Life
18 V-Day Gifts For Guys That Aren't Cheesy
Feb. 14 is swiftly approaching, and it's time to lock down the perfect Valentine's Day gifts for men. It seems like we just survived the holidays, but the occasion has arrived yet again to find just the right thing for that special someone in your life. If you're on the same page as everyone else, feeling drained by December and still in post-holiday recovery, here's a roundup of some surefire options for your significant other so you can get back to worrying about more pressing matters, like readjusting to 2016.
When it comes to your favorite man on Valentine's Day, you'll want to give a gift that's personal but also practical. Feb. 14 is definitely not your dude's favorite day of the year, so make sure he's being treated beyond your requisite conversation hearts and box of chocolates. You're already winning if your gift didn't come from the holiday aisle of your local drugstore — even better if it's something he'll want to use again (or ever). This roundup includes a little bit of everything, from tech gadgets to grooming essentials, and lots of options involving booze. The romance lies in the fact you know him well enough to get him something he'll love, so read on to find just the thing for the guy in your life.
1. A Way To Get Crafty In The Kitchen
For mixing it up of another variety, this DIY hot sauce kit comes with everything he needs to make four bottles of his very own spicy blend.
Artisan Hot Sauce Making Kit, $33.95, Amazon
2. A Dice Set For His Drink
Have your main squeeze try his hand at mixology with this dice set that lets him gamble with elements like spirits, sugar, citrus, bitters, and herbs to reveal some creative concoctions.
Handmade Mixology Dice Set, $24, Amazon
3. An Answered Prayer
Make his (and your) dreams come true with this kitchen apparatus that whips up bacon bowls to enjoy all your favorite foods (after bacon) in. Think: breakfast in a bacon bowl, ice cream in a bacon bowl. The possibilities are endless, and you both will be feeling the love long after Valentine's Day.
Bacon Bowl Maker, $6, Amazon
4. A Little Love For His Hair
Make sure your man's future is nothing but good hair days with this pomade mixer kit. All four pomades are travel-friendly, and are meant to mix and match to achieve his desired look.
Baxter Pomade Gift Set, $28.00, Amazon
5. A Barbecue Suitcase
The perfect gift for your grill master on the go, this sleek suitcase opens up to become a charcoal grill, complete with a mess-free catcher.
Kikkerland Portable BBQ Suitcase, $69, Amazon
6. A Grooming Kit Fit For A Gentleman
Give your guy everything he needs to keep his digits in top shape. Just don't call it a "mani-pedi."
Gentlemen's Hardware Manicure Kit, $27.00, Amazon
7. A Necessity For The Outdoorsman Who Also Loves To Party
"Take the party outside" with this stainless steel Stanley set complete with four two-ounce shot glasses, and a hammertone green carrying case.
Stanley Shot Glasses (2oz) and Carrying Case, $18.73, Amazon
8. A Nostalgic Alarm Clock
Ensure your man starts his day off on the right foot with this handsome addition to his nightstand. The old-fashioned 1906 alarm clock sounds like a telephone call from an old Hollywood film.
Bugle Alarm Clock, $39.95, Amazon
9. A Little Love For His Bike
Gift your bike rider the gadgets he needs to keep his two-wheeler fully functioning. The retro kit comes with a tire lever, patches and glue, and a multi-function bike tool.
10. A Candle That Evokes The Great Outdoors
Candles as gifts can come off as cliché, but this handcrafted scent will take your outdoorsman back into the wilderness with notes of smoke and pine wood. The apothecary look of its amber jar and utilitarian finish make it great to look at even when it's not burning.
Campfire Soy Candle, $20, Urban Outfitters
11. A Method For Getting Him Out Of The Stone Age
If your guy still has tape cassettes he hasn't thrown out because he can't get the music elsewhere, get him to finally digitize his old school collection with this conversion cassette player that converts tapes into MP3s through iTunes.
Ion Tape 2 Go Digital Conversion Cassette Player, $30, Urban Outfitters
12. A Kit That Brings The Barrel Aging Home
If your gentleman craves barrel aged flavor in his cocktails, give him this kit to transform his cocktail experience at home. The at-home small-scale process takes about two week (versus months) to achieve the barrel aged flavor.
Barrel Aged Cocktail Kit, $35.00, Uncommon Goods
13. A Poetic Paperweight
Give this small token of your affection, "designed to keep the passion ignited," to remind him of your love for him while he's working.
You Light My Fire Paperweight, $30.00, Uncommon Goods
14. Some Personalized Collar Stays
Send him out into the world looking sharp with these custom brass collar stays that feature up to two engravings. Personalize them with his name or a special date.
Brass Custom Collar Stays, $45.00, Owen and Fred
15. A Set Of Fantastic Socks
Men always need more socks, especially when they're adorned with the likes of bacon, eggs, and cups of joe. These are enough to turn any guy into a morning person.
Four Pack Breakfast Crew Sock, $30.00, Basic/Outfitters
16. A Stylish Kitchen Set
Leather is known to raise the temperature, even in the kitchen. If your man doubles as a chef, give him this calfskin leather oven mitt and pot holder set to make his cooking game sexier than ever.
Leather Oven Mitt and Pot Holder Set, $59.95, MoMA
17. A Vacation In A Bottle
This all-natural room spray will be a welcome escape for your city boy with extractions from "wildflowers, plants, bark, moss, mushrooms, and tree trimmings that they harvest on the trail." For application they advise spraying "once or twice to bring the coastal-mountain backcountry" indoors.
Juniper Ridge Big Sur Cabin Spray, $40.00, Pilgrim Surf Supply
18. A Little Love For Him
Valentine's Day is all about showing your love and appreciation, so give him a pat on the back in the form of a hefty half pound of solid brass that will open up a six-pack of his favorite beer.
You Earned It Bottle Opener, $29.00, Owen and Fred
Images: Uncommon Goods (3), MoMA (2), CB2 (2), JackThreads, Dot & Bo (2), Owen and Fred (2), Urban Outfitters (3), Huckberry, Basic Outfitters, Pilgrim Surf Supply, Rudy's Barber Shop
