Tools and Hammocks and Gadgets, Oh My! These Father's Day Gifts Will Beat Any Tie
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We’ve been reviewing tools, gadgets, tech, outdoor gear, and other cool stuff for decades, so we know a few things about what fathers want and which products are worth the cash. We asked our gear experts and a few handy dads we know what’s on their wish lists to compile 30 perfect Father’s Day gifts.
SimpliSafe Home Security System
There are few better ways to buy dad peace of mind than getting him a real home security system with optional professional monitoring. This DIY kit starts with the basics, including a base station with siren, keypad, four entry sensors, motion sensor, key fob, panic button, and a free month of monitoring—and you can add on more sensors and compatible video doorbells, smart locks, and indoor/outdoor cameras. Plus, it’s easy to set up without struggling with complicated installation and wiring.
WMN Trulystep Moonshine Still
A mad chemist (or any fan of distilling) will love this legit moonshine still. And yes, these are legal to own in most states—just check your local statutes first. This three gallon WMN Trulystep can distill fresh water, seawater, essential oils, and many other liquids you want to purify. It could also be used to distill alcohol, like whiskey—if that were legal. But dear old dad wouldn’t do that, would he?
Victorinox Swiss Army Spirit X
This Editors’ Choice-winning multitool will become our tester’s go-to thanks to its 22 tools packed into its small body. We found that every function worked well, from its bottle opener and Phillips screwdriver to the needle-nose pliers and metal saw. Plus, the Spirit X is lighter than most other multitools we tested with similar functionality.
Magnelex Magnetic Wristband
Dropped nuts and bolts are annoying. But they can be a little less so with this magnetic wristband. And it’s nice for keeping bits close at hand but not necessarily in hand, leaving his mitts free to work tools as he works on a car, hangs drywall, or builds a deck.
Merrell Moab 2 Boot
One of the best hiking boots, the Moab 2 Mid is a great pick for outdoorsy dads. And this model is waterproof with a durable suede leather construction, breathable mesh lining, and a Vibram sole with excellent traction. But if he’s the kind of guy who would rather lounge around the campground than go out for a day hike, consider the Jungle Moc with the same waterproofing and traction capabilities paired with an easy, slip-on design.
Thermopro Wireless Remote Digital Thermometer
This remote thermometer adds some more convenience to grilling, allowing you to keep an eye on the internal temperatures of the food from up to 300 feet away—so there’s no guessing when the meat is done. Bonus: It can pull kitchen duty too, working just as well in the oven.
Lifeproof FRE Series Waterproof Case
A shock- and waterproof phone case is always a worthy investment, protecting devices (and all the important photos, contacts, and email stored on them) during drops and accidental dips in the pool. The magic number with this Frē series case is 6.6: It will keep a phone dry to a depth of 6.6 feet, as well as shield it from drops as far as 6.6 feet. Still, it’s slim and not a pain to use, meaning you can leave it on for daily use.
Channellock GS-3 3-Piece Pliers Set
The hard-core handy dad will appreciate this three-piece set of tongue-and-groove pliers from Channellock. Each plier is an indispensable tool in plumbing and pipe fabrication. We’re long-time fans of the brand here at Popular Mechanics, with many decades of use with this iconic tool, the company’s flagship. The set combines the three most popular sizes (6.5, 9.5, and 12-inch). As handtool buys are concerned, you get an economy of scale here that’s hard to beat, especially given that we’re talking about a US-made product, each plier individually hand forged at the company’s plant in Meadville, PA. And cost-cutting has not dimmed the company’s devotion to the tool. Each plier still features precise heat treating with laser hardening of the teeth and a forged bolt that holds the two halves together.
Popular Mechanics Fire Starter Packs
This pack of fire starters helps when you’re trying to light wet wood and is safe to start up fires for cooking. Get dad a pack for no-hassle campfires or to keep in his emergency preparedness kit.
Samsung Galaxy Watch
The Galaxy’s classic chronograph styling hides impressive smartwatch technology. You can make or take calls when it’s paired with a smartphone, monitor fitness activities, check schedules, and respond to texts. Plus, it will go for days on a charge.
ENO DoubleNest Hammock
For dads who like to nap outside on nice days, consider this Eagles Nest Outfitters DoubleNest portable hammock. Made from lightweight, high-tenacity nylon taffeta, the DoubleNest packs into a five-inch by five-inch storage bag sewn into the hammock. You can string it up just about anywhere with the included nautical-grade line, aluminum carabiners, and stainless steel snap links.
Flex Power Tool Combo Kit
We admit this is a fairly extravagant Father’s Day gift, but we’re excited by the product development and performance that we’re seeing in the Flex brand of power tools. We’ve tried both the hammer drill-driver and the impact driver, boring holes and driving fasteners in wood, steel, and concrete. Our verdict: We find them both to be pro-duty in terms of runtime, power output, and ease of use. If your dad has got a serious construction project looming ahead, he’ll be well equipped with this combo kit.
Maglite ML300L 4D LED Flashlight
This Popular Mechanics-approved and co-branded torch has the durability and bright beam you expect from Maglite. Whether Dad needs a powerful light for everyday use or to store in the car in case of an emergency, the ML300L D-4 can hold its charge for years. Use the code PM20 at checkout to receive a 20 percent discount.
Chemical Guys Car Wash Bucket Kit
No more looking for the bucket and sponge, or running to the kitchen for dish soap. This complete kit from Chemical Guys has everything and features a grit guard that drops in the bucket to let the dirt and debris settle on the bottom, so you won’t pick it up again when you dunk a sponge or cloth. Plus, there’s Super Suds cleaning soap, citrus wash, rim cleaner, a micro-fiber wash mitt, and premium micro-fiber towels for drying.
iFixit Essential Electronics Toolkit
The iFixit Essential Electronics Toolkit is right at home in your dad’s junk drawer or toolbox. It comes with four small Phillips heads and three tiny flatheads that you’re likely to find in a more pedestrian set of miniature tools, but the real handy parts are a pair of Pentalobe bits for getting into MacBooks, a trio of Torx Security bits for gadgets that are particularly keen on keeping you out, and some even weirder inclusions, like a tri-point for getting into some iPhones.
Osprey Poco Child Carrier
If a dad you know could use a little help hauling his little ones around on adventures, consider this secure child carrier that’s comfortable for both parties. Osprey has revamped its harness system to be more adjustable to get the right fit, and it includes a built-in sunshade, a few zippered pockets, and a sleeve to fit a hydration reservoir.
Flint and Tinder Trucker Jacket
Tough, dependable, and timeless, the Waxed Trucker Jacket is made from weather-resistant, waxed sailcloth with a comfortable flannel lining and only looks better with age. This rugged piece is made in the USA and available in tan, brown, moss, navy, and olive.
Klein Tools Premium Electrical Test Kit
It shouldn’t be difficult or expensive to keep your dad safe as he goes about his work, either professionally or as DIY guy, and that’s where this well-priced Klein electrical test kit comes in. It features two of the company’s most popular test tools. First up is the Non-contact Voltage Tester (or NCVT, in electrician speak) that we’ve tested and highly approve of. It allows you to test whether household wiring is energized without making contact with it. Bring the tool near the electrical wire or receptacle and it both beeps and lights if it’s hot (energized). The tool’s LED penlight helps you to see more clearly when poking around in dark places, not to mention probing the inside of scary old electrical boxes. Accompanying the NCVT is one of the handiest receptacle testers out there (we haven’t tested it yet). It not only will tell your dad whether the outlet is energized but whether it’s been wired correctly or incorrectly, especially in so far as reading truly deadly wiring conditions like a reversed hot and ground, reversed hot and neutral, or the sinister dual open neutral and ground.
Ecobee Smart Thermostat
Spare yourself the family quarrels over how warm or cold it is in the house and invest in a smart thermostat. We like this Ecobee due to its ease of setup and use. Everyone will appreciate how it’ll save money on your next electric bill while still keeping temperatures comfortable.
Backyard Homestead
Learn how to grow your own food from just a quarter acre of land or less. This guide is full of hundreds of gardening secrets for planting, harvesting, and storing.
Logitech Wireless Keyboard
Give his home office an upgrade with Logitech’s finest wireless keyboard. The membrane design is quiet and responsive, and the concave keys are more comfortable than the flat ones you find on most laptops. For a complete setup, also consider the MX Master 3 mouse.
Schlage Smart WiFi Deadbolt
The Schlage Encode Smart Lock earned our Editor’s Choice award for its Grade 1 mechanical quality rating by the American National Standards Issue. In layman’s terms, the deadbolt can withstand 250,000 cycles and 10 door strikes with a hammer. Beyond its robust quality, the Encode has all the advanced, convenient tech features you’d expect in a smart lock, including compatibility with smart home systems, remote management, and creating codes to provide others access while you’re away.
Key Industries Chambray Shirt
Some designs are just so good, they really can’t be improved. That’s the case with the Key Industries chambray work shirt. Dad will love it. We have two years of wearing the garment, and we still think it’s the best work shirt we’ve ever owned, and there have been a lot of them. The shirt’s cut is generous, not a slim-cut hipster’s idea of a work shirt, and the all-cotton (4.5-ounce) fabric is comfortable through four seasons. Wear it with a Henley underneath in the winter and a T-shirt in the summer. As many people can attest, chambray provides excellent and comfortable protection when the sun is high and strong. Other details help the shirt stay neat looking: collar stays, a pleated yoke, and double-needle stitching.
Concerned that the shirt is not heavy duty enough? The same company also makes a very rugged hickory stripe workshirt that is among the toughest garments of its type. The 9-ounce cotton denim fabric is not suited for summer, but works well for the other three seasons.
Chamberlain MyQ Smart Garage Door Opener
Unsure if someone left the garage door open again? Chamberlain’s MyQ smart hub allows you to check, open, and close it remotely—and it’s easy to add to most existing garage door openers that were made after 1993 with standard safety sensors.
Corkcicle Whiskey Wedge
For any whiskey-loving dads, this old-fashioned glass comes with a silicone ice mold, which allows you to freeze water into a perfect triangle—a larger surface for keeping the libation chilled without watering it down.
Yellow Leaf Big Sur Classic Double Hammock
More for the backyard than a campsite model like the DoubleNest, Yellow Leaf Hammocks are completely hand-woven by moms in rural Thailand to help their families out of extreme poverty. In addition to being signed by the woman who created it, each hammock comes with a guidebook to help you hang it and a tote bag for storage and travel.
Breville Smoking Gun Food Smoker
Help dad up his game in the kitchen with a smoking gun, which can add intense flavors to meat and cheese or even cold smoke on cocktails and ice cream.
Gerber Custom Fastball Knife
Custom, personalized gifts are the best, and you can design your own Gerber knife that you think Dad will love. In addition to selecting the design and materials it’s made of, you can add patterns, illustrations, or text to the handle or blade.
Lodge Cast Iron 4-Piece Cookware Set
No kitchen is complete without quality cast-iron cookware. He’ll appreciate Lodge’s durability—and you’ll appreciate the affordability of this set that includes a griddle, skillets, and a dutch oven with a lid.
Northern Brewer Essential Brew Kit
If he’s always wanted to make his own beer, this brewing kit is a great place to start. It comes with just about everything he’ll need to make five gallons—just not the empty bottles. Plus, Northern Brewer’s laminated instructions are detailed and will help him understand the chemical process at work that make the ale.
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