19 Great Gifts for Dad
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The Best Pepper GrinderMÄNNKITCHEN Pepper CannonRead more
Talking About The Weather (But Like a Pro)Ambient Weather Ambient Weather WS-2902Read more
The Best Infrared ThermometerThermoworks Hi-Temp Industrial IR w/Circle LaserRead more
Bagging Your LimitTom Bihn AeronautRead more
Your dad probably isn’t going to complain about any gift you give him. For better or worse, most modern dads don’t get hung up on presents. You know the meme of the older bearded gentleman with a goofy smile opening a shirt just like the one he has on? There’s a lot of truth to that. In fact, WIRED has gone a few years without even having a guide to gifts for dad. No one complained; it’s possible no one even noticed.
However, I am not only a dad and a gear reviewer but someone who has a specific philosophy about what makes a good gift for middle-aged men like me. You’ll notice some threads running through this manifesto helpful guide: the best gifts for a dad are things that not only are relevant to his interests but which can be fairly described as “overkill.” Dads really tend to like things that are overbuilt but useful. I’m sure some dads like to be “pampered” but this is not me or the dads I know, who all physically cringed reading this sentence.
If you take away one idea I hope it’s that when it comes to a gift for a dad, you can rarely go wrong by giving an expensive but excellent version of a thing we use anyway. We especially like things that win the admiration of our peers—nothing that makes a dad happier than having another dad-aged dude take note of his stupidly expensive tire pressure gauge and then saying “Oh yeah my kid got me that—they’re a little pricey but I gotta say, always works great.”
Check out the rest of our gift guides, including Gifts for Moms, Tech Gifts for Kids, and Gifts for Outdoorsy People.
Updated April 2024: We've added a great pepper grinder, a weather station, a smokeless fireplace, and an apron, and updated prices throughout.
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- Photograph: Thermoworks
The Best Infrared Thermometer
Thermoworks Hi-Temp Industrial IR w/Circle LaserThere are many good infrared thermometers that are much cheaper than this ThermoWorks model. Your dad probably doesn’t need the nearly 1,500 degrees of range and wide targeting laser with eight measurement points to grill burgers. But, having received this very tool as a Christmas gift, and having subsequently used it to make many backyard pizzas and smoked meats, I can confirm that it makes for a great gift. Having a wider circle to read from makes the results much more reliable than the cheaper temp guns. It's rugged; I’ve dropped it a few times without any issues. Though mainly used for culinary applications, this is a serious tool that will come in handy if your dad is trying to track down a leak in the attic insulation that’s causing him to burn up a Brontosaurus every damned day.
- Photograph: Tom Bihn
Bagging Your Limit
Tom Bihn AeronautIf there’s one thing most dads agree on, it’s the appeal of beating a system designed to swindle them. Thus the appeal of a maximum allowable carry-on bag. Airlines are always trying to chisel you, and this bag by Tom Bihn grants you every last square inch of promised space in the overhead bins on a typical domestic carrier. But this Seattle-made bag does a lot more than max out your free luggage allotment, it’s also made of incredibly sturdy 1050 denier ballistic nylon with bombproof YKK zippers and has both hidden backpack straps and the most comfortable cross-body strap I’ve ever used. This is a bag that excels at being tossed around and lugged down rough streets and through crowds where roller bags are a liability. I own two of these and have had the first one for more than a decade. I don’t fly without it and neither will your pops.
- Photograph: REI
The Most Comfy Camp Chair
Nemo StargazeI’ve sat on a lot of camp chairs in my lifetime. Maybe this is my Archie Bunker moment, but there is only one camp chair I have strong positive feelings about, and this is it. The Nemo Stargaze is as much a hybrid hammock as it is a chair, with a seat that swings between the heavy duty aluminum support posts. As the name implies, it reclines so that dad can lean his head back on the integrated pillow and stare up at the starry night sky (or fall asleep with a flask by the fire!) by adjusting a bevy of nylon straps. Thanks to a low center of gravity it’s easy to get into and out of and you never worry about tipping over on sand or loose gravel.
- Photograph: Ibex
A Super Versatile Wool Hoodie
Ibex Indie HoodieI wore this midweight wool hoodie several days a week in the depth of winter it and it’s quickly become one of my absolute favorite pieces of clothing. The cut is sporty but definitely dadbod-friendly. The thumb loops, zippable tall neck, and hood make it a lot more versatile than a typical wool long-sleeve shirt. Because it's wool you can wear it many times without washing it, meaning your dad can use it as a layer throughout the winter whether he’s doing yardwork, biking, or tossing a football around in the park. (I’ve worn it while doing all three.) For more picks, check out our guide to the best wool clothing by a fellow dad.
- Photograph: Atlas Coffee
A Fresh Cup Every Day
Atlas Coffee ClubYour dad probably drinks coffee. He probably likes it when that coffee is delicious. If he likes variety—I’m an extremist on this and rarely buy the same bag twice—he’ll love a subscription to Atlas, which ships beans from all over the world in every style of roast and grind you can imagine. I am especially fond of the half-bag batches which mean I’m getting new flavors midway through the week.
- Photograph: Amazon
A Professional Grade Food Processor
Robot Coupe R101BYou may have noticed that "professional grade" is a very powerful marketing term in the dudeosphere. Even men in white-collar fields want to drive the truck the guy who hung their drywall drives, which seems to be the entire marketing philosophy behind trucks. The Robot Coupe is one of those things. This brand of French food processor is ubiquitous in professional kitchens and coveted by people who want that same performance at home. If you’re looking to julienne carrots and cucumbers for salad rolls or whip up a big batch of buttery smooth hummus, you’re not going to get there with a food processor from Target. The Robot Coupe takes up about as much room as a KitchenAid mixer but is very sturdy with sharp steel blades designed to keep their edge for years. The motor’s power is measured in horsepower. I bought mine used from a man who sold it because his wife said it took up too much space. When I asked him what he liked to make with it, he got a faraway look in his eye. It was understood that the appeal of the device extends beyond the practical; you want a Robot Coupe because it’s what the pros use. When I posted a picture of it to my Instagram, multiple dads messaged me to express envy or support. Your dad could be that dad.
- Photograph: Amazon
Peace of Mind
Apple AirTags (4-Pack)Last summer I had what I can only describe as a harrowing moment in fatherhood: I couldn’t find my keys while on a road trip with my 8-year-old daughter 500 miles from home. It turns out I had a hole in the pocket of my shorts (dads are always wearing old clothing past the failure point) and to make it a true nightmare, I’d just been walking for a few miles on a path along the Mississippi River. I got lucky and found my keys in the parking lot, then bought an AirTag and a keychain holder for it. Dads often feel deep personal responsibility and shame connected to things like losing their keys. A set of AirTags will help assuage that anxiety, plus allow him to low-key LoJack his bike or a vehicle (your dad knows what this means) and maybe even something like his tackle box.
- Photograph: Patagonia
The First and Best Fleece
Patagonia’s Synchilla Snap-TI’m sure I’ve owned 50 fleeces over my lifetime, spending multiple years swaddled in napped polyester. Patagonia’s Synchilla Snap-T is not just the first and oldest fleece, but the best—which makes it a timeless gift for your dad. This iconic fleece sweater, an alternative to wool mountaineering wear first made as a collaboration with Polartec, features a loose, boxy cut. The default midweight is the best, but there are endless options. The colorways change seasonally, but the older ones age gracefully—I get constant compliments on my brown Synchilla with teal trim from fall 2012. Pick a seasonal pattern that’s a little offbeat if you’re giving this as a gift.
- Photograph: L.L. Bean
A Do Anything Flannel
LL Bean Katahdin shirtDepending on the age of your dad, it’s possible he’s been waiting patiently for decades for the triumphant return of flannel. Happily, it has arrived. This flannel from LL Bean is the best I’ve ever worn and I think your dad will agree. It’s a poly-wool blend which feels rich and soft but also very durable. I wouldn’t hesitate to curl up by a firepit in this, nor to chop up a cord of firewood. The slightly fitted cut is flattering for me and probably looks even better on a dad who hits the gym regularly.
