For some reason, shopping for Mother’s Day always seems easier than shopping for Father’s Day. So often dads end up with ties, or socks, or a two four of their favourite beer. But we can do better than that, can’t we? We know that every dad isn’t the same, so we have tried to round up some great gift giving ideas for a variety of the dads in your life. Just remember, Father’s Day is June 17th.
DESIGN LOVING DAD
Kicks from Nike. If you have the type of dad that is always trying to cope your kicks, why not get him his own pair of Nike? The brand is always dropping some great collaborations and limited editions. In fact, there are four releases available now or right before Father’s Day that would make any design loving dad happy. The Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 35, Air Jordan IV Travis Scott, Jordan Trainer ST G, and the Nike BETRUE 2018 Collection are all great options. We love that the BETRUE collection is not only dope in design but supports equality. Available via Nike.
A RADO watch. A fine timepiece for a man is like a great piece of jewellery for a woman. Every design forward dad appreciates a good watch. So why not get him a watch that flies under the radar but is very collectable? RADO has been making modern watches that are worthy of a design museum. They are not only quality timepieces but they have an insider cool status that other watches don’t. The classic Ceramica is an easy choice. Or even the latest True Thinlines – super thin and super chic. But if he is more traditional, consider one of their great re-releases (re-designs) like the HyperChrome Captain Cook.
A Fresh Scent from Byredo is a luxury niche fragrance brand from Europe that specializes in unique scents. They have won over fans the world over for their creative fragrances and their clean minimalist design. Who doesn’t want a great smelling dad? Trust us, your mom will thank you. Over and over again. If you aren’t sure which scent to choose, may we suggest you opt for Gypsy Water, Bibliotheque, or Super Cedar.
THE HIPSTER DAD:
A Clean Shave with Philips Shaver. Every Dad is tight on time these days but also needs to be well groomed. For a quick shave that could pass for a professional job from the barber, get him the Philips shaver S9311. Its V-track precision blades will give him the ultimate clean, close and smooth face, while the 8-direction contouring heads hug every curve, cutting up to 20% more hair in a single pass. Aquatec technology allows Dad to opt for a quick dry shave or a comfortable wet shave – it even lets him shave in the shower. Retails for $369.99, available through Amazon.ca
Barber + Co. Remember when your Dad first showed you how to shave? I bet it wasn’t with the kind of premium shave products that you use today. A proper shave regimen is a fated ritual best enjoyed with the right tools. So why not share these with your Dad? This kit includes a great shave oil to hydrate and calm skin, a shave cream for exceptional razor glide, and an aftershave tonic to refresh, moisturize and soothe. Available through Barber + Co, $60
FujiFilm Camera. Although many of us simply take photos on our phones, there has been a resurgence of ‘proper’ cameras in recent years. This camera is the perfect option for dads who are more serious about upping their photographic skill. The x-A5 is the perfect compact digital camera with a vintage vibe. The 180-degree tiltable touchscreen LCD is great for selfies and lets you check your composition before you take a picture. 4K technology lets you make excellent videos or photo bursts you can share on social media. Get creative with 17 Advanced Filters and 11 Film Simulation modes. The hipster dad will appreciate the technology but also the leather wrapped design. Retails for $749.99
Bather Trunks. Every hipster has learned the trick that swim shorts double great as printed shorts for everyday. This is even better for Dad’s, no need to worry about impromptu water fights with the kids when wearing shorts that instantly dry. The brand’s classic Bather Swim Trunk is the perfect ‘all day, everyday’ swim short for Dad. We love that the brand always uses cool new prints – no embarrassing Dad options ever. Made in Canada, $95 retail.
THE LIFE IS ABOUT EXPERIENCES NOT STUFF DAD:
Turo.com. Many Dad’s dream about a weekend in their dream car. Guess what? Now you can give it to them with a new service called Turo. You could call it the AirBnB for Cars. That’s right you can rent a great car from a local owner. The service also can include great extras like gas cards, car seats, fishing gear, etc. We checked out their listings and found a great 1969 Ford Galaxie Convertible in Toronto, a Maserati Ghilbi in Montreal and a vintage 1989 Jaguar in Calgary. There are so many options, we are sure you will find the perfect dream car for the weekend (or week) for your Dad.
Porsche Track Experience. This is the perfect gift for the Dad who has always wanted to race around a track in a ‘suped-up’ car. The Porsche Track Experience is the ultimate Father’s Day gift for all the driving aficionados and sports car loving Dads. The goal of the four-level program is to coach Dad with the skills needed to drive Porsche vehicles to their fullest potential with precision through an enjoyable learning process. Half-day to two-day packages are available from May to September 2018 started at $495 per person. For more information, visit http://porscheexperience.ca/en/trackexperience/.
THE TECH DAD:
Nest Hello is the latest from the home-tech gurus at Nest. Their latest, Hello, is the video doorbell of your dreams. You can easily sync it to the rest of your smart home devices and your smartphone. The video features means you can see who is at your door even when you aren’t home. But not only can you see who is at the door but you can talk with them through your phone. Further, you can even send pre-programmed replies to them. Retails for $299.
Apple Home Pod. Although this product does not drop in Canada until June 18th. The day after Father’s Day, we had to include it. This is Apples’ entry into the smart home speaker market. HomePod is a powerful speaker that sounds amazing and adapts to wherever it’s playing. It’s the ultimate music authority, bringing together Apple Music and Siri to learn your taste in music. It’s also an intelligent home assistant, capable of handling everyday tasks — and controlling your smart home. HomePod takes the listening experience to a whole new level. And that’s just the beginning. Retails for $449
Fitbit Versa is the newest smartwatch from Fitbit, is the ultimate daily health and fitness companion that will empower dad to make the most of every moment, stay connected and reach his goals. With on-screen workouts, 4+ day battery life, personalized reminders and all-day activity tracking, Versa is the perfect gift for all dads—you can even customize the clock face with a family photo! Retails for $249.95.
ANTI-TECH DAD:
Analog Music. Vinyl has been making a huge comeback in the past few years. And if your dad is anything like our dads, he has a huge stack of vinyl buried somewhere in his basement. So why not get him a turntable so he can start spinning some of those great classics from his youth? And who knows, maybe he has some albums you can pilfer to add to your own collection. One of the best introductory turntables is from Audio-Technica. So grab him a turntable and get him some new albums. For more info on collecting vinyl, find out more here.
Balvenie Whisky. In this hectic world, why not give dad the chance to chill and relax with a great glass of whisky at the end of the day? There is something about whisky that harkens back to ‘simpler’ times where time was appreciated not something to race through… So why not grab dad a bottle from an century old whisky producer? Thanks to natural alchemy and centuries-old craftsmanship, The Balvenie is unique among single malt whiskeys. Their whisky-making process is dedicated to maintaining the Five Rare Crafts and we are the only distillery in Scotland that still grows its own barley, uses traditional floor maltings and keeps both a coppersmith and a team of coopers on site. Available through your local liquor distributor.
