28 Gifts for Sons That Aren’t Just Paying Their Phone Bill

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We know finding a gift for your son can prove to be a challenge. Things were easier when he was still young and trying to figure out who he was meant to be. You got him a bike when all the other kids had one, signed him up for everything from baseball to football, rehearsed lines for the school play, and helped him with all his school projects. Fast forward to the present, and he’s doing it all on his own.

While you may no longer have insight into every part of his life, gifting the perfect present doesn’t have to seem impossible. To get you started, we gathered the best gift for sons that’ll let them know you’re proud of the man he’s become. Whether he’s an avid hiker, lifelong gamer, loving father, or into someone in between, there’s something for every son. With gifts like a 14-in-1 multitool, an iPhone 15 Pro phone case, and a miniature arcade machine, he’ll know you care.

Wingman Multitool

Pocket tools have come a long way since that first pocket knife he got for his camping trip that made you worry he was going to hurt himself with (he didn't, of course).

If your son has become the kind of man who's always handy, get him the best multitool on the market. Packed with pliers, a filer, a screwdriver, scissors, and so much more, all in an easily portable package, this trusty Leatherman tool will give him everything he needs to be ready for anything.

Read More: 10 Handy Multitools To Solve Your Everyday Problems On The Go

Master Hot Sauce Collection Gift Set

You still don't know how he does it, wolfing down every spicy food imaginable. He certainly didn't inherit those taste buds from you, you think.

But his adventurous palate is his passion, his hot sauce passport, so why not help him add 30 more spicy stamps to it with this set of wide-ranging hot sauce flavors like Apple Whiskey and Cayenne Bacon?

Contour Gauge Profile Tool

Does it seem like he's constantly remodeling something every time you go over to his place? That some corner is always being tiled, or drywalled, or adorned with a tarp for some ambitious project?

The temptation there can be a tool kit, but rest assured, he not only has one of those, but he is very, very particular about which hammer or level he uses. Instead, get him this clever contour gauge that will help immensely with tracing pipes, ducts, or corners for his future home reno projects.

Car Vacuum Cleaner

Well, he’s certainly not driving in that old hand-me-down junker you gave him when he first got his license — which means he’s now meticulous about keeping his ride clean.

Even if he may be a bit intense about his car’s cleanliness, this powerful, portable car cleaner hits all the hard-to-reach places with ease and makes the perfect gift and car cleaning a total breeze.

Pull-Out Inflatable Sofa

So, he just got his first place. He brought you over with pride, which quickly turned to embarrassment, as you all squatted on boxes or shared a single folding chair.

It's tough furnishing a new place, especially for the first time, and that's where this inflatable sofa comes in handy. It's an intentionally temporary solution — one that will help him avoid settling for a sofa he hates. Better yet, because it's so lightweight, he can move it around with ease, helping him better plan his space for when he finally finds the furnishings of his dreams.

Ridge Wallet

Bulky wallets are a thing of the past. This slim wallet tops our list for its impressive compact design, RFID-blocking materials, and add-on accessories.

“The Ridge wallet is our favorite because it’s as compact as such a product can be. It has the exact same footprint as a credit card — there are no protrusions that expand its size like on other wallets. I had no trouble fitting the wallet in the small pocket of my jeans, unlike countless rivals.

The accessory’s build includes elastic materials, allowing it to seamlessly expand and hold up to 12 cards. In my experience, filling the wallet to the max made it thicker without affecting its pocketability,” says our senior technology editor, Stefan Vazharov.

Golf Trunk Organizer

This golf gift is a win for the son who’s always practicing his swing and never misses a tee time. Keep his gloves, tees, and all other golfing essentials neatly organized and ready to go with this organizer. It features adjustable dividers, multiple mesh pockets, and a rubber grip handle for easy carrying.

Self-Cleaning Water Bottle

This luxury gift will not only help your son stay hydrated but will spare him the hassle of cleaning it. This stainless steel water bottle self-cleans every two hours, using UV light to kill bacteria in 60 seconds. Additionally, It will keep his water cold for 24 hours and hot for 12.

Sports Illustrated Books ‘The Story of Baseball: In 100 Photographs’

If he’s a baseball lover, this gift for your son is sure to be a homerun. This book from Sports Illustrated is filled with 100 stunning photographs and stories of the beloved sport throughout the years. It’s perfect for flipping through in the offseason or leaving out on his coffee table.

Crystal Palace Snap Case for iPhone 15 Pro

If he upgraded to the iPhone 15 this year, make sure it’s well-protected with this iPhone 15 Pro phone case. We ranked it best all-around for its antimicrobial properties, damage protection, and transparent design that showcases the iPhone 15 Pro’s titanium frame.

“The Crystal Palace Snap is our favorite third-party case for the iPhone 15 Pro. The transparent cover will showcase the device's revamped design and titanium frame while giving it outstanding drop protection. Consider: Despite its slim fit, the Crystal Palace Snap can help the iPhone 15 Pro survive 13-foot drops. Zagg accomplished this feat by strengthening the cover with graphene — a high-tech, flexible later of carbon harder than diamond and much stronger than steel,” says our senior technology editor, Stefan Vazharov.

Retro Miniature Arcade Machine

From study breaks to downtime in between work meetings, this gift for gamers will keep them entertained. This mini arcade machine will fit in the palm of his hand and is preloaded with 200 retro-inspired titles. It has a full-color display, joystick, speaker, and other fun features. Just don’t forget the batteries!

“F in Exams: The Very Best Totally Wrong Test Answers” by Richard Benson

When you’re not there to pick him up when he’s down, this gift for your son will put a smile on his face. This book is filled with 250 funny wrong test answers across subjects like chemistry, math, and psychology that’ll help him find a silver lining in failing.

Braided Leather Bracelet

The love of a parent is forever, and this gift for your son will remind him of just that. This braided bracelet is made of genuine leather, features a stainless steel charm, and has an infinity knot that represents your never-ending support for your son. It’s available in three sizes.

Chef’s Knife Set

Whether he’s been cooking for years or just starting out, a proper knife set it a kitchen must. This set from Hedley & Bennett includes a chef’s knife, bread knife, and utility knife. Each knife has an ergonomic design and a precision blade shape.

It’s available in five fun colors that’ll work with any kitchen aesthetic.

Sports Mug

Now that your son’s all grown up, he can play with his food, right? This sports mug will have him dunking marshmallows into his hot cocoa and making hole-in-ones with his creamer in his coffee.

In addition to basketball, it’s available in golf, hockey, soccer, and other sports styles.

Bamboo Hoodie

This gift for your son will keep him cool and comfortable all year round. Made of viscose from bamboo, this hoodie from Cozy Earth is super soft and has enhanced breathability. It features a drawstring hoodie, kangaroo pocket, and wrist cuffs. Plus, it’s available in a variety of colors to match his style.

Personalized Brass Pocket Compass

This brass pocket compass makes a sentimental gift for the son, especially for the hiker. It features a compass rose graduated in degrees. You can engrave the back of the compass with a personal message so your words will be with him wherever he goes.

There’s also an option to gift it with a hardwood box.

Personalized Cufflinks and Tie Clip Set

From graduation day to his wedding day, he’ll be able to wear your love for him on his sleeves with this gift for your son. Each cufflink and tie clip in this set can be customized with a personal phrase. It’s available in two shapes — circle or square — and two materials — silver- or gold-plated.

Professional-Grade Chef Apron

You probably still remember the first time he went from “helping out” at the family cookout to running the show, even if elderly family members still gather around to give advice and feel like they still call the shots.

Spare him another hokey “Kiss the Cook” type apron, and get him something quality. This professional-grade apron is durable and breathable, with comfortable cross-back straps to keep it secure. Plus, it has plenty of pockets for the tools he uses and maybe even to hold that drink he needs after that relative comes around to tell him he’s “doing it all wrong.”

Pasta Maker Machine

It's amazing how pristine he keeps his own kitchen — isn't it? Especially after the mess he made of yours when he was first learning to cook.

Now, of course, he has all sorts of pots, pans, and other accouterments fit for a cook of his caliber — but you can still get him something that will not only give that chef a new extra challenge but will add a new level of authenticity to his cooking. Once he's able to make his own pasta from scratch, he'll never settle for a store-bought box again.

‘Bruce Lee: His Greatest Hits’ Box Set

He would obsessively watch every blow ’em up, beat ’em up, martial arts and action movie, and once upon a time, you thought that meant the perfect gift was signing him up for a karate class — even though those didn’t last long.

This year, opt instead to upgrade his movie collection with this stellar set of martial arts movie icon Bruce Lee’s greatest films, in pristine 2K transfers and packed with special features. It’ll almost make up for that kid kicking his tooth out on the first day of class.

Isner Mile Beard Kit for Men

There isn’t a more apparent reminder that a once-young boy is now a man than that full beard he’s sporting. Sure, there was that period in middle school where he was trying to pass off patchy stubble as “facial hair,” but now he’s got an undeniably opulent beard he takes pride in.

Help him maintain those wild whiskers with this collection of facial hair essentials, from a razor and comb to brushes, washes, and oils, all to encourage healthy hair and tame it to his desired style.

More: 7 Grooming Kits to Help Him Look His Best

Sneaker Care Kit

Do you remember when sneakers were just the thing he kicked off at the door as he ran in to watch after-school cartoons? Now, he collects and maintains them like a shoe museum. You see how pristine he keeps those Jordans he's sporting, and you have to laugh, considering how many brand new pairs of shoes he splashed through puddles in his younger days.

But if protecting all his pairs of kicks is important to him, get him this popular care kit that helps maintain sneakers made of leather, suede, cotton, and more.

Super Box

It's time to finally atone for all those comic books you threw away when he went off to college. He swore they would be worth money one day. You laughed it off. And now, well, DC and Marvel dominate the box office, The Walking Dead took over TV, and comics are topping best-seller lists and winning Pulitzer Prizes, so...

Maybe make it up to him by getting him a subscription to the Comic Garage. This subscription service sends a monthly package of 10 carefully curated single issues to help expand their collection or start a new one.

Read More: 15 Men's Subscription Boxes That Are a Great Gift for the Guy Who Hates Shopping

HydroBak Hydration Pack

You've been on him about staying hydrated since he first started going outside to play. Now that his outdoor adventures have gotten even bolder and grueling, you want to stay on him about staying hydrated all the more. So why not get him something that allows the act of hydration itself to quite literally stay on him at all times?

That's the advantage of the CamelBak HydroBak, a comfortable hydration pack that's ideal for cycling or hiking. This 50-ounce reservoir of water features a lengthy straw for easy, quick sips while they ride and features zippered pockets for keys and other essentials.

Bonsai Tree 10281 Building Kit

You used to constantly be stressed, worrying about stepping on a stray Lego as you strolled the house in the morning. Now he's constantly stressed, be it from work, bills, or whatever else life is throwing at them.

Give them a way to find some zen that's also a throwback to their favorite childhood toy. The task of trimming the bonsai tree is a centuries-old way to destress, but odds are, your son may find an extra level of tranquility by pairing that task with the clicking, connecting plastic bricks of his youth. It's a true path to serenity — as long as no stray pieces wind up in his barefooted path.

Pick Punch

You helped him get his first guitar. Maybe you even showed him his first chords. For sure, you definitely reached a point of never wanting to hear “Wonderwall” or “Smoke on the Water” again.

And if his passion for playing has carried through to adulthood, so too has his penchant for constantly losing picks. So here’s a simple purchase to save him endless expenditures at the local music store. With the Pick Punch, they can easily turn any old credit card, gift card, or any other slim plastic item into a brand new guitar pick. It’s a way to save money and keep on strumming!

This Life of Mine: A Keepsake Journal for Grandparents, Parents and Anyone to Preserve Memories, Moments & Milestones

In the end, the best gift you can really give is yourself. It's a gift, not just for your child but also for their children and all the other generations to come.

A written record of who you were, what you felt, and what you believed can be a crucial way for future generations to know you as so much more than a name on a family tree. After all, the gift of memories is the best kind you can give!

Gardener's Tool Seat

Sure, you weren't so thrilled when he was tearing up the backyard with that tiny shovel set somebody got him when he was young. But now he's got quite the green thumb, nurturing a garden of his very own.

But you can still stop from constantly kneeling on hard ground, so his knees wind up in better shape than, let's face it, many of ours are. This fantastic folding garden stool is conveniently portable and ever features pockets for all their tools.

Subscription Box

If your “grandkids” are the four-legged kind, then a Barkbox subscription is the way to go. He spoils that little pup, and you know you want to too.

BarkBox curates a monthly collection of themed toys and treats, from the casino night-themed "Jackpawt" to licensed collections from Star Wars to Spider-Man. After all, a gift for his pup is a gift for him too.

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