Father’s Day is very much on the horizon but don’t worry if you haven’t quite got your Pa’s present for Sunday June 21st on order just yet. To save you from surrendering to a last minute supermarket purchase of a box of chocolates, this post rounds up gift ideas based on your Father’s favourite things to do. Hopefully you’ll find some fresh new ideas nestled in the list…
Cycling
Is your dad one of the growing MAMIL (middle aged man in lycra) brigade? While you might not always want to see him in his brightest and best neons, his efforts to keep fit deserve applauding and rewarding. You probably won’t want to stump up for a designer bike as the cost of these are so high they are reportedly driving some cycling enthusiasts into debt. If you can’t stomach a cycling shorts purchase, how about a caffeine based gift to fuel his rides? Everyone knows coffee and cycling go together like hands and handlebars and this aeropress kit, £20.95 from cremagoods, is suitably lightweight.
Foodie
Speaking of food, if your dad is the type of guy who appreciates food and drink in its many forms? if he’s a regular visitor to a farmer’s market or takes trips to the local craft beer festival, you may want to invest in something that will feed his foodie fascination. Even better, why not choose a gift that may benefit you in a roundabout way? Home smoking has seen a huge surge of interest over the past few years and while you can invest a lot of money if you want to, there are some very accessible kits that will help you father bring home the bacon, smoked fish or even smoked cheese. This one from notonthehighstreet at £28.50, comes with packages wrapped in string!
Gardening
If your dad has been gardening a while, chances are he’s got a plentiful supply of plants flowers and seeds. With this in mind, why not buy him something that will make the less interesting jobs such as leave removal that little bit more exciting. Air compressors can move unwanted garden debris in super speedy time, which makes for less time spent brushing up leaves and more time enjoying a tea break in a tidy outdoor space. Air Supplies stock a wide range suitable for at home for use in the garden or for general garage jobs and prices start at £120.
Gamer
Buying the latest games is an expensive affair, but there are plenty of less costly Father’s Day gifts you can give to dads with a serious games console commitment. How about starting with some snazzy items they can enjoy in a dedicated games area? These Tetris stacked lights (£29.99 from Firebox) can be rearranged and fit in rather nicely with these retro geek blinds from English Blinds (prices vary according to size).
Walker
If your dad likes to explore the hills and vales of our wondrous isles, a good pair of walking socks might be a safe (and price-conscious) buy. If you’d rather add something a little more stylish to their walking collection, what about this Cartography flask (£19.99) from John Lewis? The map might not be able to help them up or down a mountain but hot tea, coffee or soup stored inside would surely give them a boost!
Photography
If your father’s into photography he’s likely to have expensive tastes – lenses, tripods and editing equipment don’t come cheap. However, if he uses Photoshop he might appreciate this nifty shortcut skin for his keyboard, which can help speed up the editing process. It costs $30.00 from photojojo.com plus $12 shipping to the UK.
DIY enthusiast
According to the statistics, DIY enthusiasts are in sharp decline, so if your dad is a DIY-er you could almost say he’s an endangered species and that means his hobby requires support with sentiment. You’ll find lots of places selling personalised tools and toolboxes online but if your pa’s already got more spanners than you can shake an erm, spanner at, how about treating him to this tongue-in-cheek mug? At just £9.99 it’s another budget friendly option. Alternatively, give him something he can really get to grips with… like a project to build you a new shoe rack or to fix your shower!
Have you got Father’s Day in hand or are you still on the lookout for the perfect gift for your dad? If you’re still to plan a present will you you be heading to the shops, buying online or making something yourself?