I sat down with my husband, John, and asked for his input on gift ideas for men and… he had plenty of suggestions!
Today’s “guide” is the result.
All of these items are things we own and use regularly. Some were Christmas or birthday presents I’ve purchased for him over the years, others are things he’s researched and purchased himself (sometimes the path of least resistance as an adult), and a few are similar to products we own that are no longer available.
There are practical gifts, travel accessories, a few splurges, and some fun options. And all of them are items we use and genuinely recommend.
While I’m calling this a gift guide for men, plenty of these would make great gifts for other people (teens! women!) on your gift list.
A quick note for my fellow devoted thrifters: some of the items on this list are things we’ve purchased secondhand (including ALL of our Google Nest Mini speakers and both of our 3-in-1 charging stations!). Feel free to use this guide as an ideas list and keep your eyes peeled for secondhand options. Buying used is good for the environment AND your wallet. Win-win!
:::This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through my links, at no additional cost to you:::
*All prices are in USD and reflect pricing as of publication in October 2026.
1. Battery Storage Case + Tester | $17
This exact battery storage case was one of John’s favourite Christmas gifts last year. It keeps all our different sized batteries organized, and having a built-in tester (I cannot tell you how often I’ve wondered if a random battery I found on the counter was “dead” or had just been set down by someone and forgotten) is incredibly handy.
You can wall-mount this case, but we just store ours inside a cupboard. It’s one of those practical gifts that isn’t especially exciting to unwrap but makes everyday life easier.
2. Darn Tough Socks | $25
These are John’s favourite socks. Full stop.
In addition to being comfortable and breathable, Darn Tough socks come with an incredible lifetime warranty. John is VERY hard on socks, and we’ve returned a number of pairs over the years that have worn out. They’ve always replaced them, no questions asked.
Every single Christmas, I buy him another pair.
These are not cheap socks, but they are top quality. (One thing we do to help extend their longevity is hang them to dry.)
They come in a variety of shapes (ankle socks! ski socks) and thicknesses (John prefers the thin crew, but I own a cushioned pair) and so many fun colours and patterns (though there are plenty of “serious” socks, too).
We’ve tried Smartwool and Icebreaker socks over the years, but we’ve stopped bothering with any other brand at this point because Darn Tough is our favourite.
Note: if you’re buying for someone with smaller feet, a Women’s Medium is equivalent to the relatively hard-to-find Men’s Small.
3. Oura Ring | $300-$500
John wears his Oura Ring 3 (currently $299) every day and finds it a very helpful way to keep track of his activity, sleep, and overall health trends. (When he goes to upgrade he will get the Oura Ring 5.)
It’s especially useful when he’s travelling for work. He often gets notifications about having an elevated temperature (jet lag is HARD on the body) or experiencing high stress levels, which reminds him to pay attention to how he’s feeling.
He really appreciates having all these health metrics available in one place. I’ve taken a break from using my Oura Ring, but when I had one (I inherited John’s old version and the battery life, after years of use, wasn’t great) the #1 thing I loved was menstrual cycle tracking. It was incredibly adept at alerting me to my cycle; not relevant for the men in your life, but this makes a great gift for women, too.
4. Travel Steamer | $30
John doesn’t actually travel with a steamer in tow (remember, we’re a carry-on only family!), but he suggested this deserved a place in a gift roundup.
He regularly steams his suit jacket before heading off on work trips. It’s a quick way to remove wrinkles and freshen things up without pulling out the iron (I hate ironing with the heat of a thousand suns).
I’ve also used the steamer to get wrinkles and folds out of curtains and decorative pillowcases and it works like a charm.
Note: Our exact steamer is no longer available, so I’ve linked to a comparable product.
5. Anker 3-in-1 Charging Station | $70
John and I both use 3-in-1 charging stations for our Apple products: phone, watch, and earbuds.
Having one central hub for everything is incredibly convenient, especially on a bedside table where cords can quickly get out of control. (Just me?)
We found ours secondhand at thrift stores, so I can’t link to the exact models we own but this Anker charging station is a similar option from a well-known brand.
6. Apple AirTags | $90 (4-pack)
Speaking of Apple products, we own two sets of Apple AirTags, and we use them all the time.
We each have an AirTag attached to our car keys (using a holder like this), John has an AirTag-compatible wallet (similar to this), and we’ve put them in our vehicles.
We also have friends who use AirTags with wristbands (like these) for their young children to wear if they’re in large crowds.
Note: If you don’t use Apple products, Tile is another option worth investigating.
7. Milwaukee Screwdriver Set | $70
After years of using subpar screwdrivers (they broke one after another), last Christmas I invested in a quality Milwaukee set for John.
You can really tell the difference.
These feel substantial and they are made to last. The tips are magnetized to help hold screws in place, and the handles have markings to help identify the screwdriver head (if only I could remember which one is Phillips and which one is Robertson!!!).
A good screwdriver set is a practical gift that’s useful for years.
8. Trtl Travel Pillow | $60
John has travelled hundreds of thousands of kilometres by airplane, and he considers the Trtl Travel Pillow to be the best travel pillow he’s ever used.
It’s quite different from a traditional U-shaped neck pillow, but he finds it provides MUCH better neck support.
If you know someone who spends a lot of time on airplanes, this could be a great gift. It also packs down, so it doesn’t become another bulky item to squeeze inside luggage.
Note: Amazon reviews on this product are mixed, but John stands by his recommendation and Trtl regularly shows up on Wirecutter’s Best Neck Pillow list.
9. Wireless Earbuds
John has a thing for headphones and has owned and tested a LOT of different pairs over the years. (While I’ve had great luck with my AirPods, he’s gone through two defective sets and just generally is not a fan.)
The Sony WF-1000XM4 wireless earbuds are his absolute favourite. (Not linking because it’s hard to find them new, and I don’t want to link to the refurbished ones since the battery life often isn’t great; but John would say it’s worth the hunt if you can find a set!)
- He wants me to be very clear: it MUST be the XM4 model, not the XM5.
- He says the noise cancellation of the XM4s is better than what he’s gotten with his fancy noise-cancelling Bose headphones.
- He does say it’s critical to switch out the ear tips. (In his words, these are “the best headphones, but the worst ear tips”; he just uses generic universal ear tips.)
- Unfortunately, since this is an older model, finding them new can be very tricky. eBay sometimes sells them new, but more and more it’s refurbished sets as the main option which isn’t always ideal because battery life can be compromised.
He also recommends Soundcore by Anker Liberty 4 NC Wireless Earbuds ($80) or the Soundcore Liberty 5s ($83). He said both have “decent” noise cancellation.
In terms of battery longevity (up to 54 HOURS!!), he said Soundcore Anker P42i can’t be beat (and they’re only $60).
10. Reflective Roadside Warning Triangles | $28
Chalk this up under responsible adult gifts that everyone (with a vehicle) should probably own but hopefully will never need to use.
I did a lot of research before buying these for John. Most roadside triangles are notoriously flimsy, but these stood out because they’re weighted with sand, making them much more stable. (They’re heavy!)
Our reflective triangles live in the trunks, and it gives me peace of mind knowing they’re there.
Not the most glamorous Christmas gift… but a very practical one!
11. Crokinole Board | $90
Okay, this was MY addition to the list.
I grew up playing crokinole, and it’s a lot of fun.
If you’re not familiar, it’s a tabletop game where players flick little wooden discs toward the centre of a board, trying to score points and knock their opponents’ pieces out of the way. (Kind of like curling.)
It’s simple to learn but surprisingly competitive (my brother and grandmother used to have crokinole tournaments that lasted the entire weekend).
I think a crokinole board makes a great gift for someone who enjoys games, especially if they’re looking for something a bit different from the usual board games. Also, the playing surface is double-sided, so you can flip it over to play checkers!
Note: The board we own was a gift many years ago from my parents, but I’ve linked to a comparable version.
12. Ergodriven Topo Standing Desk Mat | $110
John has a standing desk in our office and spends a lot of the workday on his feet.
A few years ago, I bought him an Ergodriven “topographic” standing mat.
This is not an ordinary anti-fatigue mat. It has raised areas and different contours that make it easy to shift positions while standing.
One Amazon reviewer described it as an “ergonomic playground for your feet,” which pretty much sums it up!
The ErgoDriven Topo mat isn’t cheap, but it’s incredibly high quality, and John has gotten a lot of use out of his. (There’s also a smaller, less expensive—$80—version that’s good for small spaces or people that are… a bit on the short side… called the Topo Mini!)
13. Self-Cleaning Water Bottle | $90
John bought a self-sanitizing water bottle (it uses UV rays) before heading to Rwanda, and now he uses it as his everyday water bottle.
His has a built-in UV sanitizing feature, which is a neat concept (and very useful for travelling!), but it also keeps water nice and cold all day.
I’ve linked to a similar UV self-cleaning water bottle, though it isn’t the exact one John uses.
14. Click Torque Wrench | $37
This has turned out to be a surprisingly useful tool.
We used to have to go back to the mechanic shop after our seasonal tire changes to have the lug nuts re-torqued.
Now we—read: John—can do that at home with our torque wrench.
If you’re buying for someone who enjoys working on vehicles or doing their own maintenance (he used this to disassemble a basketball hoop), a quality torque wrench is a very practical gift.
15. Reaction Tackle Braided Fishing Line | $35
This is hyper-specific, I know, but John swears by this Reaction Tackle braided fishing line.
It’s great quality and can be used for both freshwater and saltwater fishing.
This isn’t a relevant gift for everyone, but if you’re shopping for a man (or woman!) who loves to fish, it might be just the thing.
16. LEGO Vincent van Gogh’s Starry Night | $170
Not all adults love LEGO, but plenty do.
John has an extensive collection of Star Wars LEGO. Some favourites include the Millennium Falcon, Imperial Shuttle, Star Destroyer, Kylo Ren’s ship, Yoda’s hut, Yavin 4 Rebel Base, and the Death Star Trash compactor diorama.
But there are also some very cool LEGO sets based on famous works of art.
John owns and loves the Vincent van Gogh Starry Night LEGO set. It’s fun to assemble and looks great on display afterward.
Note: While we don’t own the next sets, there’s also Sunflowers if you prefer that van Gogh aesthetic, The Great Wave (Hokusai), or Bridge Over a Pond of Water Lilies by Monet.
17. Veepeak OBD-II Car Code Scanner | $32
This is a gadget John suggested for this guide that goes completely and utterly over my head.
It’s a little device that connects to your vehicle’s diagnostic port (his words, not mine; do not ask me what this means) and works with compatible apps to read error codes and access vehicle information.
John uses his in both our vehicles to check codes and adjust certain settings (again, do not ask me what settings; this is his domain, not mine).
He assures me it’s a very handy thing to have.
If you’ve got a car enthusiast or someone who likes tinkering with vehicles on your shopping list, this OBD-II scanner might be a winner?
18. Google Nest Mini | $120
We have a series of Google Nest Minis scattered throughout the house. Ours are an older model (all of which we bought second hand), but they still get plenty of use. We also have a central Google Home device.
We primarily use our Google speakers to play music through Spotify and control our smart plugs.
(Stay tuned, because I’ll have more to say about smart plugs in my men’s stocking stuffer gift guide.)
Note: Here is the newer model package (3-pack)—which we haven’t felt any need to upgrade to—but is likely the best place to start if you’re interested in having a Google speaker setup in your home.
Also note: You can turn off the microphone function on your speakers so that it is literally just a speaker, and there are no back-and-forth interaction capabilities.
19. Portable Second Monitor | $40
This is another product John SWEARS by when travelling.
He has a triple-monitor setup in our home office, so it’s quite an adjustment when he heads off on a work trip and suddenly has to do everything on one small laptop screen.
This portable monitor has been a game-changer.
It’s lightweight enough to take on every work trip and gives him extra screen space wherever he’s working.
He owns this exact model and highly recommends it.
20. LEVEL8 Wide-Handle Carry-On Luggage | $260
For years and years, we’ve used thrifted or otherwise inexpensive carry-on luggage.
And it worked. Sort of.
About a year ago, John was partway through a trip when his inexpensive luggage handle broke and he had to buy tape and try to cobble things together for a few days/flights and… it was not ideal.
With the amount of travelling John does in a typical year, he decided it was time for an upgrade.
This is an example of “you get what you pay for.” I have never pushed a suitcase that rolls more smoothly.
John specifically wanted a wide-handle design, and after a LOT of research, LEVEL8 luggage ended up at the top of his list.
He’s been using it for about a year now and highly recommends it.
It’s definitely a splurge, but for someone who travels frequently, good luggage can make a big difference.
And that’s a wrap on the first of my Holiday Gift Guides. Up next (probably sometime this weekend?), I’ll be back with 15 stocking stuffer ideas for the men in your life.
Now… it’s your turn!
- If you’ve received (or bought yourself!) a gift from this list, which one would you recommend most?
- Give me all your great adult men gift ideas!
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