Standout Gifts for Dad

Unique Father’s Day gift ideas that show you care.

Dads, you can thank Mother’s Day for giving birth to Father’s Day. A Mother’s Day sermon prompted its founding, and in 1924, President Calvin Coolidge publicly supported the holiday. Not only did dads get their own day, but America got a new retail opportunity.

Remember to celebrate your dad on the third Sunday in June. However, dads can be difficult to shop for (he probably doesn’t need another tie). Look for experiences that he might be interested in, gear that will help his golf game, a fun “of-the-month” club or technology he might not buy himself. To dads: If there’s something you’d like, speak up!

Here are some suggestions that could spark some gift-giving creativity:

Leupold GX-2 Digital Golf Rangefinder
What dad would turn down a little high-tech help on the golf course? This next-generation rangefinder has an advanced laser sight system that gives Dad information on distance to the pin, sand traps and other obstacles. It will also offer suggestions on selecting a club based on his own striking distances and the weather.
$400
golf.leupold.com/

Jack Black First Class Five Gift Set
Dad may not be metro, but he’ll still appreciate a nicely appointed grooming set—particularly in Jack Black’s very non-frou frou packaging. Plus, most JB products are multifunctional (like moisturizers with built-in sunscreens, dual-purpose hair and body washes), so Dad won’t feel like he’s overdoing the product. And because you care, products are fragrance-free, colorant-free, cruelty-free and dermatologist tested. This gift set includes eye balm, SPF 20 moisturizer, a shaving “lube,” allover wash and lip balm. Just enough for upkeep—but not cosmetic overload.
$49
getjackblack.com

High-Speed Ferrari Racing
You may not be buying your dad a Ferrari this year, but you can get him into one for a day. Part of the new three-and-a-half-hour Dream Racing Experience, launched this year by former racecar drivers Enrico Bertaggia and Adriano de Micheli, involves getting behind the wheel of a Ferrari F430 GT racer to drive five high-speed laps around the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. That’s after classroom training and a session on a simulator that uses a 3-D laser scan of the track.
$499
dreamracing.com

Lighted Fog-Free Shower Mirror
It’s not every day that he can get an old-school shave, complete with straight razor and hot towel, but at least you can help your dad to the gift of sight while he gets the benefit of a steamy shave. This fogless shower mirror sticks to nearly any surface, magnifies up to five times and is surrounded by LED lights. It’s a simple gift he’ll appreciate whenever he’s feeling scruffy.
$40
frontgate.com

Hot Sauce of the Month Club Sure, there are endless beer, meat, coffee and other “of-the-month” clubs, but heat-seeking dads will appreciate the fun of two gourmet specialty hot sauces from restaurants, chefs and obscure producers from around the world. And you can decide whether he needs just three months of heat, six months or an entire year (for serious sauce aficionados).
$18.95 per month
amazingclubs.com

Image © Greg Vote/Veer