2017 Holiday Gift Guide (10 Gift Ideas for Men)

Need gift ideas? Here are 10 of the best gift ideas for men this year.

Maybe, like me, you celebrate Christmas each year on December 25th. Or perhaps you enjoy eight crazy nights of Hanukkah.

You might even party it up for a whole a whole week during Kwanzaa, or maybe you test your strength on Festivus (for the rest of us).

Either way, gifts are a major component of the holiday season. Everyone wants to buy that perfect present for the special someone(s) in their lives.

Buying someone the perfect gift isn’t easy. When it comes to gift ideas, we have more options to choose from than ever before.

But don’t stress! This guide is a curated list of ten hand-picked gift ideas that are sure to please even the most discerning man in your life.

Now, if you’re on the hunt for that perfect gift for the men in your life, you’re in luck. This guide has something for everyone.

If you are the special man in someone’s life, I recommend doing one (or all) of the following:

1. “Accidentally” leave this browser window open after you’re done reading.
2. Email this post guide to your wife/girlfriend/boyfriend/mom/dad/boss/friends.
3. Print it out and pin in to the fridge.
4. Make this page your screensaver.
5. Ignore these suggestions and just buy yourself something nice this year!

Got it? Good. Now get yourself an adult hot chocolate, light a fire, put some slippers on, and get ready to shop!

Top 10 Holiday Gift Ideas for 2017

In no particular order…

#1: New Socks & Underwear

I know, I know…new socks for Christmas is kind of cliche. But every year, millions of guys get a pair or two in their stocking.

They’re usually one-size-fits-all, and they’re often accompanied by some cheap, baggy cotton boxers.

At this point, guys pretty much expect oversized socks and cheap underwear in their stockings.

The thing is, undergarments actually make great gifts. But you have to get high quality, stylish, comfy socks and underwear that he’ll actually want to wear – not just more filler for the old sock drawer.

MeUndies is one of my favorite underwear brands. They use premium quality materials like MicroModal for superior fit and feel.

Personally, I prefer their boxer briefs and no show socks, and I think these are both great stocking stuffers for men (or women, actually).

But their cotton and ProModal crew socks are also very comfortable!

They also have loungewear for men and women, and they offer discounts if you buy in packs or sign up for a membership (one pair or more a month).

If you’re going to give the presumed and timeless gift of socks and underwear this year, I highly recommend checking out MeUndies.

#2: A Better Shave

I don’t know if you noticed, but “old school” shaving has made a huge comeback over the past few years.

So many men are ditching their cheap cartridge razors in favor of durable safety razors with refillable blades.

It seems that shaving as a ritual – warming up the shave soap, prepping a badger hair brush, etc. – is an increasingly attractive option for guys.

Now, I’m not a wet shaving expert, but from what I’ve read online, OneBlade is making some of the best shaving gear on the market right now.

Shaving enthusiasts drool over their flagship product, the OneBlade Genesis. But their affordable Core razor is also getting high praise.

According to Sharpologist, one of the most trusted shaving blogs:

…if you’re coming from the cartridge world, using a OneBlade Core will probably feel pretty natural: it’s a mild, forgiving shave at a price point that’s comfortable for most people who want to upgrade their shave.

From what I hear, OneBlade also has above-and-beyond customer service. They seem to really be dedicated to making sure their customers are 100% satisfied.

Bottom line: if your husband/boyfriend/brother/son tends to seek out high quality products and is interested in enriching his daily routines, he’ll probably love the OneBlade Core Starter Kit.

#3: The Right Subscription Box

Subscription boxes are literally the gift that keeps on giving. But honestly, most of them leave something to be desired.

That’s where Cratejoy comes in. They’re a little different than most subscription boxes because they’re not actually a subscription box brand.

Cratejoy is a subscription box marketplace that has over 140 different subscriptions boxes for men.

I actually wanted to test the service for myself, so I sent the Southern Cigar Company box to my dad (who enjoys the occasional cigar) and the Nomadik box to my brother-in-law (who loves the outdoors).

I happened to be at my parents’ house when the Southern Cigar Co. box arrived, so I snapped a few pics (featuring a cameo by my parents’ dog, Gatsby):

It’s the perfect gift for any cigar aficionado. Both boxes well received and enjoyed to the fullest!

I recommend buying 3-6 months as a gift. If the recipient loves the subscription, they can always choose to re-subscribe.

#4: A Mechanical Watch

Ask any watch enthusiast if they prefer mechanical watches over quartz (battery powered) watches, and they’ll likely talk your ear off about heritage, craftsmanship and horology.

I think that a mechanical watch is an especially great choice if you’re buying someone their first watch.

Sure, you could follow the masses and get a Daniel Wellington or MVMT, but there’s nothing special about those watches. They’re basically just cheap jewelry.

Instead, I would go with an entry-level mechanical watch from a respectable brand that has some history behind it.

My top budget pick is definitely the Seiko SNK809, but you should definitely check out this curated list of tastefully sized automatic watches.

#5: Premium Skin & Hair Care Products

The best kind of gift is one that the recipient would never buy for themselves.

For example, most men don’t splurge on high end, premium quality grooming products. They buy whatever face moisturizer or pomade is on sale at the drugstore.

Maybe they don’t want to spend the money, or maybe they don’t think they deserve it.

That is where you come in…

The thing is, you often get what you pay for with this stuff, and upgrading your products/routine can make a world of difference for your face, hair and confidence.

Here are some solid ideas higher end products, inspired by my own personal collection.

Matte for Men Complete Face Care Lotion – I discovered this brand a while back, and after mentioning their face lotion in my video about high end products that are worth the price, the founder created a discount for TMM readers.

Use the code MODEST15 for 15% off your purchase, and get a free pack of Complete Cleansing Cloths with any purchase over $100 (expires 12/31/17).

Baxter of California Clay Pomade – This is a high hold, matte finish hair product that’s perfect for guys with thin and thick hair alike.

I think it’s especially great for short, textured hair, but you could use it on longer hair too.

It doesn’t have a strong fragrance, and it makes restyling throughout the day a breeze. It’s similar to (if not better than) Hanz de Fuko Claymation – but about $10 cheaper.

If your guy is using American Crew or something else from the grocery store, this will be a real treat.

#6: Philips Hue Lights

If you’re shopping for a man who likes technology and gadgets, look no further. Hue lights are guaranteed to please.

I’ve been using Philips Hue bulbs for a couple of years, and let me tell you: they’re worth every penny.

Here are a couple of cool things my Hue lights do for me:

• Turn the lights on when I arrive and off when I leave (light switches are so last year!)
• Blink when I get an important email
• Fade on slowly each morning a couple of minutes before my alarm goes off

Plus you can change the colors and dimness of each individual light from your phone.

Necessary? Probably not. Amazing? Absolutely.

I expect Hue lights to become even cooler as new functionality is added, but they’re already freakin’ sweet.

If you’re intrigued, go check out Philips Hue on Amazon.

#7: Upgraded wallet

Many men are still carrying around bulky billfolds, complete with old receipts and family photos.

Save your man some space and back pain by upgrading him to a more modern, slim wallet.

There are plenty of great minimal wallets to choose from, including money clips and card cases. Here are three great options:

• Anson Calder 1/8″ Cash Wallet (what I currently carry)
• Saddleback Front Pocket ID Wallet (more rugged)
• Dopp Regatta 88 Series (very affordable)

You can’t go wrong with any of these, so just pick the one that best fits your man’s personality and your budget.

#8: Cordless Headphones

Cords are so 2016, am I right? Once you experience the freedom that comes with cordless headphones, you really can’t go back.

Here are the three best choices for most guys:

1. Beats X – Probably the coolest (i.e., best looking) wireless headphones
2. Apple AirPods – One of the only truly cordless options; great for Apple fanboys
3. Jaybird X3 – Loved by audiophiles and people who hate Apple

These are especially great for people who take a lot of phone calls or love to listen to music while working out.

#9: House Slippers

Almost every man could use a fresh pair of slippers or house shoes. They tend to get grimy pretty quickly, long before they become uncomfortable.

That’s why house shoes are a great gift idea for pretty much anyone. Here are your options:

• Woolrich Classic Felt (the Honda)
• Minnetonka Double Bottom Fleece (the Lexus)
• Glerups Boot (the Mercedes)

You really can’t go wrong with any of these slippers!

#10: The Gift of Time

Ironically, this is the perfect gift for last minute shoppers.

Whether your special someone is a student or a working stiff, he’s probably very busy. We all are, right?

It’s never been easier to help someone recover some of their time. Between ride sharing apps and food delivery services, you’ve got plenty of options.

• Postmates – On demand 24/7 delivery of food, groceries and more (use the code e5qlg for $100 free credit)
• Uber / Lyft – Free rides to work (or home from the bar…)
• Task Rabbit – Help with anything, from assembling furniture to moving to yard work

As always, thanks for reading. Your support has been a gift to me this year. Happy holidays!

Got more gift ideas? Leave a comment below!