Getting the perfect gifts for dad can be something of a dilemma. What do you get the man who has everything? And by everything, I (of course) mean a wonderful family, great kids, a beautiful and strong wife, and the blessing of the Gospel in his home.
The key is to focus your gifts for dad ideas toward items that remind him of how blessed he is.
I know, being just such a dad, there is nothing I like more than having reminders of my loving family, who is praying for me at home while I am at work or school for long hours, and can’t come home and see them as I’d like.
So, here are some fantastic suggestions for gifts for dad, whether it be for Father’s day, his birthday, or Christmas, that will leave him feeling loved and blessed no matter where he is.
4 Practical and Useful Dad Gifts That Can Remind Him of You
A Dad Wallet
As dads who pick up the bill just about everywhere, we sometimes overlook that fold of leather or cloth that is stuffed in one of our many pockets. It is such a ubiquitous part of our lives, and as such it can be a little overlooked.
A great way to have it mean a little extra is to have it be a special gift from a child or spouse. There are, of course, many styles of wallets from the cheapest of cheap Duct® tape wallet, to the bill-fold or money clip wallet, bifold vs trifold, leather vs cloth; the options are endless.
For me, one of the best things about a wallet isn’t the fact that there is never any cash in it (so I’m never worried about getting mugged), but rather when the wallet reminds me of someone special. The wallet, therefore can make a great gift, and for those looking for that extra special touch you can put a picture of yourself or your family in it to add that extra little meaning for him.
A Dad Watch
There was a time not so long ago that the average man-watch was falling out of favor as the cellphone became the new way of telling time. But with the advent of smartwatches (like this one I wrote about a few years ago) there seems to be some resurgence in the coolness of watches – that is unless you are wearing a calculator watch.
As with the wallet, the watch can be that thing that a dad can always have on him to remind him of that special someone or someones who purchased it for him.
The type of watch is certainly an important consideration. Is the dad in your life trendy or chic, classic or modern, does he enjoy the finer things in life or is he a simple man, is he active (check Groupon for refurbished fitness watches and trackers) or a Star Wars nerd? The type of watch you get him will say a lot about the type of dad he is, so make sure to choose wisely.
A Dad Knife
This one might seem a little strange at first, as a knife seems to carry some connotation of danger or aggression. However, carrying a knife as a tool makes a lot of sense for dads.
I only recently started daily carrying a knife as a means of having a reliable tool that I could call upon in a pinch. Depending on the needs of your dad, the type of knife you consider may vary from the versatile Swiss-Army® to the no-nonsense Buck® knife, all the way up the ladder to hardened steel of the Benchmade®.
Like the watch and the wallet, the knife can carry a bit of sentimental value as well if you think your dad would be the kind of guy to carry it everywhere. I personally carry my Benchmade® everywhere I go, but I also have my grandfather’s old Swiss-Arm® knife, both of them are worth infinitely more than the cost of replacement because of the personal connection.
Plus, if I ever needed to cut my child out of something quickly, like a car seat, I could totally do it with my knife.
A Dad Camera
Much like the watch, the standalone camera has seen better days as the smartphone camera seems to be the photographic choice of the day.
That being said, good pictures and videos are a great way to remember those moments and occasions that truly make a father feel blessed, and though smartphones have much better technology available to them then they did five years ago, they still cannot compete with the likes of the DSLR or GoPro camera, or even some smaller high-end compact cameras.
So, all of these things are great gifts for the dad in your life and can go a long way to remind him of the wonderful family that is thinking of him whether he’s out back working in the yard, across town working out at the gym, across the country in an important meeting, or just sitting there next to you giving you the quality time and attention that only he can give.
You can also check out these other great gift guides for men too:
- Cheap gifts for men
- Best Subscription Boxes for Men
- 6 Clothing Subscription Boxes for Men
- 9 Practical Yet Cool Gift Ideas for Outdoorsy Guys
- Romantic Gift Ideas for Him
- How to Make Your Own Year of Dates Gift
- 14 Gift Ideas for New Gun Owners
- Totally Fun Adventure Gifts for Him
Debbie Pajzer says
Excellent suggestions!