11 Father’s Day Gifts That Don’t Suck
Picked by me, approved by the father of my children!
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Over the past couple of weeks, I have become a Father’s Day gift guide scholar. No joke: I’ve scoured every single list of must-buy presents, from Goop’s to GQ’s, Food52’s to Forbes’s, Mr Porter’s to T Magazine’s and everything in between. And while there are some gems, for sure, most of the guides I’ve read tend to be gimmicky or gadgety and don’t follow my own personal guidelines on how to win at giving presents.
So I decided to make my own with a little help from my amazing husband, who, in addition to being the father of our two children, happens to have great taste. Today, I’m happy to share a few cool-dad-approved gifts for the father figure in your life.
Houseplant Ashtray Set by Seth Rogen ($95)
A handful of years ago, we probably would have been talking about artisanal mezcal bottles to buy, but it’s 2022, so let’s talk about cannabis accessories that are actually chic, like this glazed stoneware ashtray and bud vase (no pun intended). It’s one of many tasteful options from Seth Rogen’s brand Houseplant. If that’s not exactly right for the dad in your world, check out the Pebble Match Strike ($125), which is an ashtray, match striker, and match holder all in one; the Carry Case ($225), which offers storage, grinder, lighter, and ashtray in one compact unit; or a simple little Fliptop Lighter ($55).
Coleman Steel-Belted Cooler ($169)
Look, I know that Yetis are very hype right now, and if the dad you are buying for is an enthusiast for that specific brand, go with god. However, if he’s more practical and you don’t want to spend quite as much money, might I suggest this very classic green-and-white Coleman cooler? We used this exact model when we were driving Clark home to Los Angeles from New York City with the most precious cargo: tons and tons of breast milk I’d painstakingly pumped. I can assure you that everything stayed frozen through the entire cross-country trip, and if my vouching isn’t enough, Wirecutter likes Coleman > everything else.
Buck Mason Pima Classic Tee ($38)
If you’ve subscribed to this newsletter for a moment, you know my go-to move for presents is to upgrade someone’s everyday essentials. While there are a million options out there, around our house, the favorite dad T-shirt is from Buck Mason. It comes in three torso lengths—short, standard, and tall—as well as sizes XS through XXL and nine different colors.
Audio-Technica Consumer Stereo Turntable With USB ($350)
Is the dad you’re shopping for an aspiring audiophile? Does he make moon eyes at record stores when you’re out and about? But he still likes things with some digital ease as well? Enter this turntable. It looks like the most famous DJ record player of all time, the Technics SL 1200, but it has modern conveniences like a built-in preamp (which allows it to talk to your Sonos) and a USB port (which allows it to talk to your computer).
Vuori Ponto Performance Pants ($84)
As a journalist and editor, my brain is always searching for connections and insights, so when I had three people in a row recommend these pants—including the incomparable stylist Jeanne Yang, who is responsible for dressing, among other folks, Keanu Reeves—my ears perked up. I’ve mentioned them before, and I will keep singing their praises because they’re slouchy and comfy but still look nice and feel super buttery, and my husband loves them. Like sweatpants, but way better, frankly.
Bose Noise Cancelling Over-Ear Bluetooth Wireless Headphones 700 ($329)
Are these the newest? No, they’ve been out for a second. Is that a good thing? Actually, yes. They’re still getting strong reviews from CNET, everyone recognizes them as excellent, and they won’t give you inner ear issues like ear buds will. (Trust me—it’s an issue.) My husband has repeatedly stolen—ahem, “borrowed”—the various Bose headphones I have over the years and somehow never manages to return them to me, which is an excellent sign, as he works in music and is a snob.
Dehen 1920 Crissman Overshirt ($345)
Is he a nerd? A jock? A hypebeast? You’re likely going to find something worthy at Dehen 1920. Is it expensive? Yes, but everything is made to last forever and is truly perfection. I think army green is a color that looks excellent on almost every human, is more interesting than your standard navy or charcoal, and honestly works with most other clothes, so this is my pick, but there are loads of other smart options.
Klein Tools 6-Piece Apprentice Tool Set ($99)
“Klein is to tools as Dôen is to those dresses you like,” are words my husband actually said to me. It took me a second, but once I unpacked it, it made sense (mostly). I think what he’s getting at is that both have a cult following, are expensive but have range, and are very satisfying to the owner. My point is simple: Upgrade his basic tool kit with this six-piece set.
GIFTS THAT KEEP GIVING
I think there’s something quite joyful about a subscription gift—but only if that gift is actually good. There are loads of monthly “clubs” out there, but most of them are only so-so. My advice: Look for companies or brands that are actually known for being excellent at what they sell, and then see if they have a monthly offering.
Zingerman’s Bacon of the Month Club ($100–$395)
I have given my Midwest-born father the gift of bacon more than once, and honestly, I think it’s one of his favorite presents of all time. You can sign up for three-, six-, or 12-month installments, and the assortment is honestly top-notch. I like the fact that it becomes an ongoing discussion, as my dad and I have debated the merits of each month in a lively and mostly constructive fashion. Zingerman’s is super legit, if you haven’t heard of it. Trust me on this one.
Helen’s Wine Club ($50–$600, depending on frequency and more)
If the dad in your life is based in California, chances are he’s heard about Jon & Vinny’s, the incredible pizza-pasta-and-more spot that is perpetually the hottest, hardest reservation in L.A. Helen’s is the wine shop inside Jon & Vinny’s, run by the genius Helen Johannesen, the director of beverage for the whole J&V group and extended restaurant family. She focuses on small-production, organic, extremely dope wines, and her notes that come with each shipment are legitimately rad.
Tom’s Perfect 10 Granola ($20)
For the sake of transparency, the Tom of this granola is an old friend of mine and married to someone I’ve been friends with since I was 22. (Hi, Eva!) That said, even if I didn’t know Tom, I would recommend this granola because I have seen what joy it has brought my husband and family. New York magazine called it the “granola of our time,” probably because it is both delicious and has a cute backstory. Made by a dad of three who is based in NYC, each monthly flavor comes with a really darling scorecard, which Tom himself actually reads. Some of the flavors are better than the others—in fact, only two of the 18 iterations have made it to permanent status—but it’s always an enjoyable discovery. Plus, the bag is a good size; big enough that you really enjoy it but not too big that it gets stale. Just try it.
As always, thank you for being here, and thank you for sticking around. If you have any questions or concerns, or want me to touch on any topics in particular, I’m all ears. Leave a comment on Hi Everyone’s Bulletin or DM me on Instagram—I’m @hillarykerr—my inbox is always open!