No matter who this cool dad is, his mile-high standards and sixth sense for gear make him impossible to shop for. But don’t worry — if you’re determined to defy the odds and knock it out of the park with his gift this Father’s Day, you’ve come to the right place. We observed some of the coolest guys in our own lives to determine which gifts have the greatest wow potential for their highly exacting tastes. With items that range from a $10 comedy memoir to a top-rated, indestructible cooler, everything on this list should pass muster with this hard-to-please fellow.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. All product details reflect the price and availability at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
Aesop Body Cleansing Slab
You thought that you were a product junkie until you met this guy. He gives you a run for your money when it comes to knowing about — and, uh, spending money on — all the latest in natural deodorant, exfoliating scrubs, and beard oils. Aesop is his Achilles Heel, so why not surprise him with a manly SLAB of soap for Father’s Day?
Shop Aesop
Aesop Body Cleansing Slab, $, available at Nordstrom
Omsom East Asian Sampler
Send him on a global culinary adventure without ever leaving his kitchen with this sample box of six East Asian starter sauces — each one offering hard-to-get quality ingredients and complex flavors that are normally pretty tricky to conquer unless you travel to a ton of specialty stores. This pantry shortcut in a box includes: Japanese yuzu misoyaki, Korean spicy bulgogi, and Chinese mala salad sauces. All are vegan and gluten free.
Shop Omson
Omsom East Asian Sampler, $, available at Omsom
The Snuk Chili Crisp Gift Box
If he already knows what he wants (chili crisp!) then indulge him with a quartet of beloved jars, including Fly by Jing, Blank Slate Sichuan Chili Oil from Brooklyn, Lao Gan Ma, and Don Chilio Habanero chili crisp from Mexico. He’ll appreciate getting a gift box from the small global bazaar brand Snuk, which stocks some of the best specialty ingredients from all over the world.
Shop Snuk
Assorted Brands Chili Crisp Gift Box, $, available at Snuk
“Is This Anything?” by Jerry Seinfeld
The man is a stand-up fiend, and can quote routines from all the greats, from Richard Pryor to Bill Hicks to Mitch Hedberg. Help him add to his encyclopedic knowledge of the comedy canon with the gift of Jerry Seinfeld’s career-spanning retrospective of jokes and anecdotes.
Shop Bookshop
Jerry Seinfeld Is This Anything?, $, available at Bookshop
Rechargeable Hands-Free LED Book Light
If he’s an avid reader or a night runner, this rechargeable, adjustable LED neck light is the affordable, functional gadget he never knew he needed.
Shop LEDGLE on Amazon
Ledgle Rechargeable Hands-Free LED Book Light, $, available at Amazon
Tetra Portal Lighter
This Japanese-made flame lighter looks like it arrived directly from a Frank Stella fever dream. Lighters start at $22, but if you want to add these to an aesthetically pleasing toker’s bundle, the Pantone-ready motif mimics high-end smoking-accessories brand Tetra’s colorfully cased hemp rolling papers.
Shop Tetra
Tetra Portal Lighter, $, available at Tetra
Bullstrap Calfskin Leather iPhone Case
No cracked screen for this fastidious fellow — he keeps his precious iPhone 12 safely shrouded 24-7. Of course, only a minimal leather case will do for his minimal tastes — it will break in beautifully with age and doesn’t detract from the phone’s slim profile.
Shop Bullstrap
Bullstrap Calfskin Leather iPhone Case, $, available at Bullstrap
Yeti Roadie 24 Cooler
This man WILL be grilling with his usual crew this summer, pandemic be damned. Prepare him for safe and socially distant outdoor gatherings with Yeti’s top-of-the-line, highly-rated cooler, for stashing whatever beverages he prefers to knock back while preparing steaks the size of his head.
Shop Yeti at Backcountry
YETI Roadie 24 Cooler, $, available at Backcountry
Carhartt 100% Cotton Henley
Yes, dudes love a T-shirt gift. And yes, dudes love Carhartt. (Actually, ladies love it too.) The heritage workwear brand has been in the throes of a “moment” for several years now, but there’s a reason why — they really do make sturdy, heavy-duty, well-designed basics for guys who abuse their clothing. We love a henley-style long-sleeve shirt as a stylish alternative to the classic tee.
Shop Carhartt on Amazon
Carhartt Workwear Pocket Henley Shirt, $, available at Amazon
SmartWool Larimer Sock
Merino wool is seriously a miracle fiber, and its moisture-wicking properties make it the perfect material for socks. SmartWool’s rugged hiker-style has just the right combination of aesthetics and function for someone who is picky about everything he puts on his body — even socks.
Shop Smartwool at REI
Smartwool Larimer Socks, $, available at REI
Buffy Eucalyptus Sheet Set
Make sure he’s literally a cool guy with this luxe, sustainable set of 100% eucalyptus fiber sheets. These cool-to-the-touch, breathable sheets help keep sweaty nights at bay. He can also rest easy knowing he’s not breathing in anything toxic — even the dye is plant-based and all-natural.
Buffy Eucalyptus Sheets Set - Queen Size, $, available at Buffy
Heston Blumenthal for Everdure Charcoal Grill
The guy loves to cook, and has seared some amazing steaks on his 3-foot square apartment patio with the help of a miniature Smokey Joe. This year, he deserves an upgrade that matches his skill set — something like this sleek, porcelain-enamel charcoal grill co-designed by knighted British chef Heston Blumenthal; complete with an interior food tray, bamboo chopping board, stay-cool handles, and safety latches for easy transport.
Shop Everdure on Amazon
Everdure Everdure by Heston Blumenthal Portable Charcoal Grill, $, available at Amazon
Kinka Konro Charcoal Grill
A pricier, slightly less portable, but infinitely more awesome small-space searing companion is a Japanese konro grill — a rectangularly-oriented box that’s open at the top and typical used to grill yakitori skewers. They’re best used with a clean-burning wood charcoal like sumi or binchotan, and are a must-have for any enthusiast of al fresco cooking.
Shop Kinka on Amazon
Kinka Konro Charcoal Grill, $, available at Amazon
Jean Dubost Laguiole Steak Knives (Set of 6)
If the grillmaster in your life is already equipped with enough smoking apparati to start a restaurant, he might appreciate the addition of some new cutlery that will help him enjoy the fruits — er, meats — of his labor. Laguiole’s sturdy stainless-steel steak knives are made in France and come in a foncy wooden storage box.
Shop Laguiole at Williams-Sonoma
Dubost Laguiole Steak Knives, Set of 6, $, available at Williams-Sonoma
Hedley & Bennett Crossback Apron
He’ll appreciate feeling comfortable while enjoying his craft. This durable 100% cotton canvas apron has been road-tested and approved by many a chef. It can also be customized for an additional cost. Aprons at Hedley & Bennett start at $85, and we also suggest checking out the cook’s bundle for a sharp gift.
Shop Hedley & Bennett
Hedley & Bennett The All Day Crossback Apron, $, available at Hedley & Bennett
“Home Style Cookery” by Matty Matheson
Last food thing, we promise! But this is a really good one. Beloved Canadian home chef Matty Matheson’s (long-awaited) second cookbook is written in his trademark intimate and funny tone and filled with recipes that are just plain good. Whether your dude is a devoted home cook or just starting to tinker with pickling his own vegetables, this book will be a welcome addition to his arsenal.
Shop editor’s picks cookbooks on Amazon
Matty Matheson “Home Style Cookery”, $, available at Amazon
MasterClass Subscription
These engaging and beautifully produced online courses taught by a wealth of luminaries and experts (David Sedaris, Bob Iger, Stephen Curry, Timbaland, Aaron Franklin, to name just a few) are well worth the $180 annual subscription fee — there’s a class for every one of your man’s varied interests.
Shop Masterclass
Masterclass Masterclass Subscription, $, available at MasterClass
Air Max 90 Sneaker
Sneaker nerds are very, very, very hard to shop for — especially since the goods they covet the most are usually only available via raffles or hyper-inflated secondary market pricing. If you do decide to go this perilous gift-giving route, it’s best to choose a classic, perennially available style that can go into the giftee’s backup rotation, like the forever-cool Nike Air Max.
Shop Nike
Nike Air Max 90, $, available at Nike
Merrell Hydro Mocs
You want to get him a summer-ready shoe in honor of all the adventures you’ll be embarking on in the next few months, but Crocs are a little too ubiquitous for this discerning fellow. (Pfft.) Merrell’s ghostly, vaguely Yeezy-ian foam water shoe offers the same ease and comfort as its kid-friendly competitor, but with a design that matches your man’s style.
Shop Merrell
Merrell Hydro Moc, $, available at Merrell
TC Electronic Ditto Looper Guitar Effects Pedal
This top-reviewed pedal is a solid gift for the guitar player in your life who may not be crazy advanced yet but starting to experiment. What's so great about this gadget is that it makes repeat beats easy by stripping away all the complicated non-essential tech and leaves you with a 24-bit uncompressed high-quality audio and 5 minutes of pure looping.
Shop TC Electronics at Guitar Center
TC Electronic Ditto Looper Guitar Effects Pedal, $, available at Guitar Center
Apple AirPod Pro
This devoted headphone user deserves an upgrade this year, and he’ll really appreciate the sleek designer and supreme sound quality of the “Pro” AirPods.
Shop Apple at Amazon
Apple AirPods Pro, $, available at Amazon
Cactus Leather Key Organizer
For those familiar with the uncomfortable pocket bulge (get your mind out of the gutter) created by a clanging mess of keys and a too-big metal ring, this sleek, earth-friendly key organizer is an upgrade. With its secure locking system, his keys will stack up neatly and twist out when needed, and stay in place quietly when they are not.
Shop Huckberry
Huckberry Cactus Leather Key Organizer, $, available at Huckberry
Wishlistland Angelwing Begona
With his unrivaled green thumb, he’s able to keep even the most high maintenance sprouts thriving, and his apartment is filled with unusual specimens that he’s collected from cuttings over the years. He’ll appreciate a rarer plant baby like this spotted begonia.
Shop Wishlistland on Etsy
wishlistland Angelwing Begonia, $, available at Etsy
Hibiki Japanese Harmony Whiskey
Recently, he and his
Shop Hibiki at Drizly
Hibiki Japanese Harmony Whisky, $, available at Drizly
Casa Dragones Tequila Blanco
If his whiskey bar is fully stocked and he’s looking to try something new, he’ll appreciate the gift of a top-rated tequila. While Casa Dragones’ premium Joven “sipping” variety can run you a few hundred dollars, the brand’s Blanco blend is a delicious option that’s ideal for mixing or drinking on the rocks — and it usually clocks in under $100.
Shop Casa Dragones at Drizly
Casa Dragones Tequila Blanco, $, available at Drizly
Dorset Crystal Double Old-Fashioned Glasses
If trying to guess his taste in spirits is a fruitless endeavor, just get him some nice drinking equipment instead. It doesn’t get more classic than a cut-crystal Old Fashioned glasses, and a set of two will only set you back about $40.
Shop Williams-Sonoma
Dorset Crystal Double Old-Fashioned Glasses, $, available at Williams-Sonoma
Helinox Chair Zero
This top-rated camp chair is nothing short of miraculous; measuring no larger than a water bottle when packed up and weighing a single pound — but still supports up to 265 of human when unfurled into sitting formation. If the man in question is a fan of the outdoors, he’s definitely got his eye on this chair.
Shop Helinox at REI
Helinox Chair Zero, $, available at REI
Cameo
We will never stop hyping Cameo. It is an unforgettable, totally personalized, and — if you know where to look — affordable gifting option for the guy who has everything. (If you’re unfamiliar with the app, it contains a database of celebrities who will record personalized videos for the recipient of your choice. Fees and lead times vary depending on the celeb — a video from boxer Floyd Mayweather will run you a cool $2,000, while numerous 90 Day Fiancé participants will record a message starting around $30.) Only you know the talent that will please the man in question, but right now we’re considering personalized vids from iconic supporting characters on The Sopranos or Tiger King’s John Reinke.
Shop Cameo
Cameo by James Garretson of “Tiger King”, $, available at Cameo
Driftaway Coffee Customizable Coffee
Subscriptions to this sustainable, farmer-supporting coffee bean company start at $60 for two months, and you can customize the deliveries to fit your giftee’s preferences and your budget. For caffiene-lovers who want to dive even deeper, the brand also offers expert-guided virtual coffee tastings.
Shop Driftway Coffee
Driftaway Coffee Customizable Coffee Subscription, $, available at Driftaway Coffee
Haden Dorset 1.7 Qt. Stainless Steel Electric Tea Kettle
If he’s more of a tea drinker, he’ll feel honored to receive this top of the line stainless steel electric kettle. It offers a temperature scale, convenient water gauge window, light indicator during boiling, auto shut-off (safety first!), and a spare filter. He’ll also definitely approve of the high-end design.
Shop Haden US at Wayfair
Haden US Dorset 1.7 Qt. Stainless Steel Electric Tea Kettle, $, available at Wayfair
Baboon Mini Go Bag
We are kinda evangelical about Baboon’s colorful, super-sturdy luggage and handbags. The company’s website — which is a trip of its own, resembling an acid-tinged graphic-design funhouse — carries durable products that will brighten up any trip with an eye-catching palette of every shade from fluorescent orange to a subtle eggplant. Their signature Go-Bag is a roomy, double-stitched duffle with convertible straps so it can be worn as a backpack.
Shop Baboon
Baboon Mini Go Bag, $, available at Baboon
The North Face Unisex Down Mid Layer
We love the throwback vibes of this color-blocked North Face down shirt. Not only will it remind the cool dude in your life of his grade-school style — we’re sure he was on the verge back then, too — it will keep him seriously warm.
The North Face Unisex Down Mid-Layer, $, available at The North Face
Art Of Tea Wood Box + Sampler
Add in this handsome pine wood box of Art of Tea's pyramid teabags filled with its most popular sampling of teas.
Art Of Tea Wood Box Tea Sampler, $, available at Art Of Tea
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