The Handpicked Gift Guide for Husbands Who Say They Don't Need Anything
Featuring picks from real live husbands
I asked a bunch of cool men what they’d love to get as a gift from their billionaire best friend if they had one. Here’s the 2023 Handpicked Gift Guide for husbands, including the gift that’s superior to all other gifts…
the guys’ picks
Besides a private island, courtside seats, and an F-250 with an AirStream on the back, here’s what the husbands would ask for if they could have anything:
The husbands’ #1 ask? An e-bike. Super73 is the cream of the crop, but there are more affordable options out there, like this slim white one, an all-terrain style, and this crowd favorite by Heybike.
Second most asked-for: an outdoor pizza oven. Here’s another super nice one, recommended by a friend who cooks dinner for his family outdoors weekly. (He also swears by this grill.)
My brother-in-law says, “I seriously have a strong desire to buy everything in REI. I totally understand that I don’t go camping much at all. Doesn’t matter. I still love camping stuff.” He recommends this super lightweight camp chair and this projector for outdoor movies (similar, less expensive).
My kids’ best friends’ dad says, “Tateossian bracelets. Charles Tyrwhitt dress shirts. Outdoor Voices crew sweatshirts or hoodies. Anything men’s Lululemon.”
My two artsiest guy friends said, “I’d be happy with a new art book or an antique map,” and, for the indie movie lovers, “A subscription to Criterion Channel or MUBI.”
My best friend from college says, “American Wagyu from Snake River Farms for super special occasions. But really, top-notch memories (i.e. concert or sports tickets), incredible food with interesting people, or traveling somewhere seemingly out of reach is so much better than anything that collects dust. And a well-written, thoughtful letter might trump even these.”
alex’s picks
My rules of thumb for gift giving to a person you live with:
Solve a problem. Improve his routine, replace something broken, note what bugs him (for Nate, he has longed for some nice tumblers as an alternative to our kid-friendly mason jars).
Upgrade his uniform. A high-quality version of the items he reaches for most makes a great gift. For t-shirts, Kule and Scotch & Soda make really high-quality ones. For polos, go with a class like Lacoste or an unexpected cashmere. Quince makes a really nice hoodie.
Most importantly: Use Rakuten for cashback. There is literally no catch, it’s completely free, they just mail you a check for shopping through them. If you install the browser extension, it automatically lets you know when you’re on a site that offers you cashback.
And now, the gifts:
A great hat. My friend Austin was wearing this super lightweight Stance hat at lunch a few weeks ago. Any hat-wearing male sports fan deserves an Ebbets Field ball cap. Historically accurate to hundreds of different teams’ original designs, I’m calling EF Americana at its finest/ most wearable! And here’s one that’s just fun.
Personalized glass bottle Cokes. Classic Coca-Cola with his name on the label! Pairs well with: a cool bottle opener or a set of drinking glasses.
Sentimental photo album. You can use iPhone photos for this! Collect funny photos of you two together and make a magazine or mini book – guaranteed lifelong treasure. Alternate gift: a nice photo of you for his desk (here’s a great small frame. I like printing at Richard Photo Lab and Artifact Uprising)
If he travels or your space is small, a nice shave kit. It’s fun to monogram it, and throwing a classic razor and face towel in makes it a full-on gift. Pairs well with: the Le Labo fragrance with a cult following
If he doesn’t already have some, treat him to a pair of Airpods or Airtags. They’re ridiculously practical.
That fact is, gifts you can eat are simply superior to gifts you cannot eat. And that is why we are so grateful for Goldbelly, who *ships* a dazzling selection of famous favorite foods, such as: BBQ Trashcan Nachos by Guy Fieri, a coconut cake so famous it has its own US patent, and this one’s for the BYU alumni: J. Dawgs! (I got this for Nate for his birthday last year. Big hit.)
Cozy slippers. I figured this out because Nate tries to steal mine! I (we) like my cheap Costco ones (men’s version), but the classic Uggs are hard to beat.
If he wants a low-key challenging hobby: a vintage Canon AE-1 camera. It’s the gold standard 35mm camera because it’s simple enough for beginners to learn on while offering Canon’s excellent mechanics. Get one on eBay, Etsy, or even Amazon (here). Pairs well with the best backpack of all time (use code: alex_steele for 10% off) + a few rolls of Kodak films, like Tri-X or Gold 200. And the best place to process your film is Rewind Film Lab!
A simple gold chain, for the jewelry-curious.
An affordable piece of art!
Upgrade alert: sneaker refresh. Classic Vans in a dusty teal, a pair with extra comfy gum-soles (because, y’know, grown up feet hurt sometimes), and old school high top Chucks in a very fallish colorway.
Nate’s favorite birthday gift: a cornhole set for the backyard. Pairs well with: custom Cokes!
