Skip the Gift Card and Get Your Son One of These Gifts Instead

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If there's one person who's even harder to shop for than a dad, it's a son! Whether it's his birthday or Christmas, it never gets easier. At least there are a lot of ideas out there for gifts for dads, DIY cards, and Father's Day dinners for the fathers in your life. But when it comes to our boys, no matter if they're 12 or 21, it's so hard to know what they actually want. They say they have everything they need or just simply want a gift card. But where's the fun in that? You know him better than anyone and want to show him just how much you care with the perfect gift for your son.

Ree Drummond's suggestion? Remember who your son is at his core and shop for that person. "Before he was a quarterback, he was a cowboy," she says of her son Bryce. That's exactly the thinking behind this list of the best gifts for sons on the market. Each of our picks is intended to appeal to your sons' preferences and personalities, so whether they're into football or board games, you'll have all your bases covered.

We've included gifts for movie lovers, kitchen gifts for guys starting out in their own apartments, and plenty of other hobby-centric finds like gaming consoles and drones. Many of these finds count as gifts under $25 and gifts under $50, too! There's even some personalized options! Oh, and not to worry, high school-era moms: We've also got tons of options here that'll work well as gifts for teen boys—which is practically a miracle in and of itself.

Screen Magnifier for Smartphone

Break out the popcorn because movie nights just got a whole lot better! This cool find will magnify his phone screen three to five times while maintaining a high resolution image. It can also be used for playing video games.

Pickleball Paddle Set

Pickleball—a mash-up between tennis and ping pong—is more popular than ever! He can get in on the game with this starter set that includes four paddles, four balls, grip tapes, and a bag to hold it all!

Personalized Wallet

No need to invest in a card this year! Instead, pen him a sweet message inside of one of these wallets.

Solar Charger Power Bank

If your son likes to camp, cycle, hike, or fish... heck, if he just likes to be outside in general, you'll want to make sure he has this product. This solar bank lets him quickly charge his devices while away from an outlet, whether he has an iPhone or Android. It's built with a multi-safety protection system and even has a flashlight!

Bluetooth Beanie

If he's always losing his headphones, he's sure to appreciate this bluetooth beanie that will keep the tunes playing and keep his head nice and cozy. It has a playtime of 16 to 20 hours!

Pizza Socks Box

If that isn't the cutest packaging you've ever seen, we don't know what to say. He'll love wearing his favorite late-night dinner right on his feet.

'Things They Don't Teach You in School' Game

This fun trivia game starts where his schooling stopped. Answer questions like, "What food can be kept for hundreds of years?" The info is super silly and random that it's unlikely anyone will have the upper hand!

HS720 Foldable GPS Drone with 4K UHD Camera

It's a splurge, but it's worth it. That's what almost every burgeoning photographer or videographer would say about a drone—and we're sure your son feels the same.

AuKing Mini Projector

Lights, camera, action! With this mini projector, he can enjoy his own pop-up cinema night right from the comfort of his room! It has built-in speakers plus a bigger screen and clearer image than similar products. Now, all he needs is the popcorn!

Men's Long Sleeve Quilted Flannel Shirt

Your son: 1. Extra-cold winter nights: 0. (This shirt also happens to be available in a few different colors—you can select whichever suits him best!)

Personalized Compass

Send him off on his next adventure with one of these beautiful engraved compasses. They're crafted with brass, glass, and leather for a truly timeless feel.

Samsonite Classic Leather Slim Backpack

Whether he's headed off on a weekend vacation or just packing for school the next day, he'll appreciate having this backpack around. The color name here is pretty fabulous, too: cognac!

Cookies and Chips Ultimate Snacks Care Package

If he's a self-proclaimed snacker, this sampler box will make a great gift. The individually wrapped, single-serve snacks come packed in a box, ready to open, taste, and enjoy. There are sweet and salty options for whatever mood he's in.

Cholula Hot Sauce Variety Pack

If there's a better gift out there than a hot sauce sampler, well, we haven't seen it yet. Featuring a variety of fun flavors—Green Pepper, Chili Lime, Sweet Habanero, and more—this set's super fun to present to your favorite hot sauce lover.

Custom Neon Sign

Don't let him settle for ordinary room décor when he can use neon to spruce up his space! This custom light-up sign can be designed any way you like. Choose from 36 fonts and 13 colors. It's fun, durable, and guaranteed to hang on his wall for years.

Dad's Playbook

This is a great gift for sons and dads, alike! It's filled with inspirational quotes from the greatest sports coaches of all time, including advice on leadership, scoring under pressure, and how to encourage team spirit.

Portable Campfire

Damp firewood will be no match for this portable campfire, which is made from recycled materials and can burn for hours. There's no need for extensive cleanup, either.

Grilled Personal Pizza Maker

Not to be cheesy, but he'll be raving about this gift for years to come! Here's how it works: He'll add topping to crust, place the pizza in the mini-oven with the lid on, then pop it on the grill! Ten minutes later, he can enjoy his own personal-size pizza!

Tile Mate Bluetooth Tracker

If your son's always losing everything—wait, is that redundant?—invest in a set of Tiles. These genius devices will keep his phone, keys, or wallet from getting lost.

Extra Thick Stainless Steel Grill Tool Set

Whether he's a seasoned grill master or just learning the art, this set of grill tools will definitely come in handy. It includes 25 high quality pieces including long handled tongs, a spatula, grill fork, sharp knife, basting brush, cleaning brush, scraper, skewers, corn holders, straws, and more!

Personalized Leather Passport Holder

Any son who loves to travel will appreciate this personalized passport holder. It's crafted from genuine leather and makes for a seriously memorable present.

YETI Rambler Tumbler

A YETI tumbler isn't just a way to carry your favorite drink, it's the best way! Beyond the 130,000+ five-star reviews and double-wall insulation, this stainless steel beauty is dishwasher (and reckless boy) safe.

The Comfy Original Wearable Blanket

Yes, there's such a thing as a "wearable blanket"—and we're pretty sure your son needs it. No matter his age, he'll love snuggling up in the extra-roomy material of this sherpa-lined wonder.

Allbirds Men's Tree Dashers

Equal parts sophisticated and casual, it's no wonder Allbirds are so popular. There are several different colors to choose from here, so be sure to take a look at all of your options.

Victrola Bluetooth Suitcase Record Player

It's time to start going through your old record collection! Victrola crafted a beautiful portable record player that blends a classic vintage design with upgraded sound quality and Bluetooth capabilities.

Ascot Slippers

"Cozy" barely scratches the surface of how these shoes feel. They've got a rubber sole, too, so they're as sturdy as they are comfy.

Portable Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

He'll be able to play his favorite tunes just about anywhere thanks to this Bluetooth-compatible speaker. We love its sleek, futuristic silhouette.

Personalized AirPod Pro Case

Personalize his favorite accessory with the addition of this gorgeous leather case. It's a fun way to add onto a gift from last year (and if he doesn't already own AirPods, you can tack on a pair of those, too!).

Huckberry The Rockies Glasses - Set of 4

Is your son a self-proclaimed whiskey connoisseur? Delight him with these glasses featuring topographic impressions of mountain ranges. The sets come in a variety of ranges, including the Rockies, Grand Tetons, Zion, and more.

Navigator Braided Brown Leather Bracelet

How sleek and stylish is this bracelet? Better yet, you can select from brown or black leather, choose the number of beads, then add personalization! He won't want to take it off.

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