Nick is back with his annual guide: “A good gifting strategy always toes the line between need and want, and this year’s gift guide is exactly that: a collection of essentials that filled a need and have proven their worth over the past year-plus… along with a few items on my wishlist that are STILL on my wishlist because they are, how shall we say it, less needed.
But now’s not the season to be totally practical, so take a little bit of column A, a little bit of column B, and you’ve got a recipe for a happy gift recipient…”
Upgrade THEIR DAD FITS (EVEN IF THEy’RE NOT A DAD)
- Lululemon Smooth Spacer separates – It took almost two decades, but a guy can finally wear a matching sweatsuit without feeling like he just walked off the set of the Sopranos. This lulu cargo sweats and hoodie will be my official uniform now until 2025. It’s a modern, more elevated take on sweats with a weighty yet verrry comfy, smooth modal fabric that layers well. A relaxed but sleek fit that’s TTS. Free hemming, or just get the jogger in this same material that comes in 3 inseams. Here’s a video of me wearing it on the runway at Paris fashion week.
- Sezane (Octobre) Waffle Shirt – I was “waffling” between colors on this shirt and ended up getting both. No regrets. This do-it-all shirt can be worn as a button down, a shacket, or layered under a jacket. Size up if between sizes.
- A&F NFL Sweatshirt – These were but a wee footnote on last year’s gift guide, and now this fleecy soft vintage graphic crew neck is getting called up to the big leagues. Bonus points for having some original team names in the graphics like SAN DIEGO Chargers (not LA). TTS for a relaxed fit.
- New Era Waxed Canvas Retro Crown – A more refined dad hat in a sturdy canvas material (think Barbour jacket) and vintage MLB logos. A tad stiff out of the box but give it the time to break in a little and curve to your head.
- Past favorite recommendations:
- Topman Bomber Jacket – An easy-to-wear, lightweight jacket that gets a slight update in Fabric from year to year. This one is a lighter, soft material. TTS.
- Rothy’s RS01 Sneaker (also at Nordstrom) – These shoes are still my daily driver, er, walker. Soft, springy and supportive insoles. Has a shape similar to a minimalist leather sneaker but more comfortable. TTS.
- Allbirds Mizzle Runner-Up – These high tops continue to keep my feet warm and dry on damp or slightly slushy days.
MEAN MUGGIN’
Maybe HE’S A POTTERY HEAD AND DOESN’T KNOW IT YET
- Their tagline is not wrong. I discovered East Fork this past year and their mug quickly became my favorite for at-home sipping. No high tech features. No dad jokes. Just a plain, simple, somehow beautiful mug that feels sturdy and fits perfectly in the hand. All their dinnerware looks amazing too. Spending $400 on pottery was not on my holiday bingo card, but my eastfork.com shopping cart is right there saying otherwise.
My most used travel mug (and it’s not a St*nley)
- I gave up on flip top travel mugs about a year ago and haven’t looked back. I switched to the Fellow Carter mug because the leakproof screw top means it won’t spill if you toss it in a diaper bag or under the stroller or if you forget you put down on your car floor while buckling the kids in and it goes on a pinball adventure in your backseat.
FOR THE GUY WHO THINKS HE LOVES Gadgets BUT MAYBE ACTUALLY Just Wants Something cool to KEEP AT HIS DESK
- Samsung Music Frame – Is it art? Is it a bluetooth speaker? Is it all your audio and visual memories of going to live shows in dark bars from before you had kids crammed into one device so you can wallow in a pit of nostalgia by the fireplace? No one has to know except you.
- Pentax17 film camera – Film cameras are making a comeback (according to my Gen Z brother-in-law), and if you can’t get your hands on a vintage point-and-shoot, this new vertically oriented film camera from Pentax has gotten very positive reviews.
- Leatherman Arc Multi Tool – Way more tools-in-one than you need, but look at how you can flick it open and closed one-handed!
EASY DRINKING = EASY GIFTING
Freshly Roasted
- I love my subscription from drinktrade.com (referral link), but a couple bags from a speciality roaster is also a nice stocking stuffer. My favorite of the year was Rio Nights from Bean & Bean Coffee.
For the Frequent Hoster
- Cometeer (referral link) was a favorite from last year’s gift guide, and it actually makes for a great staple to have on hand whenever you’re expecting guests. I first had this when we were staying at a friend’s house and they whipped up a delicious iced latte almost instantly. The best option for “instant” coffee you can get, in my opinion. All you need is hot water.
A Stockpile of Non-alcoholic Beer
- Aside from gifting, this is another one that’s good to have on hand for visitors who either don’t drink or who already had enough. While Athletic is available in a lot of stores now, some varieties like their NA sour beers are excellent and online-only. Go Brewing has some of the best NA IPAs I’ve tried.
LET HIM COOK
Leave it to Cleaver
- This meat cleaver is technically a gift for me, however in all likelihood it will get the most use by my mother-in-law when she visits and prepares Chinese home-cooked meals for us to feast on, so yes, it’s a gift for me.
Maybe he’s born with it, maybe it’s Molcajete
- For some reason, when you become a dad guac-making becomes part of your identity. Maybe it’s just so you can say things like “I’m Guac’d In” or “Let’s Guac and Roll, boys.” Whatever the reason, this heavy duty gift will be a smash hit.
An over-the-top-kitchen gadget I definitely don’t need but would definitely use
- Finally, a device that gives us city dwellers an excuse to buy 20 lb beef briskets from Costco.
SKINCARE FROM SANTA CLAWS
- This made in Maine hand cream is created using lobster proteins, and while I don’t totally understand how that works, I appreciate it. As someone with eczema, I’ve been using it daily this season and it has been surprisingly great on chronic dry spots to keep them from flaring up.
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