Buying gifts for the guy in your life is hard. Which is why we usually go for socks. (They're practical, damnit.) But if you're more ambitious than we are, we sourced some gift ideas that’ll hit it out of the, ahem, ballpark for the guys in your life that can't turn off ESPN. So whether you want to say ‘I’m so excited your team is in the Super Bowl’, or ‘HBD, all-star’ we’ve got the perfect items that’ll score a 10/10. Bookmark these now, come back to 'em later. Home run.
This genius lil’ guy has adjustable pivot joints that make displaying a beloved jersey easy-peasy. The gadget’s great because you won’t have to fold up a jersey and put it behind glass to show it off. It lets you keep the full shape and silhouette of the jersey intact. Plus, it can be hung with a single push nail that’s included — no heavy drilling or major struggles required. Phew. ($29.99, Amazon)
Whether their upcoming golf trip was canceled or they’re trying not to get rusty this winter, this putting green will satisfy their need. Fitted with an automatic ball return and two different-sized practice holes, it’s a perfect way to provide hours of stress relief and entertainment to the stuck-at-home golfer. ($169.99, Amazon)
If your guy loves to read, then you have to add “Shoe Dog” to his collection. In it, Phil Knight offers up a behind-the-scenes look at how he built the swoosh from the ground up. Your guy will get a firsthand look at the early days of the company (when failure was very much on the table) and see how Knight turned his shoe co. into a billion-dollar brand. Just do it. ($14.99+, Amazon)
Because an ice-cold drink and watching their fave players go together like peanuts and Cracker Jacks. Choose his team and get ready for a round of ‘ooohs’ when he opens the box. The glasses will feature his team’s stadium map in the team’s two home colors. The bottom of the glasses showcase the team’s logo. Play ball. ($38/set of 2, Uncommon Goods)
With this, they’ll get to retrace the history of their favorite team based on reprinted articles from The New York Times. Pages and pages of archival coverage will be bound, and your giftee’s name will get embossed on the cover for an added personal touch. ($80+, Uncommon Goods)
Because they’re always right there by his side when he’s watching his games. Plus, pets are the real MVPs if we’re being honest. These jerseys feature official team colors and come in durable mesh and satin fabric. Sounds pawfect to us. ($22.40+, Chewy)
*Announcer voice* ‘They shoot, they scooooooore.’ This mug with a hoop makes mealtime so much more fun. Your kiddo can shoot hoops with their cereal or unwanted veggies to make eating those greens a little bit more fun. Shot clock starts now. ($25, Uncommon Goods)
This caddie automatically tracks all his shots and will give him a digital replay of his rounds. The range finder adjusts in real time for wind, temperature, humidity, altitude, and more to help make his game better. And it has AI-powered GPS technology that’ll be invaluable to him on the green once he starts using it. Swing, swing. ($189.99, Amazon)
Hut, hut, hiiiike — all the way to these slate cuties. Each coaster is etched with an iconic football play from the NFL team of his choosing. Touchdown for real. ($40, Uncommon Goods)
Use it as a paperweight, hallway light, or a sentimental piece for their desk. Choose their favorite sport (basketball, hockey, football, baseball, or soccer), add in their number and name, and voilá, the perfect gift is born. It’s great to give to parents who want to show off their kiddo’s jerseys or anyone who’s just really sad about Tom Brady retiring and wants to remember TB12 forever. ($16.99+, IlluminatedEdge via Etsy)
Because in tennis, love is real (IYKYK). You’ll get three official regulation-sized balls that he can play with. Or if he’s a more sentimental type, he can save them as a collector’s item and keep them displayed with the rest of his sports memorabilia. Match point. ($26.35, Zazzle)
Function meets sentimental art piece, coming right up. As your guy has big wins on the course, he can add the balls from his best rounds onto this wooden board. Choose your size, wood finish, whether you want wall fittings on it or not, and add a customization element so you can engrave his name or personal message onto it. All he needs now is a new tee time and some luck on his side. ($28.18+, Thatsnicethatuk via Etsy)
If he's got a thing for the NBA (read: forces you to go to games in every city you visit) then he needs this. You’ll get to fill up this personalized, handmade mat board with photos as he visits each arena around the country. It’s a fun piece of commemorative decor that will look great in any space and remind him of all the good times (and great games) he’s experienced in each city. ($89+, ThunderBunnyLabs via Etsy)
Because the only thing he loves more than you is repping his fave college football team. These 32-oz. vacuum-insulated stainless steel bottles will actually keep his go-to bev cold for hours. Plus, the straw lid is leakproof so he won’t have to worry about spills. Cheers. ($34.99, Amazon)
For his office or home. You can choose from a framed, art, or canvas print and also pick the size and colors. If you opt for a framed version, the wooden frames come finished with a high-grade crystal clear cover that’s ship-safe. Talk about a strikeout. ($4.67+, WunderkammerStudio via Etsy)
It can remove built-up dirt and grass, and houses a scrub pad, a towel, brass-groove cleaners, a spray bottle, and more. It’s also pretty compact so he can carry it in his bag while he’s out for the day. Shiny ‘n’ clean clubs, coming right up. ($29.95, Amazon)
Give this gift and you’ll be the GOAT in their eyes. A MasterClass annual membership offers thorough video lessons and valuable tips from icons across sports fields. Think: Stephen Curry on basketball, Serena Williams on tennis, Tony Hawk on skateboarding, and so much more. They’ve got classes on just about anything your guy can imagine — and a ton in the sports and gaming category. Learning just got even cooler. ($180 per year, MasterClass)
Yeah, sex and presys are great…but have you ever given someone a truly relatable card that’ll make them smile? Write your heart out and they can look back in a few years and laugh about it. Happiness guaranteed. ($5.95, SpadeStationery via Etsy)
If you buy anything from this article, theSkimm may get something in return. Oh, and if something’s out of stock, oops, it was there (and all prices were accurate) when we published. Thanks.
We’re bringing you products, recs, and suggestions that’ll make your life just a liiittle easier. It all starts with adding us to your inbox.
Skimm'd by Lindsay Schneider, Emmy Favilla
We pulled together some of our fave alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks to cheers with all year long.
The days of ‘I don’t know what to get him’ are over. Say 'hey, hey' to these gifts he’ll love no matter the occasion.
This list has tapered candles, funky shapes, and options that make great gifts. Burn, baby, burn.