Nota bene: All products in this article are independently selected and vetted by InsideHook editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Photography: Mike Falco
Maybe he’s a fitness junkie, an avid outdoorsman or a clotheshorse. Maybe he’s a connoisseur of fine spirits, an audio-obsessed record collector or a travel enthusiast reinvigorated after a year-plus stuck at home. No matter how they identify, the dads in your life deserve something good for Father’s Day this year. It doesn’t have to be something luxurious or expensive (though it certainly can be), just something that improves his life in some small, meaningful way by allowing him to feel good, look good or to further enjoy his favorite hobbies.
And if you happen to count yourself among the dads in your life? Even better. Feel free to casually share this link with your kids, your spouse or anyone else who might be inclined to buy you a gift.
For the Dad Who’s a Sophisticated Drinker
“The Sexton” Ghost Tumbler, Set of 2
Max ID makes what they call “sculptural and functional” wares — from furniture and vases to barware — and this set of two tumblers, designed in collaboration with Sexton Single Malt irish whiskey, certainly fits the bill. The handblown glasses feature a pleasing mix of hard angles and soft, snaking lines that provide a luxe feel in the hand. They also have a distinctly ’70s vibe that is very much in vogue right now, stack easily and they’re dishwasher safe.
Heaven’s Door Trilogy Gift Pack
For the dad who does double duty as a Bob Dylan fan and a whiskey drinker, we give you the Heaven’s Door Trilogy gift pack, which features the original bourbon, a spiced-up rye and the piéce de résistance, a double barrel whiskey that blends three different spirits and then ages them all together in first-use American Oak barrels. There are lots of bad celebrity spirit brands out there, and this is decidedly not one of them.
In Partnership with Taylor Fladgate
Taylor Fladgate Old Tawny Port
Port is more than just an after-dinner sip. It’s also the base for a number of delicious cocktails and a fortified wine that you can pair with a wide range of savory, salty or sweet foods. If you like complexity, versatility and heritage with your Port, look no further than Taylor Fladgate. Built on more than 300 years of winemaking tradition, the Portugeuese brand is also hailed for its innovation and efforts in sustainable viticulture and fighting climate change. Known for both its vintage Ports and venerable tawnies, we suggest you start with either the 10 or 20 Year Old Tawny Port releases. Silky smooth, these wood-aged expressions — take note, whisky fans — offer notes of apricot, butterscotch, caramel and dried fruits; they’ll drink nicely before, during or after your meal.
Whiskey Leatherworks Fly Stamped Rocks Glasses
If you or your dad don’t already have leather-bound whiskey glasses of some sort, allow us to say this: you’re blowing it. But also allow us to say this: you should get this set from Huckberry, especially if you happen to be into fly fishing. We’ve never caught a fish in our lives and we’ve been enjoying them regardless.
Northern Brewer Hard Seltzer Starter Kit
Remember that craft beer kit you got a few years ago that either a) sat in your pantry unused until all the ingredients were obviously past their prime or b) you used to make blow-average-tasting beer and immediately decided to just buy good beer from the store like a normal person? Well forget that, because now you can make your own hard seltzer, which is by all accounts a much easier process than making beer.
Corkcircle Flat Canteen
Corkcicle seems to market this flat canteen as a vessel for carrying water or some other boring drink, but we think it’s best used as a flask. It’ll hold 17 ounces of your favorite spirit, it fits easily into a pack thanks to its slim design, and it’s pretty much indestructible.
Cocktail Smoking & Infusion Kit
There are only so many times he can mix himself a Gin & Tonic or sub-par Old Fashioned before boredom sets in. When it does, he’ll have this cocktail smoking and infusion kit at the ready. The smoking gun burns wood chips that impart an intense flavor onto whatever he’s smoking, whether it’s herbs, fruit, maple syrup or cinnamon sticks, opening him up to a whole new world of cocktails.
Beckett Bar Cart
There is nothing quite as gauche as stashing all your booze on top of your fridge or jamming it into a cabinet like it’s some deep, dark secret. He is an adult and he deserves a bar cart fit to display his spirits collection and his assorted barware. This one will be big enough for most, and it offers enough surface area for prep work, too.
The NoMad Cocktail Book
Real talk? This book just happened to be at the studio where we were doing the photo shoot for this article, and we wound up using it as a prop in the photo above. And you know what? Just because it came out two years ago and is no longer the “cool” new book to include in gift guides doesn’t mean it’s not still very much worth recommending. The book’s author, Leo Robitschek, is the bar director for Make It Nice, which operates the NoMad Bar in New York, and he’s one of the most important figures in the cocktail world. His creations are not for beginners, exactly, but if you take your time and build up to them, you’ll be rewarded handsomely.
ReserveBar Gift Card
Gift cards are admittedly impersonal and can come across as thoughtless and lazy because that’s exactly what they are. This is easily forgiven, however, when the gift card in question is specifically for booze.
For the Dad Who’s a Dedicated Home Cook
Finex Cast Iron Skillet
There is no shortage of high-end cast-iron cookware on the market these days, and much of it is outstanding. Finex, from Portland, Oregon, makes some of our favorite pieces, chief among them their 12″ skillet, which features the brand’s unique rounded corners that double as easy spouts for pouring, plus their equally unique spring handle modeled after the door handle on an old oven and meant to stay cooler at high cooking temperatures. We also recommend the brand’s cast iron press, which is perfect for flattening bacon and smashing burgers.
Smithey No. 12 Grill Pan
To stick with the cast-iron theme for a moment, Smithey Ironware out of Charleston, South Carolina, is another brand making heirloom-quality cookware that performs brilliantly and looks even better. In addition to their line of classic skillets, the brand recently introduced this 12″ square grill pan featuring dual handles, sloped sides and polished grill lines that will get you the crosshatch patterns of your dreams. Perfect for big pieces of meat or for cooking vegetables without letting them sit directly in your cooking fat.
TRUFF Variety Pack
For the hot sauce aficionado with a taste for the finer things, Truff offers a line of intensely flavorful hot sauces infused with truffles to add an unmistakable earthiness. In this nifty variety pack you get the original, a hotter version and another featuring white truffles, organic agave nectar and a bit of coriander on top of all those chili peppers.
Momofuku Chili Crunch
His morning egg will never be the same now that he’s been turned on to Momofuku Chili Crunch, a spicy, crispy, oil-based product that features three types of dried Mexican chili peppers, fried shallots and garlic. Throw some on a breakfast sandwich to kick things up a bit, and then later, grab one of your kids’ chicken fingers and dip that shit in here. It’s absurdly addictive.
Our Place Walnut Cutting Board + Knife Trio
Over the past year or so, Our Place has had a huge hit on their hands with the Our Place Pan, which purports to replace eight other kitchen items but is in fact just a really solid and nice-looking nonstick frying pan that’s marketed primarily to women because it comes in some pretty colors. But now the brand has released a maple cutting board and a line of affordable kitchen knives that are very sharp out of the box and feel very good in the hand. They also, to no one’s surprise, look really nice.
All-Clad Copper Core Skillet
The amount of direct-to-consumer cookware brands that have cropped up in recent years is frankly ridiculous, and while some of them are making great products at compelling price points, none of them quite live up to All-Clad, whose premium line of stainless steel cookware remains unparalleled when it comes to performance and that certain intangible quality that just seems to give it an extra something. The 12″ pan from their Copper Core line is sure to become one of his favorite pieces of cookware.
Technivorm Moccamaster
Pour-over coffee is great. Pour-over coffee is also an enormous pain in the ass that is wildly impractical for people who want to drink more than one cup at a time. The Moccamaster is one of the few drip machines on the market that makes consistently great coffee, and it’s been a go-to for serious coffee people for a very long time now. She’s a real looker, too.
Porter Road Dad’s Grilling Kit
We’re big fans of Porter Road, the mail-order meat company that works with carefully chosen American farms to source some of the highest quality beef products available, and though we wholeheartedly encourage you to browse their site for the specific package that suits you (or your dad) the best, we think you could do far worse than this bundle, which includes two 2″ thick New York strips and a Meater digital thermometer, which is a $100 value on its own.
Flint and Tinder Waxed Apron
He already has a Flint and Tinder Waxed Trucker Jacket, so why not set him up with an apron made of the very same hard-wearing fabric? It’s a no-brainer for the often-messy task of cooking, given how well it resists stains and moisture. And man, we can’t help but fantasize over how great this will look after a few seasons next to the grill.
Bamboo Composter Countertop Composter
When you’re prepping vegetables, there’s a not-insignificant amount of waste produced, which can then be used as an environmentally friendly way to condition soil. Collect all those onion skins and garlic peels in this handsome bin as you’re chopping, then read this handy article on how to start composting at home.
Schmidt Brothers Bonded Ash 4-Piece Grill Set
A spatula, a fork, tongs and a basting brush: four items any serious grillmaster needs to have at his disposal while grilling. This set from Schmidt Brothers, via Huckberry, comes in a nice wooden box and features tools that feel every bit as substantial in your hand as you want them to feel, giving you the sense you’ll be using them for years and years to come.
Traeger Pro Series 780
Far be it from us to speak ill of any of the outstanding charcoal or gas grill options out there, but we’d be remiss not to take this opportunity to endorse the Traeger Pro Series 780 wood pellet-burning smoker and grill, which comes packed with an impressive range of features like wifi-enabled controls and an automated system that continuously stokes the fire to keep it at the desired temperature. Set it at 165 degrees for a day of low and slow smoking while you tend to other chores or crank it up to 450 for quick grilling.
For the Style-Obsessed Dad
Crap Eyewear The Heavy Tropix
Crap Eyewear makes a wide range of bioacetate sunglasses in styles that are perhaps a bit more daring than what dad is accustomed to. What’s nice, though, is that they’re all so reasonably priced — most under $100 — that you can afford to try something slightly outside your comfort zone without feeling like it’s a lifetime investment. They’re extraordinarily well made, too. (If dad’s more into sleek wire frames, try the Groove Pilot in tortoiseshell.)
Marwida Yellow Coral Swim Trunk
Those 11″ inseam board shorts are just not gonna cut it anymore. Instead, consider these super-luxe recycled polyester swim trunks from Marwida, which feature a slim “Italian” fit, built-in mesh brief, straight-leg cut and a much more dignified 4″ inseam. Plus, $5 from each sale goes to the Coral Reef Alliance, which fights to make sure the ocean’s ecosystem and the marine life that relies on it are able to thrive.
Men’s Cuban Pyjama Set
One of our go-to gifting strategies is to choose an item everyone uses every day without thinking very much about it and then give the giftee an upgraded version of it that improves their life in a way they didn’t know needed improving. Enter this outrageously stylish and luxurious sleepwear done up in a very different kind of tiger print. It’s elegant, playful and very, very comfortable. (Pro tip: can also be worn poolside at the destination of his choosing.)
Creed Viking Cologne
Cologne as a Father’s Day gift is a bit of a cliché, yes, but why reinvent the wheel when you can get him this timeless new scent from House of Creed, which is bright and spicy, with notable hints of citrus and herbs on top of a woodsy base. The bottle also looks really fucking cool.
Aether Dalton Low-Top Sneaker
In recent years it seems like the only sneakers anyone wants to talk about are all-white ones. And while we no doubt support rocking your cleanest, crispest white sneakers when the situation calls for it, we’re also of the opinion that a black sneaker with a bright white outsole is among the sleekest items a man can have in his closet, perfect for a night out on the town. The contrasting blue eyelets on this pair from high-end technical apparel brand Aether add enough pizazz to keep them interesting.
Oris Divers Sixty-Five
This dive watch series from Oris has carved out an enduring place for itself in the world of luxury watches. It’s vintage-inspired without feeling hokey, and it comes in enough colors and configurations that there’s probably one that will work for him. We’re currently loving this black-and-gold model for its understated 36mm case size and comfortable rubber strap, which, from even a moderate distance, reads very much like leather.
Pedro and Tailor Corded Velveteen Hat
Is this a dad hat? Aren’t all hats dad hats if they’re worn by dads? We don’t really know, but this subtly corded number from Pedro and Tailor will serve him well whether he’s mowing the lawn, grilling up some lunch or lounging on the beach.
Citizen PCAT
He’s already got an understated everyday watch with a boring black or white dial, so why not help him flex a little with this bolder option from Citizen? With its stainless steel bracelet, blue dial and contrasting gold bezel — not to mention its substantial 43mm case — it’s bound to stand out.
Noah Stripe Belt
You’d be forgiven for neglecting the belt as an opportunity to inject a little personality into your look, but we’re here to remind you that it is yet another tool you have at your disposal in your quest to be the Most Stylish Man in the Room. This one from the reigning streetwear kings at Noah features two suede panels in contrasting shades. It’s subtle but sure to leave an impression on anyone who happens to catch a glimpse of it.
Loewe Suede and Full-Grain Leather Penny Loafers
Does he need $700 caramel-colored penny loafers when he probably already has a closet full of “sensible” dark brown and black ones? No, he absolutely does not. Does this somehow make them even more appealing? Yes, it does. As does the collapsible heel and luxurious leather lining.
Derek Rose Triton Belted Striped Cotton-Blend Velour Robe
See below for some insight on where we think terry cloth should fit into a man’s wardrobe right now, but — spoiler alert — it’s not in his robe. For optimum at-home lounging, opt instead for this cotton-blend velour piece from Derek Rose. The stripes add a nice classic touch that’ll make him want to sip scotch even if he’s already in his pajamas.
Tod’s Textured Leather Billfold Wallet
We’re generally not big on flashy logos around here, but the subtle flex that is the gold T in the corner of this luxurious wallet from Tod’s is pretty much perfect. The Italian leather is gently textured, making it a real pleasure to handle, and it’ll hold everything you need it to hold. What more could you ask?
Todd Snyder Terry Button Down Polo
There’s been a noticeable proliferation of terry cloth in menswear of late, and while we can’t say we totally understand it, we are very curious. Here it’s used for a button-down polo, which admittedly is a bit of a misnomer: it looks more like a club-collar shirt with a full-button placket, and we’re thinking it would look really, really cool over — hear us out — a white tank top. (We were going to say “over a white tank top while grilling,” but we’re now thinking terry cloth might absorb food odors in a potentially unpleasant way. So maybe make sure someone else is manning the grill.)
J.Press Dot Knit Tie
Any self-respecting style-conscious dad has a knit tie or three in his closet and would likely appreciate another — especially if it’s this dotted number from the legendary J. Press, who’ve been outfitting nattily dressed political commentators, college professors and 20-something dudes who read menswear forums for going on 120 years. Menswear forums have been around for 120 years, right? Thought so. Happy Father’s Day.
Entireworld Pleated Shorts
There is a well-worn cliché about dads wearing dowdy old pleated shorts that bunch up in all sorts of horrible ways that make everyone around them uncomfortable. But in recent years, the pleated short has been given a much-needed update, cut in a slimmer silhouette so as not to draw too much attention, the pleats adding a nice subtle touch of class to a summer backyard gathering or stroll down Main Street.
Buck Mason Interloop Shawl Jacket
So, yes, this handsome shawl jacket will do great as an extra layer on cold summer nights, or perhaps in outrageously cold air-conditioned offices during the summer. But also? One of the things people never tell you about summer is that it doesn’t last forever. Come September, this will be a godsend — and hooey to anyone who says you can’t wear white after Labor Day.
Miansai Nexus Leather Bracelet
Lots of men shy away from wearing any jewelry aside from a watch and a wedding ring, and we will grant that this is a perfectly noble decision to make for oneself. But an even more noble decision to make for oneself is to rock an understated braided leather bracelet like this one.
For the Dad Who Loves the Outdoors
YETI Tundra 45 Hard Cooler
Because he deserves better than the cheapo drugstore coolers he’s been buying — and breaking — for his entire adult life, get him the last cooler he’ll ever need. The Tundra 45 is the perfect size for backyard BBQs, boasting incredible ice retention on even the hottest summer days. The wide range of color options Yeti’s unveiled over the past few years is very much part of the fun at this point, and we’re partial to this unexpected dark blue.
VSSL Java Coffee Grinder
Just cause he’s on a three-day camping trip doesn’t mean he has to suffer through bad, sludgy camp coffee. The VSSL Java is an extremely durable manual burr grinder constructed of aircraft-grade aluminum and featuring 50 grind settings so he can optimize for his preferred brew method. The carabiner top attaches easily to your pack, but then unscrews and doubles as the grind handle — it’s a brilliant design that, when paired with the unit’s unmatched grind consistency and overall stellar performance, has made this a must-have for so many.
Leatherman Free P4
Leatherman’s latest multi-tool features 21 tools, which means your dad can tinker to his heart’s content. Made of durable stainless steel, the FREE P4 features a built-in pocket clip to ensure he won’t misplace this tool like he does all the others.
Patagonia 5″ Baggies
Convince him to retire those dated cargo shorts and replace them with a pair of Patagonia Baggies (preferably in the 5” length). The timeless design elevates any summer outfit, and transitions seamlessly from the backyard to the beach.
Chaco Z/Cloud Sandals
Dads are always drawn to those oversized, chunky sandals in the dog days of summer. While we support his decision to sport summer footwear, he deserves something more refined, like the Chaco Z/Cloud. It’s supportive and sporty for outdoor adventures, and it looks great at backyard barbecues with family and friends.
REI Co-op Grand Hut 6 Tent
The Grand Hut 6 offers a ton of livable space and 78 inches of height, and it’ll easily work across three seasons. It’s also designed with tons of clever features like interior storage compartments, low vents and two large doors. A heavy-duty carry bag stores the tent neatly in his gear closet.
Responsible Seafood Sampler Box
Your outdoorsy dad loves to snack, but he deserves better than bland trail mix and energy bars. Upgrade his bitesize roster with Patagonia’s sampler box of sustainable snacks that include wild salmon, Atlantic mackerel and organic mussels. If the food doesn’t win him over, the wildlife illustrations will.
Rumpl Down Puffy Blanket
Whether he’s relaxing by the TV or the campfire, this down blanket from Rumpl will keep him warm on a cold day. Made from the same material as a traditional sleeping bag, its iconic style is matched only by its durability. The included stuff sack lets him bring it almost everywhere.
Stanley Classic Outdoor Growler Gift Set
Dad grew up with the iconic Stanley vacuum bottle, but we recommend a packaged set of four tumblers and a 64-ounce growler that delivers satisfying beers at the end of the trail. It still comes in the same shade of Hammertone green that he remembers from so long ago.
Filson x Estwing Fireside Friend Splitting Tool
When a man needs a hatchet, the Filson x Estwing Fireside Friend punches well above its weight. Add a Filson leather grip and sheath for good measure, and this one-handed maul can tackle loads of outdoor jobs in style.
Solo Stove
Bring the fire from the backyard to the backcountry with the Solo Stove Bonfire — a portable fire pit you can take anywhere. The design eliminates irritating campfire smoke and burns with high efficiency to produce a clean flame. Pick up the Bonfire stand to keep dad’s lawn in pristine condition.
Black Diamond Storm 400 Headlamp
Black Diamond headlamps have grown so powerful in recent years that dad no longer needs a flashlight, and the Storm is one of the brightest in the brand’s lineup. Four hundred lumens throw a powerful beam, and settings allow him to tailor the light to his needs. Black Diamond also added a waterproof and dustproof housing to outlast any gnarly conditions.
YETI Hondo Base Camp Chair
Sure, your dad has a collection of antique soccer-mom chairs, but does he have a rugged, comfy camp chair from Yeti? If not, he should, and you should be the person who gifts him one.
BUG BITE Thing Removal Tool
We don’t normally recommend gifting items you first heard about on Shark Tank, but this thing works. It’s an exceedingly simple tool that extracts insect saliva from beneath the skin, so rather than slathering on creams and lotions meant to cover up your bug bite symptoms, you’re removing the very thing that causes them in the first place. Sexy? No. Effective? Very much so.
The Barnes by The James Brand
We’ve long been fans of The James Brand for their careful but understated approach to design, and their newest knife, the Barnes, is one of their more impressive feats yet. It’s their first-ever integral design, and it features a titanium frame-lock and a 3.5″ Bohler M390 stainless steel blade drop-point big enough to handle a huge range of tasks. And as with all James Brand knives, it is a total stunner.
GORUCK GR1 Slick 21L
This bag is an exclusive collaboration between Huckberry and GORUCK, who went back into their archive to resurrect and iterate upon this streamlined version of their legendary GR1 backpack. It’s built with military-grade materials, so it’s certainly tough enough to endure whatever you or your dad’s gonna put it through. And best of all, he’ll look damn good doing it.
Danner Overlook
Danner has been a footwear icon for decades, but dad isn’t exactly captivated by trends new or old. Put his feet in the Overlook, which transitions from city streets to mountain peaks and never goes out of style. Danner hooked up this shoe with a soft footbed, water-resistant mesh and lugged soles to keep him comfortable and safe.
For the Fitness-Obsessed Dad
InsideTracker Essentials Plan
InsideTracker is an online service that analyzes your blood for certain biomarkers that indicate how your body is fairing in tandem with your diet, exercise routine and overall lifestyle, then offers recommendations based on current science to make sure your body is getting everything it needs to thrive. With the Essentials plan, you get information on energy and metabolism, strength and endurance, oxygen and performance and more. If Dad’s hellbent on sticking around for as long as possible, he’ll surely appreciate this.
Feetures Elite Light Cushion Mini Crew
Socks are almost always a better gift than all those tired old jokes would lead you to believe — especially if you’re talking about any of the outstanding offerings from Feetures, a brand that’s less well-known than some of the heavy hitters out there but just as good. They’ve got options for running, hiking and all manner of physical pursuits, but these Elite Light Cusion Mini Crews have become a go-to for us.
Nathan Pinnacle 4 Liter Hydration Race Vest
Now that fall marathons are officially happening, lots of people out there are gearing up to start training. And when they do, those long weekend runs will kick in and he’ll appreciate this hydration vest from the industry leaders in such things. Nathan’s newest vest is insanely lightweight and unobtrusive, and it holds four liters of water or his sport drink of choice.
Garmin Forerunner 745
Dad probably isn’t a professional athlete, but the 745 helps him track every workout, every step and every calorie burned. It also delivers smart notifications and syncs his favorite tunes, including those pump-up hits from the ‘80s.
Bombas Men’s All-Calf Sock 12-Pack
The older we get, the more we appreciate a decent pair of socks. Bombas are some of our favorites thanks to soft fabrics and vibrant colors, not to mention Bombas donates a pair to the homeless for each pair you buy. Spoil dad with the socks he would never buy for himself.
Tracksmith Session Pants
He doesn’t have to wear the same pair of stained joggers every time he trains (even if he insists it’s no big deal). Dress him in Tracksmith’s Session pants to elevate his style and comfort from the gym to the grocery store.
TRX Suspension Training Kit
Between work, errands and weekend projects, he may not have as much time for the gym as he’d like. When his VHS workout tapes are fading, upgrade his equipment with a TRX Suspension Training Kit. The setup installs in seconds and comes with a complete workout guide to get him started.
Bowflex 840 SelectTech Kettlebell
Unlike a set of bulky dumbbells, the Bowflex 840 Kettlebell features a sleek design and rapidly adjusts weight settings with the twist of a dial. Help dad build out the home gym he’s always wanted.
For the Dad Who Plays Guitar
Rivolta Combinata VII
Dennis Fano is one of the most respected boutique guitar makers in the game, and he’s currently at the helm of Novo Guitars, whose beautiful one-off pieces start at around $3,000 and go up from there. With the Rivolta line, though, you’re still getting Fano-designed guitars, but they’re built overseas and then inspected and professionally set up by the Novo team at their factory in Nashville. For less than half the price of a Novo, you can’t beat ’em. The Combinata VII features an offset body, two P-90s for lots of snarl and some killer good looks.
Fender ’68 Custom Vibro Champ Reverb
After a year-plus stuck at home and playing through amp modelers and headphone setups, it’s time to introduce some good old-fashioned tube-driven fun into dad’s rig. This new amp from Fender takes one of their most iconic designs from their archive — and one of the most popular recording amps in history — and adds a very nice-sounding reverb feature on top of the vibrato settings. At only five watts, it’s perfectly reasonable for at-home use, and when it’s cranked, it’s pushed hard enough that you get those classic, naturally overdriven tones without anyone calling the cops on you.
For the Audiophile Dad
Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Evolution (EVO) Turntable
We’ve not been shy about our fondness for this turntable, which we still firmly believe is the best option for vinyl fans who’ve decided they want to get something better than the entry-level stuff but aren’t looking to drop thousands. You’d have to have a very good ear and lots of other very high-quality components to hear any significant improvement over the Debut Carbon Evolution, so unless that’s you, we’d venture to say this is a turntable that could serve you well for decades to come. It’s available in lots of fun colors, too, which never hurts, and can be upgraded in all sorts of ways if that particular bug ever hits you.
Pro-Ject Phono Box ultra 500 Discrete MM/MC Phono Preamplifier
As you begin putting a vinyl setup together, you’re probably starting out with whatever phono preamp is in your receiver, and while many of those are perfectly fine, one of the best bang-for-your-buck upgrades you can make to your system is adding a separate phono pre like this one from Pro-Ject, which will provide eye-opening clarity and presence while generally bringing your music to life.
Sumiko Olympia Phono Cartridge
Continuing on that upgrade path we’ve been talking about, picking up a new phono cartridge is an affordable, high-impact way to coax new sounds out of your setup. The Sumiko Olympia and its micron-elliptical diamond stylus add greater stereo separation to your music, which ultimately leads to greater separation of instruments as sound emanates from your speakers.
Tivoli Audio PAL BT
Tivoli Audio has been making great-looking and great-sounding radios and speakers since the year 2000, and we are very excited about their newest launch, the PAL BT, a portable radio that’s bluetooth-enabled, weather-resistant and capable of lasting 12 hours on a charge.
Master & Dynamic MW08 Active Noise-Cancelling
True Wireless Earphones
These are our favorite wireless earbuds, and it’s not even particularly close. They sound fantastic, are perfectly comfortable in the ear, feature easy-to-understand controls, and the battery lasts forever. We’ve even worn them while running, and we’ve never had any problems with them falling out or being destroyed by sweat.
Sonos One SL Wireless Compact Speaker
We often joke that we sometimes find ourselves sitting in our living room surrounded by more than a thousand records and thousands of dollars’ worth of audio equipment while streaming Spotify on a Sonos One from our kitchen. We were hesitant to get on the Sonos train because we’re purists or something, but there’s kinda no denying them at this point. They really do sound incredible and consistently function perfectly.
Turntable Revival Premium Backspacers
Here’s one for the real dorks out there: you know how the Ikea Expedit or Kallax shelves you use to store your record collection leaves a few inches of empty space at the front of each shelf because it’s deeper than a standard LP? And you know how that space gets even bigger if the unit is on a wall that has molding at the bottom? Well, all you have to do is install one of these guys on each shelf, and voila, your records are easier to grab and look a whole lot nicer.
For the Dad Who Tokes
Session Bong
This ergonomic water pipe is a great upgrade that smokes just as nice as it looks. The silicone accessories make for great performance and easy cleaning while protecting the whole affair from accidentally shattering on the patio floor. It comes with bowls small and large so Dad can choose his own adventure, and also a variety of colors to match his personal style.
Dad Grass Hemp CBD Preroll 10 Pack
These hemp joints contain a bunch of CBD and a little THC, the perfect amount for smoking without becoming uncomfortably high. Whether your dad is of the peace-and-love generation, misses his old Panama Red or just had his first child and needs something to relax without getting stoned, Dad Grass is perfect. It also comes in this cool pack that you can roll up into your shirt sleeve just like Grandpa used to.
For the Dad Who Travels
Pendleton Bridger Stripe Weekender Bar
A weekender refers to that mid-size bag that no one has but everyone needs: smaller than a duffel or carry-on but roomier and less juvenile than a backpack, it fits exactly what you need for two nights away and nothing more.
And in keeping with the “don’t look like a child” theme, we recommend heritage Portland makers Pendleton, who offer a number of hard-wearing canvas and wool bags that feature a sturdy leather handle and two interior slip pockets for his personal effects.
Ball and Buck Dopp Kit – Original Camo
As for the only other bag he needs to pack for that weekend away? A simple, old-school dopp kit, like this duck-cotton version from Ball and Buck, which features a hunter’s orange nylon interior and should last just as long as that weekender above — as in, expect to inherit them both someday.
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