Why are men so difficult to shop for? So many times, if you ask them what they want, they just say, “nothing”… it’s infuriating. The truth is, men are horrible at articulating what they want, and we still live in a society where men are conditioned to not talk about their wants and needs very often. The best thing you can do is dig into what your intended’s hobbies and passions are, and try to squirrel out something that aligns with those things that they haven’t already bought for themselves. The second best thing you can do is buy them a somewhat generic but still thoughtful and above all useful gift that they may not have thought of purchasing for themselves, which is what I’m suggesting with this list. Here are a few of my suggestions for buying Valentine’s Day gifts for men:
Things to Wear
Don’t get him yet another hoodie — try the Columbia Great Hart Mountain III Pullover, a smart-looking quarter-zip sweatshirt that won’t make him look like an overgrown teenager. It’s made of a warm, durable poly/cotton blend and is available in several colors, sizes S through 6X — so you’re sure to find one he’ll love.
If you anticipate doing just as much lounging at home in 2021 as you did in 2020, how about a nice pair of slippers? These IZOD Two-Tone Memory Foam Slippers have great reviews on Amazon, and are available in sizes 8 to 13. (Bonus: maybe he’ll stop leaving his dirty socks all over the place!)
Drink Aids
If the guy in question is still using a travel mug he got for free five or six years ago, and it’s looking worse and worse each time it comes out of the dishwasher, it’s time for an upgrade. YETI products do an amazing job of keeping hot things hot and cold things cold, so add the YETI Rambler 30oz Tumbler to your gift list. This vacuum-insulated stainless steel travel mug comes with YETI’s “MagSlider” lid to keep whatever’s inside on lockdown, and is available in a wide variety of colors. It’s also ultra-durable and dishwasher-safe, so you’ll avoid his previous mug’s fate.
And if your guy is more into cocktails than coffee, how about a nice cocktail shaker and bar tool set? This classy 14-Piece Bartender Kit from Amazon includes 28 and 18 ounce Boston shakers, a double jigger, a stirrer/spoon/muddler, a bottle opener, 2 shot glasses, 6 bottle pour spouts, and a Hawthorne cocktail strainer, all made of dishwasher-safe stainless steel.
Useful, Beautiful Objects
Personally, I think one of the most useful things you can carry around is a good pocket knife. The Kershaw Oso Sweet 1830 Folding Knife is an inexpensive option made by Kershaw, a respected manufacturer. It’s a classic folding knife with a 3.1″ drop-point stainless steel blade that’s perfect for everyday tasks like opening packages and cutting strings or zip ties.
Finally, the most expensive thing on my gift list is the Fossil Men’s Grant Stainless Steel Chronograph Quartz Watch. It’s a very classy watch that looks a lot more expensive than it is, and comes in a wide array of colors and band styles to fit different personalities. If your recipient is already a watch junkie, it won’t be the most impressive gift (you may want to go with a Citizen or Seiko instead, if you’re looking for affordable watch options) but for everyday wear, Fossil makes a nice entry-level watch.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, and receive commission payments for purchases made through Amazon links in this post.