The Best Valentine’s Day Gifts for Him (That He’ll Actually Use)
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Gifting season never ends, and Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. But if picking up a thoughtful gift for your husband, brother, dad, or any other man in your life inspires a bit of anxiety, you’re not alone. “There’s a misconception that it’s impossible to shop for men,” begin David Fishbein and Joseph Miller, co-founders of the men’s boutique The Optimist, in Culver City, CA. “But sometimes, introducing a risk as a gift is a great way to get men to try it.”
The best gifts for him aren’t about going completely out of the box, they explain, but rather about expanding his interests or needs in a new or novel way.
“We like to buy gifts that someone wouldn’t buy for themselves,” Fishbein suggests, “[and] we like to think about choosing something that would benefit their lives or upgrade where they spend time.”
Among their picks for the best gift for him this season: “Things for the bar, for the desk, for getaways and things that smell good,” Miller says. Think apothecary products, unique tech accessories, and utilitarian clothing.
And if all else fails? “Don’t underestimate the power of giving guys a really quality, everyday item that they will use again and again,” Fishbein says.
The bottom line? The best gifts for him are unique (i.e. not the same package of underwear) but also usable in his day-to-day life. Of course, even with this guidance, choosing that one gift can be tough. To help out, we’ve rounded up some of the best gifts for him to buy this season — whether he’s a sports fan, a dapper dresser, or a whiskey enthusiast.
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Fluance RT82 Record Player
Image Credit: Amazon After the resurgence of vinyl a few years back, record players are getting better every year. This RT82 Fluance is the one to buy right now, making it one of the best gifts for him, whether he’s an audiophile or a music nerd.
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Timex Standard Fabric Strap Watch
Image Credit: Timex A nice watch is a timeless gift (pun intended). Lately, we’ve been into Timex’s throwback pieces, which come with (very gifting-friendly) affordable price tags. This Standard fabric strap watch, for example, blends elements of a vintage military timepiece and a dress watch, working well with just about every dude’s personal style.
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Mr. Coffee Mug Warmer
Image Credit: Amazon A perfectly warm cup of Joe is achievable: this Mr. Coffee Mug Warmer proves it. The wireless heating device — essentially a powered coaster — is something he’ll use every day, and costs just $15.
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Beverly High Rye Whiskey
Image Credit: Beverly High Rye This year we’re getting all our beloved whiskey lovers a bottle of this Beverly High Rye. The spirit, released this year, is sweet with notes of caramel and vanilla, but it also has a bit of a kick with a 48% ABV that makes it exceptional in cocktails like old fashioneds and Manhattans.
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Wise Owl Portable Camping Grill
Image Credit: Amazon For less than $40, you can treat you man to a portable camping grill in the form of this Wise Owl Portable BBQ. The tiny grill collapses to a 13 by 10 by 1-inch package that’s ideal for stashing on backpacking or camping trips. When he’s ready to use the gril, just unfold it, add wood fuel, and grill up some food.
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Carhartt Force Pro 35L Backpack
Image Credit: Carhartt SPONSOREDFor the outdoorsy dudes in your life (or the ones who’re tired of stuffing all their things into a tiny backpack), Carhartt’s designed a pack with all the room they’ll need to carry any gear they can think of. We’re talking a padded compartment that fits a 17-inch laptop, top compartment for your power pack and cord port, two zippered side pockets, and a front organization pocket.
Whether they’re hitting the trail, or hopping on the train in the morning, this backpack can handle anything, with sweat-wicking shoulder straps and a rugged, durable water-repellent and abrasian-resistant base.
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Caswell-Massey Heritage Classic Soap Set
Image Credit: Amazon A favorite among our readers this year, Caswell-Massey’s bar soap collection is a great way to inject some class into his shower routine. Boasting three luxurious scents — cucumber, sandalwood, and oatmeal & honey — the soaps are plant-based, anti-inflammatory, and a clear upgrade from basic drugstore shower gel.
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Dad Grass
Image Credit: Dad Grass Unless your man is a monk, he probably gets stressed from time to time. That’s where Dad Grass comes in: It’s legal, smokeable CBD that relaxes the body and mind without the intense high you get from modern marijuana. Plus, it can be a soothing cigarette alternative for those looking to quit. The brand also sells gummies and tincture, if that’s more his speed.
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Crocs Classic Lined Clog
SPONSOREDEveryone loves the comfort of a good, toasty slipper — keep that fuzzy feeling going all season with Crocs’ Classic Lined Clogs.
The clogs’ soft liner is as comfortable as it is practical, and will keep you warm indoors or out. Your giftee can wear them around the house, or slip them on to run errands, too. Their foam construction also makes them lighter to wear than typical clunky, thick winter boots.
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Vekkia Book Light
Image Credit: Amazon For the nighttime reader, get him one of these highly-rated clip-on book lights from Vekkia. The adjustable gadget casts a wide light and lasts up to 70 hours on a single charge, making for a good travel companion or bedside staple (especially if, say, he reads after you go to sleep next to him).
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Man Crates
Image Credit: Man Crates Can’t decide on one gift for him? Check out Man Crates. The brand curates special goodie boxes for dudes, with options like a Whiskey Appreciation Crate, a Grill Master Crate, and a Chef Knife Making Kit. Each one comes with a variety of goodies, all packaged in a wood crate to make the unwrapping process more exciting.
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Amazon Music T-Shirts
Image Credit: Amazon Music tees are always a thoughtful gift. Amazon’s Artist Merch shop offers a great selection of official, affordable band tees to choose from, with just about every genre represented. Maybe peek at his Spotify Wrapped to see which artist tee to get.
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Vela E-bike
Image Credit: Vela Bikes Want to upgrade his commute (and save him some gas money)? Go with an e-bike. They’ve advanced leaps and bounds over the last couple years, with the best examples offering smooth power, stylish builds, and long-range batteries. This handsome Vela is one such example, which we found to be more nimble (great for city commutes) and better looking than the competition.
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Nike Sportswear Reversible Club Fleece+
Image Credit: Nike SPONSOREDWhenever you’re picking out a winter weather fit for gifting, you always need to consider the warmth factor — but what about the cool fact? This Nike Sports Reversible Club Fleece+ jacket is as cool as it gets, with a full-zippered, reversible design gives you two looks in one. Get durable, clean-looking ripstop fabric on one side, and cozy fleece on the other. It’s the perfect gift for the indecisive person in your life (and you can shop other Nike holiday picks here).
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Marlowe No. 123 Men’s Facial Moisturizer
Image Credit: Amazon For whatever reason, some guys (especially younger dudes) still haven’t gotten around to buying a good face moisturizer. If you know anyone like that, get him this moisturizer from Marlowe. It’s lightweight, good for all skin types, and, best of all, very affordable at $14.
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Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)
Image Credit: Amazon The latest AirPods Pros are our favorite piece of audio gear from Apple, and they make a great gift for just about anyone. For the 2nd gen model, Apple has improved on all the things that make the AirPods Pro great: Noise-cancellation is more powerful, connectivity is easier, and audio quality has been upgraded with “spatial audio,” which lends my dynamic spatiality to music.
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Manscaped Lawn Mower Groin Trimmer
Image Credit: Amazon Keeping everything well kept down there can be a real challenge, which leads some guys to forgo downstairs grooming altogether. If that sounds familiar to your husband or partner, this Manscaped Lawn Mower is an easy fix. Its “SkinSafe” ceramic blades won’t knick his privates (like buzz cutters) and the whole device is waterproof for easy trimming in the shower.
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Todd Snyder Italian Corduroy Chore Coat
Image Credit: Todd Snyder We’re huge fans of Todd Snyder’s modern takes on classic men’s fashion pieces, like this Italian Corduroy Chore Coat. With its navy color and look that works with casual or dressier outfits, the jacket is extremely versatile — which is key for any clothing gift.
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Laegendary RC Car
Image Credit: Amazon Most guys — no matter their age — would be excited to unwrap a serious RC car like this one from Laegendary. The hobby-grade truck reaches speeds of up to 31 miles per hour and rips through water, mud, and snow thanks to a waterproof build.
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Fire 7 Tablet
Image Credit: Amazon At just $60, Amazon’s latest tablet, the Fire 7, is a shockingly affordable gift considering its features (you could even sneak it into a white elephant party). It brings all the most-used apps and functionalities of a tablet from Netflix to Kindle books to email and web browsing, as well as some of the best parental controls.
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Chess Armory Wood Chess Set
Image Credit: Amazon A nice wooden chess set, such as this one from Chess Armory, is one part game one part decor. This one is foldable, so he can stash the pieces and transport the board, and the whole kit has a high-quality feel that makes moving pieces all the more satisfying.
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Sonic Editions Music Prints
Image Credit: Sonic Editions Think of Sonic Edition’s music prints like posters for grown-ups. The brand offers rare photos of iconic musicians and bands, all in high-quality frames at an affordable price. Their Rolling Stones collection is one of our favorites, but the brand offers a huge range of bands and artists from all genres.
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Peter Millar Tote Bag
Image Credit: Peter Millar A large contingent of stylish dudes are currently swapping their backpacks and briefcases for tote bags. Good examples, like this tote from Peter Millar, feel grown-up but still casual, making for an excellent daily carry or travel companion. We like Peter Millar’s because it’s made of rugged nylon, features a large main pocket for all your essentials (and then some), and boasts a classic, handsome look.
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Desk Cycle Under Desk Bike
Image Credit: Amazon For the guy who can’t get away from his work throughout the day, consider one of these Desk Cycles. The compact spin bike-esque machine fits neatly under most desks, providing some easy exercise while you sit in meetings and send emails.
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Rolling Stone Covers Tees
Image Credit: Rolling Stone We put some of our most iconic covers on tees, including Elton John in 1976, Tupac in 1996, and Bad Bunny in 2020. If you’re shopping for a music geek (or a fan of our magazine) this is a great way to let them wear a piece of music journalism history.
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JBL Flip 6 Speaker
Image Credit: Amazon Bluetooth speakers make great gifts for anyone — and one of the best gifts for him. This year, we like JBL’s Flip 6, which delivers a great mix of portability, durability, and sound quality. Plus, it’s relatively inexpensive — especially with its current 30% discount on Amazon.
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Naked Cashmere Jameson Hoodie
Image Credit: Naked Cashmere A cozy sweater is always a good holiday gift — and nothing is as cozy as cashmere. We’re a big fan of Naked Cashmere, which, as the name suggests, specializes in cashmere pieces. But they’re the opposite of stuffy, as showcased by this decidedly modern Jameson hoodie that he can wear around the house or out running errands.
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Lululemon Mirror
Image Credit: Lululemon If he’s looking to change up his workout routine, a fitness mirror like this Lululemon Studio will get a ton of miles. The high-tech device brings just about every type of workout — from boxing to strength training to yoga — into your living room (or bedroom or gym), letting you work out with classes and personal trainers at home.
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Toloco Massage Gun
Image Credit: Amazon For the perpetually sore or achy athlete, consider gifting one of these handy massage guns from Toloco. It uses percussive massage therapy to ease soreness, aches, and muscle pains when stretching can’t, and it comes with a huge collection of heads for reaching different spots.
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Leatherman Wave+
Image Credit: Leatherman If he doesn’t already have a premium multi-tool, consider getting him this Leatherman Wave+. It’s one of the best-selling pieces from the industry-defining brand and makes a useful companion for everything from backpacking to fishing to everyday use.
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Sony WH1000MX5 Headphones
Image Credit: Amazon Another excellent pair of headphones to give him this year are these new Sony WH-1000XM5s. They’re the latest flagship noise-cancelling cans from Sony, providing a zen-like quiet and a host of clever features like four microphones for calls, touch controls, and an impressive 30-hour battery life.
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Brooks Ghost 15 Running Shoes
Image Credit: Brooks Most of us runners are guilty of using the same shoes for too long. If he’s in the same boat right now, give him a pair of these just-released Brooks Ghost 15s. With a new midsole that balances cushioning with responsiveness, they’re a good pick for almost any runner — no matter their age or gait — and work best for daily jogs.
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Vuori Ponto Performance Pants
Image Credit: Vuori If he’s still lounging around in old sweats, update his at-home wardrobe with these Ponto pants from Vuori. They’re super soft, thanks to Vuori’s DreamKnit fabric, and double as workout trousers for cold runs or gym sessions.
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ESPN+ Subscription
Image Credit: ESPN If he’s a sports fan and doesn’t already have an ESPN+ subscription, this is a great way to give him more content (and it doesn’t require any shipping time or wrapping paper). The streaming service delivers a huge variety of live sports content from soccer to UFC to baseball, and it can be streamed on any device.
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RAK Magnetic Wristband Tool Holder
Image Credit: Amazon Handymen can always use more tools, but it’s tough to figure out what tool they don’t already own. This magnetic wristband is a good bet (and it’s very affordable), providing DIYers with a place to keep screws, nails, bolts, and any other small metal pieces close at hand — literally.
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Levoit P350 Air Purifier
Image Credit: Amazon With pollution, smoke, and allergens creeping into many of our homes, air purifiers have been an essential upgrade this year. This air purifier from Levoit is one of our favorites, boasting a powerful HEPA filter that’s capable of cleaning the air in a 219-square-foot space (i.e. a large bedroom). If your giftee lives in a polluted area or suffers from allergies, this is a great way to make him feel healthier.
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Rhone Commuter Pants
Image Credit: Rhone These Cummuter pants from Rhone have been a hit with our readers this year, and we’re not surprised. Although they look like crisp, professional dress pants, the Commuters secretly boast stretchy Flexknit fabric that makes walking and sitting much more comfortable — whether he’s traveling, rushing to work, or hitting the golf course.
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Dekiru 12-Pack Acoustic Panels
Image Credit: Amazon If the man in question works from a home office or likes to chill out in his own space, these acoustic panels are an easy way to help him do that in quiet. The affordable soundproof panels are adhesive, so there’s no major installation required. Just pop them on the wall and he’ll be insulated from noisy neighbors or loud kids (and you won’t have to hear his calls or TV shows).
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Fresh Clean Threads Tee
Image Credit: Fresh Clean Threads It’s almost impossible for guys to have too many well-fitting, high-quality tees. If he’s in need of a refresh, pick up one of these T-shirts from Fresh Clean Threads. They come in a huge range of colors and feature the brand’s ultra-soft cotton-polyester blend fabric.
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Mixology & Craft Whiskey Stone Set
Image Credit: Amazon This swanky whiskey stones set makes a great alternative to buying whiskey lovers another bottle of the stuff. He’ll get eight chilling rocks, which cool down whiskey without diluting it, as well as four stone coasters and two premium glasses. Plus, it all comes in a wooden create that’s prime for a dramatic unboxing.