Gift Ideas: Hard To Shop For Boomer Dads
The second hardest person for me to shop for is my Father-in-Law. He is low-key, says he doesn’t need or want anything, and at this point seems to have literally everything he could possibly need. I don’t want to add more clutter to his life. Men are hard to shop for. And Boomer Men? They may be the most challenging. But, we still need to try, right? Here are some tried and true things that Boomer men have reported they love.
WANT: Unleash His Inner Hobbyist
Nature Hobby Technology: Trust me. Everyone over 50 has a wholesome little nature hobby they've quietly picked up. Support it with some new fangled tech. Pictured: Bird Buddy- a solar powered bird feeder camera. He’ll be able to tell you if his cardinal friend came by today. (Update: Bird Buddy seems to be sold out as of Cyber Monday, but this looks like an affordable alternative).
Powerful Compact Binoculars: Because every nature enthusiast needs a pair of binoculars to spot that elusive bird or just keep an eye on the grandkids. These have large eyepieces, a tabletop tripod, and a phone connector.
Heated Camping Chair: For those chilly outdoor moments when he wants to enjoy the weather from the deck or be at the grandkids' sportsball games, this warming travel chair will keep his tuchus toasty.
NEED: Practical Essentials for the On-the-Go Hero
Travel Air Pump: Turn him into the roadside hero with a travel air pump for pumping up tires on the go. Cap isn’t a boomer, but he has Boomer sensibilities and he loves this and uses it all the time.
Phone Holster: Because apparently, it's the law for every Boomer man to have one. Keep that phone secure in style with this leather phone holster.
Travel Charger: Boomer men love being handy. He can be the ultimate gadget hero with a travel charger that not only juices up his devices but also saves the day for others. For when, you know, his wife’s phone has died playing Candy Crush.
WEAR: Cozy Essentials for Everyday Comfort
Shaw Collar Cardigan: Because giving a sweater is like giving a warm hug on a chilly day. This one washes well and comes in seven colors size XS to 2XL for under $30.
Clip-On Sunglasses (Three Pack): Stylish and practical, he can stash these anti-glare clip on sunglasses everywhere - in the car, at home, and in the other car.
No-Slip Slippers: For standing in the driveway and walking to the mailbox and looking good doing it. Bonus: if he accidentally wears these indoor/ outdoor slippers to the grocery store, it’s all good.
READ: Nourish His Mind and Soul
Family stories - Like I suggested for Boomer Moms, the biggest gift he can give you is your family’s history. For the tech savvy (if he will email the prompts), I recommend StoryWorth. The pen and paper version of this is Duncan & Stone’s Legacy Journal.
Spiritual Development: Feed his soul with books that delve into spiritual growth and self-reflection. Pictures: Tim Keller Box Set.
Historical Non-Fiction: Explore the past with gripping historical non-fiction that'll transport him to different eras. George Washington’s Secret Six has incredible reviews. My Father-in-Law owns a lot of Tom Clancy, and I feel like this may be right up is ally.
PROCEED WITH CAUTION: Tools. Only buy if he’s point blank said he’d like a specific one. I have a multi-tool Leatherman in the Amazon shop, but at this point, he’s either a tool guy (and has what he needs) or isn’t.
AVOID: Regular sporting tickets, only because he may not feel like going on that day depending on the weather or how he’s feeling.
GOOD GIFT CARDS:
Movie gift certificates - AMC (if he likes going to the theater) or a year of a streaming service like Netflix or Disney+ / Discovery / ESPN (especially if you pair it with an Apple TV or Amazon Fire TV Stick if he doesn’t have a smart tv set up yet)
Still stumped? Read How To Be The Best Gift Giver Ever to make sure you’ve not overlooking a simple solution. Happy gifting!
