Here’s How To Shop For Your Dad This Holiday Season

Dads can be some of the hardest family members to shop for. Some dads don’t want much. Others might go out and buy what they want, leaving their Christmas lists empty when the holidays roll around.

If it feels impossible to come up with something that is unique, interesting, and has genuine value, don’t sweat it. Instead of providing you with the expected list of items — filled with forced, overly specific suggestions — we suggest you develop your shopping strategy.

Consider the below a way to jumpstart your creativity as you identify the perfect gift for your dad — the kind of present that really says “I see you” to the father in your life.

Start With a Dad Assessment

Before you start skimming through gift recommendations, take a second to put yourself in your dad’s shoes.

What is your dad’s personality? What hobbies does he have? What are his values? What is it that makes him feel truly appreciated?

Even if your dad already has everything he needs when it comes to something like a hobby, having these questions in mind makes a difference. For instance, you want to be in a different mindset for a dad who golfs in polos in Florida compared to one who hunts elk in Montana.

The Ultimate Gift Idea Guide for the Dad Who Has It All

Now that you’ve aligned yourself with your dad’s interests, it’s time to shop. Here are some general ideas to help you get your dad the perfect gift this year.

1. Consider Quality Clothing

One practical option is to look for clothing that aligns with your father figure’s hobbies and interests. Going on the golf-versus-hunting analogy from earlier, if your dad loves to suit up and head out to his tree stand first thing in the morning or spends his weekends at his favorite hunting haunt, hit up a site like Dungarees that has a broad collection of high-quality gear. Even if he has everything he needs, you can use a quality clothing purchase to up his hunting game (or whatever hobby you’re buying for).

2. Look for Hobby Barriers to Entry

Some hobbies never get off the ground because the equipment needed to participate is too specified or unique. Are there any hobbies your dad has talked about trying where he’s held off because he doesn’t want to invest in the upfront costs? One example that comes to mind is brewing beer. If your dad likes a good lager or IPA, get him a nice brewing kettle or a fermenter with a CO2 airlock. This will knock off one of the more expensive pieces of a brewing setup so he can try making his own brew.

3. Go After Upgraded Experiences

Gifts don’t have to always be about the end product. They can be about the journey to get there, too. Can you enhance your dad’s hobby experiences through unusual or quirky add-ons? Sticking with a beverage theme, if your dad is a fan of a good cup of coffee, you could get him a siphon brewing set up to make the actual brewing experience special.

4. Steer Into One-Off Experiences

When you search for a gift for any person, you have to face a stark reality: in many cases, people don’t actually care about getting the gift itself. In fact, when asked, a meager 4% of respondents said their favorite thing about the holidays was getting a gift. Steer away from the stuff by investing in an experience, like tickets to a sports event or concert. If you can’t find a specific experience or event that appeals to your dad, offer to help plan a trip or look for a subscription that makes an ongoing activity more accessible or affordable.

Finding the “Perfect” Gift

Here’s a stark truth about giving a gift to someone who already has everything they need: there is no perfect gift. Nothing will be a genuinely good gift on its own. Instead, you need to find additional value-add elements, like improving quality, providing easier access, and creating or upgrading experiences.

If you’re looking for a gift for that father figure in your life, make sure you’re thinking bigger than the gift itself. Assess your dad’s interests and then look for a gift with that extra angle of meaning that takes it over the top.

Good luck out there and happy holidays.

BDG Media newsroom and editorial staff were not involved in the creation of this content.