The 15 Best Gifts for Dad

Many of us owe our passion for adventure and the outdoors to our fathers. This Father's Day, what better way to celebrate dad's role in stoking that fire than to fuel his own? The following curated gifts—everything from wooden sunglasses and inflatable SUPs to a minimalist's fly-fishing kit and an electric motorcycle—will do just that.

Motoped Cruzer

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I’m not exactly a handy guy. Though I compulsively read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Robert M. Pirsig’s 1974 existential juggernaut about working through life’s philosophical con-undrums while tending to the ailments of an old bike, my fascination never translated into practical knowledge. I can’t even change the oil, let alone replace a carburetor. But the mere sight of an engine triggers some primal urge to pick up a wrench and tinker with it. 

That’s rarely a good idea, unless we’re talking about the Motoped Cruzer. Designed to replicate classic motorcycles from the early 20th century, the Cruzer combines a mountain-bike frame with a 49cc engine and adds retro details like wood fenders and a leather saddle. The best part: you can assemble it yourself in a long weekend. (You’ll need a Phillips screwdriver, a metric socket set, Allen wrenches, a hacksaw, and a small favor from a buddy with a steering-headset press.)

The results may look like something out of Mad Max, but this bike is built for beach missions. The Cruzer’s tank holds 1.3 gallons, enough to travel 150 miles, and it tops out at 24 miles per hour. Best of all, you don’t have to use the engine; you can rip up and down your favorite coastal roads looking for the perfect beach break, then cut the motor and pedal the bike right onto the sand.

From $3,249, motoped.com

Hydro Flask True Pint

No Father’s Day celebration is complete without a tall, cool frosty beverage, which is why the Hydro Flask True Pint is the perfect gift for that thirsty man in your life.

This specially engineered, vacuum-insulated glass keeps a layer of air between the hand holding the glass and what's inside, helping ensure beer stays cold to the last drop. A stainless steel interior washes clean after use so that your beverage won't be affected by the taste of drinks past. Hydro Flask also engineered the lip of the True Pint to resemble the edge and feel of a traditional English pint glass.

The Hydro Flask True Pint, at less than $25, is so cheap that you should get two: one for your father and one for you to raise a glass together. 

$22, hydroflask.com

Lululemon MWB Jacket

Lululemon, the company that practically invented the woman's yoga pant, has since learned a thing or two about menswear. Take the MWB jacket, one of our favorite commuter, do-it-all jackets. Blending business-casual style with moisture-wicking, rain-shedding properties, it will help dad look good on the go without the need to change when he gets there. 

It’s made out of Lululemon’s trademarked Warpstreame fabric, which means it's lightweight, durable, and water-resistant for rainy-day commutes. It even has zippered vents in the back that dump heat in a hurry.

The Lululemon MWB Jacket has its business in the front with three buttons, pockets, and a straight collar, which add a nice touch of style for either that Sunday brunch or client presentation. 

$298, lululemon.com

Sea to Summit X-Set 31

If your dad is a guy who actually enjoys firing up a family meal after a long hike, check out Sea to Summit's five-piece stackable cooking set. 

The X-Set 31 pots are built from hard-anodized aluminum bases that can withstand camp-stove flames as well as a good beating up and down the mountain, and a flexible silicone upper that saves space. Collapse them after the meal's finished and nest them with other X Series cookware. 

The Sea to Summit X-Set 31 comes with a 2.8-liter pot, two bowls, and two mugs.

$105, seatosummit.com

Miir Payette Commuter Bike

Believe it or not, your father was once a child. To spark his memories of those days, splurge on the Miir Payette.

This elegant singlespeed bike comes in four sizes, with a flip-flop hub which allows the rider the option of riding fixed or free. It also comes standard with 35-spoke wheels, 25mm tires, and a supple steel frame.

The best part? For every bike Miir sells, the company donates another to a person in need either in the U.S. or Africa. 

$499, miir.com

Flowfold Traveler

One of the strongest wallets on the market, the Flowfold Traveler Wallet, also happens to be one of the lightest.

The trifold Traveler Wallet is made from the same material that goes into high-end racing sails: Kevlar fiber. Empty, it weighs 1.1 ounces, but it's roomy enough to hold the essentials with six pockets for credit cards, one transparent slot for ID, and a large pocket for cash. Need more space? It also has five additional pockets, three of which are hidden. It’s so light it floats—a double bonus for those who spend time a lot of time on the water.

With the Flowfold Traveler Wallet, dad's rear pocket will thank you.

$30, flowfold.com

Urchin Sky Kniper

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Help dad let off steam every once in a while with the Urchin Sky Kniper—a 13-inch throwing knife that can also be used as a multitool.

The Kniper is good for chucking, sure. But beyond that, nearly every surface and edge of the high-carbon stainless steel blade and handle can be used for something. All told, there are 22 tools—from a Phillips-head screwdriver to a saw to a wire stripper. It even comes with a sundial printed on the outside of a universal hexhole.

If dad doesn’t like it, then ask him to give it to you. 

$145, urchinsky.com

Skullcandy Grind Headphones

Good news: For $60 you can treat that audiophile father in your life with the Skullcandy Grind headphones.

Besides delivering quality sound, the headphones are built to fit well thanks to plush foam earpads and lightweight headband. And unlike many headphones with their jumbled and frayed cords, these have a detachable cable for easy storage. The Skullcandy Grind headphones also have an on-ear button that lets the wearer take calls or cycle through music. 

$60, skullcandy.com

Tucker & Bloom North to South Messenger

In the none-too-distant past, China was the defacto home of manufacturing. Not any longer. More and more companies are choosing to make their products in the U.S., and that includes the Tucker & Bloom North to South Messenger Bag. 

The North to South Messenger Bag features an outer layer of waxed, water-resistant canvas. It'll protect electronics during inclement weather and, with a 13.5-inch opening, it's big enough to hold most laptops, along with a smartphone, batteries, and cords in its specially designed side pocket. A removable cross strap comes in handy when biking to work, and leather trim dresses up this otherwise casual bag for office or weekend use.

But the best thing? The Tucker & Bloom North to South Messenger bag was designed and made by the father and son team of Case and David Bloom, who started the company together and continue to work shoulder to shoulder in their Nashville factory. The pair guarantees their bags for life.

$250, tucker-bloom.com

Tenkara USA Sato Kit

Short on space? Try the Tenkara USA Sato Kit, which ditches the traditional fly reel to cut down on clutter.  

For under $300, the minimalist kit comes with one Sato triple-zoom rod that collapses down to 22 inches, but can expand in three lengths, depending on the size of the stream your dad wants to fish. It also contains a keeper with 15 feet of line, a tippet, three flies, forceps, and nippers—everything he needs for a few hours on the river.

Along with its compact size, the Tenkaro USA Sato Kit is also lightweight, with the rod weighing 2.6 ounces.

$259, tenkarausa.com

Filson Leather Notebook Cover and Notebook

In this Digital Age of ours, the concept of sitting down with a pen in hand to write on real paper (gasp!) may seem silly and old fashioned. But people who think that way likely don't have a Filson Leather Notebook Cover and Notebook to scribble their thoughts in.

This elegant, leather-bound notebook with an oil finish measures 9-by-11 inches and is filled with all-weather Rite in the Rain waterproof paper. 

It comes in three colors (cognac, dark brown, and natural), and has a pen-holder tab as well as two slot pockets inside to hold lose paper or photos. Get one of these for your dad and you might get something special in return. Like the next great American novel.

$185, filson.com

Stumptown Coffee Roasters Nitro Cold Brew Coffee

Dad doesn’t have to be a coffee snob to get a buzz from Stumptown Coffee Roasters Nitro Cold Brew coffee. Wrapped in an aluminum can, this thing looks more like a beer than a delicious caffeine-delivery device. 

But there’s a reason for the pop-top can. The Portland, Oregon-based Stumptown Coffee Roasters have cold brewed 11 ounces of black-and-tan goodness for 12 hours and then injected the mixture with nitrogen. That infusion creates a foam similar to that of a Guiness beer when you pour the creamy, smooth coffee into a glass. 

Stumptown Coffee Roasters Nitro Cold Brew coffee is tasty enough to prove that a good cup of coffee can come from a can. 

$5, coldbrew.com

Reactor Titan Watch

The Reactor Titan watch is the Fort Knox of timepieces. 

Its core is fashioned out of 316L-gauge stainless steel, while a polymer shell coats the analog watch’s exterior. The face is made with Reactor’s Never Dark technology, which combines a Swiss material known as Superluminova with tritium to glow in the dark. It also comes in three colors, including black, orange, and flat-dark earth.

The goal: Reactor wanted to make a watch that could withstand being shot at with a .22 or the jaws of a 300-pound bull shark. With the Titan, they succeeded. 

$500, reactorwatch.com

Ray-Ban Clubmaster Wood Sunglasses

Your dad probably watched Miami Vice back in the 1980s. If so, get him a pair of Ray-Ban Clubmaster Wood sunglasses, which will have him looking and feeling like Sonny Crockett.  

A variant of Ray-Ban’s long-running Clubmaster collection, they get their name from the wood that's used in the glasses' bridge. Choose from walnut, maple, or cherry.

The bridge on the Ray-Ban Clubmaster Wood sunglasses is treated and lined to protect them from surf and sand. Dad's optometrist can even switch the lenses for his prescription for use indoor and out.

$300, ray-ban.com