What to give Dad for Father’s Day? Dear reader, we’re glad you asked. Our correspondent Julie Chang Murphy has gathered a list of creative, energizing, unusual and appreciative gifts for all of the fathers and father figures in your life. Whether you’re in search of the best sports, fashion, travel or foodie gifts for Dad, these are the best luxury gifts for Father’s Day this year.
what to give dad for father’s day?
We’re going to take for granted that you’ve already “surprised” the dads in your life with the official standbys for Father’s Day. There are only so many times you can present him with a razor, silk tie or tool kit. This Father’s Day, give him a break from feigning appreciation for the same old, same old, in lieu of a gift that will really make him feel known and cherished.
We have 6 themes: gifts for dads who love Sports and The Outdoors; Fashion and Accessories; Travel and the Office; Art and Design; Food and Drink; and Gaming and Entertainment. We’re sharing various gift ideas in each category.
So relax. We’ve done the work so you can focus on the intangibles that really count to make his day special.
the best luxury gifts for father’s day this year
Without further ado, here are our picks for the best luxury gifts for Father’s Day, whether you’re honoring your own Dad, Father-in-law, Husband, Son or a father-figure in your life.
1. Sports and Outdoors gifts for Dad
Thank your active, outdoorsy and nature-loving Fathers for helping you learn the importance of fresh air, exercise and play with these. They’re some of the best sports and outdoors gifts for dad.
Allbirds’ stylish, naturally sweat-wicking wool sneakers ($95) are soft and itch-free on the inside and durable and water-resistant on the outside. So Dad is always ready for an adventure. Speaking of adventures, the BioLite Camp Stove with Coffee Press ($199.95) will elevate any camping trip that you willingly or unwillingly get dragged on. Help him ditch his worn backpack with this lightweight, water-resistant nylon backpack from Burberry ($1,290) that is modeled after functional military kit. Add in a pair of Olympus 10×42 PRO Binoculars ($519), which provide 10X magnification. They’re perfect if he’s an avid bird watcher. Or just wants a better view at stadium sporting events.
We’ve heard that some dads like to golf? In that case, the best sports gifts for dad might be focused on his time on the course. Check out the newest drivers of 2019 from luxury brands like Callaway, Ping, Titleist, and TaylorMade ($499 – $549). If your special guy is more into boxing, you can’t go wrong with high-end training gloves from Cleto Reyes ($190). Because just like athletic shoes, gloves need to be changed out every once in a while.
2. Fashion and Accessories gifts for Dad
If you’re lucky enough to have a stylish Dad in your life, these gifts will delight his upscale sensibilities. Or, maybe, like most of us, you wish he was a little more fashion-forward? At least these gifts can help him look as cool on the outside, as he is on the inside.
We know he’ll always hold the umbrella over you, so gift him with this simple but stylish raincoat from Stutterheim ($295). If Dad hates shopping for himself, try a subscription to Stitch Fix. Yep! They offer their personal styling boxes for men, too, in sizes XS-3XL, waist sizes from 28-48ʺ and inseams 28-36.
As the Spring rains slowly give way to sun, make sure he’s got the perfect shades. These Tom Ford Aviators ($415) with smoke grey lenses are a sleek and handsome choice for any face shape. Sun protection is great, but so is protection in a metaphysical sense. These neutral but striking Barney’s cufflinks ($525) are made with Tiger Eye stones, known to be talismans of protection and good luck.
3. Travel and Office gifts for Dad
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. If the Father in your life is a workaholic, there’s nothing you can do to change him. But you can make his commute or his time in the office more enjoyable and efficient.
One of the best travel gifts for dad – because almost every dad will love them – is a great pair of portable headphones. You can find our top picks here.
If the travel gift for the dad in your life is focused on his trip to work every day, consider the Fortified Commuter bike ($749). It’s built for the city with “Invincible” features like custom security bolts that keep the bike and parts protected from thieves. Even if he prefers another way to commute, he can still pedal at work with the DeskCycle Exerciser ($159) to help alleviate some of the problems with sitting at a desk all day.
If his work involves a lot of travel, here are some of the best travel gifts for Dad. Consider the Hook and Albert garment weekender bag ($530). Fully unzipped, the garment section can easily accommodate two suits with compartments for accessories and two shoe pockets. The latest Amazon Kindle Oasis ($249.99) is a great option on the plane and beyond. It’s the first version that is fully waterproof if he needs to do some reading by the pool. Has he always wanted to brush up or learn another language for his trips? Help him learn over 20 languages online with a monthly subscription to Rosetta Stone ($179 for 1 year).
4. Art and Design gifts for Dad
Creative and design-oriented Dads might be hard to please. Making figuring out what to give for Father’s Day even more challenging. Even though it’s tough, that doesn’t keep us from trying. Check out these once-in-a-lifetime gifts.
If he prefers to express his creative side with music, fulfill his rock & roll aspirations with a classic Fender electric guitar ($1,999) and this beautiful coffee table book, Play It Loud: Interments of Rock & Roll, ($50) from the Metropolitan Museum of Art exhibit of the same name. Or, maybe he always wanted to write. Whether he’s got an idea for a mystery, children’s book, or the next great American novel, consider gifting a class from Gotham Writers, which offers classes both online and in person in NYC.
No home is complete without the Dad chair. But for a Dad with modern design sensibilities, the famous Eames lounge chair and ottoman ($5,295) is a must-have. Not ready to splurge without having him test it out first? No worries. This sophisticated Perpetual Calendar designed by the Modern Museum of Art, is easy on the eyes and the wallet ($45). And if the father in your life can never find anything that satisfies his aesthetic, why not encourage him to make his own designs with the FlashForge 3-D Printer ($899)?
5. Foodie Gifts for Dad
Bringing home the bacon. Or cooking the bacon. We could always count on Dad to indulge our love of good food and drinks. The best foodie gifts for Dad will make everyone in the household satiated and happy.
Everyone has a favorite pizza place but there’s something really fun about making your own. This outdoor Ooni Pro Pizza Oven ($599.95) is the world’s most versatile outdoor oven. It’s capable of burning wood, charcoal, pellets or gas and can bake up to a 16” pizza. Another of the best foodie gifts for Dad is a DIY kitchen tool for meat-lovers. We vote for this Weston Electric Grinder ($174.95). It’s heavy duty, grinding 3 pounds of meat per minute and comes with a funnel for stuffing fresh sausages. For the vegetarian fathers out there, try a monthly subscription to Purple Carrot ($287/month for 3 meals a week), a gourmet plant-based meal prep kit with yummy options like Portobello Panang Curry and Beet Tacos.
Additional ideas on our list of the best foodie gifts for Dad? Wine-Lovers will appreciate this top-of-the-line Aobosi Double-Layer Wine Refrigerator ($599.99) which holds 28 bottles of your finest wines. If he’s more of a beer guy, this deluxe Home Brewing starter kit ($199.99) from Northern Brewer will have him churning out ales and IPAs with ease.
6. Gaming and Entertainment gifts for Dad
One of the least well-kept secrets about Fathers is that they’re just big kids. These grown up toys will be fun for him and the entire family.
Host your own family movie nights with this high-end BenQ Home Theater Projector ($1,499). It boasts the highest picture clarity with superior colors, and is able to present details in the darkest black for all those Game of Thrones re-watches. Sometimes Dad needs alone time, too. Gift him the Oculus Go Virtual Reality Headset ($199) so he can get lost in his own world. There’s no shame in video games. Get some healthy competition and nostalgia going with the newest PlayStation 4 Pro ($399). It’s the console with the best games on the market.
For the less tech-inclined Dad who nevertheless still loves games, this sophisticated and abstract Man Ray chess set ($680) is also a work of art. His poker face won’t be able to resist the handsome Italian-made leather poker set from Smythson ($3,895).
what will you be giving the dads in your life this year?
Happy Father’s Day! We hope these ideas help you decide what to give for Father’s Day this year. And that they’ll help you make the special guy in your life feel loved and appreciated. And understood.
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Crediting her training as a cultural anthropologist at Wellesley College, Julie has immersed herself in various industries in the last 15 years including fashion design, event planning, fitness and even investigating police misconduct. Julie lives in NYC where she loves trying every ramen and dumpling restaurant with her husband and three children. She finds joy in bold prints, biographies of fierce women, kickboxing and spending way too long finding the perfect polish color to express her mood.
