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When it comes right down to it, a Dad is a pretty good guy to have around. He’s the one you go to when your car is broken down, if you want to learn to make the best grilled cheese, or you just need a shoulder to cry on.

I can’t count how many cars my dad managed to fix while saving me a ton of money or how many floors he helped me install and walls he helped me paint in the various houses we’ve lived in. He never wants anything more than a thank you either, and when it comes to Christmas and birthdays, he never asks for anything. That’s why for Father’s Day, I always try to do something extra special for him, and usually that’s picking up something for him that he would love but would never get for himself.

What type of Dad do you have? Someone who focuses on style? A great outdoors man? Or someone who loves techy stuff? There are so many different kinds of Dads out there, and thankfully there are just as many great gift choices for Father’s Day. Here’s a look at some of the best personal and practical gifts every dad will love.

For that Dad who loves sporty stylewatch-solar.jpg

 

For a Dad who has a lot to keep track of but still manages to make the time to do everything for you, you’ll want a gift that helps him look good and keeps him up on everything going on in his life and yours. Why not help him keep track with a sports watch?

There are a lot of different sports watches to choose from, but if you want a great combo of sports and style, take a look at the Casio Solar Sport Combination Watch. It’s got a unique self-charging solar system and solar battery so he’ll never have to remember to rewind it, it’s waterproof up to 100 meters, and it has a built-in stop watch and count down timers.

If he prefers battery powered, you can try the Armitron Men’s Sport Digital Watch. With a digital face, day and date calendar, and chronograph and alarm, he’ll be on time for everything in his busy day.

Maybe your Dad likes to show his style via his wallet, and in that case he’ll love the Swiss Gear black leather wallet. It’s got side pockets, 8 credit card slots, and a metal key chain and money clip.

BBQ.jpgFor the foodie Dad in your life

My Dad might not be a foodie, but my husband definitely is. He’s always coming up with new and exciting recipes and trying different ways to cook the same-old dishes. He’s also the first to snap a picture of some new dish and share it online with his friends.

Any Dad that likes to cook needs some of his own kitchen and cooking gear to get him started, and at the top of my husband’s list is a new BBQ. But he doesn’t want just any BBQ, he wants a portable BBQ like the BBQTek 16,000 BTU Portable Upright Propane BBQ.

Whether he’s cooking on the soccer field, motocross track, or just in the backyard, the BBQTek can go along with him. It can cook up to 13 burgers at once and has two stainless steel burners for steaks, hot dogs, or in his case, his favourite salmon wrapped in foil.

pizza-oven.jpgIf the Dad in your life isn’t just about the BBQ, take a look at this Breville Crispy Crust Pizza Maker. With everyone getting into authentic flat bread pizza, it will be your husband’s favourite appliance. It simulates a true pizza oven for that authentic flatbread flavour, and he can whip up unique 12” pizzas in minutes.

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For the Dad who loves the great outdoors

 

I grew up knowing a Dad who loved nothing better than grabbing a backpack and a sleeping bag, then disappearing for a weekend at a time. He said it helped him relax after a busy week at his job, and he always came back happier than when he left.

If you know a Dad like that, why not set him up to go camping on his own? There are a lot of unique gifts you can give him for camping including a new sleeping bag, new tent, or help him prepare for anything with the Stevens 58 piece emergency kit. It has everything he’d need to prepare for bad weather, unexpected events, and injuries.

Even if the Dad in your life is a seasoned camper, he’d probably be surprised at just how far camping gear has come in the past decade. Now you can take along a camp stove that generates electricity while it burns wood—the BioLite CampStove actually creates a smokeless campfire that will cook your meal, boil your water, and amazingly enough, charge your smartphone, tablet, or LED lights at the same time.

beer.jpgIf he likes the idea of harnessing the power of the sun during his camping trips, he’ll love the gift of a Goal Zero Guide 10 Plus solar kit. It charges USB and 12V devices so he’ll stay connected wherever he is.

With the camp stove and solar panels he’ll be able to run his lights and phone during his camp trip, but what about quenching his thirst? That’s where the Burton Beeracuda comes in. It’s an over-the-shoulder beer and cold drink holder that has room for 5 cans plus a koozie in the front for a sixth can. It keeps drinks icy cold in the great outdoors, and because it’s so lightweight and portable, it’s the perfect accessory for a fishing trip.

And speaking of fishing, he’ll be impressed to see that tech has made it even easier to catch a fish for sport or dinner. The ReelSonar iBobber FishFinder detects fish up to 135 feet and will even let Dad know if they are under 15” or over. Plus, he can synch it with his iPhone or via Bluetooth so he can GPS tags his favourite fishing spots. With an iBobber, he’ll always know exactly where they’re biting.

Dad does a lot for us, and he deserves a great day dedicated just to him. With one of these great gifts, he can kick back, relax, and really enjoy himself this Fathers Day.

Shelly Wutke
Editor TV & Home Theatre
I'm a Vancouver freelancer and tech enthusiast. When I'm not writing you'll find me on my farm with my alpacas, chickens, and honeybees. Visit my website Survivemag