform. Even better, they're quick-drying, so he can keep them on from the beach to the family barbecue.
For the dad who's always planning the next family camping trip: With surprisingly delicious ingredients like savory sofrito mussels and wild sockeye salmon, this box will convince any non-campers to spend a night in the great outdoors. It has enough food for six meals for two people (plus snacks), with a handful of fresh ingredients to buy with it.
For the dad who taught you how to read a trail marker: Homesick candles are a favorite for easy but thoughtful gifting; this one smells like afternoons in the great outdoors (pine, moss, cedarwood). If hiking's not exactly his thing, choose from one of Homesick's many location-themed candles to remind him of his hometown or the destination your family used to spend summers in.
For the activist dad: Designed to support Everytown for Gun Safety, whose mission is to end gun violence in the U.S., the writing on this shirt translates to “that's enough.” Made from cotton and pre-shrunk, it's a comfy t-shirt that raises funds and awareness for a worthy cause (part of the proceeds from each shirt go directly to Everytown).
For the dad who's watching The Queen's Gambit (again): This portable chess set is compact enough to bring on road trips or slide into a suitcase, so he can practice his skills anytime, anywhere. Each one is handmade to order, so expect it to take a few weeks to arrive.
For the dad who's seen every episode of Hot Ones: Keep his hot sauce collection growing with a subscription or one-time set of hot sauces; the current batch offers a sauce that mixes Thai and Caribbean flavors, and another that brings Basque chilis into the mix.
For the photo-happy dad: If he loves to flip through coffee tables books and already has one of Gray Malin's iconic overhead shots hanging on his office wall, he'll love the photographer's new tome, which is filled with images from the first decade of his career shot on all seven continents.
For the dad who loves country music: There's no one as iconic as Dolly. This book looks back at 175 (!) of her songs, mixing in never-before-seen photographs and personal stories from the queen herself.
