2015 Father’s Day Gift Guide: Gear

Guys are pretty easy to shop for. Most of the time, you can just get stuff you’d buy for yourself. Here’s a grab bag of Father’s Day gift ideas geared towards looking good and improving your daily life. And for more great suggestions, be sure to check out the other categories in our annual gift guide.

The “Cleveland” Shoe from Lebron James

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Lebron James has taken the Cleveland Cavaliers to the NBA Finals, and now, this new color scheme for his Lebron 12 men’s basketball shoe from Nike is flying off the shelves, especially in areas rooting for James’ hometown team. If your dad still appreciates a cool pair of sneakers and likes to play hoops, you’d be hard-pressed to find a cooler gift than these vibrant kicks. Of course, there are other color choices as well, but this pair featuring the Cavs colors may be your best bet… unless he’s a Bulls or Warriors fan!

Shinola Watches

While everyone else may be talking about a new watch from Apple, there are incredible watches made right here in America that you should be checking out as well. The Runwell model (pictured below) is a classic, hand-assembled watch made in Detroit by Shinola. If dad appreciates stuff made in America, then this could be a great gift idea. Features of the watch include a sapphire crystal, Super-LumiNova printed dial details, a solid stainless steel case with screw down crown, three hands and date indicator driven by the Detroit-built Argonite 1069 high-accuracy quartz movement, and a laser-etched case and etched lightning bolt on the buckle. Anyone who values attention to detail and beautiful styling will love these watches. Browse the Shinola site for watches, and then check out their leather goods as well, along with the bicycles!

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OGIO X-TRAIN 2 Backpack

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OGIO has fast become one of our favorite brands for sports and active lifestyle bags, and this update of the popular X-TRAIN model is the perfect example of what makes them so great. Small enough to take along on a cycling or hiking trip, but with enough storage space to fulfill the needs of the everyday athlete, the X-TRAIN 2 is made from high-tensile strength and lightweight endurance fabrics with an abrasion-resistant tarpaulin base. There’s a dedicated laptop sleeve for those that like to mix work with play, a crush-resistant Tech Vault container to protect valuables, and two small pockets on the front and back for things like snacks and keys. The main compartment is large enough to fit a change of clothes and other essentials, while our favorite feature – the wet/dry area at the bottom of the bag – allows you to keep your dirty and smelly shoes away from the rest of your gear. The backpack itself is really stylish (we love the dark gray/burst color tone), and with ergonomic, padded shoulder straps and an adjustable sternum strap, it’s incredibly comfortable to wear for long periods.

Dunstan Surfwear

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Father’s Day falls smack dab in the middle of beach season, so what better way to celebrate than with a new pair of boardshorts from Dunstan Surfwear? The bespoke market is growing bigger by the day, and Dunstan embraces that philosophy by allowing people to custom design a pair of boardshorts on their website which are then custom tailored and delivered air express to anywhere in the world from their production facility in Sri Lanka. Everything about the shorts is decided by you, so each pair is completely unique. After selecting one of five styles/templates, you can customize the leg panels and waistband using a variety of colors and patterns, choose between brass snaps or ties for the closure, and even pick the color of the stitching and drawstring. Measurements can then be selected from a default setting based on height and waist size, or manually entered using specific criteria for a more precise fit. You don’t need to stress too hard about getting the measurements exactly right, however, because Dunstan offers free alterations if you’re not satisfied. Better yet, they look and feel great, and because the company upcycles the fabric, they’re eco-friendly as well. That’s what you call a win-win-win.

Yogabed Mattress

Most guys probably love the idea of shopping for a mattress online and having it delivered to their doorstep in a suspiciously small box, but you usually get what you pay for with those types of mattresses. However, that’s not the case with the Yogabed foam mattress, which provides convenience and affordability in an impressive bedding system that’s comparable to (and in some cases, better than) most major brands. This is the first foam mattress we tried that we didn’t immediately hate due to the usual drawbacks, and thanks to a smartly designed advanced layered system (which is comprised of a .075” Instant Response Foam, 1.75” YogaGel, 6.5” Breathable Foam Base and 1” Support Base), it disperses your body weight evenly and keeps things cool and comfortable throughout the night. The Yogabed reacts and recovers its shape as you move, eliminating that horrible sinking feeling of being trapped in a foam-like quicksand. The hypoallergenic mattresses are available in a variety of sizes (twin through California king), produced in the USA and come with a 10-year warranty and 101-day, no-risk trial. All mattresses also include a removable, machine washable cover, as well as Yogabed pillows that use the same technology. Though it’s a tad expensive for a typical Father’s Day present, this makes for an excellent “we” gift for couples in search of a better night’s sleep.

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STM Drifter Bag

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Whether you’re using it for travel, to carry your daily essentials across campus, or as a daddy-approved diaper bag that keeps you looking tough and rugged despite the contents inside, STM’s Drifter backpack is perfect for a number of occasions. Constructed with a water resistant fabric for the main body and a reinforced bottom fabric, this bag has all the space you need and more. In addition to a top-load main compartment with a built-in padded laptop sleeve that will hold most devices up to 15 inches, the Drifter features three zippered pockets on the front (including one with fleece lining for delicate items), a compression pocket on the side for a water bottle, and a small zippered pocket on the other side. Apart from storage, the backpack features a 3D foam mesh back panel, padded shoulder straps with a sternum strap for added support, a reflective light loop for better night safety, and an integrated strap on the back that slides over a wheeled luggage handle. And in case you get stuck in bad weather, there’s even a form-fitting, detachable rain cover that is stored in the bottom for easy access. What’s not to love?