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The very first Father’s Day was celebrated in Washington State on June 19, 1910, and from there, the holiday slowly spread across the country as a regional event.
While presidents recognized it on and off, there was never an official, permanent proclamation about the holiday’s future until 1972, when President Richard Nixon declared that the federal government would recognize Father’s Day on the third Sunday in June from then on (though it's still not a federal holiday.) Initially established as a response to Mother’s Day (and skirting a movement that sought to combine both holidays into a single “Parents’ Day”), Father’s Day has become a day to be celebrated all on its own.
Fathers, grandfathers, and uncles all deserve to be honored for this special event, and that’s why we’ve put together a list of thoughtful gifts to help you say “thank you” to every kind of dad in your life. Whether he’s a grill master, a tech wizard, or an enthusiast of the great outdoors, he’s sure to love one of these gifts.
1. For the Dad Who Always Fixes Things: Leatherman Wingman Multitool with Spring-Action Pliers and Nylon Sheath; $70
Help dad spring into action the next time there’s a problem that needs fixing with this dynamic multitool from Leatherman. Made from stainless steel, it’ll help dad feel like he has a tool box right in his back pocket, as it functions as a knife, wire stripper, screwdriver, pliers, and so much more. Better still, Leatherman offers a 25-year warranty on all its products, so you know it’s built to truly last.
Buy it: Amazon
2. For the Dad Who’s Growing Out His Beard: FULLLIGHT TECH Beard Care Kit; $17
This beard care kit will keep your dad looking—and feeling—fresh all year long. This set features beard shampoo for cleansing and conditioning, balm for moisturizing and styling, and oil for softening and nourishing. The kit also comes with a comb, brush, scissors, and an eBook on beard care so he can style and maintain his signature look to his heart’s content.
Buy it: Amazon
3. For the Dad Who Always Loses Things: Tile Mate Bluetooth Tracker; $25
If keeping track of the house keys isn’t exactly dad’s strong suit, surprise him this year with a tracker that’ll make them easier to find. The battery-operated Tile Mate has a 250-foot Bluetooth range and is IP67-rated for water resistance. Designed to work with Alexa, Siri, and Google, this tracker is also iOS- and Android-compatible and will start to ring once it’s in range. He can also use it for more than just keys; it can be useful for locating backpacks, purses, wallets, and more.
Buy it: Amazon
4. For the Dad Who Loves to Grill: Cuisinart Deluxe 14-Piece Grill Set; $33
Let dad embrace his inner barbecue master with this 14-piece grill set from Cuisinart. With its chef’s spatula, grill tongs, basting brush, and more, he’ll never have to stress about flipping a burger or cooking the perfect steak ever again. And as the spatula touts a built-in bottle opener, he can enjoy a much-deserved cold one while he gets dinner ready. All the tools fit neatly inside a sturdy carrying case, allowing your dad to bring his tools on the go and be heralded as the king of outdoor cooking wherever he travels.
Buy it: Amazon
6. For the Dad Who Likes to Rock Out: JBL Flip 6 Portable Bluetooth Speaker; $100
Whether he’s jamming out to a little Creedence Clearwater Revival or dad is a not-so-secret Swiftie, this portable Bluetooth speaker will help his tunes sound better than ever. The JBL Flip 6 offers up to 12 hours of playback time off a single charge and has a special function known as PartyBoost, which will enable him to pair two JBL PartyBoost-compatible speakers together for stereo-like audio quality. This speaker is also IPX7-rated for water resistance, so he’ll have no trouble taking it the beach, too.
Buy it: Amazon
7. For the Dad With the Lousy Phone Battery: Anker 313 Wireless Charging Stand; $19
For dads with phones that are perpetually hovering at 20 percent battery life, a more reliable charger will probably be a game-changer. This wireless one from Anker works with Apple, Samsung, and Google devices, and according to the brand, can power up gadgets about 10 percent faster than other wireless chargers. He won’t have to take his phone case off, either (unless it has magnetic and/or metal attachments), as this model can juice up batteries through most protective cases.
Buy it: Amazon
8. For the Dad Who Wants to Learn More About His Roots: AncestryDNA + Traits: Genetic Ethnicity + Traits Test; $119
Maybe he’s a budding genealogist, or perhaps he just wants to know a little bit more about where his own parents come from. Either way, with this AncestryDNA kit, dad can gain valuable insights into his family’s origins and learn some fascinating facts about his genetic makeup along the way. As one of the most affordable DNA testing kits on the market, it’s also surprisingly easy to use, as all it takes is just one saliva sample to get the ball rolling.
Buy it: Amazon
9. For the Dad Who’s Always On the Go: Garmin Forerunner 645 GPS Running Watch; $324
This unique running watch from Garmin will help your dad stay fit, track his miles, and train for that 5K he’s always dreamed of. The watch uses a wrist-based heart monitor to track not just miles, but also stride length, ground contact, balance, and more. And with the built-in, contactless payment chip, your dad can buy a water bottle or protein shake on the road and leave credit cards at home. He can even sync the watch with his phone to receive and respond to text messages, emails, and social media updates while he’s (literally) on the run.
Buy it: Amazon
10. For the Dad Who Wants to Brew Drinks at Home: Growlerwerks Growler Keg; $119
If you’ve got a craft beer lover in the family, look no further than this portable growler keg. This growler can store 64 ounces of beer (or kombucha, hard cider, and soda), and all it needs to keep the suds from going flat is a CO2 charger (sold separately for $12). Your dad simply has to fill the growler at his favorite local brewery; select high or low carbonation, depending on what he’s drinking; and pull the tap to pour the perfect pint. The keg will keep beverages cold for seven to nine hours, so whether he’s going for a hike or a long day at the golf course, he’ll be able to serve up brewery-fresh beverages all day long.
Buy it: Amazon
11. For the Dad Who Relishes the Great Outdoors: National Geographic’s 100 Parks, 5000 Ideas: Where to Go, When to Go, What to See, What to Do by Joe Yogerst; $19
Fathers with a sense of adventure will be ready for a road trip by the time they’re through with this travel guide from National Geographic. Containing “5000 ideas for the ultimate vacation,” this book includes a comprehensive overview of both the United States and Canada’s best national parks. Including travel tips, planning advice, maps, activity options, and fun facts about wildlife, this book will help your dad embark upon the journey of a lifetime (or simply envision one from the comfort of his back porch).
Buy it: Amazon
12. For the Dad Who Also Appreciates A Good Camping Trip: Coleman Sundome Camping Tent; From $60
You might want to pair this one with the National Geographic guidebook we just mentioned, because if dad starts feeling pangs of wanderlust after flipping through it, a better tent will help make his summer vacation plans go off without a hitch. This popular Coleman tent comes in three different colors and multiple different sizes, so it could be big enough to fit up to six people. Made with a durable frame that can withstand wind gusts up to 35 miles per hour, this domed delight also offers plenty of ventilation via its large windows and ground vent, plus it has welded floors and inverted seams to help dad and everyone else inside it stay dry, even if they get caught in a nasty rain storm.
Buy it: Amazon
13. For the Dad Who Doesn’t Drink Enough Water: Hidrate Spark PRO 20-Ounce Smart Water Bottle; $70
Some of us need help hitting those recommended daily hydration goals. If dad falls firmly into that camp, you can give him a nudge in the right direction via this smart water bottle, which tracks water intake on its companion app using Bluetooth. The LED puck at the bottom lights up when it’s time for another drink. Beyond its tech innovations, the Hidrate Spark PRO is just an overall nice water bottle, too: It’s vacuum-insulated and made with BPA-free stainless steel, plus it can keep drinks cold for up to 24 hours. Another perk is that it doesn’t really sweat, and the lid is safe to run through a dishwasher.
Buy it: Amazon
14. For the Dad Who’s Always Sore: Theragun Mini 2.0 Handheld Electric Massage Gun; $200
For lingering aches and pains (especially after intense workouts or other sporty endeavors), a handheld massage gun can really work wonders. This mini one from Theragun delivers percussion-style massage therapy to help loosen up tight knots and relieve discomfort from sore spots around the body. It also offers three speeds and comes with three attachments, but is small enough to easily fit in a gym bag as well. When we tried the brand’s Prime model, we were impressed by its ample battery life, easy-to-use app, and sheer power, so the Theragun Mini 2.0 could be a good alternative if you’re not looking to drop nearly $300 on a larger model.
Buy it: Amazon
15. For the Dad Who Just Wants to Relax: Vivere Double Cotton Hammock with Steel Stand; $70
When dad wants to unwind this season, a double hammock like this one could be a welcome retreat. It comes with a steel stand and portable case, plus it can hold up to 450 pounds. Whether he wants to take a snooze in the shade or cozy up with mom for the afternoon, this cotton hammock will help make his backyard a little more inviting and the dog days of summer a little sweeter.
Buy it: Amazon
A version of this article was originally published in 2020 and has been updated for 2023.
This article was originally published on www.mentalfloss.com as 15 Great Father’s Day Gifts to Celebrate Every Kind of Dad.