Whether you’re struggling to find a gift for someone who has everything, can’t quite find a present to match a hobby, or are just plain out of ideas, Christmas can be a stressful time for finding good gifts for others.
To alleviate some of that stress, we’ve put together a list of gifts for him that try to be useful, actually interesting, and won’t just be collecting dust on Boxing Day. Many of these lean into things I’m interested in (write what you know!), so you’ll find gifts for the “Outdoors-y” to the Creative, to the Master Chef, Stocking Stuffers, and more.
Everyday Upgrades for Him
Quite often the best gift is an upgrade to an item that you use everyday, but just can’t justify the upgrade to a premium version. These are high-quality gifts to contribute to a high quality of life
Blunt Metro Umbrella, Daimon Downey Design, $149.00
Everyone knows the pain of going through multiple, tattered and broken umbrellas. They always break at the worst time, and then you go and buy another cheap replacement which in turn breaks a little while later.
A sturdy, buy-for-life umbrella like the Blunt Metro Umbrella is a great way to avoid all that frustration, and you get to stay stylish as well.
Peter Alexander Pyjamas, Blue Check 100% Cotton Shortie Pj Set, $129.00
Especially with Summer rolling in with full force, having cool, comfy pyjamas is a must for the coming hot nights. Peter Alexander makes some super cozy and stylish sleep sets that would make a great gift this Christmas.
Only Socks, THE PIONEER, Fully Cushioned Merino Work Socks, $50.00
Socks have been the butt of the gift-giving joke since forever, but it turns out having a set of high-quality, tough socks is actually one of the best gifts you can get. Go to your sock drawer now and tell me you don’t have a bunch of socks with holes or loose elastic.
Only Socks sells Australian-made socks that are both tough and comfy, made from merino wool and guaranteed to feel great even on hot days.
Food Gifts For The Snack Lover
Biltong To Go, Beef Jerky – Cajun Flavour, $32.99
Biltong is a popular snack that is great for gifting. The air-dried cured meat can come in many different forms and flavours, especially as many storefronts compete for orders. It preserves well as well, which makes it great to buy early for a great gift this Christmas.
Biltong To Go is a great Australian outlet that has a great variety of options.
Gourmet Basket, Johnnie Walker Black Label Whisky Hamper, $115.00
If alcohol is something you know the person you’re gifting enjoys, a great present is a fancy, well-packaged bottle ready for a special occasion. I love the selection and packaging from Gourmet Basket.
Edible Blooms, Donuts Dessert Box & Nuts, From $49.00
Edible Blooms originally caught my eye with the concept of edible flower bouquets, which I think is just amazing. Scrolling through the rest of their selection, it’s just a great site for bouquets and boxes of yummy treats for anyone or occasion.
Outdoor Gifts For The Adventurer
Being outdoors is already a great way for people to relax, reset, and go on adventures. Outdoors-y gifts are a great way to encourage that, and enhance your next outdoor activity.
Yeti Rambler Straw Bottle, $60.00
Buying a solid reusable water bottle is a great way to ensure you’re getting properly hydrated every day, and to stop buying plastic water bottles when you’re out.
Yeti makes some great, sturdy water bottles, and the Rambler is a personal favourite.
Wahu Mini Soccer Ball, $16.00
Kicking and throwing a ball outside with friends has never not been fun. Grabbing one of these will not only be a winner on Christmas day, but is great to have in the car so you always have something to play with when you’re out and about.
WillBBQ Portable Bench Top Charcoal BBQ Grill, $72.00
A portable grill is a great thing to have handy for eating outdoors, camping trips, or even local outdoor areas where public BBQs just don’t cut it. This one from WillBBQ is great, and it comes with a handy travel case.
Cooking Gifts For the Master Chef
Just as cooking for someone is a great way to show your love for someone, cooking gifts are a great way to show how much you love their cooking (and you might just encourage some more tasty treats to come your way!)
Lodge Cast Iron Skillet With Helper Handle 30cm in Black, $189.95
A good cast iron skillet is a kitchen item that many households are still missing. Adding this to your arsenal will open up a whole new range of food and flavours that don’t quite match with non-cast iron cookware. Just remember to season it!
Cargo Crew Banjo Chef Apron – Paprika, $49.98
Aprons are another example of an oft-forgotten kitchen accessory. They can make you feel like a real professional while baking and cooking. There are plenty of novelty “Kiss the Cook” style aprons, but I lean more towards Cargo Crew’s well-made stylish options
Kitchen Pro Precision Instant Read Rechargeable Thermometer, $59.95
A kitchen thermometer is something you don’t need until you need it, and every time you remember you don’t have one you kick yourself until the next time the cycle continues. This one from Kitchen Pro won’t only free up drawer space with its strong internal magnet, but it’ll also help ensure you cook the perfect steak every time.
Climbing Gifts For the Boulderer
As climbing has been surging in popularity recently, indoor climbing gyms are popping up all over the place, and people are gathering to enjoy this active, social sport. There are also heaps of options for gifts for people falling into the new sport, without having to know their shoe size.
Climbers Gift Boulder Block, $165.00
The Boulder Block is a fun training game for climbers to practice different climbing grips, and customisable to different difficulties and layouts. This is also a great piece to show off to friends and bring them into the climbing fold as well.
Climbers Gift Rock Climbing Mug – Blue/White Handle, $52.00
Climbers Gift also has this mug where the handle is replaced by a slightly difficult rock hold. This one’s a bit of a novelty gift, but at least it doubles as a mug (as long as you can grip the hold!)
Climbing Anchors 8BPLUS Jack Chalk Bag, $59.95
Anyone who’s climbed at least a few times knows how important chalk is to helping you climb your best. Chalk bags are great gifts for something fun and expressive, and there are lots of options and styles from many different stores.
Board Game Gifts For The Board Gamer
Board games are a personal favourite hobby, especially for their ability to bring people together to socialise and have fun. While it can be tricky to buy games for people, as everyone has their own specific taste and preferences, there are many related gifts that make great substitutes.
Board Game Geek Posters, From $39.00
Board games designers do a really great job with box art, and if I could I would hang my games on the wall I would. Unfortunately I’m forced to store my games efficiently in shelves. Fortunately, Board Game Geek sells some awesome wall art based on some of the best games there are.
P’KUP THE ORIGINAL P’KUP Card Lifter, $45.00
The P’kup is a great new tool for picking up cards easily during a game without clawing at them on sticky tables. These are great little accessories to use alongside any game with cards
Gameology Poetry for Neanderthals, $39.95
Despite what I’ve said earlier, I will recommend one of my favourite party games. Poetry for Neanderthals is a great easy-to-learn game you can play immediately with the people you open it with. It’s guaranteed lots of laughs, and bonks from the included inflatable club!
Health And Wellness Gifts
More than ever people are spending time researching, talking about, and optimising to enjoy healthy lifestyles. This means health-related gifts are back on the menu for your fitness-focussed friends.
SWIISH SUPERGREEN Superfood Powder, $59.95
Green drinks never really left popularity, but Swiish brings a modern flavour that makes a great gift.
This superfood powder is packed with veggies, fruits, probiotics, prebiotics, bringing you increased energy and so much more.
SWIISH Recharge Hydration + Electrolyte Mango 20 Sachets, $39.95
Run clubs are another trend that has exploded into popularity recently, and with running comes the need to stay hydrated.
Swiish makes a natural mango-flavoured electrolyte drink that tastes great and keeps you in form.
KURK Essential Vanilla, From $79.00
If you’ve been hearing your friend mentioning “longevity” KURK has got a great gift for them to enjoy.
KURK Essential is a curcumin supplement formulated to improve brain function, strengthen immunity, and give pain relief.
Skincare And Sun Protection Gifts
Men are finally starting to get more conscious about their skin health.
The world of skincare can be daunting for someone who hasn’t been in that space, but there are some great gifts you can give to make that introduction as easy as possible.
Yours Only Starter Bundle, $111.00
For those just starting out with skincare, Yours Only has the perfect bundle to help them on their journey and start their skin feeling great.
This comes with the great trifecta of a cleanser, a moisturiser, and a lip and body balm.
Bro-To Morning Skin Bundle, $67.00
As I inch closer and closer to my 30s, I’m not not thinking about aging skin.
To help that, Bro-To has a great bundle of face wash and sunscreen that works particularly well with aging skin, as well as dry, oily, or sensitive types.
Patagonia Wavefarer Bucket Hat, $79.95
Surprisingly, sometimes the best skincare you can do isn’t skincare. Getting your friend a well-made, stylish bucket hat that they will want to wear is one of the best ways they can protect their skin against the Australian sun.
Creative Gifts For The Artistic Friend
Gifts that lean into someone’s creativity can be great!.. As long as the person you’re buying for enjoys the journey to the results as much as the destination!
LEGO Mario Kart Mario & Standard Kart, $249.99
Lego sets are great gifts for all ages, and when you know who you’re buying for well, you can really tailor what you buy for them as well. Lego has a great variety of sets like movie scenes, flowers, cars, robotics, and lots more.
Robotime Rolife Silent Corner Study Stories In Books Kit Multicoloured, $55.00
Similar to board games, books can be hard to buy for readers when you don’t know exactly what genres or titles they want. A DIY bookend is a great present for a friend who doesn’t mind spending some time building a cute project, and has a little free space on their bookshelf for a nice art piece.
Paint by Numbers Vibrant Bloom, From $34.99
Painting is a great way to unwind, and Paint by Numbers ensures you don’t need to rely on your artistic talent (or lack thereof) to end up with a great result.
Stocking Stuffers He’ll Actually Use
Every holiday season you will inevitably need to buy several smaller gifts for “stocking stuffers”. Instead of defaulting to some useless plastic toys or gag gifts, we can get people some small things they’ll actually find useful.
BUBBLE Tell All Lip Balm Juicy Secret, $15.00
Lip balm is such an underrated gift because you don’t realise what you’re missing until you use it, and once you have you always miss it when you don’t have it while you’re out. This one from Bubble is a great little balm that you can take anywhere.
Whittaker’s Block Chocolate Hazelnut, $9.00
Is Whittakers the best chocolate in Australia? It’s debateable, how about you let your giftee decide. Regardless, good chocolate never goes uneaten, and is definitely always appreciated.
UGREEN USB A to USB C Cable Fast Charging Nylon Braided Cord 3m, $11.87
Surprisingly few people know the pleasure of an extremely long charging cable. Rolling over in bed while your phone is still charging is a game changer, and this 3m cable is a great present to let someone else experience that joy.
Customised Gifts With Meaning
Customised gifts are a great way to get someone special to your something truly unique and meaningful.
Personalised Gifts From Etsy & Officeworks
Pretty much anything you can think of exists for sale on Etsy. Beyond that, pretty much anything you could want customised is also for sale on Etsy.
Etsy is an awesome marketplace for unique and creative things, and I’ve definitely bought myself, and others, my fair share of gifts from there.
Just make sure you double-check the shipping dates!
Check out Esty’s range of personalised gifts here.
DIY Gift Ideas
Making someone a DIY present yourself is another great way to show your love for them, and is a great opportunity to get really creative as well.
Above is an example I made for Valentine’s Day a few years ago, which I’m happy to report was well-appreciated and fun to make.
Officeworks isn’t just for pencils and printers. Officeworks has a great selection of quality, customisable gifts that people will really appreciate. From Posters to photobooks, tumbler glasses, mugs, and more.
Check out OfficeWork’s range of personalised gifts here.
More Gift Resources And Inspiration
This is a very very long list, but it is by no means exhaustive! I’m always on the look out for unique and interesting gift ideas, especially around the holidays, and sometimes you just need fresh ideas. I’ve found the below resources to be really helpful for ideas, or even just to browse to get your mind working.
Reddit Gift Ideas
The Gift Ideas Subreddit is a great place of constant discussion about gift ideas, and suggestions based on budgets, personalities, and anything else.
Uncommon Goods
Uncommon Goods is a website I stumbled upon while doing this year’s gift browsing, and it’s been such an amazing resource for showing me gift ideas I would have never even thought about.
Its curated product list is legitimately interesting and I will be looking at this site for every holiday season to come.
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