SMT Father’s Day Gift Guide

So many wonderful gifts, suggested by you. 👏

This newsletter will likely get cut off in email — click here to read it in full.

Hello! Back in your inboxes with a timely gift-giving guide, this one for the dads and father figures in our lives. I asked for suggestions on Instagram and you all delivered more than 125 ideas. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share! Click for the full spreadsheet, which includes a meat blanket, a battery-powered chainsaw, and someone renting a hot tub (really!) for the weekend.

Below are 10 ideas that I particularly loved, some of which were suggested by more than one person — always a great sign. Keep scrolling for links to what I bought for my husband (Matt, don’t you dare peek…). 

Thinking of everyone who finds this day challenging for any number of reasons. Sending love and strength. 

PS: If you find the gents in your life hard to shop for, consider this idea from Elaine:

“Give him something he really wants! And how do you figure that out? With a wishlist! …Set up a Google spreadsheet, or have your special guy (hubs, dad, brother, whoever) make an Amazon wishlist, and then, when an occasion arises, you go shopping from the list. He doesn’t know WHICH thing or things you are getting from the list, and you are guaranteeing that you are getting something he wants, because he put it on the list! Or you can use the list for inspiration for branching out into areas of interest you never knew he had. This is so helpful, and it really makes me look forward to gift giving and receiving with my husband, because we ALWAYS know that we have scored.”

Matt and I have done this in a more casual way, either by making specific requests, dropping hints, or asking for guidance. Yes, it takes a bit of the surprise out of the gift-giving experience but I agree with Elaine — it has made it much easier and more fun.

So Many Thoughts Father’s Day Gift Guide

Note: I use affiliate links, which means if you buy something by clicking below I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for your support.

Click to shop: Bombas socks

• Mari says: “All of the styles are great (ankle, no show, calf). They hold up well and are comfortable. We like to gift these because they can be a little pricy, but they’re worth it.”

• Jennifer says: “Dad has everything. These are something he wouldn’t splurge on.”

• Betsy says: “My husband always loves new socks. His favorite Bombas are no show + ankle + quarter in gray or white!”

Elizabeth adds: Matt LOVES these socks so much that we have started buying them for our kids, too.

Click to shop: Goldbelly boxes

• Meggie says: “My stepfather is a total foodie but lives in a small town in Wisconsin. Every year I send him something from Goldbelly that he can’t get locally - steaks from Niman Ranch, bacon from Peter Luger’s, cookies from Levain - the options are endless and he LOVES them. Every year he calls and tells me what he thought about different items and has even repeat-ordered things he really adored. It’s never expected but he does usually share so I get something tasty, too! It also makes him feel like he’s getting to ‘travel the country with cuisine’ (his words) and even if he’s never been to a specific city, with all the boxes I’ve sent over the years he has foodie references for so many. This year he’s getting Biscuit Cinnamon Rolls from Nashville and I know they’re going to be a huge hit!”

Click to shop: Battery Daddy battery organizer

• Julie says: “The perfect practical gift for the hard to shop for guy! No more loose batteries in a drawer!”

• Erin says: “Everyone could use this!”

Elizabeth adds: Does anyone else find this so satisfying? Ships fast on Amazon! Another useful spreadsheet idea, from Megh for her “Recycle Man” dad: This powered box cutter.

Click to shop: New Balance 574 sneakers

• Betsy says: “My husband’s favorite shoes! He has the green and just got gifted to blue. They run a half size small - so order a half size up! Cute with jeans and shorts and all the things.”

Elizabeth adds: This is a great style to nudge your gent out of a more basic white sneaker. Obvs I love the blue, but don’t sleep on the green.

Click to shop: Toyo Steel Flat Top Tool Box

• Sarah says: “A steal at this price (😉). Classic tool box that’s just the right size to be carried around or stored in a small space. My husband uses it for a specific set of tools, but also could be used to hold art supplies, etc.”

Elizabeth adds: How chic are these tool boxes?

Click to shop: Supergoop sunscreen

• Jeanette says: “My Dad is an avid golfer and he’s outside a lot in the summer! He’s more apt to use the fancy sunscreen without a white cast, which is not heavy on his skin. He loves it! V practical and just as important for dads to take care of their skin as well!”

Elizabeth adds: Thank you, thank YOU for this reminder. Sun safety, always! 

Click to shop: Wonderbly book

• Megan says: “It’s personalizable in terms of name, what you/your father/husband/child look like, number of kids, and each book has a sweet story. There are also different stories specifically for first time fathers and grandparents. You can also add a dedication and there are different options for hardback or soft cover. I found the quality to be very good as well. I gave this for Mother’s Day and was such a hit with my mom and knew my dad needed one too! Truly such a special gift and keepsake.”

Click to shop: Yeti customized water bottle

• Liz says: “My husband loves a beverage (coffee, seltzers, water, boozy) and Yeti has so many options! Add in the super personal customization and it just takes it up the perfect notch, without being corny.”

• Abbey says: “Useful and not tacky/doesn’t scream ‘My kid made this!’ But you can make it personal with a nickname or inside joke.”

Honorable mention to the brand’s ice bucket. Annie says: “It’s expensive but if you need to drink ice OUTSIDE it’s the bomb. It has a lid and keeps ice icy or it holds wine or beer on ice.”

Elizabeth adds: These will not arrive in time for Father’s Day, but I loved this idea so much I had to share. (Stanley does something similar.)

Click to shop: Hill House matching sets

• Jessica says: “Moms get lots of options for matching minis, but I love to do this for my husband too. The summer collection has lots of options!”

Elizabeth adds: YES to matching dudes. I particularly love the coordinating swimsuits.

Click to shop: L.L. Bean Boat Tote

• Megan says: “Embroidered with Boooring! Or BoringStuf. My husband loves Bluey and the kids love Bluey - this is a reference to the Pool episode where Bandit doesn’t pack any of the “boring” stuff for the pool. Now my husband has his own special bag for kid activities 😅”

Elizabeth adds: I absolutely love (and have many) of these bags. I am particularly delighted by the idea of embroidering something clever, especially if it’s an inside joke or a favorite family saying.

As for what I bought for Matt…

(Trusting you not to click through here, MMS! 😘)

• This shirt as an elevated alternative to a basic polo — knits are trending for summer, he tells me.

• This shirt, too, which is lighter and boxier than the others he owns.

• These shoes that I know he has wanted for awhile.

• This necklace engraved with our kids’ initials (he forwarded me the email from the brand, suggesting it for this gift guide!).

• And this hilarious thing my kids found on Amazon.

And finally, shoutout to Jen for suggesting the new book The Fall of Roe by Elizabeth Dias and Lisa Lerer. “Men! Get with the program and help protect women’s rights!!!” she wrote.

Thank you again to everyone who took the time to share their thoughts! For the full spreadsheet with more than 125 ideas, click below.