06/14/2010
Stuff to Buy Channel / Bullz-Eye Home
Father's Day, like Mother's Day, is one of the most difficult holidays to shop for. Anything says "thanks for being a great dad" better than another pair of socks or a wacky tie, but it's hard to find something truly special for the best man in your life. We've put together a Father's Day Gift Guide this year that should help you find a great gift to celebrate the patron of your family, whatever his tastes may be.
For the Athletic Dad
As a kid I always looked forward to the day that I would finally beat my dad in some sport. I might be able to outrun him now, but it seems like every time I see him he's in better and better shape. These gift ideas are a great way to help your dad stay young throughout the year.
Reebok ZigTech
These are the latest and greatest Reebok running shoes. They are inspired by a slinkie (if you look at the sole, you can see that inspiration) on its side with enhanced energy transfer, decreasing muscle activation for the wearer – and thereby reducing shin splints. One of our editors tried out the shoes and they were fantastic. They have a glove like fit, with a very lightweight thin cover over the main part of the foot. Also, the sole is fairly wide so it offers a lot of stability but due to its lightweight design the shoe is very comfortable on the foot. The shoes are a great gift for any dad who likes to run and would appreciate the aggressive styling.
Finis XtreaMP3
The Finis XtreaMP3 is a great gift for the active dad. It's a 1GB capacity MP3 player with an armband and its waterproof, providing excellent sound quality at depths of up to 15 feet. If your dad is into surfing, kiteboarding, wakeboarding, kayaking, sailing, or any other water sport, the XtreaMP3 is the perfect workout companion.
Finis SwiMP3.1G
We've been so impressed with Finis products that we had to put two on this list. The SwiMP3.1G again lets you listen to your music while you're in the water, though in this case it's specifically designed for swimmers. The SwiMP3.1G uses bone-conduction technology to vibrate the inner ear while you swim, and eliminates the need for an armband and headphone cord. It runs on a 10-hour rechargeable lithium-ion battery that charges from any USB port.
Under Armour
You really can't go wrong with Under Armour. Everyone with a serious workout routine will blow through workout clothes over the course of the year. Pick up a couple different shirts for dad to use while he's in the gym, playing basketball, or out on the golf course. If you're buying for an athlete, it may be the one case in which you're allowed to buy socks for the umpteenth time.
Samsonite Trunk Organizer for Golfers
This organizer is the ideal size for any trunk or back seat. With two levels, it fits nicely in the trunk but it doesn’t take too much space. The bottom level has room for three shoes, so you can fit more than golf shoes. The ventilated mesh front door makes it easy to see what’s in there and it makes it possible to air out the shoes while storing them.
Garmin Forerunner 305
It looks like a watch but it's actually a GPS with a heartrate monitor, capable of tracking a boatload of data about any workout routine. The watch can be used with included software to get detailed maps, speed and pace data, and a detailed analysis of your daily routine. The Forerunner 305 doubles as a trainer, giving you access to personal best results on the go and allowing you to set new goals for your next workout. It's a little on the big side, but for all the data your dad will get, it's worth adding couple extra ounces to his run.
For the Nerdy Dad
Somewhere in every dad lies the geeky guy you grew up with. He can pull apart tiny motors and somehow reassemble them without losing a screw. He can fix any computer problem. He caught you looking at porn even though you thought you deleted all those cookies. These gifts are for him.
Technocel PowerPak
This little charger was an honoree for best design and engineering at CES this year. With a USB port on the bottom, it can be used to charge any USB device, and the included cables will match chargeable devices from every major electronics manufacturer in the world. When you need some extra juice for the road, just bring the PowerPak along with you - it doubles as a portable charger, again, for any device.
Amazon Kindle or a Barnes & Noble Nook
If you aren't going to go the smartphone route, an ereader is a great option. Whether you go with the Nook or the Kindle, you can bet your dad will be happy. Both come with a huge selection of titles, both allow you to read your books across multiple devices and pick up where you left off at any point, and both are reasonably priced for what they offer. If you go with the Nook, Barnes & Noble is offering a $50 gift certificate to get your elibrary started through the end of June.
Stick and Find Stickers
Here's something for your forgetful father. Stickandfind.com offers an easy way to retrieve your lost gadgets. The site is based on the simple idea that people are generally good and everyone hates losing the things they love. You buy a pack of stickers, put them on your stuff, and if someone finds it, they can call a number to get the goods returned to the rightful owner as quickly as possible. Don't think it works? Stick and Find reports a 75 percent return rate on lost items.
Insignia Internet Connected GPS
Here's a gift for the dad that gets lost and never wants to stop for directions. The Insignia Internet Connected GPS gives you all the benefits of a regular GPS plus location specific information you can get from the web. This little beauty includes location-specific Google searches, Twitter functionality, real-time data for gas prices and movie listings, and automatic rerouting.
iPhone 4
Sorry, but we had to do it. The pre-order date for the iPhone 4 is Tuesday, June 15th, just in time to give dad every gadget-lover's dream. The iPhone 4 will be the best phone on the market by a long shot when it launches. It shoots 720p video. It can make video calls. It runs on the same chip that powers the iPad with a better screen than anything else out there. If your dad's a geek, he wants one. Trust it.
TouchScreen Watches from Kenneth Cole
This new touch screen watch is the first of its kind in the fashion-forward watch category. This innovative feature bridges fashion and technology so the user can use the watch’s tools with the touch of a finger. The watches take advantage of the kind of touch screen technology available on smartphones and music players. The watch functionality includes 32-City world time and an alarm, stopwatch and light up screen. It’s easy to use so it’s practical for everyday use and for more formal setting, and it’s perfect for the dads who want to feel younger. At a suggested retail ranging from $125 to $175, it also won’t break the bank.
For Every Dad
The Sherpa Chair
Summer is here, so there are tons of events where a portable chair comes in handy, from little league baseball games, to fireworks displays and family cookouts, along with fishing and camping outings. Also, football season is right around the corner so portable chairs definitely come in handy when you’re tailgating. The Sherpa Chair folds completely and it takes up little space. The chair has shoulder straps that allow it to be carried just like a backpack, with both hands free to carry other items, so your dad can easily hand this off to the kids or grand kids for them to carry as well. It also sports a spacious pouch for carrying extra gear or some cold beers.
Johnnie Walker Scotch
Booze may not be the most creative gift, but it’s usually a winner with most fathers, particularly when it involves great Scotch. Two hundred years in the making, Black Label is the signature blend from the House of Walker. Big whisky flavors with hints of rich fruit and smoke make this Scotch whisky the perfect gift for the father who stands strong as the cornerstone of his family. You can’t lose with this one, and at a retail price of around $34 it won’t break the bank. If you’re looking to spend a tad bit more, try the Blue Label which runs around $220. This is the rarest, most exceptional whisky from Johnnie Walker, and it’s a good choice if you’re looking for a more memorable gift. Just make sure you’re around when he opens the damn thing!
Rockport Boat Shoes
If you’re dad needs some casual shoes for summer and isn’t looking to make a fashion statement, get him a pair of boat shoes from Rockport. Most boat shoes are comfortable on your foot, but few of them have any support so they’re terrible for your back. The Rockport boat shoes are very comfortable and have all of the support and cushion you can expect from Rockport shoes.
For the Bookworm Dad
Man Without a Country by Kurt Vonnegut
It seems impossible that any man could not enjoy Vonnegut's dystopic view of American society. In Man Without a Country he applies his razorsharp wit to politics, art, culture, and generally life as we know it. At once hilarious and devastating, this book compiles the best of Vonnegut's short essays and speeches over five years to yield a view of what American was, is, and could be with a little work.
The Billionaire's Vinegar: The Mystery of the World's Most Expensive Bottle of Wine
A bottle of wine, supposedly French, supposedly from 1787, supposedly owned by Thomas Jefferson, sells for more than $150,000 at a Christie's auction in 1985. This book follows the journey to verify the authenticity of this wine, centered largely on Hardy Rodenstock, a German collector with a conspicuous nose for extremely rare, extremely old, and surprisingly drinkable wines. Any dad, wino or not, will enjoy this tale of the weird world of wine collecting.
The Brewmaster's Table by Garrett Oliver
Garrett Oliver, brewmaster at Brooklyn Brewery, has been one of the loudest voices of the craft beer movement, openly claiming that brewing beer is more complicated than making wine. If you've ever been to one of his tastings, you've experienced his vast knowledge of both beer and wine. This book pulls together some of the best beer and food in world to create incredible pairings your dad is sure to love.