Favorite Things Gift Guide for Men

Gift guide for the men on your list, everything from candy to clothes to sports and travel items – all budget-friendly, tried-and-true items that will be used again and again.

Some links in this article are affiliate links and if you click on them I will receive a small commission at no cost to you.

Welcome to our classic gift guide for the men on your list!

Creating and updating these “favorite things” guides (here’s one for women and one for kids & teens) has actually been fun for Brian and me – we remember the things we’ve discovered the previous year that we think you guys would enjoy, too, to add to our classics list.

The thing to know about all of our gift guides is that we recommend only the things we truly use and love because we know word-of-mouth is one of the best ways to find people gifts that have some sort of lasting value. These are truly our favorite things.

We look back through our Amazon orders, our books read list, the cool things we’ve talked about and The Good Things Lists to find the best of the best to highlight.

You’ll find gifts at all price-points, too, almost everything is under $100 (the paddle board being the outlier this year – worth the splurge if you can swing it) and most are under $50, including some things that would make great stocking stuffers.

Favorite Things Gift Guide for Men

1. Quick-Drying Running Hat -catches sweat while allowing your head to breathe. Brian won’t run in warm weather without this!

2. Aeropress Coffee Maker – Brian’s a lover of all things coffee and he likes that this makes a smooth cup of coffee with a less acid taste.

3. Walmart George Jeans – just enough stretch to make them comfortable and always fit right – these have become a go-to jean (in addition to Old Navy).

4. Rash Guard/Sun Shirt – not only saves skin in sun and heat, but also works as a wind barrier for early morning runs.

5. Travel Computer Bag – holds two computers safely, Kindle, cords, files all in a compact space. We take this every.time.we.travel – he calls it our “tech bag.”

6. Compression Socks – these made a big difference during air travel! We found that our legs didn’t feel as tired after a long flight – it was a marked difference.

7. Silk Glove Liners – these have been amazing for protecting Brian’s fingers during early morning cold runs – a lot more than with wool gloves alone.

8. Framing Nailer, such a great update from our brad nailer – Brian uses this for all kinds of fixes and DIYs.

9. Dark chocolate covered malt balls– probably Brian’s favorite gift – these are in his stocking every year even though they are a bit more expensive than other candy. They are hard to find locally which make them even more special.

10. Peets whole bean Coffee– for any coffee lovers on your list like Brian – Peet’s is one of his absolute favorites – but always in a dark French roast or Mj. Dickensons. (Or k-cup pods like this.)

11. Electric Bug Zapper – we had such a fly problem in our cottage since we lived around house pastures – this takes care of them quickly and with no mess like traditional fly swatters. We wouldn’t be without it now.

12. Grilling glove. This looks a bit odd, but really does work to keep hands safe when grilling.

13. Bombas Wool Running Socks– likes the cushion of the wool-running sock and how they keep his feet warm even when they get wet.

14. Insulated French Press Coffee Maker– when Brian wants a strong cup of coffee he likes a French press. This insulated version keeps the coffee hot, too.

15. Peri Peri Sauce– anyone who loves hot sauce like Brian will appreciate this different flavored sauce – it’s his new favorite.

16. Solid Stand Up Paddle Board– if you’re looking for a special gift, this will do it (though look for a sale like we did). A solid board is SO much nicer than the inflatables- you will walk right past all the people trying to inflate their boards, lol.

Bonus: Books

The Ballad of the Whisky Robber, Julian Rubinstein. An incredible true story that reads like a farcical fiction book.

Underground Airlines, Ben H. Winters. What if the civil war didn’t end and a compromise was made instead where four states remained slave states? Set currently as if this was history, this is a fascinating look at what might’ve been.

Neverhwere, Neil Gaiman. A little mind-bending but in a good way, this is such a good book. You’re often not sure what’s up or down (literally), but the characters are wonderful and the writing is fantastic. If you can get this as an audiobook, it’s read by the author who does an amazing job.

TIP: You can find more books that made our favorites lists here.

Experience Ideas

Some of the most memorable gift ideas are things like tickets, meals, gift certificates, etc. Here are some ideas from my readers!

• Concert/play tickets
• Cooking classes
• AirB&B gift certificates
• Day at an special manor house for a bike ride and a picnic lunch – or special park, etc.
• Cook a special meal – examples: Greek with lamb leg, greek vegetables, pita and hummus or a Seafood Meal of smoked salmon, shrimp salad, oyster dressing, soup with seafood.

Want more ideas?

• Favorite Things Gift Guide for Women
• Favorite Things Gift Guides for Kids and Teens
• 23+ Creative Handmade Gifts for Christmas, Birthdays and More

Disclosure: affiliate links in this article will earn commission based on sales, but it doesn’t change your price. Click here to read our full disclaimer and advertising disclosure.