FATHER'S DAY GIFT GUIDE
Gifts for Dad
Most years I compile a gift guide for Father’s Day. The way this seems to work is the link is either passed to a loved one or just used as a personal shopping exploration. No matter how it’s used, I’m happy to make suggestions since I love this stuff. This weekend, we shared 34+ gifts on The Material Review and at least 30 more for the golfers among us at The Old Ghosts.
There are also several archival gift guides from this newsletter 2025, 2024 and 2022. (Looks like I didn’t do one in 2023 or 2021.) That was probably because I wanted to avoid being repetitive with these recommendations.
My thesis now for Father’s Day gifting is to buy him something important and nice that he is probably avoiding buying himself. So with that in mind, I put together a group of super nice (and expensive) things I think any good dad would want. That doesn’t mean you have to spend a ton of money — there are also some simple gift ideas in the links above and the recommendations at the bottom of this page.
Ultimately, I don’t think Dad needs much. A card, a relaxing day, perhaps a cocktail and a good meal will put any sane person in a good mood. If you can get a gift as an acknowledgement, that’s great. Personally, a mai tai and a cookout on the beach with my wife and kids is the best thing I could dream up. Easy.
I hope this helps make Father’s Day a bit more enjoyable for everyone.
A really nice bag. He probably has a Filson bag (though I’m sure he would appreciate another), but he also might have his eye on an all-leather Ghurka Express II / Cavalier III Leather Duffel, a Bleu de Chauffe suede weekender or a beautiful weekender from Bennett Winch.
How about a truly excellent coffee maker? Why not upgrade the daily coffee to a quality machine from Moccamaster or even a Ratio machine?
A club fitting at the Titleist Performance Institute. It’s $750 just for the visit, not including any new clubs, but this is a PGA TOUR-level club-fitting expertise. This is elite stuff, and anyone who has been there knows just how unique an experience this is. (There are two locations for TPI — Oceanside, CA, and Manchester Lane in Massachusetts.)
A (very) good bottle. Has he always wanted to own a bottle of Pappy Van Winkle but never would? This is a grail item he would never forget. These are roughly the price of .75 one Cartier Love bracelet, but this is grail-level stuff.
The best shoes that will last a lifestyle. Alden Loafers, something from Crockett & Jones in Shell Cordovan, a handsome pair of Viberg boots or perhaps a pair of loafers from John Lobb.
Other (full throttle) ideas. A Leica. A beautiful leather briefcase. The Original Mackintosh raincoat. An Eames chair. A Globe Trotter trunk. A nice watch. A Japanese knife. An aluminum Rimowa. A bottle of DRC. A suit from J. Mueser. Or perhaps just something rare.
OTHER IDEAS:
Original Madras Trading Co. Handloom Shirt. These beautiful shirts from OMTC are handmade, giving them incredible texture and depth. I wear these every week, and in my mind, there is no better building block for Dad to transform into his “favorite shirt”.
Wolf x Analog Shift. These are my favorite boxes for storing my watches at home. The quality here is just amazing, and when you feel them (and even hear the sound they make when closed) you know they are extremely well made.
Oyster Tempo Pro. There’s something in the mind of the modern dad that assigns significant value to beverage temperature control. I own this “performance” cooler and it is the best and last cooler I will ever own.
Smythson Panama Notebook. A beloved everyday item that can be monogrammed. I love these notebooks so much, but I never want to spend the $100.
Tom Beckbe Canvas Tailgater Bag — Fill this with good booze, a few Yeti tumblers and the accouterments for a dad-approved cocktail program on the go.
Golf Headcovers. These recycled sail headcovers are made in the USA and are vintage cool. I love this brand, Forewind Golf.
Rivay Linen Correspondent Jacket — This is the perfect travel or everyday summer jacket. Rivay does the military inspiration thing exceptionally well, and I live in their clothes.
A 35mm Film Camera — I try to take a roll a month of family photos because film + kids create the best memories. This is an iconic point-and-shoot camera that has a cult following.
The Old Ghosts — Give him a subscription to The Old Ghosts, the golf newsletter I publish with The Fliers Club.
Bluegrass Fairway — The maker of my favorite made-in-USA scorecard holder and golf accessories. Everything from Bluegrass Fairway is excellent quality.
A Pelican Storage Crate — There’s something guys love about cool storage and these new crates are an instant upgrade that any dad would appreciate.
Pinebury Merino Wool Sweatpants — As someone who loves wool clothing, these things are incredible.
Take care and happy Father’s Day!
