30 Gifts for Dads Who Swear They Don't Want Anything 2026

Skip to main content“Save your money,” he says. Noted and ignored.Courtesy of GQ, CB2, Huckberry, J.Press; Design: Emily HanhanYour old man is funny about gifts, ain't he? That guy will wear the same jacket for 20 years, spend a small fortune on something you've never heard of, and insist he doesn't need a thing. More often than not, finding the best gifts for dads involves putting your thinking cap on to mentally trawl through all of the very practical things they already own, along with the stuff that they’d just never use. Fortunately, we've got a few good dads on the GQ staff. Opinionated dads. Handsome dads. Great dads. And they've actually got some ideas.Still no dice? We'd suggest perusing the rest of our gift guides and signing up for the GQ Recommends newsletter for more gift ideas worth your money.Style GiftsTech GiftsGrooming GiftsHome GiftsFitness GiftsStyle GiftsFrizmworksChecked Woven ShirtSimple, generously proportioned, and blessed with a great collar, this checked shirt from Japanese label Frizmworks gets all the little things right. And the price? Legendary.FilsonDenim Tacoma JacketIt's a good idea to pay closer attention to what's been happening at Filson lately. The brand's been digging into its archives and finding fresh ways to offer up its outdoorsmen roots, as evidenced by this Tacoma jacket, an old-school silhouette recast in a handsome denim.BurberryNarrow Check Cashmere ScarfThere's a reason a Burberry check scarf costs what it does. The pattern is destined to outlast every passing trend and come back into fashion again and again. And the cashmere? Every bit as luxurious as he'd hope.J.PressShaggy Dog SweaterA Shaggy Dog for the shaggy ol' dog, y'know. J.Press's sweater is the real deal, made from Shetland wool that's hand-brushed to achieve its signature fuzzy texture. And yes, it's still made in Scotland, where the wool comes from. Tradition is tradition.TecovasLongHaul Waterproof Square Composite Toe Work BootThere's always a good reason for another pair of work boots, so why not make 'em Western? These meet the safety standards for commercial construction but look handsome as hell doing it.LucaTravel SlipperI love this genre of slipper, the travel kind that zips into its own little case. And these from Luca come at an incredible price, with a perfectly shaped toe box and rubber soles that make them handsome enough to wear out.Tech GiftsRetrospektCP-81 Portable Cassette Player and RFH-01 On-Ear HeadphonesOf all the tech you could get him this year, a portable cassette player is probably the last thing he'd expect. This one comes from the nostalgia peddlers at Retrospekt. And if he doesn't appreciate the format, he'll at least appreciate the transparent casing that puts the inner circuitry on display.JBLGo 5Five generations in, JBL still hasn't found a reason to make the Go any bigger. And why would it? The pint-sized speaker continues to deliver outsized sound, with the latest iteration adding 10 hours of battery life and USB-C wired audio support. Still the one to beat in its size class.Nocs ProvisionsPortal AFN7 Adventure CameraNocs Provisions is the first name in cool binoculars, and now it's got a lo-fi digital camera to match. It's a fun little shooter in its own right, but I love that you can take photos straight through a pair of binoculars or a monocular.BioLiteSolar Site LightsString 'em up or stake 'em in the ground—BioLite's solar-powered site lights make illuminating a campsite (or a backyard, balcony, or any outdoor area) a cinch. If he's a camper, he'll be a happy one.Twelve SouthAirfly DriveTwelve South is known for its AirFly Bluetooth dongle for flights, and now it's coming for your car. The new AirFly Drive is a clever little device that does away with the cords, letting him connect to Apple CarPlay or Android Auto wirelessly.AnkerUniversal ChargerI've reached the point where I trust Anker with just about anything that plugs into a wall. This nifty universal charger uses GaN technology to power up to four devices at once, with interchangeable plugs for the US, UK, and EU. Australia, regrettably, remains off the itinerary.Grooming GiftsChanelBleu De Chanel Eau de ToiletteI'm of the mind that you can't have too many fragrances, and of the three versions of Bleu de Chanel, the original EDT is the one I recommend most. It's the brightest and most citrus-forward of the lot, before settling into something warmer and woodier.ByredoMojave Ghost Body MistByredo's new body mists offer a more casual way to wear scent, with a lighter touch and a shorter lifespan than your typical cologne. Mojave Ghost leans the most masculine to my nose, though there's nothing gendered about smelling good.PanasonicARC5 Palm Electric RazorWhat a great form factor for a shaver. Panasonic's ARC5 Palm packs five Japanese stainless-steel blades and the power of a full-size electric razor into a handsome little device that fit in the palm of his hand.MühleTravel Manicure SetA hangnail is a small indignity, but an indignity nonetheless, especially when you're a thousand miles from home. German grooming specialists Mühle have been at it since 1945, and this handsome travel manicure set comes equipped with a nail clipper, scissors, tweezers, and file.Ursa MajorBalance & Brighten SetVermont-based Ursa Major comes up a lot in our grooming coverage, and that's no accident. This set brings together a few of our favorites, including its vitamin C serum, night cream, and face wash. A very solid skincare routine, all in one box.Sky High Farm GoodsAll-Purpose Tallow BalmThis beef tallow balm from Sky High Farm, the upstate New York agricultural project with a fashion-world following, is as good as anything for soothing and restoring dry skin.Home GiftsCB2x West Elm Harrington Walnut Valet ChairICYMI: Menswear's patron saint Todd Snyder linked up with West Elm for a stirring collection of homewares this past year, and the hands-down standout is this walnut valet chair. A handsome place to hang tomorrow's outfit—or yesterday's, if we're being realistic.L.L. BeanWicked Good Venetian SlippersNo man in his right mind would turn down a pair of L.L.Bean's Wicked Goods, which is practically its own category of slipper. Sometimes the obvious choice is the right one.Axe YamakaziSewing MachineI've been meaning to take up sewing for years, but my excuse has always been a lack of space. Then I spotted this mini sewing machine at the MoMA Design Store, and suddenly that excuse isn't so convincing.Yamato IndigoShibori Kit (Bandana + Tenugui)It's always better when you make it yourself, and that's certainly true of shibori. This beginner-friendly kit comes with bandanas, tenugui cloths, indigo dye, rubber gloves, and easy-to-follow instructions. Might as well throw a few white tees into the mix while he's at it.Service ProjectsArlo 03 Stainless Steel MugNow that's one helluva coffee mug. Made from stainless steel with double-wall construction to keep it cool to the touch, this industrial number from Copenhagen-based design studio Service Projects comes with a generously proportioned saucer that does double duty as a serving tray.William HallConcrete: Mini (Phaidon Mini)Before there was John Wilson, there was Phaidon's photographic ode to the world's most ubiquitous building material. Give him a nudge and a wink and tell him it's a “solid” gift. He'll appreciate that.Fitness GiftsSatisfyx Oakley Suture Jacket SunglassesHe should absolutely wear these sunnies from Satisfy and Oakley while running. But does he have to? Not in the slightest.LululemonFast & Free Trail Running VestYou might think running requires little more than a pair of sneakers, but you'd be surprised. This vest from Lululemon has pockets aplenty for all the little things he needs to bring along, without weighing him down.TherabodyThermFace MassageIt wouldn't be the holidays without a little tension. Therabody's new massage gun is made for the face, combining gentle percussion with heat to help relieve tightness around the jaw, temples, and cheeks.Quiet HoursFacial Ice RollerA few minutes of cold therapy can work wonders on a puffy, sleep-deprived face. Quiet Hours' facial ice roller makes the ritual dead simple: chill it, roll it across the skin, and let the cold do its thing.Freaks of NatureSkin Support Electrolytes PowderElectrolytes have gotten awfully sophisticated lately. Freaks of Nature's zero-sugar powder goes beyond hydration, with a formula designed to support gut health and the skin barrier, too.GoogleFitbit EdgeGoogle's new Fitbit Edge splits the difference between its screenless fitness bands and full-fledged smartwatches, adding a bright OLED display to a slim, handsome tracker. There's built-in GPS, heart-rate and sleep tracking, and up to seven days of battery life.Michael Nolledo is GQ’s commerce director, where he leads operations for GQ Recommends and oversees coverage for all things menswear and style. Prior to GQ, he led editorial programs for several publications, including InsideHook, BuzzFeed, and Business Insider. Originally from Chicago, he now lives in Brooklyn, New York. You can ... Read MoreMore from ShoppingThe Best Gifts for Husbands Prove You're the Better HalfIt's not not a competition, and he'll be happy to lose this one.The Best Tech Gifts for Gadget Freaks and Non-Geeks AlikeWe've got plenty of sure-to-please tech gifts for the giftee in your life, from audio devices to gaming setups.The Best Prime Day Deals Under $100 Are Gone After TonightMajor savings on tech gadgets, home goods, wardrobe essentials, and so much more, at least until midnight.Feeling Stuck? 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