“Just not another tie!” It’s a common lament heard in early June as Father’s Day approaches and kids big and small ask Dad what he’d like to get on his big day. Ties are the ultimate Father’s Day gift, but frankly, they’re not a very good gift.
One thing ties have going for them is that they’re practical; most men need a tie, even if they don’t wear one very often. But if we’re talking about actually practical gift ideas, we can do way better. Ahead, with the help of some actual dads, including some of our very own staffers, we’ve rounded up som absolutely fantastic and totally practical Father’s Day gift ideas.
Mark Amadio, Underscored's own product design manager, picked out a slew of practical gifts (we're dutifully sending this to his family), including the Sewell BlastIR, of which he says, "This remote control receiver will allow you to put away all your devices so they no longer clutter the room. The BlastIR can control these devices via your existing remote controls even though they’re out of sight. A great gift for tech-savvy dads who also like organization."
Outdoor furniture like hammocks, outdoor dining sets, super-comfortable camping chairs, etc. were universal picks among the dads we spoke with — there are lots of great gift options in this category. We like a patio umbrella light as a gift because it's unexpected and inexpensive! Check out more of our favorite outdoor Amazon products here.
The Moon Pod, a favorite among our staff, is a cloudlike chair designed to mimic the sensations of flotation therapy. Our reviewer especially loved it for storytime with the kids. Use code CNN15 to get an extra 15% off in addition to any of Moon Pod's sitewide sales.
"For the bookworm dad," Amadio says, "there’s no greater pleasure than sharing beloved books, but no crueler pain than losing them for good. Comes with 20 self-adhesive pockets, 20 checkout cards, one date stamp, one black ink pad and one genuine pencil!"
Everything you need to prep an avocado — from slicing to pitting — in one compact, dishwasher-safe tool. It’s an Underscored reader favorite.
Our pick for the best bidet attachment, the Tushy 3.0 is incredibly easy to install on a wide variety of toilets, and even easier to enjoy. It’s a complete bathroom game changer we can’t recommend enough.
An indoor LED grow light garden is a perfect gift for a budding home cook, providing fresh herbs right when you need them. The easy-to-use gardening system comes with a gourmet seed kit featuring six herbs: Genovese basil, curly parsley, dill, thyme, Thai basil and mint.
If Dad is a hot coffee guy, our reviewers found the flat-bottom, three-hole design of the Kalita Wave 185 Pour-Over Coffee Dripper allowed for even and consistent brewing, and chose it as their pick for best pour-over coffee maker. Reviewers said the Kalita produced the most robust coffee, spot-on temperature, and most even saturation of the grounds of all the models tested.
In our testing of travel pillows, The Cabeau Evolution S3 stood out among the competition: Our reviewers call it “the Goldilocks of travel pillows.” They praised its design, which is firm enough to support the head and neck but soft enough to fall asleep on, and noted that it is eminently portable, thanks to its being made of springy memory foam that enables you to compress it to half its size.
Help Dad keep all his cables and cords organized with this clever tech accessory case. The zip-closure waterproof case features elastic loops and mesh pockets to hold cables, phone chargers, earbuds, charging bricks and more. There's also a padded pocket that can hold a tablet, SD card and other flat electronic items.
"Imported from Japan and aged for 4 years in traditional wooden containers," says Amadio, "a soy sauce that's meant to be savored. Totally worth the price tag, it will establish a new personal benchmark for soy sauce in your life. A delight for even the most seasoned epicurean dad."
A subscription to Atlas Coffee Club is the perfect gift for the dad who loves his cup of morning Joe. The company can send a new bag of coffee from a different country every month. Read our review of it here, and read more about our favorite coffee subscriptions here.
The work-from-home dad will love the Flexispot Standing Desk Converter. Both its desktop and keyboard tray provide ample space, and it adjusts with the push of a lever. Need more gift ideas for the WFH dad? Check out our guide to the best home office essentials.
"A must-have tool in any DIY dad’s toolbox," Amadio says. "These are inflatable bags used to shim heavy objects which require leveling including windows, doors, cabinets, appliances and plumbing. 'Hey, can you give me a hand with this?' is a phrase you may never hear your dad say again after buying these shims!"
This cotton sleep mask — our pick for best overall sleep mask — is one of those gifts people won't know they needed until they have it.
Level up Dad's smile with an electric toothbrush. Smile Brilliant's CariPro toothbrush has five settings — Clean, White, Massage, Gum Care and Sensitive — so he can switch up his brush as he likes.
The reviews of this thing are incredible and hilarious. (“This is the most awesome present ever. If, like me, you seem to be a walking wasp magnet, this is probably the best invention of all time. I work with the window open and my day is now interspersed with brief flurries of ‘Wasp Wimbledon,’ so I am even getting exercise whilst defending myself.”) If you and your dad like to share some laughs, this present will do double-duty.
"Measuring tape can’t measure everything," Amadio points out. "Calipers can measure thicknesses, distances and internal and external diameters. As a result, they're an essential tool for auto repair, woodworking and metalworking. A helpful tool any handy dad would love."
Center console trash cans are a little thing that can make a huge difference when it comes to keeping the car clean. This all-in-one style receptacle has two removable liners to make emptying easier, as well as a compartment to hold tissues, napkins or wet wipes — perfect for keeping greasy or sticky fingers from leaving greasy or sticky prints all over Dad's car. See more of our favorite car cleaning and organizing products.
Nick Allen, dad to two girls from Michigan, has these sunglasses on his Father's Day wishlist. “They look kind of cyborg-ish so aesthetically they’re not the best," he says, "but they are incredibly functional — for running, golfing, mowing the lawn etc. Sound quality is fantastic. It’s Bose quality." You know what dads love? Bose-quality sound. Get Dad the Dad Shades.
"Give your dad a dose of nostalgia for Father's Day," Amadio says. "No matter what decade your dad grew up in, these retro candy boxes are sure to include something that will give them that “Ratatouille moment” and whisk back fun memories from the past."
A giant golf net makes an absolutely genius gift for the golf dad who likes to practice his putting in the backyard. This golf practice net set includes the 10-by-7-foot golf net, a golf mat, golf balls and tees, as well as a carrying bag so Dad can pack it all up if Mom objects to having a golf net as a permanent fixture in her yard.
"Great for cool spring and early summer evenings out on the patio," Amadio says. "Safe for roasting marshmallows or s’mores. A three-to-five-hour burn time and crackles like a real fire! Made from eco-friendly ingredients like recycled soy wax and paper briquettes."
"If your dad is still using his father's screwdrivers he inherited as family hand-me-downs over the years, it’s time for an upgrade," Amadio says. "A high-quality screwdriver set is a must-have for fixing all the things around the house and in the garage. Made in the USA."
We told you temperature regulation was a hot theme among the dads we spoke to: One dad who received this Zojirushi coffee canister raved that it is "INCREDIBLE and keeps things hot FOREVER." If your dad is a big hot drinks guy, getting him this mug will make his day — and every day after it.
Speaking of hot and cold drinks, if your dad is a big coffee guy, consider upgrading or adding to his coffeemaker collection. A cold brew coffee maker is another gift that keeps on giving, and that can be paired with a selection of his favorite coffee beans or a travel mug to make a more robust gift.
For the dad who loves to grill, a grill brush is a gift you can buy over and over again — because it's important to replace grill brushes regularly for safety's sake.
Calling all plant dads! A very cool DIY project for people who grow things is assembling a self-watering container that can be used as a planter for flowers, herbs or vegetables. This video tutorial is fantastic. If this looks like a project your dad might enjoy, a PVC cutter is a great gift idea, since self-watering containers use PVC piping to create the internal mechanism.
The Eden pillow from Coop Home Goods is a great pick if your dad could use nicer pillow to slumber on. Our reviewers noted that it is both supportive and plush, and they gave it high marks for versatility: The design allows you to adjust its fill to accommodate your preferences for height and firmness.
