THERE'S THIS OLD quote from Abigail Van Buren, the “Dear Abby” manners columnist, that goes like this: “If you want your children to turn out well, spend twice as much time with them, and half as much money.”

Pardon our manners, Abby, but this is kind of horseshit.

Any dad trying to parent well in 2023 knows that a hand-me-down set of wooden blocks and a rubber ball are going to last kids only so long. Now, don’t get us wrong; we’re all for backyard bug hunts, the public library, and family volunteering. But spending money to do cool stuff with your kids is also fun. And spending the right kind of money on the right kind of things can actually help you spend more time with your kids.

Think hiking packs, jogging strollers, and bikes. Think projects, board games, and books. Think Lego. And then think of all the little things, from snacks to day packs, that make your life as Dad less stressful and thereby your kids’ lives much more fun.

We contacted dads that think like us—doctors, dietitians, longtime lovers of fitness—for the best things they bought for their family (and, okay, for themselves) in the past few years. Then we mixed those picks in with gear that dads on our staff at Men’s Health love.

The result is the Men’s Health 2023 Dad Gear Awards, a collection of father-tested, kid-approved stuff that’ll help you spend more time with your children and help them turn out really, really well.

Jump to each section:

ACTIVE / ADVENTURE

PROJECT / PLAY

SNACKS

SLEEP

You Might Also Like

• The Best Hair Growth Shampoos for Men to Buy Now

• 25 Vegetables That Are Surprising Sources of Protein