These Stocking Stuffer Ideas Are Great for Dads, Husbands, and Grandpas

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Stocking stuffers can have a bad rap. They’re often gag gifts that you pretend are funny while opening them or knick-knacks that end up getting tossed in a drawer or regifted during white elephant parties with coworkers. But these little tokens don’t have to suck, if you opt for something practical and fun (but not outright ridiculous).

Really, a stocking stuffer only needs to check one box: small. Warm socks, hats, and gloves aren’t the most original ideas, but they’re still a good choice, especially if you personalize it, like getting running gloves for a future marathoner. If you have someone on your list who loves to travel, go for a sleek passport cover or luggage tag. And everyone can use pocket-size tech gadgets, like chargers and Bluetooth trackers.

We found a ton of stocking-sized gifts that are unique, useful, and great for guys who love tinkering, building, and nerding out.

Looking for more gift ideas for men? Check out our stories on 60-plus best Christmas gifts for men, the coziest men’s slippers, and the best remote control cars.

Extreme Cold-Weather Boot Socks

Socks may not be the most exciting stocking stuffer in our roundup, but he’ll surely appreciate these extreme cold-weather socks when he’s out shoveling or hiking snow-covered trails.

Made by Carhartt, the socks are spun with a mix of wool, polyester, and nylon, plus a touch of spandex so they’ll keep their shape. They also have a cushioned ribbed cuff designed to wick away sweat, along with a reinforced toe.

MoonLit LED Micro Lantern

Here’s a bright idea for a stocking stuffer. This mini LED globe lantern can be clipped to your fleece’s zipper or the top of a tent—wherever some extra light is needed. It can be set to glow or flash, plus it’s water-resistant and offers about 60 hours of battery life.

Waterproof Outdoor Lighter

This flameless lighter is completely waterproof, made to withstand the elements which makes it a great gift for a man who loves any outdoor adventure. It’ll spark approximately 300 times before its lithium-ion battery will need to be recharged.

Expect about two hours to fully juice it up and it should hold the charge for up to a week. In an emergency, the paracord lanyard doubles as tinder to start a fire, plus there’s a whistle attached.

Stainless Steel Multi-tool

A multitool that attaches to a keyring couldn’t be handier, and this lightweight 420 stainless steel one can be used for more than 16 tasks.

It features a bike spoke key, a bit that’s compatible with multiple screwdriver tips, a can and bottle opener, plus an open and closed wrench, a wire stripper, a serrated edge, and more. The tool is also TSA-compliant, so there’s no need to detach it before traveling.

Stainless Steel BBQ Grill Scraper

Scrape those grates clean without any stray brush bristles making a mess (or falling into food) with this tiny stainless steel tool. It has six round and five V-shaped grooves to get the job done, plus it’s dishwasher safe. It’s a great stocking stuffer for its size, price point, and practicality alone, but the cute little owl adds a fun touch for a gift.

Lip Balm SPF 25 (Pack of 3)

A cold-weather necessity but a bit more elevated, Jack Black’s lip balm is one of the best out there. The brand makes anything and everything for men to take care of their skin and hair and this served as my personal gateway. It smells good without being overpowering and moisturizes better than anything else I’ve tried.

Smartphone RC Controlled Paper Airplane Kit

This well-designed gadget takes paper airplanes to the next level by giving them remote-controlled flight. He can fold up any style of paper airplanes, attach the frame, and fly it using his smart phone. A quick charge gives ten minutes of continuous flight time and the app is easy and fun to use.

3-in-1 Stuffed Burger Press

Men who like to get fancy with their burger will flip when they find this three-in-one burger press in their stocking. You can use the press to add toppings in the middle for a stuffed burger and to make sliders. Using it is also much neater than making patties by hand.

Grill Brush and Scraper

With a triple set of stainless steel bristles, a heavy-duty scraper at the top, and an 18-inch handle with a nonslip coating, this grill brush is a fantastic stocking stuffer for men who love to barbecue but hate cleaning up. It’s safe for all surfaces, plus it’s angled to prevent hands from getting too close to the hot grates.

Swiftland Running T-Shirt

Roll up this tee into the stocking of any hiker, runner, and pretty much anyone else who likes to spend some time outside. The lightweight tee wicks moisture, is quick drying, and comes in a bunch of different colors. It can be worn for workouts or serve as as a base layer for your giftee’s favorite outdoor past times.

Waterproof & Leakproof Bar Soap Travel Case

Whether they travel with a a packed dopp kit or just a bar of soap, this travel case will prove handy. They can stash a wet bar in this bag without worrying about leaking onto other clothing or items and the fabric still allows some breathability for the soap to dry. It can stand on flat surfaces when stuffed for easy accessibility in the shower or on campouts.

Elko Pocket Knife

This minimalist pocket knife can fit on a keychain and comes in handy in a pinch. The small blade can cut twine or break down boxes and the pry bar on the opposite side can be used as a flathead screw driver or bottle opener. It won’t replace their favorite pocket knife but it will surely be the one they always have on hand.

Classic Flask with Never-Lose Cap

When in doubt, a little booze can brighten up the holidays. Stanley’s flask has a wide mouth for easy, funnel-less filling and it’s built as durable as the brand’s line of camp gear. It’s dishwasher safe and the screw-on cap is attached so they won’t lose it while imbibing.

Titanium Single 450 Cup

This lightweight camp cup is a serious piece of camp cookware thanks to its titanium construction and corrosion resistance. They can reheat soup, coffee, or boil water while enjoying the outdoors. Even if they enjoy most of their coffee indoors it’s still a unique mug to add to their collection.

Plus Wireless Smart Meat Thermometer

Give them peace of mind with this thermometer that takes the guess work out of grilling and cooking. This meat thermometer works with an intuitive app on their smart phone to give precise temperature reads on beef, pork, poultry and fish. It charges through the wooden case that only requires a single battery.

Steel Stackable Storage Box T-190

These tool boxes are formed from a single steel plate for a seamless construction thats super durable. They’re sleek enough to look at home in garages, on work benches, or just a regular desk and stackable to organize any projects they may have.

Bullet Pen - 400 Series

They probably have a drawer full of plastic pens and maybe a third of them work sometimes. Give them one that is reliable, refillable, and looks better than the ones they’re accumulating from the office. The Fisher Space pen has been on every manned NASA mission to space since the Apollo mission in ’68 and is a favorite of Jerry Seinfeld, too. Two solid endorsements.

Rambler 10oz Wine Tumbler

Any one of Yeti’s Rambler mugs or tumblers is a fail-safe stocking stuffer for men (or anyone who doesn’t already have one). This stainless steel 10-ounce wine tumbler is dishwasher-safe and features double-wall vacuum insulation, plus the outside never gets too hot to hold. It comes in 12 colors, though prices vary.

Original Multifunctional Headwear

There are a dozen different ways to wear the Buff, including a gaiter, headband, or workout bandana. It’s made of recycled polyester microfiber, with four-way stretch and UPF 50 protection from UV rays. It also comes in more than a dozen colors and prints.

Left Center Right Dice Game Set

This eye-catching mini set includes everything he needs to play a seriously addictive dice game, including three dice, 30 poker chips, and a user’s manual, all packed into a black travel-size tin. If your dude doesn’t dig yellow, the set also comes with blue, green, or red poker chips.

Automatic Umbrella

A dependable umbrella is a solid stocking stuffer gift, and this compact automatic from RainPlus features nine reinforced fiberglass ribs, a Teflon-coated waterproof canopy, and a nonslip rubber handle. It comes in eight bright colors, plus black.

Toothpaste Set

Mavis’s high-end toothpaste is beautifully packaged, and this elegant silver gift box is a great stocking stuffer for men who appreciate stylish products to accent the bathroom sink. The set includes three tubes in festive Christmas colors, with two mint flavors and one cinnamon.

Charlie RFID Card Case Wallet

These days, it’s smart to carry a card case with RFID-blocking technology. Problem is, not all win points for style. Leave it to fan-fave Herschel to make one. The four-card Charlie wallet in a cool crosshatch fabric protects your information without sacrificing style.

Genuine Leather Apple Watch Band

No, the price of this leather Apple Watch band isn’t a typo. Most in this collection are $20 or less at the time of this writing. They’re made of calf leather and come in 40 styles, including neutrals with contrast stitching and two-tone leather.

The bands have stainless steel pins that slide into grooves on the top and bottom of the watch, and they’re compatible with Apple watches from the SE Series 7 and 8, as well as earlier generations so these stocking stuffers work for almost any Apple lover.

National Parks Notebooks (3-Pack)

Give this stocking stuffer as a set of three or split up the notebooks for fans of America’s national parks. The thick paper inside from the French Paper Co. has a light gray grid, and the notebooks have a saddle-stitch binding and rounded corners for durability. You can pick from several bundles that highlight different national parks.

PowerCore 10000 Portable Charger

Everyone can use a boost of power in their pocket for a smartphone or tablet. If you’re in the market for a portable charger to give as a stocking stuffer, look no further than those made by top brand Anker. At just over 6 ounces and 3.6 inches tall, it’s lightweight and small, plus it has 10,000mAh of power for lightning-fast charging. It comes in bright colors like red in blue in addition to white and black.

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