Gifts for Older Men: Classics He Will Actually Use

Pick by situation

Under $25: small things he uses every day

Socks, a belt, a pocket knife, whiskey glasses and a journal for his stories.^[1]

Dad, I Want to Hear Your Story

around $12 on Amazon^[1]

• Hundreds of prompts
• Paperback journal
• Space to write

A guided journal with prompts about his childhood, his work, his family and the lessons he learned along the way. Most gifts for older men are things; this one asks for his memories instead. He fills it in at his own pace and hands it back when it is done. The family ends up with his stories in his own handwriting.^[1]

Good for

A man who tells great stories at dinner.

Skip if

He hates writing by hand; ask him the questions out loud instead.

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BULLIANT Men's Ratchet Leather Belt

around $20 on Amazon^[1]

• Trimmable to fit
• Ratchet buckle
• Gift boxed

A leather belt with a ratchet buckle instead of holes, so it adjusts in small clicks. Hole belts are always a notch too loose or too tight; this one fits right after a big dinner too. The buckle releases with a lever, which is easier for stiff fingers than threading a prong. It comes boxed and ready to give.^[1]

Good for

Men with stiff hands or arthritis.

Skip if

You do not know his waist; the strap trims shorter but cannot get longer.

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Glencairn Whisky Glass Set of 2

around $22 on Amazon^[1]

• Set of two
• Crystal glass
• Tulip tasting shape

The tulip shaped whisky glass that Scottish distilleries use for tasting, sold as a pair. A heavy tumbler is fine for ice; the Glencairn shape gathers the aroma at the rim, so a good bourbon or scotch tastes like more. The pair means he can pour one for a friend. It is the gift for the man with a bottle he saves for guests.^[1]

Good for

Men who drink whiskey neat.

Skip if

He drinks it on the rocks; the narrow glass has no room for ice.

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Smartwool Hike Classic Edition Full Cushion Crew Socks

around $23 on Amazon^[1]

• Merino wool blend
• Full cushion
• Made in the USA

Merino wool crew socks with full cushioning under the foot, made for hiking but worn by plenty of men every day. Cotton socks go cold and damp by noon; merino stays warm and does not hold odor, even after a full day. They are soft enough for a man with sensitive feet. Older men with cold feet tend to wear nothing else once they try a pair.^[2]

Good for

Men with cold feet in winter.

Skip if

He only wears thin dress socks; these are thicker than office socks.

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Victorinox Swiss Army Classic SD Pocket Knife

around $24 on Amazon^[1]

• Seven functions
• Scissors and tweezers
• Key ring size

The small Swiss Army knife with a blade, scissors, a nail file with a screwdriver tip, tweezers and a toothpick, all on a key ring sized body. Big knives stay in a drawer; the Classic SD rides on his key ring every day and gets used for tags, threads and packages. Victorinox has made it for decades in Switzerland. It is the small tool he will reach for ten times a week.^[3]

Good for

Men who fix small things around the house.

Skip if

He flies a lot with only carry on; knives are not allowed through security.

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$25 to $50: the den, the card table and the closet

A cribbage board, a flannel shirt and gifts for his favorite chair.^[1]

WE Games Wooden Cribbage Board Set

around $30 on Amazon^[1]

• Solid hardwood
• Nine metal pegs
• Cards stored inside

A hardwood cribbage board with a continuous three track layout that folds shut on a piano hinge, with a deck of cards and metal pegs stored inside. Plastic boards lose pegs and look like a toy; this one keeps everything inside the board and closes with a magnet. Cribbage is the card game many older men learned in the service or at the lake. It is the gift that starts a game with the grandkids.^[1]

Good for

Men who already play cribbage or want to teach it.

Skip if

He has never played and has nobody to play with; it needs a partner.

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Legendary Whitetails Buck Camp Flannel Shirt

around $35 on Amazon^[1]

• Brushed cotton flannel
• Corduroy lined cuffs
• Big and tall sizes

The Buck Camp, a brushed cotton flannel shirt in classic plaids with corduroy lining inside the collar and cuffs. Thin store brand flannels pill and shrink; this one holds its shape wash after wash and gets softer. It has a relaxed cut that layers over a T-shirt and comes in big and tall sizes. It is the shirt he wears from the first frost to spring.^[4]

Good for

Men who live in flannel all winter.

Skip if

He runs warm or wants a slim, dressy fit.

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$50 to $100: comfort at home and outside

A classic knife, a wallet, a camp chair and a thermometer for the grill.^[1]

Fossil Derrick Leather Bifold Wallet

around $65 on Amazon^[1]

• Genuine leather
• ID window
• Multiple card slots

A classic leather bifold with card slots, a bill pocket and an ID window, the shape most men have carried for decades. Slim metal wallets confuse a man used to a bifold; the Derrick works exactly like the one he has now, only newer and better made. The leather softens with use. It is the easy upgrade for a wallet held together by habit.^[1]

Good for

Men whose wallet is falling apart.

Skip if

He already switched to a slim card holder; a bifold will feel bulky to him.

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MEATER Plus Wireless Smart Meat Thermometer

around $80 on Amazon^[1]

• Wire free probe
• Bluetooth to phone
• Guided cook app

A wireless probe that stays in the meat while it cooks and sends the temperature to his phone through the MEATER app. Instant read thermometers mean opening the grill again and again; MEATER tells him when to pull the meat without lifting the lid. The app also estimates how long until dinner. It is the gadget for a man who already owns a good grill.^[5]

Good for

Men who grill or smoke every weekend.

Skip if

He does not use a smartphone; the probe needs the app.

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Buck Knives 110 Folding Hunter Knife

around $90 on Amazon^[1]

• Lockback blade
• Leather sheath
• Made in the USA

The classic American lockback knife with brass bolsters and a wood handle, sold with a leather sheath. Many cheap folders feel loose after a year; this Buck locks solid and lasts a lifetime, backed by Buck's lifetime warranty. Plenty of older men remember a father or grandfather carrying one. That memory is what makes it a gift, not a tool.^[6]

Good for

Men who hunt, fish or grew up with one.

Skip if

He wants a light pocket knife; the 110 is heavy and rides on a belt.

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KingCamp Oversized Camping Chair with Lumbar Support

around $90 on Amazon^[1]

• 550 lb capacity
• Lumbar support
• Cup holder

A roomy folding camp chair with a padded high back, lumbar support and a heavy duty frame that packs into a carry bag. Thin quad chairs sag and hurt the lower back after an hour; this one supports his back through a whole ball game. It has a cup holder and a side pocket. It is the seat for sidelines, fishing docks and the backyard.^[1]

Good for

Grandfathers who watch every game from the sidelines.

Skip if

He has trouble getting up from low seats; try a taller chair first.

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$100 and up: the big gifts he keeps for years

TV headphones, slippers, a speaker and a griddle he will use every week.^[1]

UGG Men's Ascot Slipper

around $120 on Amazon^[1]

• Water-resistant suede
• Wool lining
• Indoor-outdoor sole

A suede moccasin slipper lined with soft wool, with a rubber sole that handles a walk to the mailbox. Backless slippers slip off on the stairs; the Ascot covers the heel and stays on the foot, which matters for older men. The lining keeps feet warm on cold floors. It is the slipper he will wear from breakfast to bedtime.^[1]

Good for

Men with cold floors and stairs at home.

Skip if

You do not know his size; UGG says order a half size up if he is between sizes.

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Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen) Bluetooth Speaker

around $150 on Amazon^[1]

• Waterproof
• Utility strap
• Bluetooth

A small waterproof Bose speaker that plays music from his phone with clear sound and real bass for its size. Phone speakers make old records sound thin; the Flex fills a garage, a porch or a workshop. It is waterproof and has a strap to hang from a hook. It is the gift for the man who plays the ball game or old albums while he works.^[7]

Good for

Men who spend afternoons in the garage or garden.

Skip if

He does not use Bluetooth on his phone; someone will need to pair it once.

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Blackstone 22 Inch Tabletop Griddle

around $219 on Amazon^[1]

• Propane powered
• Flat top steel
• Tabletop size

A propane flat top griddle that sits on a table or tailgate and cooks breakfast for the whole family at once. A grill grate drops small food and burns pancakes; the flat top cooks eggs, bacon and smash burgers side by side. It runs on the small propane bottles and folds into the truck. It is the big gift for a grandfather who cooks for a crowd.^[8]

Good for

Men who host the family breakfast or tailgate.

Skip if

He has no outdoor space; it is for outside only.

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Sennheiser RS 175-U Digital Wireless TV Headphones

around $245 on Amazon^[1]

• Charging base station
• Bass boost and surround
• Over-ear cushions

Over-ear digital wireless headphones that connect to the TV through a base station, which also charges them. Turning the TV up wakes the house; these let him hear every word of dialogue at his own volume, with bass boost and surround modes for the game or a movie. He lifts them off the base and sits down, with no Bluetooth pairing to fight. It is the most practical big gift for a man whose hearing is starting to go.^[9]

Good for

Men who ask for the TV to be turned up.

Skip if

His TV has no headphone or audio out port; check the back of the TV first.

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How we picked

A good gift for an older man is a better version of something he already uses every day. Most men past sixty own the gadgets they want and will tell you they need nothing. What lands is comfort, quality and his own hobbies: warmer feet, clearer TV dialogue, a knife like his father carried, a better seat at the ball game.

The 15 picks below span 4 budgets, from about $12 to $245, and each one links to Amazon so you can check today's price and delivery ^[1]. If he is hard to shop for, upgrade the thing he complains about.

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