Valentine’s Day Gifts for Every Type of Man
For the man who still doesn’t have wireless earbuds
You could get him a pair of AirPod alternatives if he simply can not with the real things, but the real things really are the best option for most people. (Though if he’s got bigger earholes, he might prefer AirPod Pros, which one writer told us are the only earbuds that fit her oversize earholes).
For the man who is trying to declutter his desk
If your man is trying to minimize the number of wires and cords running across his desk, Strategist contributor (and former tech columnist) David Pogue told us that this wireless charger is the first one he’s ever liked: “It props your phone up so you can see it from your pillow or across the room. Better yet, the charging happens whether you’ve put the phone down vertically or horizontally, while watching a movie, for instance.”
For the (fancy) man who is trying to declutter his desk
This charging pad offers the same fast-charging technology as the Anker, but in a much more luxurious package. The charging surface is textured Italian leather, and it’s available in a range of colors. Plus, it’s big enough to charge two devices at the same time.
For the man who needs a new hobby
Puzzles, we’ve written, are having a bit of a renaissance. But if he’s not into any of the new 2-D options out there, this 3-D owl puzzle with pieces made from Balsa wood might be just the ticket.
For the man with a sweet tooth
Do him one better than a heart-shaped sampler from the drugstore with this trio of bars from Tony’s Chocoloney, which we named last year’s status Halloween candy after speaking to in-the-know parents and candy experts.
For the man who says he doesn’t want flowers
That doesn’t necessarily mean he wouldn’t appreciate an actual houseplant — especially one as cheery and exotic as this Anthurium, which comes with the ceramic planter.
For the man who wants to be a better plant dad
If he’s already got plants, this small plastic watering can from status gardening brand Haws is nice-looking enough to leave out on display, easy to use — and a heck of a lot cheaper than their famous copper watering can.
For the man who likes to make his own pesto
We featured this automated “smart garden” in our roundup of the best indoor garden kits. It’s a popular choice among indoor gardeners thanks to its minimalist design, fuss-free operation, and simple “Keurig-style plant pods” that let you grow everything from green lettuce to wild strawberries to ornamental flowers. This one comes with three complimentary basil pods to get him started.
For the man whose wallet is literally hanging on by a thread
According to Keith McNally, who has been carrying this inexpensive wallet for more than a decade, “people are generally so impressed when I reveal it that I’ve become cagey about who actually sees it.” The Balthazar owner added that “I tend to expose it only to those I’m anxious to impress — which means everybody.”
For the man who’s still buying pre-ground coffee
When we asked baristas and coffee roasters to recommend coffee grinders for home use, they all said that a burr grinder is a must-have because they’re way more consistent. This Krups burr grinder is an affordable, but still effective, alternative to some of the pricier ones that you can buy.
For the man who likes to sing in the shower
This waterproof, shockproof Bluetooth speaker that three of our writers take everywhere (including the bathroom) should be able to handle anything — including his too-loud, off-key voice.
For the man who likes to read in the tub
The latest Kindle Paperwhite is lighter and thinner than earlier models. It’s also waterproof.
For the man you sleep next to
Experts say one of the best and simplest ways for couples to spice things up in the bedroom is with a vibrating ring. Dr. Emily Morse, the host of the podcast Sex With Emily, likes this one in particular because its wider contact area is designed to give as much pleasure to the person rubbing up against it as to the wearer.
For the man who misses his hometown
These candles from our list of the best-reviewed candles on Amazon are a little more personal because you can get the one that nods to (and smells like) the state he’s from. Says one reviewer who bought the Texas candle for her boyfriend, “When he smelled it, he actually got very emotional and started crying, because he said the smell instantly brought back so many memories of home.”
For the man who prefers a trendier candle
For the man who’d rather (lightly) scent his body
Claus Porto, a brand that barbers love, has been making its luxe soaps in Portugal since 1887. With notes of sandalwood, patchouli and vanilla, the company describes this “classic” scent from its Musgo Real line as “resolutely masculine.”
For the man who wants to (lightly) scent his beard
When we asked barbers and grooming experts about their favorite beard oils, this one from Baxter of California was one of their top picks thanks to its mix of hydrating ingredients and blend of light fragrances including cedar wood, jasmine, and sandalwood.
For the man whose beard needs a bit more attention
This vacuum beard trimmer is one of the most consistently purchased items on our site, and for good reason. According to contributor Kurt Soller — who tested out a bunch of beard trimmers and named this his favorite — it has a “convenient radial dial” for selecting your preferred cutting length (within 0.5 millimeter increments), and its “vacuum-suction feature” ensures a mess-free trim.
For the man who wants no beard at all
In our roundup of the best electric razors, many of the barbers and grooming experts we talked to told us a rotary-style razor like this one is the way to go if you’re looking for a quick, close, and easy shave.
For the man who makes your coffee (or tea)
Baristas, coffee roasters, and tea sommeliers all say that coffee and tea simply taste better when poured from a gooseneck kettle because the design allows for both more precision when pouring and richer flavor extraction. Fellow’s electric kettle is beloved by so many experts (and Strategist writers) that it made the Strategist 100 — our list of the most-stood-behind products we have written about.
For the man who makes your morning cappuccino
A Nespresso milk frother that’s on one Blue Bottle barista’s personal wish list.
For the man who lives for “Bread Week”
If he’s a fan of The Great British Bake Off, he’ll surely appreciate this bread cookbook written by the master of all things carb. Just try to be nice — or nicer than Paul Hollywood, at least — while he’s getting the hang of it.
For the man who likes to season generously
Queer Eye’s Antoni Porowski told us this black garlic salt is “freaking delicious.”
For the man who wants to start cooking more
Writer Liza Corsillo called this cast-iron skillet the best thing she bought last decade: “I use it every day, would buy it over and over again, and enthusiastically recommend it to everyone I know,” she wrote. “Like a good leather jacket, if you treat your Lodge skillet well it will continue to mature and get better with age.”
For the man who needs a better knife
If he is still trying to cut tomatoes with a steak knife, do him a favor and upgrade to a chef’s knife that we love.
For the man who wants to mask together
Writer Garret Munce tried out a selection of face masks for men, and this was his favorite. “I truthfully didn’t want to take the mask off, it felt so good, but after I did, my skin was noticeably more hydrated and calm. I’d use it every day if I could.”
For the man whose lips are looking a little wintry
We featured this lip balm set in our roundup of the best grooming gifts for men. Each lip balm in the set has SPF25 for sun protection and flavors include natural mint, vanilla bourbon, and mango chili lime
For the man with restless legs
If you’re tired of feeling his knee bopping up and down, might we suggest an under-the-desk elliptical for him to release all that tension while he’s working from home?
For the man who’s (begrudgingly) getting ready to fly again
If he’s starting to dread those work flights the pandemic put on hold, this footrest may help him ease back into them. According to contributor Alyse Whitney, it simulates the feel of lying all the way back even if you’re sitting in coach.
For the man who loves a good neck rub
If you truly don’t know what to get your man, you can’t go wrong with a back and neck massager.
For the man who loves a good foot rub
Or if he’s always up and about, try a foot massager like this extremely well reviewed one with five pressure settings and a heated-massage option.
For the man who wants to start listening to vinyl
When we asked professional DJs and vinyl collectors about the best turntables for beginners, this Audio-Technica was one of their go-to recommendations (and the least expensive of the bunch).
For the man who loves real books
A brass quill bookmark by Tom Dixon, so he’ll never lose his place.
For the man who doesn’t want anything
Pretty much any man will appreciate a new pair of socks, and we love the novelty factor of these art-themed socks from our roundup of the best socks for men. If he’s not into Norwegian expressionism, there are also pairs with Michelangelo’s David and Klimpt’s The Kiss.
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Photo by Adonyi Gábor from Pexels
Photo by freestocks.org from Pexels
Photo by Adonyi Gábor from Pexels
