Dad Approved Father’s Day Gifts

It’s almost Father’s Day ya’ll, and I’m guessing you’re here for gift ideas. I love putting these together because it makes me think about the giftee and their routines & preferences. My dad, like a lot of dads, has pretty much everything he wants so it can be tricky to find the perfect gift.

So, I like to look for upgrades to his every day things, go for nostalgia, or introduce him to something practical but still fun. My dad has been a huge design influence in my life (he’s actually the one who suggested studying Industrial Design!) and all these gifts have his stamp of approval.

 

Row 1
Bodum 8 Cup Pour Over | $20
Last time I was home, I counted 3 French Presses, 2 pour overs, and 1 espresso machine. Clearly, my family loves coffee. We actually gifted this pour over to my sister-in-law as a graduation gift, and she loves the reusable, fine mesh filter and how it looks in her kitchen. Once the next French Press inevitably breaks, this will be on standby for dad.

Podcast Playlist | free
Back when iPods were still a thing, I’d make playlists for my dad. Now he’s more interested in mystery shows which gave me the idea to get him hooked on some mystery podcasts. Help dad set up an automatic updating podcast app, like Sticher, and curate a few shows to get him started.

Framed Memorabilia | $39+
We used Framebridge for Mother’s Day gifts and were blown away by how easy it was to get custom framing. After listening to Susan Tynan talk about why she started Framebridge, it made us love the company more. Some dad specific gift ideas could be framing tickets from the first game he took you to, a playbill of his favorite performance, or a vintage flag from his alma mater.

Row 2
Mile Marker Notebook | $13
Besides coffee, my family is extremely passionate about paper. Something about good quality paper and the way the perfect pen glides across is therapeutic. Field Notes creates quality notebooks, usually centered around a theme that influences the little extras on the inside. Dad’s favorites are their larger, pitch black notebooks, but I’m intrigued by their new Mile Marker series inspired by the interstate system.

Eco-friendly Over the Ear Headphones | $200
These are actually dad’s gift this year and he got to test them for this shoot! He travels a lot and needed some over the ear headphones with a great battery and sound control. Besides just looking cool, House of Marley is extremely dedicated to sustainability and uses FSC certified wood and recycled materials to create their beautiful pieces. After seeing them in person, now they’re on my own wishlist!

Amber & Moss Room Diffuser | $22
My dad is actually the first person who introduced me to reed diffusers. I think he enjoys getting all the benefits of a candle, but he can set it & forget it and still enjoy every time he walks by. My dad bought my brother this P.F. Candle Co.’s No. 11 as a candle originally, so I think it’s a safe bet he’ll like this one.

Row 3
Reversible Cast Iron Griddle | $45
Grills are great, but cast irons griddles are easier to store 👍Plus, you can make pancakes! It’s a good excuse to  invite yourself over for brunch more.

“Moody” Planter | $24
Say hello to last year’s Father’s Day gift. These little guys are so expressive and Kevin from Aloe Frost is the nicest guy to order from. I got dad a mood planter and my sister got him an air plant from Ace (they have the best prices for big ones!). Dad now keeps him on his nightstand to hang out.

Smart Touch USB Task Lamp | $245
For years my dad has looked for a traditional/modern desk lamp with built-in USB. I’m talking since, again, iPod era. He has all his tech on his desk for work and would love to keep the cords on top so it’s easy to grab them and go. Thank you, Instagram ads, for doing the search for me and showing me this gorgeous task lamp. It has 2 standard plugs, 2 USB-C plugs, a swivel shade, and comes in white, black, and sky blue.

Row 4
Wool Runners | $95
I could sing from the mountains about how amazing these shoes are. I took the marketing bait and bought a pair for my trip to Korea based on Bursts of Samm’s recommendation. With no break in time, I put 10+ miles a day in these. Finding supportive, comfortable shoes that look cool has always been a challenge, but now I’m excited to introduce my dad to these.

Natural Shell, High Impact Phone Case | $59
There are lots of awesome phone cases out there, but this is the first beautiful, high impact, modular case I’ve seen. Seriously, check out all their impact test videos. MOUS has the option of bamboo, walnut, leather, shell, carbon fiber cases with magnet back for additional accessories like phone wallets and stands that will protect dad’s phone no matter what adventure he goes on.

Stainless Steel Shaving Kit | $25+
Will Harry’s ever not make it onto a gift guide here? It started with getting Michael an engraved set for Christmas, then slowly everyone in the family has converted. The basic kit at $25 includes the most beautifully balanced razor handle, 3 blade cartridges, foaming shave gel, & a travel cover, and you can add initial engraving for +$15.