The Best Christmas Gifts for Him, According to Gifting Experts


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When you ask a dude what he wants for Christmas, you’ll quite often get a reply that offers no detail (“I don’t need anything”) or a ton of detail, like a specific pair of sneakers from a specific brand in a specific colorway. The former is not at all helpful in actually making a gifting decision; the latter turns the process transactional, preventing the thoughtfulness or spontaneity that makes gift-giving pleasant.

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The only effective retort to either of these responses is a truly excellent Christmas gift, something the recipient didn’t even know he wanted. It’s not just the gift that earns his appreciation, but the fact that someone knew that he wanted it even though he didn’t.

It’s the thought that counts, not the budget, and even a Christmas gift that doesn’t cost much can get a good reaction. While the personal nature of gifting means there’s no one-size-fits-all options, we asked folks across industries for high-quality gifts with proven gifting appeal and got back a bunch of really nice, really useful stuff that will appeal to men with a broad range of interests and personalities.



What the Experts Say

SPY spoke with Duy Vo, a consumer trends analyst and founder of Sandjest, a platform for personalized gifts, to help define what makes a good gift this holiday season. His biggest takeaway is that the gift itself is only part of the equation. “It’s not just about the material possession but the message it carries — that you understand and cherish that person’s preferences and comforts,” he said.

For men who are more reserved, a thoughtful gift that shows how well you understand them can be even more meaningful than the object itself.

“This season, amidst the plethora of options, I find myself drawn again towards gifts that blend practicality with pleasure, items that contribute to our daily lives yet feel like an indulgence, a bit of luxury, or a means to create or preserve memories,” Vo said. Luxurious gifts that are also useful, in other words, is what Vo plans on gifting this year.

The Best Christmas Gifts for Men, According to Gifting Experts
The Best Christmas Gifts for Men, According to Gifting Experts

BEST OVERALL

Von Baer Work Bag

Buy Now $1,295.00

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There are some jobs that require highly specific cargo solutions, like a carpenter’s tool bag and a doctor’s bag for house calls. But for the vast majority of white collar workers, a briefcase that’s well-sized for carrying a laptop, tablet, some documents, and maybe a magazine or book for the commute will do just fine. This work bag from Von Baer meets those needs, but it’s a truly exceptional gift for men because it also is an example of gorgeous, premium materials and design.

There’s a durable cotton lining and solid brass hardware, but the real star here is the leather. It’s sustainable, full-grain, vegetable-tanned Italian leather. Tom Carbone, an adjunct professor in the Fashion Accessories Design program at the College for Creative Studies says that Von Baer only uses leather that meets the brand’s strict standards. “They literally could track it back to the farm where the cow came from,” he said. “Every aspect of it is controlled and environmentally sound.” This leather makes for an heirloom-quality bag that will develop a patina that makes it look better and better over time.


The Best Christmas Gifts for Men, According to Gifting Experts
The Best Christmas Gifts for Men, According to Gifting Experts

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Billy Reid Fisherman Rib Half Zip

Great Splurge

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A well-made wardrobe staple is one of the best gifts for men we can think of, and this Fisherman Half-Zip from Billy Reid fits the bill. It’s a half-zip sweater, of which every man should own at least a few, and is knit from luxurious and practical Merino wool. The style makes it widely applicable, so while the price tag is high the cost-per-use is bound to plummet given that it goes with everything. It also fits comfortably without looking unkept, is both warm and soft, and would look right at home over a button-down shirt, t-shirt, or underneath a down vest. This is a great gift for your dad, boyfriend, husband, or father-in-law whose sweater game could use another top-notch addition.


The Best Christmas Gifts for Men, According to Gifting Experts
The Best Christmas Gifts for Men, According to Gifting Experts

BEST FOR GOURMANDS

AeroGarden Bounty Basic – Indoor Garden with LED Grow Light, Black

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Price: $299.95 $179.95

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Made For: Ambitious home chefs, no green thumb required. Kayla Stavridis of BaristaHQ, said this indoor hydroponic gardening system “allows you to grow fresh herbs indoors, all year round, ensuring you always have the freshest garnishes for those coffee-based cocktails or a sprig of mint for a refreshing iced coffee.”

ROI: If you’ve ever cooked with fresh herbs before, you know two things. One, that they make a huge difference in the final flavor of your food. Two, grocery store herbs are both expensive and difficult to use up before they go bad. The Aerogarden provides fresher, better-tasting herbs that can be clipped as needed—problems solved.


The Best Christmas Gifts for Men, According to Gifting Experts
The Best Christmas Gifts for Men, According to Gifting Experts

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Ralph Lauren Heritage Round Sunglasses

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Price: $180.00 $129.99

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Ralph Lauren’s preppy, timeless style is tied to polos, sweaters, and overcoats — but today we’re highlighting another essential winter accessory that’s ridiculously under-discussed: sunglasses. The sunlight is extra blinding bouncing off of snow and ice, and a chic pair of frames doesn’t just pair well with one of those thick 80s fleece headbands, they’re also protective. These Heritage Round frames are vintage-inspired with “Polo” etched subtly on the left lens, and have a delicate weight that’ll compliment most face shapes. Gift them to any man who enjoys an Aperol-fueled aprés, or has never spent more than $10 on frames.


Theragun PRO
Theragun PRO

BEST FITNESS GIFT

Theragun Pro

Buy Now $499.00

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Made For: Men who are getting older and might need a bit of extra help to recover after a particularly intense pickup basketball game. NASM Certified Personal Trainer and Nutritionist Ashley Castleberry of TGF Fitness said it “would be perfect for athletes, gym-goers, or people with demanding physical jobs who need to release muscle tension on a regular basis.”

Coolest Feature: The rotating arm allows easy access to even hard-to-reach muscles, a particularly important feature if the soreness one’s trying to treat is restricting their range of motion.


The Best Christmas Gifts for Men, According to Gifting Experts
The Best Christmas Gifts for Men, According to Gifting Experts

BEST FOR TRAVELERS

Bellroy Travel Folio

Buy Now $159.00

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Made For: Globetrotters (or aspiring globetrotters). “We have all heard the horror stories of someone we know leaving their passport on the plane or in some equally inconvenient location, so it helps to have a dedicated place for it,” said luxury travel advisor Kimberly Davis. Bumbling through security screenings, passport checkpoints, and boarding calls becomes a thing of the past with this handsome travel folio from Bellroy.

Coolest Feature: It securely ensconces up to two passports, six cards, bills, and even a SIM card in a zippable leather package. But the cleverest feature? A hidden micropen that precludes travelers from bothering flight attendants or strangers before filling out customs forms (or passing the time with a crossword puzzle).


The Best Christmas Gifts for Men, According to Gifting Experts
The Best Christmas Gifts for Men, According to Gifting Experts

BEST FOR DIY-ERS

Dewalt 16-Inch Multi-Level Rolling Workshop

Buy Now $107.51

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Made For: Gearheads, regardless of specialty. While it’s technically made for tools, this rolling, cantilevered workstation has the capacity and the compartments to take along just about anything. Certified personal trainer Andrew White uses his to organize workout equipment for workouts outside of the gym. “Resistance bands, small weights, yoga accessories, or even your collection of water bottles and supplements – everything gets its spot,” he said.

Coolest Feature: The ball-bearing slides allow a smooth opening of the case, which has four different levels of storage. Instead of rooting around for the specific item buried at the bottom of a bag, this thing opens up to display its wares, leaving more time for the task at hand.


The Best Christmas Gifts for Men, According to Gifting Experts
The Best Christmas Gifts for Men, According to Gifting Experts

BEST FOR COFFEE LOVERS

Fellow Stagg [XF] Pour-Over Coffee Maker Set

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Price: $99.00

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Made For: Those who need to stop and smell the coffee. Instead of popping a pod or dumping some grounds into a machine and pressing a button, this method requires a small investment of attention and time every morning. For men who find themselves taking on too much at once, the ritual is a simple way to build in a bit of quiet time in the morning while still getting the necessary caffeine fix for the rest of the day.

Coolest Feature: Matt Woodburn-Simmons of Home Coffee Expert likes that the “double wall vacuum insulated dripper is ideal for ensuring your coffee is brewed at the perfect temperature,” a definite improvement over options that use less insulative ceramic, glass, or plastic that leak heat with abandon.


The Best Christmas Gifts for Men, According to Gifting Experts
The Best Christmas Gifts for Men, According to Gifting Experts

BEST FOR HOBBYISTS

Recteq RT-590

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Price: $899.00

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Made For: Men who need stuff to do at home. That might mean standard DIY projects like painting the deck or fertilizing the lawn, but a backyard hobby that can be refined and explored over time is another great outlet for this energy. Smoking meats certainly qualifies, and this Recteq smoker is a great choice for beginners, with two included meat probes to monitor food temps, push-button start-up, and a Wi-Fi controller that regulates conditions inside the smoker and allows remote monitoring and control via the Recteq app.

ROI: Recteq pellet grills are built to last. “Because of the stainless steel construction on all new Recteq models, they never have a problem with rust,” said Chris Olds, pitmaster of the Tipsy Brisket competition team. He added that the brand also offers “incredible customer service” and “one of the best warranties” on the market.


The Best Christmas Gifts for Men, According to Gifting Experts
The Best Christmas Gifts for Men, According to Gifting Experts

BEST FOR INNER CHILDREN

Holy Stone F181W Drone

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Price: $99.99

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Made For: Men who haven’t had fun in a while. Piloting a drone and looking at its camera feed on a connected phone is the kind of spy-adjacent fantasy that too-serious grown men need sometimes. Travel blogger Kevin Mercier said it has a “user-friendly design akin to a video game controller, making it perfect for beginners.”

Coolest Feature: The six-axis gyro flight system makes stable, precise flight control easy for beginners. That stability means a lower risk of crashing and better-quality photos and videos from the onboard 720p camera.


The Best Christmas Gifts for Men, According to Gifting Experts
The Best Christmas Gifts for Men, According to Gifting Experts

BEST FOR THE WEARY

MIKO Foot Massager

Buy Now On Amazon

Price: $249.99 $129.99

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Made For: Men who spend a lot of time on their feet. Vo says the winning combination of “ancient Shiatsu massage techniques with modern technology” sets this electronic foot massager apart. “My friend who works crazy hours told me her feet were killing her every night,” he said. “This massager was a game changer. Her evenings went from painful to peaceful.”

Coolest Feature: The wireless remote allows for adjusting settings without bending over, reducing interruptions and putting true relaxation within reach.



Frequently Asked Questions About Christmas Gifts for Men

What Makes a Good Christmas Gift for a Man?

“People crave connection, utility, and a sense of being understood and appreciated…[so a] personal touch, this hint of bespoke connection, makes all the difference, turning a simple present into a cherished gesture,” Vo said. Beyond that, great gifts for men often seem to prompt an activity or hobby, though you might find that a less experiential gift is right for the men on your list.

How Much Should I Spend on a Christmas Gift?

The sheer number of factors that affect gifting budgets mean there isn’t an exact answer to this question, but it’s good to keep in mind that expensive gifts are necessarily good and good gifts aren’t necessarily expensive.

Can’t I Just Grab Him a Six-Pack and Call It a Day?

You could, but you’re an adult. Shop like one.

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