24 Practical Father’s Day Gifts Your Dad Will Actually Use

"Наше сознание - это все. Вы становитесь тем, о чем думаете." Будда

A Waterpik, an insulated travel mug, a smart notebook, a countertop compost bin, a set of resistance bands, and 19 other practical gifts your hard-to-shop-for dad will truly appreciate.

We hope you love the products we recommend! All of them were independently selected by our editors. Just so you know, BuzzFeed may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page if you decide to shop from them. Oh, and FYI — prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication.

1.

A double-insulated travel mug for keeping his cold drinks cold and hot drinks hot for hours. Seriously, hours.


amazon.com

Promising review: “I work in the coffee industry and have had many tumblers over the years. Most leak and/or break apart within a short period of frequent use. Other stainless-steel tumblers can be difficult to clean or leave lingering odors. The biggest turn-off for most travel mugs is the metallic taste that transfers as you take each sip. I was pleasantly surprised to find my Hydro Flask doesn’t have these flaws. When I drink my beverage of choice, it tastes delicious! No metallic taste or dribbles from the mug. I love the feel of the design and definitely appreciate that it’s leak-proof! It keeps hot for hours and is easy to clean. It isn’t cheap but is by far the best to-go cup I’ve ever had. I already bought another my another for my husband.” —Daily Ness

Get it from Amazon for $21.95+ (available in four sizes and 15 colors).

2.

A set of seat-gap fillers that’ll protect his belongings from the dreaded black hole between the seat and center console.


Super Shopper / Via amazon.com, amazon.com

Promising review: “I have to admit, my expectations weren’t very high. I thought it was a joke when my husband got this for me for Christmas. Little did I realize it would become one of my most favorite gadgets ever! I don’t know if I realized just how many things went missing in my seat gap. It has really saved a lot of things from disappearing into that black hole. It was easy enough to fit into my car and it’s soft! It’s just like an extension of my seat! There really isn’t another product that compares to this.” —Tessa Forbes

Get a pack of two from Amazon for $19.99.

3.

A heated shiatsu-massage pillow to prove that at least one of his children isn’t a pain in the neck.


amazon.com

Promising review: “I was looking for a massaging product to help with my lower back pain. I discovered the Zyllion pillow massager and thought it was a very reasonable price so I ordered it. The Shiatsu balls rotating on my lower back in combination with the heating feature (which can be turned off) really provided the relief I was looking for. I use it every morning while watching the news and it relieves the tightness in my back so I can get the day started. I would recommend this product to anyone.” —D. Anderson

Get it from Amazon for $39.95.

4.

A Ninja blender, because even if your dad’s not so smooth, his fruits and veggies can be.


mykidzrock / Via amazon.com

Promising review: “WOW. This blender is magnificent! These blades will cut ANYTHING. I bought this mostly to make pineapple hull juice and it easily works as described. Now I use it all the time! Besides its power, this blender is beautifully designed — it has all sorts of security features, so it’s impossible to screw things up. For example, the lid is airtight and has a sensor/click that will prevent the blender from turning on if it’s open. Best purchase I’ve made in a while!” —P.V.

Get it from Amazon for $89.99.

And check out our picks for the top blenders at every price point on BuzzFeed Reviews!

5.

A Squatty Potty, a little stool that makes other stool-related things easier. Look, it makes you poop faster. And honestly, what’s more practical than that?


amazon.com

Promising review: “I’ve bought one of these for myself, my parents, and my friends. I’m not kidding. You may think I’m just some made up spam account, but I honestly have bought multiple squatty potties. Not to get too graphic, but when I’m doing my business I’ll think almost nothing came out based on the amount of pushing I did. I’ll turn around and the bowl is full. I’ve never seen so much come out of me so easily before. As long as you are also getting an appropriate amount of fiber in your diet, this will work better than sitting on the toilet normally. I almost don’t want to use a toilet for number two unless there’s a squatty potty.” —Ludlum

Get it from Amazon for $24.99.

And while you’re at it, check out our picks for the best toilet paper on BuzzFeed Reviews!


Irina Ievleva / Via amazon.com, amazon.com

Promising review: “As someone who has suffered from gum disease all my life and one who has had even my dentists complain that my teeth are hard to floss, I wish one of them had recommended this to me at some point along the way. I had thought it would be overkill in conjunction with my Sonicare, but no, it’s a great enhancer. Very, very happy with this purchase.” —A Derifield

Read a full review of this product here!

Get it from Amazon for $59.99+ (available in five colors).

And check out our picks for the top toothbrushes on BuzzFeed Reviews!

7.

Kabob baskets that’ll keep his onions off the coals and his grill skills second to none.


uncommongoods.sjv.io

Promising review: “I bought this for my dad for his birthday. He loves getting creative with his grill set, so the kabob set was what he needed. It’s an easy item to use and all you have to do is cut up the meat or vegetables and set them in the kabob basket — no sticks needed. Since you can reuse these, there’s no need to get those wooden sticks and throw them out after one use.” —Gift Giver

Get a set of four from Uncommon Goods for $16.99.


thegrommet.com

Promising review: “Just as advertised: light, tough, and holds a surprising amount of money, cards, and assorted items. Fits easily in a hip pocket. Highly recommended.” —Dave

Get it from The Grommet for $29.95 (available in black and white).

9.

A compact power bank — which will charge an iPhone 6 3.8 times and a Samsung phone 2.2 times — to keep his phone from dying and the dad-texts flowing.


amazon.com

Promising review: “This power bank is fantastic. I bought it for a trip since the battery on my iPhone usually doesn’t last the day when I’m using it regularly. This has at least two and a half charges in it, and works perfectly. It’s the most useful thing I brought on vacation. It’s the size of my wallet too, so I could carry it in my pocket if I wanted. Absolutely love it. I have purchased three Anker products and all of them have been really great.” —Alexander

Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in three colors).

10.

A set of resistance bands for swole dads who won’t let the restrictions of time or space stand in the way of a workout.


amazon.com, Hannah / Via amazon.com

They come with a helpful exercise guidebook so your dad can reach maximum workout efficiency.

Promising review: “The perfectly sized and affordable travel fitness trainer. Ordered bands to take on my trip to Costa Rica and I got my leg and arm workout done in the hotel room. These bands are coming with me everywhere.” —Portia Lane Martin

Get a set of five from Amazon for $10.95.

11.

A Lodge cast-iron skillet he’ll be able to whip up breakfast in for years to come.


majojojojo / Via amazon.com

Promising review: “I bought this skillet in 2012 from Amazon, and it is holding up just fine. It cooks everything from roasted potatoes and carrots to baking bread in the oven. I have had no issues with any rusting and rarely have to season it. This pan has many memories of many family meals. I was hesitant to buy a cast-iron skillet as I did not want a pan that everything sticks to and would be hard to clean. I am really glad I took a chance and got this pan. My nonstick pans that would stick after the Teflon started wearing off no matter how carefully you were taking care of them and required being replaced every year have nothing on cast iron. Yes, cast iron takes a small bit of care but it is not hard to maintain. It is not delicate, it is rough and rugged and will last a lifetime.” —Mitch

Get it from Amazon for $4.19+ (available in eight sizes).

And check out our picks for the top cast iron skillets on BuzzFeed Reviews!

12.

A set of ergonomic bowls designed for couch eating, to optimize his relaxation (and prevent spills).


uncommongoods.sjv.io

Promising review: “These bowls are SO fantastic. My husband loves a bowl of cereal in the morning and this one is perfect to carry around while he’s helping the kiddos get their breakfast, too! I love them for a good bowl of soup on the couch. They’re really, really great. Super comfortable in your hand, beautiful to look at in the cabinet, and awesome for everyday use.” —J in NC

Get a set of two from Uncommon Goods for $38.

13.

A smart notebook so he can upload all his thoughts, lists, and doodles to his computer (and then email them to all his kids, obviously).


amazon.com

And once he uploads the images, he can just erase the pages and reuse them.

Promising review: “OMG!!! This device is so cool. It works beautifully. The scanning as well as the syncing capabilities are awesome. I have it scanned and synced to my Microsoft Note account. Writing with the pen is smooth and the paper feels like paper. The use of the wet cloth to erase works exactly like they said it does. I wish I had this product while in college. It is worth every penny.” —Tulla Bell

Get it from Amazon for $32+ (available in two sizes).

14.

A set of packing cubes to whip his luggage into shape and cut down on travel stress.


Tiffany / Via amazon.com

Promising review: “I am officially sold on packing cubes!! These things are amazing! I can’t believe I’ve been packing without them my whole life. I appreciate the mesh lining that allows you to peek inside. They’re also a great value. I packed my clothes, shoes, and toiletry bag for a 10-day trip to Europe. I packed them as I normally would first, and then packed them in the packing cubes. There was so much more room after packing in the cubes!” —Tiffany

Get a set of four cubes and a laundry bag from Amazon for $24.99 (available in eight colors).

And check out our picks for some travel essentials on BuzzFeed Reviews!

15.

A windproof, Teflon-coated umbrella that will have your dad’s back (also his head and shoulders).


amazon.com

Promising review: “Best umbrella I’ve ever had. I bought it after looking online for one that wouldn’t fall apart at the first gust of wind in a rainstorm. After using it several times in a huge rainstorm with heavy winds, it seems to be indestructible. The strong wind will flip the umbrella inside out, but it quickly flips back and shows no sign of being worse for wear. I plan to buy several more so I can be sure to have one for my home, office, and car.” —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $22.95.

16.

Some highly effective charcoal shoe-deodorizing bags, for dads who are ready to take one small step toward better-smelling feet.


amazon.com

Promising review: “These bags are GREAT! They work wonderfully to get rid of the smell from your shoes after getting them wet. I also use these for getting rid of the gross smell in my gym bag. Overall wonderful product and couldn’t ask for much more.” —Chris Miller

Read a full review of this product here!

Get a pack of two from Amazon for $9.90.

17.

A bedside caddy to hold a book, phone, laptop, remote control, glasses, water bottle, and whatever else your dad needs close at hand at night (midnight snacks, perhaps?).


amazon.com

Promising review: “Nice bedside caddy — no more lost remotes. The Velcro closures keep the caddy securely in place, unlike the organizers that slip between the mattress or hook over the side of the bed frame. Plenty of room for remotes, cords, phone, my Kindle, and several magazines.” —Hollyster

Get it from Amazon for $12.99.

18.

A bag of scarily strong coffee to give your caffeine-fiend dad what he needs to tackle the day.


amazon.com

Promising review: “Great coffee! Really high-quality crema, deep and rich flavor, no bitter notes at all. I don’t think it is the world’s strongest, but it is comparable to a very quality espresso coffee. I would say one of my all-time favorites that I’ve ordered on Amazon and one of my all-time favorite coffees so far. You will not be disappointed in this product, one of the best coffees around — the reviews on this are so high for a very good reason.” —No One Special

Get a 1-pound bag from Amazon for $19.99.

19.

A countertop compost bin that’s a gift for your dad, his garden, and the whole dang environment.


amazon.com

Promising review: “This is our third type of kitchen compost pail, and by far my favorite. First we had a metal pail. We had to use the biodegradable bags and replace the filter every six months or so because it became moldy. The only way to fully clean it was to pour boiling water into it, which eventually made the pail warp. The second kind was ceramic. Again, we had to use replaceable filters and bags. We discovered the primary problem with a ceramic pail when my husband dropped it on ice on the way to the compost pile outside. So, we decided to try this one. We don’t have to use filters or bags because we can easily wash out the pail in the sink. I love that I can flip up the top with one hand, rather than having to use two hands to pry the lid off (as I had to with the first two pails). If you are looking for a kitchen compost pail with minimal maintenance, this is the one for you.” —Melissa F.

Read a full review of this product here!

Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in black and white).

20.

An overhaul of his wardrobe basics — one pair of socks, one pair of underwear, one T-shirt, and one pair of joggers — to raise his style game and his comfort level.


basicoutfitters / Via instagram.com

Basic Outfitters lets you create a box with a pair of socks, a pair of underwear, a T-shirt, and a pair of joggers from their selection of attractive, well-made options.

Read a full review of them here!

Get it from Basic Outfitters for $60.

21.

Beard balm that will keep his facial coif looking, feeling, and smelling amazing.


amazon.com, David / Via amazon.com, Via amazon.com

Promising review: “This is the best stuff on earth. It’s heavy until your beard dries. Mine is like a toilet brush after a shower. This is the best softener/controller. It’ll last most of the day. This smells citrusy and mild — the wife and daughter love the scent. It really is transformative. You can go longer between trims and touch ups because it moistens everything, which keeps errant, kinky guys from stickin’ out all over. You’ll be able to determine the volume of beard you wanna keep when you trim because it builds body and helps you figure out where you’re due to thin out or taper. Just a bloody brilliant product!” —Tim Dhillon

Get it from Amazon for $12.87.

22.

A moisture-wicking sun hat that, in addition to being great protection from UV rays, is truly Peak Dad.


amazon.com, John / Via amazon.com

Promising review: “I bought this hat to help protect my face while out on the water for a recent trip to French Polynesia. The hat is lightweight, collapses down to a small size for packing, is very breathable, and provided the sun protection I was looking for. My head is slightly narrow but long and so I often have a difficult time get a hat to fit right. With the elastic draw string I got just the right fit. I was so pleased with my hat that I bought my father in-law one and he wears his anytime he is out in the yard.” —John

Get it from Amazon for $21.99+ (available in six colors).

23.

A five-in-one tool pen — featuring a screwdriver, a touch stylus for smart devices, a bubble level, and a ruler (in addition to an actual pen) — for your paternal James Bond.


uncommongoods.sjv.io

Promising review: “Well worth it — this pen is fun and useful. I liked it so much I sent one to another family member. He was delighted with all of its features and couldn’t wait to use it at work.” —Mom the Gifter

Get it from Uncommon Goods for $25.

24.

Michael Pollan’s How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence, because a good book is practical whether or not your dad is planning on getting into psychedelics himself.


Penguin Random House

Promising review: “Michael Pollan takes readers on a measured, insightful, and quite rational journey exploring the reemerging field of psychedelic-based psychotherapy. With antidepressants and other traditional psychopharmacological approaches failing the needs of society, legitimate research shuttered in the ’60s and ’70s is making a comeback. Pollan explores its troubled history, current status, and the hope for future therapies, offering his own psychedelic experiences with LSD, psilocybin, and DMT. The book is informative, well written, and often poignant as it deftly guides readers through the mystical realm of these spiritual molecules.” —Kevin M. Stan

Get it from Amazon for $14.99+.

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