My dad is, by far, the hardest person to shop for. I know, I know, I research and write about gifts for a living (and, ya know, I’ve been his daughter for over 30 years!), but I struggle every time Father’s Day rolls around. Why, you ask? Well, he doesn’t want a whole lot — but when he does, he’s often the one to buy it. That’s fine and all, but it presents quite the challenge when it comes time to pick a Father’s Day gift for a dear ol’ dad.
In the same boat? I’m about to let you in on a little gift-giving secret: Always get one step ahead of your dad. Sure, he may be on a constant hunt for the latest and greatest in [insert category here], but if you play your cards right, you can beat him to the punch. Say he’s trying to cut back on his pricey daily coffee runs, then brew up some out-of-the-box gift ideas to help his habits, from a self-heating mug that’ll keep his drink warm for hours to a coffee subscription that’ll introduce him to a new roast each month. Or if he’s tech-obsessed, then spring for helpful extras (like the MagSafe charger down below) since he probably has the bigger buys covered.
As for me, I tend to forgo tangible gifts for fun experiences that we can share. But when I opt to give my dad something to unwrap, I go for practical picks that complement the things he already has and loves. I’ve rounded up some of my best work from past years below.
Quick Overview
Amazon
My parents are always jetting off somewhere, so it’s safe to say that my dad has accumulated all the travel gadgets and gizmos he could ever need. This little guy is more of a nice-to-have: Just plug it into any 3.5mm audio jack (including the one on airplane seats and gym equipment) and pair it with AirPods or other wireless headphones. I originally bought one for myself at the recommendation of Senior Tech Writer Rick Broida, who dubbed it “the dongle that saved air travel.” After I put it to use, I decided that every traveler in my life needed one before their next trip — and my dad was at the very top of the list.
His reaction didn’t disappoint. He set it up before a long-haul flight to Hawaii, then paired it with his Beats noise-cancelling headphones once they were in the air. He sent me a text from the skies, saying that his new fave travel gadget “worked great” and he’s “happily watching a movie with his own headphones.” Better yet, he could actually hear what he was watching since his headphones block out chatty seatmates and other inevitable airplane noises, unlike the cheap, wired ones airlines will sometimes (key word: sometimes) pass out before takeoff.
Don’t want to take my dad’s word for it? Check out Broida’s in-depth review for an expert’s take. Spoiler alert: He’s a big fan — and goes so far as to say that it’s “to the point where I’m loathe to air-travel without it.”
Allbirds
My dad’s an early adopter: He signed up for Amazon in the early aughts, traded Netflix’s red envelopes for Redbox, and bought Bombas socks before everyone and their brother did. Same goes for Allbirds. He’s been walking on cloud nine (the brand’s words, not mine) since they first came onto the scene nearly 10 years ago, and that’s not about to change anytime soon.
When Allbirds drops a new shoe, I breathe a sigh of relief because I know I’ve got my dad’s next gift on lock. Last year, I gave him the newly released Tree Dasher 2, the leveled-up version of their everyday walking shoe. He wears them everywhere — errand runs, casual days at the office, on-his-feet travels, you name it. They were even his shoe of choice on an eight-day European vacation and a recent trip to Disney World, which really speaks to their comfort level.
And if we’re talking style, then let it be known that these two-tone sneaks are way sleeker than the other “dad shoes” on the market. That’s a win in my eyes (and my mom’s)!
Amazon
What is it about dads and their gadgets? I’ll never know, but what I do know is that if he’s got a lot of ’em, then he also has a ton of cords and chargers to wrangle. My dad’s nightstand was overrun with them, so I picked up this three-in-one charger, which he uses to power up his iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods with just one plug.
It looks like an extension of his Apple products, with a glossy white finish and rounded edges that mimic an AirPods case. Sure, it’s nice to look at, but there’s a lot more than meets the eye: This beauty is packed with power, with one recharged reviewer raving that their “watch was fully charged in 45 minutes.” In fact, Anker claims that it can charge an iPhone 15 Pro to 20% in just 16 minutes and an Apple Watch to 48% in a mere 30 minutes.
You know how I can tell that this MagSafe multitasker is worth the money? It hasn’t left my dad’s nightstand since the day he unwrapped it — and that was two years ago.
Shop Father’s Day gifts: Best Father’s Day gifts for 2025 | Best Father’s Day gifts under $50 | Unique Father’s Day gifts
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
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