gift guide: men

I LEARNED pretty early on from Free to Be You and Me not to make assumptions about which things in the world are meant for ‘girls’ or ‘boys.’ So I usually stay away from ‘mens’ and ‘women’s’ gifts because it can be pretty limiting. Generally you want to search for and choose a perfect gift for your special people based on their interests and passions and not worry about who it’s marketed to. BUT, I get SO many requests for ideas specifically for the men in your lives that I’m giving the dudes their own special spotlight. Obvs there are as many ‘man’ gift options out there as there are crazy hobbies, passions and dudes, but hopefully this will spark some ideas. And of course, most of these things would be awesome gifts for the women you love, too, so keep your mind and heart open while you read. Whether your man is most comfortable splattered in mud on the trails or clean + dry at home, there’s something on this list that they’ll love, including a whole section of really awesome, giftable books.

Check out the Gift Guides for Outdoor Lovers, Travel. Home Chefs or Coffee + Tea Lovers for more ideas. GIFT A LITTLE HAPPINESS. xo

man stuff

>> Australian-based Bellroy makes a really nice collection of work travel bags, like this Transit Workpack. All of their bags are beautifully made and have all the functionality you could hope for, with lots of pockets and slots, plus some unexpected features like internal AirTag slip pockets. They’re handsome, functional, cool and on top of it all, they’re a Certified B Corp. You just can’t go wrong. They also have perfect Wallets, Tech Accessories and lots of other really nice looking, functional everyday carry that’s perfect for gifting just about anyone. >> prices vary

>> This Recycled Handblown Glassware is so stunning. It’s blown by hand in Jalisco from 100% recycled glass. There are short tumblers, tall tumblers and a pitcher that you can mix and match and 4 different colors to choose from, all gorgeous. >> from $14

>> Ursa Major is a Vermont-based, super clean skincare, body and shaving line that’s perfect for just about everyone. While not a men’s-specific line, their no-nonsense vibe combined with sophisticated, effective formulations makes it a perfect choice for men [and teens] who want to take care of their skin, but don’t want like 14 steps to do it. I gifted my husband the best-selling Golden Hour Recovery Cream and Brighten Up Vitamin C Serum and he’s asking for more. Buy individual products, or choose a Bundle for the most cost effective and efficacious start. >>

>> Ok this is just the coolest gift for anyone you love who’s into birding or nature or photography. Bird Buddy is a smart bird feeder with an AI-powered high-res camera that takes photos and live streams them straight to your phone so you can see and identify the little guys visiting your home. It’s solar powered and super durable, too. LOVE it. Check out the Gift Guide for Gardeners for more gifts like this. >> $299

>> Take style, performance and comfort up like 18 notches with Vuori. Their crazy SOFT performance + loungewear goes seamlessly from workout to WFH to chilling without a blink. And Vuori makes their products with ethics and sustainability in mind, so you can feel good about feeling SO good in your clothes. My husband LOVES so many Vuori pieces, like the Knit Oxford Button Down + Meta Pant for work or golf,  Kore Shorts + Strato Tech Tees for the gym and THE softest Joggers for lounging. You pretty much can’t go wrong with any of their awesome pieces. >> prices vary

>> Tidbyt is a handsome, retro display that you can connect to 100+ apps to show real-time weather, sports stats, stock tickers, Spotify tracks and tons more. It can give you a ski report, quiz you about trivia or tell you when the next bus is coming, all without having to look constantly at your phone or laptop. So you can enjoy yourself and still get the info you want in real time. It comes in beech or walnut to match any decor and you can even personalize the top panel. Such a cool gift. >> $199

>> Keep all of your essentials safe, dry and clean with a Yeti GoBox 1 Gear Case. It’s basically indestructible and has some trays for organization. It also has a tether strap for easy carrying and attaching to your other gear. Perfect for keeping valuables safe while adventuring and on the go. It comes in 3 other larger sizes as well to accommodate more substantial things. >> $65

>> Hedley & Bennett is the industry gold standard for high quality aprons, awesome for pit masters, home chefs, artists, tinkerers and general mess-makers. They have a variety of styles and fabrics depending on what it’ll be used for, including a heavy duty waxed canvas that just gets a solid wipe down when it’s dirty. And now they’ve partnered with the NFL and MLB AND Collegiate Teams to create a whole line of Essential Aprons and Chef’s Knives honoring your ride or die team to help your favorite fans take their tailgating next level. GO TEAM! >> $129

>> The best of both form and function, these UGG Ascot Slippers are handsome and super duper comfy. UGG’s signature fuzzy interior makes them perfect for cozy indoors and the rubber sole allows you to leave the house so you can take out the trash or run for a coffee. They come in a few nice colors, too. >> $115

>> Challenge your movie buffs to figure out what you're talking about when you read from a card that very poorly describes the plot. Poorly Explained Movies [or Misunderstood Songs] is a funny game for parties, the dinner table, road trips or hangouts. There’s also a Holiday Edition or 80’s Edition to change things up. >> $18

>> Classics maintain their status for a reason and this Quince Mongolian Cashmere Crewneck Sweater exemplifies the point perfectly. It’s classically styled, ethically produced and luxurious feeling, but with a price point that actually doesn’t match. Quince has tons of other great ‘classics’ for the whole family, including awesome travel stuff, but this is what put them on the map. >> $59.50

>> This Topo Designs Global Briefcase is such a perfect blend of form + function whether heading across town or overseas. It’s bomber, super stylish and can be carried in three different ways, with leather handles, a detachable shoulder strap or hidden backpack straps. It also has a pass-though panel for attaching to a wheelie bag for travel and big exterior pockets for keeping essentials close at hand. >> $129

>> North Drinkware hand-blows THE coolest glasses with some of the country’s most celebrated peaks molded into the bottom using USGS data, so you know it’s legit. There are peaks from 15 states and Japan represented [this is Long’s Peak]. They also have really pretty laser-cut topographic Coasters that would make an awesome set. All of their products are made in the USA [most in OR] and your purchase helps give back to the mountains you love, making it a double whammy. Yes, please. >> $56

>> Love someone who loves to make their own pizza? These Dreamfarm Scizza Pizza Scissors will elevate their game for sure. They have a heat-resistant spatula base and curved stainless blades that don’t drag your toppings off while you cut. And you’ll look like a legit Italian pizza chef, so the cool factor is high. They’re dishwasher safe and finger-safe, too. Molto bello. >> $34.95

>> NOCS Provisions Binoculars are compact, waterproof and built for exploring the unknown. The 8 fun, bright colors they come in belie their serious ruggedness. We’ve dragged ours down rivers and up mountains and they’re easy to use, super durable and awesome. You can also get a cool Woven Tapestry Strap to go keep them safe and secure. And they just added a SUPER cool Photo Rig Smartphone Adapter that allows you to photograph what you can see through your binoculars. SO fun. >> from $95

>> Make lasting memories around the campfire at home or on the go with a Solo Stove. There’s no need for white rabbits with these because they’re totally smokeless. They come in several sizes depending on your space, including a tabletop version for intimate little fires. They now also come in some awesome colors. They’re easy to clean, easy to assemble, durable and portable. And of course, there are a bunch of rad accessories to go with them. This is an awesome gift for homebodies, tailgaters and adventurers alike. >> from $119

>> I love this sweet Custom Travel Map that highlights up to 25 locations of your choice. It also includes a name, date and a caption that you love to commemorate special journeys. >> from $60

>> You can go totally gourmet on your day trips or short getaways [or just have super cold drinks] with Yeti’s impressive Hopper M20 Backpack. It’s roomy enough for all you want to haul and durable enough for any type of adventure. It comes in 4 handsome colors >> $325

>> Nomadix Original Towels are awesome for travel, camping, yoga or post-sweaty workouts. These quick-dry beauties are made from recycled bottles, resist odor, sand + pet hair AND pack down super small and light. There are a ton of prints to choose from, including the National Parks Collection. Our whole little family has them and loves them. >> from $27.95

>> Bring back the old-school vinyl sound with a new-school beautiful Pro-Ject Debut Turntable. This one has a carbon fiber tonearm and comes in several really gorgeous colors to elevate any space. I gave one to my husband last Christmas and he LOVES it, it has been such a cool addition to our space and music-listening. >> $599

>> So, not exactly sexy I’ll admit, but the glowing skin your man gets from his Omnilux Men Red Light Mask for sure will be. It claims to reduce fine lines, calm inflammation [from shaving and other stuff] and correct age spots. I can’t vouch for for the shaving bit, but my Omnilux has 100% lived up to the other claims and i love it so much. I’ll bet the dudes you love will, too, even if they don’t quite know it yet. >> $395

>> Give your dude the gift of timeless music on vinyl from a favorite local record shop like Paradise Found Records & Music in Boulder. You’ll very likely be supporting two people’s passions with one awesome present. >>

>> Every good tailgate or outdoor party needs music or to be able to hear the big game. Turtlebox Speakers are loud, crazy durable, portable and waterproof so you don’t have to worry about it when the sleet starts coming down at halftime. They come in a bunch of colors, too. See the Gift Guide for Tailgaters + Sports Fans for more ideas for this crew. >> $399

>> Fellow set out to make a to-go mug that doesn’t compromise the taste of what’s inside. Their Carter Move Mugs are designed to tick all the boxes of taste, durability, heat-retention and style. Choose from 11 awesome colors or one of their awesome Artist Series Mugs. I LOVE mine. >> from $27.50

>> Cadence Capsules have solved every issue I’ve ever had with travel containers. They’re leakproof, easy to clean, perfectly sized and pack well. They’re basically perfect. I gifted a few to my husband and he loves them, too, for sunscreen, moisturizer, supplements, ibuprofen and anything else you need to tote around. I’ve even put toothpaste in mine and just scooped it out with my brush. You can either have the lids labeled for specific uses or leave them blank so they can be swapped around and they come in really nice colors. >> from $14

>> Booze & Country is the latest addition to the super popular book series that combines two favorites into one. It pairs craft and traditional cocktail recipes with classic country records from the 50s to now to help create a serious vibe. This version features 60 albums and 100+ cocktail recipes. Yeehaw. >> $26
SHOP at BARNES & NOBLE or AMAZON

>> Your foodie and hot pizza lover will be obsessed with Brightland’s Pizza Oil. It’s a hot, herbaceous blend of spices and their awesome California olive oil ready to give your pizza the smackdown. You can also put it on eggs, veggies, pasta… anything that needs a little extra extra..>> $28

>> The SKI Passport is part journal, part guide to the most rad US ski resorts. You can use it to find your next destination or to document the pow you shredded. Keep stickers, notes and mementos inside so you can relive and share your best days out on the hill. >> $24.99

>> Trejo’s Cantina is the latest from Danny and it celebrates the fun and community of the cantina. It has awesome cocktails and mocktails, plus recipes for soon-to-be-favorites like Fight Night Nachos and Chorizo Smash Burgers. And he adds his awesome flair to everything in the book. I already love his first cookbook, Trejo’s Tacos, which is sooo much more than ‘just’ an awesome cookbook. It’s also a li’l autobiography of Danny, an ex-con turned boxer turned successful actor turned renowned chef and restauranteur. It’s super interesting and inspiring and the recipes are awesome. Pair them both for a great gift. >> $28
SHOP at BARNES & NOBLE or AMAZON

>> Help relieve tension and tightness and foster muscle recovery with a Theragun. There are several different models to choose from depending on your specific needs. They’re all quiet and come with multiple attachments for different types of therapy. >> from $199

>> This Stanley Adventure Happy Hour Cocktail Shaker Set is one of the MOST used pieces of adventure ‘gear’ we own. It comes with a stainless steel shaker, 2 cups, a citrus reamer and a jigger cap all neatly nested together in a compact package. It’s easy to clean, easy to pack and indestructible. >> $40

>> Boulder local, Alexa Allen, hand forms these gorgeous leather bowls and then inks unique designs on them. They’re perfect catch-alls for keys, watches, rings or any other loose stuff. >> $48

>> Charleston-based Smithey Ironworks’ cast iron and hand-forged carbon steel cookware is stunningly beautiful and deigned to use for life. They call the pieces ‘Modern Heirlooms’ for good reason; they’re just gorgeous. Like all of their pieces, the Cast IronTraditional Skillets are made with a special polishing process that makes for a fantastic non-stick surface. >> from $85

>> Bucketgolf is a cross between mini golf and golf, but you can play it anywhere; yard, beach, tailgating,  camping… any place you have enough space to set up a rad course and it comes with a handy bag to drag it around in. It’s super easy to set up and you can design a totally different course each time. >> $114.99

>> Pela makes super durable smart phone and tablet cases out of PLANTS and they are fully compostable so they don’t litter the landfill until the end of time. There are lots of really cool designs for every size + model device out there. A gift for your special person and the planet. YES! >> $59.95

>> Everyone loves a snuggly blanket and all of Seek & Swoon’s Throws are inspired by beautiful places around the world, but proudly made here in the USA entirely from recycled yarn. They’re soft and snuggly and they have some great prints, like this Adventure Throw. >> $175

>> The whole crew will love being able to view the night sky through a Celestron Telescope. They make a wide variety of models + price ranges depending on how serious you want to get. We have one designed for travel so we can bring it adventuring and it’s awesome for looking at the moon. >> from $54.95

>> Elevate game night aesthetics with Sagrada, a visually stunning dice-placement game where you compete to create the most beautiful stained glass window in the Sagrada Familia. It’s sounds like it’s easy to learn, but has enough strategy and cool variations to play over and over again. >> $44.95

>> Barebones Living designs and makes timeless, high quality tools for gardeners and outdoor lovers of all kinds [the Hori Hori Ultimate is one of their most loved and popular tools]. But it’s also a super cool company with a serious mission to ‘build relationships and connect community through food, nature and the pull of fire,’ which they do not only with their amazing products, but also through incredible philanthropic work. Any of their gorgeous things would make a beautiful, thoughtful and useful gift for the gardeners and outdoor lovers you love. See the Gift Guide for Gardeners for more ideas. >>

>> These Personalized Waxed Canvas Dopp Kits are so handsome. They’re handmade in Brooklyn from sturdy, water resistant waxed canvas and the inside is lined with cotton duck canvas for even more durability. They can be personalized with a monogrammed leather tab to make it feel even more special. >> $90

>> Part travelogue and part cookbook, Alpine Cooking is a gorgeous celebration of both the culture and the hearty food of the Alps. Perfect for chefs, wanderlusts and adventurers who will be intrigued by the little stubes, chalets and refugios of this unique region [like my husband].  >> $50 
SHOP at BARNES & NOBLE or AMAZON

>> Royal Stag’s exquisite custom hats are painstakingly crafted by hand in Colorado using traditional methods with an eye toward modern styling. The result is a timeless heirloom piece that would be a gift passed down for generations. >>

>> Garmin has a whole collection of incredible tech for the golfers you love. There are several models of the Garmin Approach Smartwatch that come preloaded with more than 41,000 courses around the world to give you the most accurate information. They’re sunlight-readable, too. There’s also a cool Golf Laser Range Finder that boasts accuracy up to 10” from the flag. >> from $149

>> Goldbelly partners with a HUGE variety of small restaurants around the country to ship nostalgic [or new] food favorites to your door. They’ll send pretty much anything your heart desires from samosas to lasagna to kolaches. >> from $25

>> OneFortyThree hand-makes stunning molded plywood furniture, lighting and accessories one-by-one in their Nevada studio. They expertly combine industrial materials with natural ones to create beautiful things for your home, like this Acoustic Guitar Stand and gorgeous Office Accessories that would elevate anyone’s space. >> $155

>> At the perfect intersection of form + function, you’ll find Fellow. Self-proclaimed ‘coffee nerds,’ they work tirelessly to create home brewing products that are both gorgeous to look at and fully maximize the coffee-drinking experience for everyone from beginners to award-winning baristas. Their Ode Brew Grinder will give you the perfect grind for your favorite bean [except espresso]. It won the Specialty Coffee Association’s Best New Product Award for 2021, so… See the Gift Guide for Coffee + Tea Lovers for more. >> from $299

>> Thermoworks’ RFX is the newest innovation in professional grade, ultra-dialed wireless meat thermometers. It has a super long range and patent-pending radio frequency technology that will easily and seamlessly guide you to the perfect internal temp. If you love someone who’s serious about their grilling and smoking, this is such an epic gift. >> from $257

>> Regular bocce is fun, sure. But Playboule LED Lighted Bocce is so much cooler. Each ball has a little light inside that can be turned on and off with just a push. We’ve used our set in our own backyard and camping a zillion times and it’s so fun. The balls have proved super durable and the lights are easy to turn off and on. >> $79.95

>> This is so cool. HitchFire is a hitch-mountable, super powerful propane grill that can go anywhere your vehicle can; camping, tailgating, skiing, the park... This beefy F-20 model has two burners for feeding the whole crew and the handy swingarm feature provides easy access to the car’s contents. My husband would LOVE this thing. >> from $549

Awesome Giftable Books for Men

>> Sports Cars highlights 50 of the most sought-after cars of all time. >> $30
SHOP at BARNES & NOBLE or AMAZON

>> The Aloha Shirt: Spirit of the Islands is a comprehensive and really beautiful walk through history of the iconic Hawaiian Shirt. >> $70
SHOP at BARNES & NOBLE or AMAZON

>> After All is Said and Done documents the history of the bootlegs that helped define The Dead’s legacy. >> $50
SHOP at BARNES & NOBLE or AMAZON

>> The Man Behind the Maps compiles all the artwork by legendary ski artist, James Niehues, who painted the trail maps of more than 200 iconic ski resorts. >> $95

>> Rare Watches ieatures photography from Christie’s auction house and highlights 50 of the most unique, most expensive and most desirable watches of all time. >> $60
SHOP at BARNES & NOBLE or AMAZON

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