Imitation is the highest form of flattery, so feel free to "borrow" these ideas if you want to win Father's Day. (Getty)(Amanda Garrity/Yahoo; Getty)
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.
"I have quite a few long flights ahead of me, and this pocket-size Bluetooth transmitter will make it easy to watch movies on the seatback TV with my noise-canceling earbuds. That way I’ll be able to drown out loud talkers, crying babies and other inevitable plane noises and enjoy my in-flight entertainment in peace. I especially have my eye on the Pro since it lets two people — me and my travel buddy — pair headphones simultaneously."
—Amanda Garrity, Gifting Editor
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.
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)!
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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