All dads want in life is a good book, comfy slippers and, if they’re parenting particularly young children, some peace and quiet (my daughter has just turned one and is learning what her voice is capable of).
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We’ve rounded up a selection of gifts for all ages, tastes and interests (silence courtesy of some decibel-dampening earplugs), with enough options for there to be something here for even those impossible-to-buy-for fathers.
This year, perhaps hold off buying yet another checked shirt and save your money on the bottle of whisky that will remain undrunk, and try out one of the picks below instead.
The best Christmas gifts for dads
Accessories
RFID-blocking card holder
£34.95 at Case
£35 at Selfridges
Keep him safe and secure against skimming (contactless card details stolen using radio signals) with a card holder that blocks the technology. The Secrid wallet can hold up to six cards, has a satisfying mechanism that pops cards out when needed, and its lightweight aluminium shell protects against breaks or bends when he sits on it.
Gerber mullet multi tool keyring
£9.99 at Gerber
This multi-tool keyring is the ultimate trinket for the tinkerer in your life. Shorter than a standard Chubb key and featuring 11 functions – from wire stripper to bottle opener – it’s a pocket-size piece that, at less than £10, would make a great stocking filler.
Montbell thermo mug
£15 at Montbell
Reusable cups are all well and good, but most are handle-free, making it hard to emulate that cuppa moment on the move. Montbell’s handled insulated mug has kept my teas and coffees piping hot, with a sip-through lid that has enabled me to swig on the go when pounding the pavements to get my daughter to nap.
For more, read our guide to the best travel mugs
Self care
Kiehl’s moisturiser
£21 at Kiehl’s
£18.85 at Amazon
A well-rounded face moisturiser is a must for any man, whether they’ve got a solid skincare routine or have never been near a cosmetics counter. This Kiehl’s facial fuel is the one I reach for because it has a non-oily finish and is fast-absorbing – perfect for those, like me, who want to spend seconds rather than minutes at the mirror.
Aesop hand cream
£21.70 at the Grooming Clinic
£27 at Space NK
The colder months are tough on your skin. Aesop’s cedar-smelling hand balm is a firm Filter favourite, and it comes in a more affordable tube than the £80 500ml bottle, too.
Salt of the Earth natural deodorant
£4.47 at Holland and Barrett
£4.86 at Amazon
A roll-on deodorant may sound more like a passive-aggressive hint than a loving gift, but this stick – made from 100% natural ingredients and essential oils – is refillable, so it’s the perfect gift for a Dad who’s keen on discovering natural alternatives.
Wash bag
£28 at Holloways of Ludlow
This wash bag from Scandi design stalwart Hay is a good size and in bold, contrasting colours, which will stand out when he’s rummaging in a suitcase for it. The organic cotton material is also durable enough to survive a toothpaste tube explosion, as I found out the hard way.
Manicure set
£16 at John Lewis
£19.95 at Amazon
Manicure sets can become overwhelming when cuticle pushers and trimmers get thrown into the mix. This four-piece pouch from Gentlemen’s Hardware strips things back to basics, with stainless steel clippers, tweezers, scissors and a file.
Le Labo shower gel
£25.60 at Liberty
£32 at Harvey Nichols
Dads deserve to be pampered every once in a while, and some snazzy shower gel brings a hit of the spa to his daily grind. Le Labo’s artisan body wash is as luxe as they come, and its hinoki scent has a woody, citrus-like aroma.
Loop Dream sleep earplugs
£44.95 at Loop
£44.95 at Amazon
Earplugs can help reduce night-time noise and unwanted wake-ups – particularly helpful if the dad in question is a light sleeper. These ones from Loop will block up to 27dB, muffling even the loudest snorers, and unlike the wax or foam plugs I’ve traditionally turned to, they actually stay put all night (and don’t turn into a melted mess hidden deep in your bedsheets).
Home and garden
Donkey gardening gloves
£15.95 at Amazon
Brambles and nettles beware, these multipurpose gardening gloves are made of strong stuff (a vegan faux leather on the palm and elasticated, breathable fabric on the backs), but retain the dexterity required for fiddly outdoor jobs such as pruning and deadheading. I’ve found them to be a great all-rounder for DIY projects in and out of the house, and phone-friendly finger and thumb pads mean I haven’t had to remove them to snap away at progress or check assembly PDFs on my phone.
Bosch cordless screwdriver
£25 at Halfords
£25 at Amazon
Even – or especially – if your dad isn’t a DIY whiz, an electric screwdriver is a handy addition to any toolbox. This compact, rechargeable option from Bosch comes with 10 interchangeable heads and will shave time off flat-pack assembly and other small jobs around the home. It also has a built-in light ring that can illuminate hard-to-see screw heads.
Geese, Getting Killed on vinyl
From £24.99 at Rough Trade
£27.99 at HMV
The Brooklyn-based quartet Geese is one of the most exciting groups to come out of New York since the Strokes. The band’s third LP, Getting Killed, is a great gift for a BBC 6 Music-loving dad.
Wax wine scented candle
£35 at Wax/Wine
Old bottles of plonk have never smelled so good, thanks to Wax/Wine’s ingenious way of recycling them into beautiful hand-poured candles. There are seven scents available, from a robust coffee and nutmeg to a relaxing cedarwood and geranium. It’s also possible to have his favourite tipple turned into a candle for an extra £10, although you have to send your own empty bottle.
For more, read our guide to the best scented candles
Niwaki golden spade
£42 at John Lewis
£42 at Amazon
No outdoor assignment is too much for the Niwaki sukoppu – a strong, sharp and lightweight tool sourced from Japan that is at home digging, cutting and shifting soil. Made from steel, it doesn’t flex under pressure.
Indoor/outdoor clogs
£15.99 at B&Q
£15.99 at Amazon
For dads who are in and out of the garden, it’s hard to beat the humble clog – easier to put on than a pair of lace-up trainers and less cumbersome than wellies. These from Town & Country won’t break the bank, but I’ve found them to be comfortable, waterproof against early morning dew and the odd shower, and non-slip.
Vinyl mug warmer
£15 at Mustard
£18.79 at Amazon
House full of mugs of half-drunk hot drinks that have gone cold? Enter the USB cup warmer. Great for any WFH setup, the heat-emitting pad keeps teas toasty and coffees consumable, while its vinyl-inspired design is great for self-professed musos.
Sports team stadium print
From £8 at Etsy
Distil his sporting passion with a contemporary, illustrated print of his team’s home ground, which range in size from 5 x 7in postcards to A1. Bath-based Turf Football Art has thousands of stadiums to choose from across football, rugby and cricket, and if his club isn’t listed, you can request a custom order.
Food and drink
Hot sauce gift set
£40.99 at Bauce Brothers
Hot sauce heads will love this king-size bundle from spicy condiment specialists Bauce Brothers. The pack features five of the bottle shop’s British bestsellers, and ranges from the smoky warmth of Payst’s Spicy Burnt Sauce through to the Scoville scale-topping sting of Shots Fired’s Original Reaper. All five have livened up any dish I’ve tried them on, although be warned – tame Tabasco this ain’t; my taste buds are still recovering from an overzealous sprinkling of Original Reaper …
De’Longhi Stilosa EC230 espresso coffee machine
£84 at John Lewis
£89.99 at De’Longhi
A manual espresso machine for less than £100? No, your eyes aren’t deceiving you. The Stilosa EC230 was rated the best budget manual machine in the Filter’s test for a reason, producing “great espresso, wonderful flat whites, and moreish cappuccinos”. This will have him perfecting his latte art before Boxing Day.
For more, see our guide to the best coffee machines for your home
Hario V60 coffee server
£25 at Origin Coffee
£22.99 at Amazon
Does your dad prefer a slower, filtered approach to his morning coffee? When I’ve actually got five minutes to myself, this Hario glass server has been an ideal companion to a V60. Not only does this increase the volume of coffee you can prepare with each batch, but its rubber lid and heat-proof materials mean its contents have stayed warmer for longer, too. Plus, if the coffee does go cold, you can pop it into the microwave for a quick blast.
Coffee scales
£26.95 at Caffeine Gears
However he concocts his coffee, a dedicated set of scales is a great addition to his paraphernalia (and will stop the kitchen set getting gummed up with grounds). Accurate to 0.1g and including a built-in timer, this rechargeable pick from Caffeine Gears will enable him to fine-tune his technique at all stages of the process, from weighing his beans and adding precision to his pour to perfecting his cafetiere plunge.
Forlife teapot
£29.95 at Tea People
£32.77 at Amazon
Because not all dads are entrenched in espresso, the Forlife Stump is a compact and colourful two-cup design with a stainless-steel infuser insert that’s brilliant for brewing loose and whole leaf tea (it’s also easy to remove without singeing fingertips). The infuser can also be removed if using teabags, and the whole thing is dishwasher safe.
Dishoom cookbook and ingredients set
£55 at Sous Chef
A cookbook can often be hampered by its ingredient list – particularly if it involves exotic extracts or specialist spices. Fortunately, Sous Chef has an ingenious solution, pairing popular recipes with all those hard-to-find flourishes, unlocking the dishes that can’t be made with the contents of your local corner shop. This set has cranked up my curry game, and the addition of urid beans and ginger paste has had the smells of Dishoom’s signature black dal wafting from the kitchen.
Hand-thrown stoneware mug
£32 at Etsy
The Village Pottery’s stoneware ceramics are hand-thrown on the outskirts of Bristol, and its mugs have been a staple of my morning ritual for years. While there are five different glazes to pick from and the option to add a short personalised stamp, whichever you choose, the artisanal production process means it will be one of a kind. They’re also dishwasher safe and have survived the odd knock from me, and still look as fresh after thousands of brews as they did on their first.
White Mausu peanut rāyu
£6.95 at Ocado
£7.84 at Amazon
This crispy chilli oil is so versatile, and its balance of heat, sweet, salt and crunch has been the perfect accompaniment on everything from scrambled eggs to stir-fries. You’re best off ordering two jars as the first won’t hang around for long.
Katto kitchen scissors
£45 at Fortnum & Mason
A good pair of scissors is the perfect gift for a cooking fan, and my Katto set has come in handy for a wide range of tasks, including spatchcocking a chicken, chopping herbs mess-free in a mug and cutting up pizzas. Made from Japanese steel, they have a satisfying weight to them, and include clever in-built tools such as a bottle opener and shellfish/nut cracker. It comes with a penny for good luck, too, ensuring relationships are kept intact this Christmas.
Tortilla press
£29.50 at Masa Tortillas
This Mexican-made stainless steel (15cm) tortilla press is great if he loves taco night. Mix masa (corn flour) with water to make a quick dough, before pressing ping pong-size balls and dry frying the flat discs to cook. The result is miles better than anything you can get in the shops, and requires hardly any effort.
VonShef fondue set
£31.99 at Debenhams
£31.99 at Amazon
This set has everything he needs to get started, including a non-stick cast-iron pan, adjustable burner and six long-stemmed forks. Just source the cheese or chocolate and decide what you’re dipping.
Wine selection, pack of three
£54.95 at Top Cuvée
Swerve the supermarket wine aisle and dabble in something a sommelier would approve of instead. London-based bottle shop Top Cuvée’s bestsellers pack features a white, rose and red that should please everyone from casual wine-drinkers to vino virtuosos.
Adnams Ghost Ship 0.5% ale, 8 x 500ml
£12.80 at Majestic
Low- and no-alcohol alternatives have never been better for dads who aren’t drinking. Adnams’ Ghost Ship beer has the bold, hoppy flavours of its pale ale sibling, but comes in at 0.5% ABV instead of 4.5% because of the de-alcoholisation process post-brewing.
Brugal 1888 double-aged rum, 70cl
£33.99 at Master of Malt
£38.50 at Amazon
If that bottle of whisky from last Christmas is still knocking around, it may be time to try a different, more tropical, tack. Although rum has a reputation for being strong or best mixed, the aged, dark variety can be as deep in flavour and pleasant on the palate as a single malt. This double-aged rum from Dominican-based distillery Brugal 1888 is made for sipping, and has a subtle, smoky profile for those who are fans of the peaty stuff.
Licor 43 liquor, 70cl
£16.92 at Asda
£16.92 at Amazon
If you’ve bought the espresso machine from further up this list (or are buying for a coffee connoisseur), they might also enjoy this vanilla-infused Spanish liquor. Mix equal parts with cooled espresso, serve over ice, and you’ve made yourself a carajillo – a caffeinated cocktail that I first tried in Mexico City and have been recreating ever since. It knocks the socks off an espresso martini.
Gnocchi paddle
