The Best Advent Calendars for Men Who Can’t Wait for Christmas

Tinkerers and handymen rejoice! Craftsman has finally entered the advent calendar game.Each day, you gain a new piece of a growing tool set. Open up new tools and by Christmas Eve, you have a full set that lasts you all year long (and many years to come—Craftsman tools are legit).Read our Craftsman Advent Calendar ReviewBoth saltwater and freshwater fishers will appreciate this calendar that has 24 different lures: Crankbits, soft plastics, jigs, spinner baits—you name it, MTB has it. Also included are a sleeve of decals to slap on their tackle box or truck.Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowThis advent calendar is filled with 24 different sample bottles of whiskeys from around the world, from bourbon and scotch to Irish whiskey and Canadian rye.Alongside the whiskey, this calendar comes with a whiskey journal to help document tastes and impressions, as well as a leather coaster and two custom tasting glasses.This year’s theme is Museum of Flaviar—act fast, this one sells out every year.Read our Flaviar Whiskey Advent Calendar ReviewGetting a new Star Wars toy or Lego set is a nostalgic Christmas morning memory most of us have. That’s why you can’t go wrong getting this Advent calendar.The calendar includes beloved classic characters in festive holiday attire, plus a load of mini-builds that any collector of Lego or Star Wars will love. The 24-piece set has everything from character figurines to buildable mini Starfighters, as well as a wintry backdrop for displaying (or playing with) your new favorite toys.Every year, Lego releases a brand new Advent calendar, so even if you got one last year, this set features a different selection of bricks and figures.Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowChili crisp oil packs serious heat as well as some crunch for those wanting to broaden their horizons past hot sauces. This calendar has 12 different flavors from Fly by Jing included limited addition and discontinued flavors.If you know a Peacock subscriber, chances are high that they’re a huge fan of The Office. This Advent calendar will help that fan in your life show off their love of the mockumentary-style sitcom in the form of socks—12 pairs, to be exact.With a countdown of 12 days till Christmas, this set includes plenty of men’s socks that’ll impress anyone who wishes they were a Dunder Mifflin employee, whether they want to live in Scranton or not.Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowThis is great for any guy who enjoys a lowball to wind down during the evening. The Advent calendar with everything they'll need to create artisanal cocktails at home.The perfectly portioned cocktail mixes and barrel-aged bitters will thrill any bourbon lover and add some holiday cheer to their glass, all that's missing is the whiskey.This Amazon exclusive is great for those who love the iconic Nintendo characters. Here, they are geared up for Christmas and winter. There’s Santa Mario, Snowman Luigi, and a bunch of other exclusive figurines and accessories that have never been released. Yoshi, Peach, and Toad will also make appearances and will be appreciated by any ’90s kid.Build up the excitement for the holidays with these enduringly loved characters from childhood and reminisce about that morning you unwrapped your first Nintendo console.Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowThis Advent calendar is filled with a bit more than trinkets or snacks. Instead of a bite of chocolate each day, test your mind with these brain teasers. Each day comes with a wooden or metal puzzle to figure out.The metal options are designed to be taken apart, while the wooden options are meant to be built. These brain teasers are great for kids, yet still tough enough to stump many adults.Throw a Gotham City Christmas with this Batman calendar filled with classic ’60s comic-styled Batman and Robin throughout. Twenty-five windows hold fun surprises from pins to patches and recipe cards to ornaments. Fans will love counting down the days til Christmas with the heroes and villains of Gotham all represented here.Anyone who loves Batman or the Golden Age of comics will find something to appreciate in these windows.Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowImprove your guy’s grooming habits with a gift. This Advent calendar from Lionmane includes grooming items like shampoo, salt scrub, and hand cream to help a gentleman become softer and slightly better-groomed by Christmas.The key highlight of the calendar is the facial hair products. Throughout the month, he’ll open a beard balm, mustache trimmer, and even a straight razor just in time for holiday pictures.This Advent calendar is perfect for the man who always keeps snacks around. Exclusively from Williams-Sonoma, this fun gift includes a wide assortment of popcorn and popcorn seasonings that he can enjoy on Christmas Eve—if he can wait that long.The calendar includes a poem with instructions on the back, guiding him to assemble a mixture of sweet and savory popcorn for the holidays, featuring everything from mushroom to purple popcorn kernels, to salted caramel cocoa and creamy ranch seasonings.Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowIf your guy isn’t big into whiskey but still likes a drink that warms him to the core, try this 12-day Advent calendar filled with different types of tequila. These tequilas span a few different brands and flavor profiles from blancos and reposados to añejos.Each day comes with a mini bottle for you to taste on the rocks or even mixed with some cocktail ingredients for a refreshing way to celebrate the holiday season.Perfect for the man who craves heat, this Advent calendar includes twelve 1.75-ounce hot sauce bottles to spice up the holiday season. Instead of square windows, this calendar features small curved punch-outs that hide bold flavors with even bolder names, like Reaper Evil and Son of Zombie.If you know someone who loves habanero peppers, vinegar, and garlic, they’ll love this fun calendar.Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowThis Advent calendar from L.L.Bean is decorated with festive imagery like holly, knit hats, and of course, the brand’s iconic silhouette and winter staple, the Bean Boot.The drawers come empty, but can be filled with his favorite confections, personal notes, or any other small gift to brighten up his holiday season. And since it’s sturdy and seasonal, your man can use it year after year and change up the contents.Enough with the hard liquor. If you're looking for a calendar with a bit of booze for the holiday season, check out this option. With 12 days of beer, you can try unique and flavorful suds from around the world.Each day offers a new flavor of beer, ranging from IPAs to lagers and pilsners. For a guy with a taste for hops over the hard stuff, keep this one in mind.Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowFor the geologists and rock nerds, try this Advent calendar from National Geographic. Filled with unique rocks and gemstones, each day comes with a new polished touchstone to hold, inspect, and add to your collection. This calendar also comes with an informative flap that tells you about each stone, so you can learn as you open.The necklaces give you a chance to sport your favorite stones as jewelry, while the final gemstone is hidden away and must be chipped out like a true geologist.Tom Price is a reviews editor for Popular Mechanics while also contributing to Runner's World, Best Products, and Bicycling. Here at Popular Mechanics, Tom loves testing out home appliances, smart tech, gear for city life and outdoor adventures, small gadgets like watches and multitools, and anything else you can find piled up at his hoarder's nest of a desk. Prior to working here, Tom attended NYU, graduating with a degree in English and a minor in creative writing. He also wrote for Best Reviews, The Daily Beast, and other publications covering tech, fitness gear, gadgets, and lifestyle products. Furthermore, he covered startup news, pop culture, and even professional wrestling. To follow more of his work, check back here for new stories.Danny Perez is a Reviews Editor for Popular Mechanics with a focus on men's style, gear, and home goods. Recently, he was coordinator of partnership content at another product journalism outlet. Prior to that, he was a buyer for an independent men's shop in Houston, Texas, where he learned all about what makes great products great. He enjoys thrifting for 90s Broadway tees and vintage pajama sets. His spare time is occupied by watching movies and running to impress strangers on Strava.