15 Gifts for Men That Aren’t Ties or Cologne

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Do you have a man in your life who is really difficult to shop for? So do I! Both my husband and my father are impossible to buy gifts for! Neither works a traditional job so easy, traditional “dad gifts” like ties or cufflinks are out. On the rare occasion Matt actually wants something, he usually goes out and gets it, and has such specific taste that if I try to surprise him, I usually bomb and get him something he doesn’t like at all.  My dad is the King of Regifting! It’s not that he doesn’t like every gift, he’s just that kind of guy where if you tell him you like something of his, chances are you’ll go home with it!

This year, I asked Matt to sit down and help me come up with a list of his top gifts that he would like to receive for this post. Not only does it help me with the post but now I have some real winners for Christmas too! Win-Win!!!  Here is his list of top gift ideas for your non-traditional gift guy!

 

The Grid Wallet Credit Card Holder is something my husband received a couple years ago and loves! It holds up to 12 credit cards and all your cash and protects your cards from wireless theft. We have been the victim of credit card theft multiple times, and while the banks have always been great about taking care of us, it is still a horrible feeling to wake up to find your account cleaned out, and then to have to deal with the hassle of fixing everything. The Grid Wallet adds that extra peace of mind for my husband to know that at least when he isn’t using his cards, they’re protected from wireless skimmers and fraud. Plus these babies have a lifetime warranty!

The Leatherman – Micra, Keychain MultiTool is another one of Matt’s favorite things! I usually make fun of him for all his crazy tools & knives but I can’t tell you how many times this thing has come in handy over the years. Need scissors in a pinch, or a small screwdriver to unscrew one of those tiny battery packs? He just whips it out of his pocket! It has even made it through security at several sporting events because the blade is really tiny and truly is just a tool. If your husband needs a good multi-tool, the Micra will make a perfect stocking stuffer!

A good Chef’s Knife. Have you noticed more and more men are becoming the cooks of their households? I’m one of those lucky ladies who get to benefit from this welcome change (although I’ve been learning). Matt has some real talent in the kitchen, and last year asked me for this very specific, very sharp chef’s knife. At first, I was a little taken aback by the price, but he literally uses it every time he cooks. He loves the design, how it fits in his hand, and how well it cuts anything he’s cooking with. Once I saw him using it as often as he does, I realized the price was more than worth it! This year he has asked that I get it professionally sharpened! If your husband loves to cook as mine does, this chef’s knife is a great gift for him!

The Norlan Whiskey Glass.  Recently, Matt has switched from beer to Whiskey in the evenings. True whiskey drinkers will know that you don’t drink it out of any old glass, and if I get to have cute wine glasses, he should have a couple of cool whiskey glasses. Aside from the cool, modern style, the glasses are designed to deliver the optimal whiskey experience in everything from how it fits to your mouth, to the perfectly designed shape for the right swirl! Matt loves the Norlan Whiskey Glass! 

 

The Crystal-Clear Ice Ball Maker. You can’t have whiskey in a super cool glass without the right ice-ball to go with it! This is something I have only recently learned! Ice balls as a must because they melt slower than traditional ice cubes so they won’t water down your drink as fast. Combine the ice balls with the glasses and a nice bottle of whiskey for the perfect gift for any man in your life!

The Oakley Men’s Kitchen Sink Backpack is just what it implies: everything and the kitchen sink! Matt loves this thing, and I joke that it will be what saves him during a zombie apocalypse! There is room in it for your water, laptop, an extra pair of shoes, jacket, snacks, hard compartment for sunglasses, a spot for your phone and pens, and extra straps and clips to add more stuff! Matt takes it to work because it fits everything he needs for the day from his laptop to his lunch & gym clothes. If your husband travels, or just isn’t a briefcase guy, the Oakley Men’s Kitchen Sink Backpack is a great gift for him!

Costa del Mar Sunglasses are one of Matt’s new favorite brands. He used to always only buy Oakley (and still loves them) but he recently branched out a little bit and loves these! They are the perfect blend of trendy and practical for him. Our whole family has really light eyes, and so none of us can go into the sun without a good pair of sunglasses and these really seem to work well for him! Plus, who doesn’t love pulling a cool pair of sunglasses out of their stocking?

The Citizen Men’s Eco-Drive Watch. Matt loves watches, but with his job being a casual office, he doesn’t have many uses for fancy watches. It can be really hard to find a men’s watch that is really nice without being too flashy! Citizen watches are known for their high quality, but I had no idea they had affordable options that were more casual. This watch is a great purchase for any guy who is looking for understated quality!

The Pampered Chef Popcorn Gift Set. What can I guarantee Matt and my dad are doing on Saturday & Sunday afternoons? Watching football! From college football (Guns Up) to the Cowboys on Sundays, those two are football guys! My dad’s favorite snack while watching the game is popcorn, and microwave popcorn doesn’t do the trick. I’m always looking for great popcorn gifts for him and love this set from Pampered Chef.  If your guys love popcorn as much as my dad, the Pampered Chef Popcorn Set is a great gift!

UGG Moccasin Slippers. We don’t see a lot of cold days in Texas, but when we do it’s pretty frigid. Matt and I both like to have a new pair of fuzzy slippers to wear around the house in the mornings or evening. We both like them to be functional too with a hard, nonslip sole so we can wear them if we’re running the trash out or the boys to school. The UGG Slippers work great because they’re both warm & cozy, and functional!

The CRKT M21-04G EDC Folding Pocket Knife. Matt loves good pocket knives, and this one is one of his favorites. Aside from the fact that this thing can easily be added to the zombie go-bag when the time comes (lol), it is extremely useful! As we order more and more online, we use this one to open all the boxes that show up! He has used it to break down backyard toys before throwing them out, and thousands of other things. The knife is extremely durable and was designed by a retired Sargent Major & acclaimed knife designer! The CRKT M21-04G EDC Folding Pocket Knife would make another great stocking stuffer!

I bought Matt The Art of Shaving’s Sandalwood Kit last year on an impulse. I needed to spend more in the store to get the free gift I was after, saw it on an end cap and thought “why not!” He rolled his eyes when he opened it but when he finally tried it, he ended up really liking it! The smell is very subtle and masculine. The price for the full sized kit right now on Amazon is a STEAL compared to what I paid for just the sample sized kit last year in a department store.

Grilling Tools have been an easy go-to gift for me to give my dad for a long time. He is the King of the Grill in our family! Normally I’ll buy him some cool tools and some smoking chips or a fun meat rub I found somewhere. This Grilling Tools Set from Pampered Chef is incredible quality, the metal tools come with a 3-year guarantee, and the spatula also has a cool bottle opener on it! This grilling tools gift set would be the perfect gift for any man to unwrap on Christmas!

Endless Summer Gas Outdoor Fireplace. We have talked about getting a Firepit for the backyard for years! We aren’t campers but we do LOVE s’mores and spend a lot of time in our backyard, especially during the summer! We grill several nights a week and like to sit out while the kids play and have a drink! Sitting around the firepit would add a really nice element to our backyard. The Endless Summer model is the one we have been eyeing for a while now and has some pretty significant savings on Amazon for Cyber Week!

Work Boots are becoming more and more the choice shoe wear for men who do not have to wear dress shoes every day.  The right pair will look nice while also protecting their feet if they are going in and outside, walk through any kind of construction, or are just on their feet a lot! Matt loves having a nicer pair of non-cowboy boots on hand for various occasions and the Red Wing Heritage Boots are his absolute favorite.  I know I love opening up a pair of shoes as a gift, why not give him a pair too?

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