Found: Actually Good Gifts for Men That He Won’t Secretly Return

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Getting a gift for a man is basically one of the most stressful parts of the holidays. What will he actually like? Boxers? Socks? Cologne? OMG, can someone just tell me exactly what to get?

Luckily, there were actual men around for me to interrogate about this very pressing issue, and the following 25 things are what they said they’d love to get right now. It might not all be perfect for your guy, but it’s a solid place to start.

So, you’re supposed to buy something for the man in your life (boyfriend, husband, father, brother, bestie, etc). I’m talking about the person who has no desire to use conditioner but regularly steals your K18. The same guy who could never differentiate between an herbal cologne from a woody one but has very strong opinions that his “shouldn’t smell bad.” Considering how confusing that is, if you aren’t a man yourself, you might think that you need to know the inner workings of their minds to come up with some great gift ideas for men. Nope—not true. None of that energy here, pls!

Take it from a shopping editor—it’s simple! Just buy him the thing he’d never buy for himself but points out every time you walk past it together. You could also buy something that solves a problem he’s been meaning to fix (like, he really needs new headphones but just hasn’t gotten around to it yet). Or even better yet, use the list below, where you’ll find excellent gift ideas from men from shiny tech gifts that anyone would love to very niche (and creative) presents you’ve never heard of before. Well, what are you waiting for?!

SHOP EVEN MORE GIFT IDEAS HERE

Watch Roll

Throwing accessories into a suitcase and hoping they'll be in one piece at your destination isn't very mindful, TBH, so gift him this sophisticated watch roll to keep his ice organized.

Quick Dry T-Shirts

Anyone who recently picked up running (and therefore picked up a bunch of extra laundry) will appreciate some quality athletic shirts for their morning jogs. Customers were v impressed by the quality of this set!

Ember 14 oz. Temperature Control Mug 2

Because his beige flag is that he lets his coffee sit on his desk for hours, getting colder with each second that passes. He'll be able to download the iPhone app to remotely control the temp of his coffee!

Baseball History Book

Is he alarmingly passionate about his ride-or-die baseball team? This book compiles a bunch of New York Times articles about his favorite franchise into one sleek coffee table book.

Leather Belt

Did his boots stop working? Did his truck break down? A Frye leather belt is the only acceptable gift for someone in their ~yeehaw~ era.

Massage Gun

Ahhh, sweet, sweet relief. Whether he's a gym bro or a corporate guy who spends all day at his desk, this TheraGun that's basically an at-home, deep-tissue massage will change his life.

AirPods Max Headphones

Before you ask—yes, a pricier pair of headphones is worth the splurge. The luxe feel, the concert-quality sound, and the noise-cancelling features on the AirPods Max headphones are sooooo nice.

Premium Cocktail and Margarita Machine

He can have his very own home bar with this magical machine! All he has to do is insert a cocktail capsule inside of it, press the button, and he'll have a craft cocktail in seconds. It's basically an at-home bartender minus the $15-per-drink bill.

Ticket to Ride Board Game

A strategy board game is a fun gift for the brainiac in your life—there's nothing like a little friendly competition (or absolute domination) to spice things up on game night`.

GPS Drone with 4K UHD Camera

This beginner drone is highly-rated on Amazon, if he’s been interested in trying out the gadget—and why wouldn't he be? The device equipped with features like GPS, photography and videography, and automatic take-off.

Fly by Jing Triple Threat Gift Set

Take his bland chicken and rice on a trip to Flavortown—this set comes with three of Fly By Jing's most popular Asian sauces (including their famous Chili Crisp). Meal prep has never tasted so good.

CREAMi 11-in-1 Ice Cream Maker

Because he still deserves a sweet treat during cutting season, duh. Read our full review of the Ninja CREAMi here!

Architecture New York City Skyline

Just trust me—buy him one of these grown-up LEGO sets. Thank me when you find him sitting on the floor and putting it together (adorbs!) an hour later.

Undeniable 5.0 Large Duffle Bag

He's probably been storing his sweaty shoes in the same duffle since his high school basketball days, and that's, uh, really gross (think of the bacteria...). Something nice, new, and sizeable like this sturdy Under Armour bag will do the trick.

Clip 4 Portable Wireless Speaker

Don't let size deceive you—this little speaker fills the room with quality sound. Plus, it's waterproof, so he can listen to Andrew Huberman videos in the shower.

Bosu Exercise Dice

Working out can get boring, so why not turn it into a little game? It's basically scientifically proven that the more fun you have, the better your gym sesh will be.

City Bomber Jacket

You probably aren’t his grandma, so buying clothes might feel a little blegh. But he needs 'em and you have opinions on 'em, so get him something good like this sturdy bomber from Theory.

American Crew 3-in-1 Shampoo

If he insists on using a 3-in-1, make it this one. It washes and conditions hair while also acting as a hydrating body wash—plus, the Chamomile and Pine scent smells so good that it's basically aromatherapy.

Silver Ring

Maybe buying him a ring will remind him that he should probably buy you a ring, too. This editor-loved smart ring tracks everything from sleep to steps, heart rate, and temperature.

Florian Silk Novelty Necktie

A silky dress tie is a great we've-been-dating-for-two-months-and-I-wanna-get-you-something-nice-but-not-TOO-much gift, IMO.

Eau d'Ombre Leather Eau de Toilette

Step 1: Find the scent you want your S.O. to wear. Step 2: Wrap it up as a birthday gift. Step 3: Enjoy!

History Channel Board Game

Joke all you want about the Roman Empire—odds are high that the man in your life secretly loves history. He'll be able to flex on his friends/family/dinner guests with this trivia game.

SKIMS Cotton Mens Boxer 3-pack

If he's never experienced the magic of SKIMS, get him a pair of their top-rated boxer shorts. They're so soft that one customer said it felt like they weren't wearing anything at all.

TRUFF Spicy Lovers Pack

He's hot stuff—and so is this melt-in-your-mouth, spicy truffle set. It comes with two umami-packed hot sauces and a jar of spicy marinara, which sounds like everything you need for an at-home dinner date to me.

OOriginal Sandal

I know nobody is singing “I’m looking for a man in flip-flops” but OOFOS recovery slides are so cloud-like that they're kinda in a class of their own. And maybe book him a pedicure before he slips 'em on, thanks!

NYC Chronograph Embossed Leather Watch

Everyone needs a nice leather watch in their collection, and you don't have to break the bank for it. This under-$400 option is made of leather, mother-of-pearl, mineral crystal, and stainless steel. Fahncy, fahncy!

Sierra Etip™ Gloves

Gloves that are actually warm, grip-friendly, and screen-compatible for under $50? That's an immediate buy.

One Mobile Gaming Controller

Compatible with both Androids and iPhones, this device snaps right onto a smartphone to turn it into an on-the-go gaming set-up.

Challenger 7

Every hot person you know owns a pair of Hokas—I don't make the rules. The cloud-like feel, sleek silhouette, and fun colorways make them the ideal running shoe.

Remington Vacuum Haircut Kit

No more clippings all over the bathroom sink, baby! This trimmer has a vacuum feature that catches all the annoying little hairs that typically go flying when he shaves.

Weighted Blanket

Customers say that this blanket (aka 20 pounds of soothing goodness) helps them fall asleep faster and stay asleep for longer. And couldn't we all use a little bit of that?

Gourmet Grilling Spice Set

Bet your favorite grill dad-in-training will love this. Each glass bottle contains a major flavor blast—think Jamaican Jerk, Caribbean, and Cajun seasonings.

Bed Pillows

Do me a favor and check his pillows (like, under the pillowcase). If you see stains, feathers, questionable lumps, or God forbid, all of the above, please discreetly throw them all away and get him this nice set instead.

Wonder Oven™

If he hates cooking, this will make his life easier. Oh, and if he loves cooking, this will make his life easier! This baby fries, bakes, reheats, steams, and more.

Magnetic Money Clip

Oh nooo, he has so much cash that his wallet is exploding? Tragic!!! Gift him this no-fuss, anti-wallet money clip that'll compress his bills to the thickness of a smartphone.

Garment Duffel

TikTok went crazy over this bag, and for good reason—it's a proper garment bag where he can store his suit, and then it zips up into a duffel that can hold the rest of his necessities. It is, quite frankly, the most ingenious thing I've ever seen, and great for anyone with lots of weddings to attend.

Sterling Silver Rectangle Cufflinks

Drip out his dress shirts with a pair of sterling silver cufflinks. Turns out that good things do come in small packages!

Wall Mounted Bottle Opener

This bad boy isn't winning any interior design awards, but the beer fan in your life will love having a bottle opener that magnetically catches those caps. Very Mojo Dojo Casa House, if you ask me.

Natural Black Diamond Stud Earrings

Anyone with a piercing would love these simple (yet edgy!) black diamond studs.

US12 Sneaker

White sneakers are tried-and-true, but a little pop of color never hurt anybody. His wardrobe will thank you.

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