Generally, finding the perfect gift for the women in your life isn’t much of a challenge but when it comes to men, it’s an entirely different story. The best gifts for men are ones that are practical; something they can use daily (which often equates to something pretty boring). I’m sorry to say but he might not love the handmade sentimental gift as much as you might think. Here is a list of ideas perfect for any special man in your life.
1. Clothes
This one may seem obvious but when it comes to actually picking out clothes, it can be confusing. First of all, remember who you are shopping for. I often have a tendency to slip into thinking about what I would like on them instead of what they would actually like. In general, many guys are pretty basic when it comes to clothing. Don’t try and get anything super over the top that they’ll never wear. Consider things like comfort and what they wear day to day. If you’re not sure, try getting something similar to what they already have. I bought my boyfriend about four of the exact same Nike sweatshirts just in different colors, but he was so excited about every single one of them. Try not to overthink it! Here are a few great places to start:
https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/f/shop-all-mens-apparel?filterFacets=facetStore%3AISA%2CSHIP, https://www.macys.com/shop/mens-clothing?id=1, and Nike
2. Gift Cards
This might seem like a very basic and boring gift, but it’s a great idea when you’re truly stumped and want the guarantee that they will enjoy the gift they end up with. However, gift cards present many possibilities that you might not think of right away. For example, a gift card for PlayStation or Xbox allows them to digitally download new games which are preferable (in my experience) to having a hard disk. Another idea is using a gift card to buy a subscription. For example, you could purchase an Apple gift card with enough for a year’s worth of apple music. Apple music runs for $9.99 a month but you can load the gift card with as much as you want (this is also nice for future years because they will most likely want their subscription renewed). Almost any online subscription has this option.
3. Etsy
At first, this one might seem a little out there but there are tons of amazing gifts on Etsy. A good place to start is by searching for a category they are interested in. For example, you could search for sports or golf. Hundreds of great and often personalizable gifts pop up. Etsy is also a great place to turn to if you’re looking to get him something sentimental, but be careful about shipping! Some of the stores are in foreign countries which can lead to incredibly high shipping rates, although most of the shops are within the US with very reasonable rates. Etsy is also great for unique gifts because they are all custom made.
4. Fun Socks
I’m honestly not sure why this was such a hit but it was. A lot of guys usually stick to black or white socks and something about receiving fun socks just puts a smile on their face. My brother was a biochem major and I found a pack of science-themed socks on Amazon and he loves and wears them all the time. https://www.amazon.com/Good-Luck-Sock-Science-Socks/dp/B07BH4WLZ5/ref=sr_1_20dchild=1&keywords=science+socks&qid=1605752480&sr=8-20 There are thousands of different types of socks you can shop for. Some stores also sell sock advent calendars which is another super fun idea.
5. Water Bottles
This idea might seem obvious, but the hydro flask trend missed a lot of guys. I purchased an insulated water bottle for my boyfriend last year and it’s become a holy grail. A lot of guys are still out there using single-use plastic water bottles which is bad on a couple of different levels. Not only is constantly buying water bottles expensive, but it also is horrible for the environment. A brand new water bottle encourages drinking water more than anything else so you’re also helping their health. A few great places to start looking would be Amazon or Dick’s Sporting Goods. Any man in your life will love having cold water throughout the day.
If you’re looking to add even more jazz to the man in your life’s Christmas, consider getting creative with wrapping. A personal favorite of mine is wrapping a gift card in six boxes so it looks like a huge gift. This always gets a laugh as they unwrap every box. Whatever you decide on, this Christmas remember to hold your loved ones (that live in your immediate household) close and remember that Christmas is more than gifts.