Guy-Approved Gift Ideas for Men

This Gift Ideas for Men Gift Guide was written in November 2017 and updated in October 2019 and again in December 2020.

One of my biggest struggles during the holidays is figuring out what to get the men in my life for Christmas. They say they are easy, but they seem so particular about things. By my observation, men seem to like “stuff” less than women. I always want to give meaningful gifts, so I hate lists, but sometimes they are useful! Kale and I started to give each other ideas so we weren’t completely in the dark, and I think this will work out great! I compiled this list of gift ideas for men based on gifts that I have actually given and are still used at various price points below!

Guy-Approved Gift Ideas for Men

Pullovers

I’ll be the first to admit that clothes are not the most exciting gift, but they are useful and appreciated. Many men claim they run hot and don’t wear many sweaters or coats, so before buying, make sure you know what they prefer to wear. I don’t think Kale has worn a sweater in his life and gets little use of jackets, so pullovers it is! I included a few options below of sweaters, pullovers, and jacket options of varying price points.

BBQ Set

The men in my life are grillers, so grill tools and products are a great idea for these men! You can go the traditional route, or more fun, personalized route!

I got this Golfers BBQ set for my dad and the hockey sticks for my uncle. They are a fun tool they can break out at parties or any time they want to add whimsy to their grilling. Check out my Uncommon Goods Gift Guide for more uncommon gifts!

Sports Tee

You can never go wrong with a t-shirt of your guy’s favorite team! They can never have too many t-shirts, right? Thinking of all of the gift ideas for men that I could think of, this seems like the most obvious, and easily the most accepted. There are a ton of places to get sports team shirts like this, so it depends on the brand, price, and quality. Try to take note of the brands or styles he wears most. If he likes dryfit, don’t go with a cotton t-shirt. If he wears consistently Nike, don’t get Adidas.

Slippers

I don’t know what it is with guys and their slippers but my dad loves his slippers and wears them all the time. I’m sure he has nice ones somewhere but he insists on wearing the Homer Simpson ones where you put your foot in his mouth! Kale also has a thing for slippers, he stole (read: he asked first) the slippers we used at the spa on vacation! There are many options at available at many price points. I even own options from a $15 pair to my $100+ UGGs, so there is plenty of room for options in the men’s collection as well!

Casual Shoes

One year, Kale asked me for shoes. “Not dressy but not casual shoes”. Basically, he was looking for a going out shoe that wasn’t his dress shoes. I’ve noticed more and more that when he’s not at work, he is either super casual or in “going out” clothes. Meaning, nicer pants, not jeans, and a button-up. Challenge accepted! After looking around, I discovered that these shoes weren’t hard at all to find. I found many pairs that can be worn with jeans and dressed up with nicer pants, linked below! Shop options at several different prices below!

Watch

A watch was my go-to gift for guys for a while. It’s the male-equivalent of jewelry and a fun accessory for guys who wear them. Kale didn’t wear a watch much when we first met, and I assumed it was because he didn’t have one, which turned out not to be the case. Luckily I asked about it first and found that he wanted a dressier watch to wear when we went out. I got one for him that year and it’s honestly one of his favorite things! He points it out every time he wears it and mentions how much he likes it. I couldn’t be happier with his reaction and I’m thrilled he still loves it years later! If you are getting your guy a watch, take a look at his collection first. If he has a lot already, see if he’s missing any color bands, take note of whether he has a preference in metal or leather better, and fill in the holes!

Sports Pullover/Sweatshirt

This is a combination of a few of the other options, but I wanted to pull it out to note this option as well. Sweatshirts and pullovers are often more expensive than t-shirts, so they may be on your list for different people. below are a few options to choose from!

FitBit or Activity Tracker

Fitbits are a great gift for the active, want-to-be active, and everyone in between. They come out with new ones just as fast as Apple with iPhones, so there’s always new upgrade options if they already have one.

This one is kind of a sore subject for me since I actually did get a FitBit for Kale on Black Friday, but apparently, he forgot he told me he wanted one and bought one for himself. I was grumpy about it, to say the least.

Golf GPS Watch

If the men you’re shopping for golf you have quite a few options for gifts. Golf clothes, golf balls, or, a fun gadget that can help their game. Ok, to be honest, I’m not exactly sure what effect it has on the game, but I do know that Kale and his friends all love theirs. Apparently, it gives you distances on shots, some can even get to know your club. A few golf GPS watches you can even pair with your smartphone and learn about your shots, hazards, and more. If you are shopping for a golfer this year, definitely look into this!

Grill Brush

This is the most practical thing on my list, but I have been assured that it is not only useful but necessary. It seems kind of silly, but it’s something that will make your guy’s life easier and he’ll use it a ton! What more could you ask for in a gift?

All of the gifts for men are guy-approved. I was so excited to finally have a year when I get my Christmas shopping done early, I had to share these ideas! I’d love to hear your ideas below in the comments, let me know what else the men in your lives have on their list!