While Mother’s Day has its timeless standby gifts of flowers and candy with a heartfelt card, Father’s Day is a tougher parental holiday to gift for. Plenty of fantastic and well-deserving dads already have man caves, garages, and offices packed to the brim with necessities, collectibles, and other random doodads that men just can’t seem to get rid of.
Then there are those dads who have kept their personal space free of clutter on purpose (often at mom’s request). Come Father’s Day, these are the guys who say they don’t really need anything. (The common refrain you’ll hear from them is: “Having you as a kid is a gift in itself!”)
Well, then, these dads must never have seen, heard of, or imagined these 10 gifts. They’re the type of surprises guaranteed to please any deserving pop who wasn’t expecting a present this Father’s Day (which is June 16, by the way).
1. Old Fashioned cocktail kit
Equally perfect for a playoff watch party, a guy’s weekend in the woods, or simply for shelf supply in the den, this highly portable bar-in-a-box contains all the necessities (well, almost all…whiskey and rum not included) to mix up a dozen craft cocktails. Designed and curated in Brooklyn, New York — one of the world’s current capitals of hip mixed drinks — this kit comes equipped with all the syrups, bitters, oils, dried fruits, and supplies he’ll need to make four Manhattans and eight Old Fashioneds. Cheers to top-shelf parenting!
2. Embroidered gear bag
From Carhartt, one of America’s most respected workwear brands, this foundry gear bag with customized embroidery is an equally excellent gift for a fisherman, gardener, or handyman dad. Crafted from heavy-duty canvas with Carhatt’s Rain Defender™ coating, this custom satchel’s inner and outer pockets, secured with claw-clasp buttons or heavy-duty zippers, provide room for a tool kit and a half. Sons, this is a strategic buy: A Carhartt bag is classic, resilient, and likely to be inherited down the line, covered in plenty of pop’s hard-working character.
3. Snacks & self-care gift set
A high-end assortment of items both pleasure filled and purposeful, this manly gift set is a perfect spread for dads of all types. Micro-brew Beer Brittle infuses hops and amber ale flavors into traditional butter nut toffee for an imaginative take on an old favorite, while 5 O’Clock Crunch offers a high-end, sweet-and-savory take on customary bar snack mix (with flaxseeds for added health benefits).
The Gentleman’s Hardware multi-tool packs solutions to endless fix-it scenarios into one keychain-sized problem solver, and when the job’s done, Barrel & Oak’s upmarket shower supplies invigorate dad’s bathing routine with masculine white sage, bergamot, and hearty oak scents.
4. Personalized ammo box
For the dad who literally does have it all, and is in need of a fun and secure way to store some of it, this personalized ammo box is a sure-shot gift both novel and useful. This piece is no cheap mockup but a vintage, built-to-last military surplus item — one well-weathered 50 Cal M2A1 ammo can. Roughly the size of a shoebox placed on its side, this container comes with a custom three-line message to dad printed on it as well as any unique markings from the time it was actually in use. Now that’s authentic!
And if you want to go big this year, order the box filled with hearty snacks curated for a dad’s appetite.
5. BBQ sampler
Ideal for pit masters and starter chefs alike, the Smokehouse Ultimate BBQ sampler boasts 10 meal-making spices and sauces perfect for dressing meats and proteins of every sort. Tasting highlights include the sweet-and-sour flavor of St. Louis’ sauce, honey chipotle’s savory smoke, and the rich tang of apple whiskey marinade. Individual spices like Black Himalayan Salt and Chipotle Lime Rub allow for sauce customizing. Dad would have to be seriously lacking in the taste buds department to not find — or create — a new favorite in this thoughtfully assembled collection.
6. DIY ice cream kit
Of all dad’s favorite desserts, ice cream may be the only one a determined mom can’t drum up using a cooking blog or inherited family recipe. Typically requiring an investment in an ice cream machine and plenty of patience, ice cream making is no easy feat. But this DIY ice cream kit promises a simple, delicious experience — creating a pint of vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry, from scratch, in the comfort of your own kitchen. It also includes favorite toppings like hot fudge and sprinkles, along with two extended golden ice cream spoons.
7. Personalized cooler & chair
Ideal for a fisherman, camper, or sports tailgater father, this collapsible cooler-meets-folding-chair packs two outdoorsman must-haves into one portable package. Beneath the seat is an insulated space with room for 24 cans, as well as rear and front zippered pockets for angling supplies or adventuring necessaries. Less than half the size of a standard lawn chair when opened, and fashioned from a durable, easy-clean polyester with personalized embroidery, dad’s beer throne folds flat for easy carrying with a removable shoulder strap.
8. Beef jerky bouquet
Easily one of history’s most imaginative bouquets (and who knows more about imaginative bouquets than us?), this beef jerky floral arrangement is equally awesome to admire, smell, and taste. Dad’s beef bouquet comes pre-arranged (sealed with oxygen absorbers for maximum freshness) in a Manly Man pint glass “vase,” fit into a custom-cut package for a special unboxing experience. Each “flower” is carefully assembled with two layers of petals and a blossom atop a thick jerky stem, making for a truly realistic, entertaining design.
9. Bar tool kit
When space is limited but fine drinks are indispensable, the 10-piece Bar Tool Roll Up Kit is the solution. All crucial mixology utensils are included: four cocktail sticks, a brushed muddler, a two-sided jigger, a Hawthorne strainer, a dual leverage corkscrew, a twisted-stem cocktail spoon, and an ice hammer. The waxed canvas sheath features fitted pockets, rolls up tight, and ties for portability and easy storage, ensuring everything stays in one place — so none of pop’s drink tools get mixed up during Junior’s play time.
10. Bacon-scented wrapping paper
No matter what size, style, or manner of gift ends up in your dad’s hands this Father’s Day, bacon-scented gift paper is a rare and unforgettable way to wrap things up. The sizzling, smoky scent will beg any man to tear right into it, so continue the aroma-fest with a rack of ribs. Just make sure the dog doesn’t get to it before he does!
