Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Culture
  3. Evergreens

The 11 Best Gifts for the Dad Who Wants Nothing for the Holidays

A father happily holding the gift his son gave in the outdoors.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

“No, you don’t have to get me anything for the holidays.”

Such a response from your dad regarding holiday gift ideas can elicit one of two reactions: relief (“Phew, I’m off the hook!”) or frustration (“This isn’t useful, I’d like to buy something!”). If you fall into the latter camp and insist on showing dad how much you love him, it’s high time you give your dad something more thoughtful and practical other than the usual socks or ties. He may not tell you what he wants, but we’re here to help you get something unique for him. Head below for the best gifts for the dad who wants nothing — because in his mind, he already has everything.

Recommended Videos

Food and Drink Gifts for the Dad Who Wants Nothing

Brooklyn Brew Shop Everyday Beer Making Kit

The Brooklyn Brew Shop Everyday Beer Making Kit on white background.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Has dad ever attempted to make his own microbrew? If not, this kit from the Brooklyn Brew Shop is perfect for beginners. It comes with a beer-making mixture, a 1-gallon reusable glass fermenter, a few necessary tools, and step-by-step instructions. Choose from the Everyday IPA, Chocolate Maple Porter, or Bruxelles Blonde. With this kit, perhaps dad will discover that he likes brewing beer as much as he enjoys drinking it.

Buy at Amazon Buy at Walmart

Make Your Own Hot Sauce Kit

A half-full bottle with funnel in between two bottles of sauces and three empty bottles with chili and spices.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Dad can turn up the heat by making his own hot sauce. This kit includes various dried peppers, from whole guajillo peppers to Arbol peppers. It also comes with assorted spices, white vinegar, and six glass bottles with lids and labels. There’s even an instruction book with recipes, although dad may be inclined to experiment and land on an award-winning hot sauce formula.

Buy at Uncommon Goods

Carnivore Club Subscription Box

The contents of the Carnivore Club Subscription Box.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Help dad try the meats of the world from the comfort of his own kitchen with a monthly Carnivore Club subscription. Each box contains four to six artisanal cured meats, totaling as much as 2 pounds. It also includes a guidebook with details about the artisans, recipes, and drink pairings. Every Carnivore Club box has a theme; past themes have featured meats from Italy, Spain, and Canada.

$33 from Amazon

Grooming Gifts for the Dad Who Wants Nothing

Beard Club PT45 Trimmer

A Beard Club PT45 Trimmer on white background.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Has your dad’s beard trimmer seen better days? Gift him the award-winning beard trimmer he didn’t know he needed. The Beard Club PT45 comes with eight color-coded guide combs for 45 different beard lengths so dad can dare to do something different with his whiskers (and still look good). Also included is a minimalistic charging stand that won’t clutter the bathroom counter.

Buy at Amazon Buy at Walmart

Jack Black Beard Grooming Kit

The Jack Black Beard Grooming Kit on plain background.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

If dad wants to keep his pandemic beard going, more power to him. Help him keep it fresh and clean with this beard-grooming kit from Jack Black. It comes with a wash, a conditioning shave, beard oil, and a beard comb. Dad can take his new grooming routine on the road since this kit is the perfect size for travel.

Buy at Jack Black

Manscaped Shears 2.0 Nail Grooming Kit

Tweezers, scissors, nail clippers, and a medium grit file beside a travel case.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Dad can enjoy a luxury manicure at home with the Manscaped Shears 2.0 nail kit. It comes with slant-tipped tweezers, round-point scissors, nail clippers, and a medium grit file — all made of tempered stainless steel. All of these tools rest in the included travel case with magnetic closure. Whether home or away, dad can keep his nails clean and cuticle-free.

Buy at Amazon Buy at Walmart

Tech Gifts for the Dad Who Wants Nothing

Bose QuietComfort Noise Cancelling Earbuds

A pair of noise-canceling earbuds from Bose.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Bose QuietComfort Noise Cancelling Earbuds will allow dad to listen to his favorite songs, podcasts, and audiobooks with minimal distraction. If dad chooses to wear these earbuds while jogging or commuting, he can control the level of ambient noise so he’s aware of travel announcements or oncoming traffic. There’s also a wireless charging case that provides an additional 12 hours of playback time (up to 18 hours total).

Buy at Amazon Buy at Walmart

Garmin Forerunner 245 Music GPS Watch

A Garmin Forerunner 245 Music GPS Watch on white background.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Dad can keep his phone in his gym bag or locker when he works out with the Garmin Forerunner 245 Watch. It has built-in GPS plus music streaming via Spotify Premium and other services. Additional features include smart notifications for calls and texts, health-monitoring tools, and safety functions that will alert emergency contacts through a paired smartphone in case of an accident.

Buy at Amazon Buy at Walmart

Logitech Harmony Elite

The Logitech Harmony Elite on white background.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Level up dad’s smart-home game with the Logitech Harmony Elite. It includes a smart hub plus a universal remote that’ll allow for control through closed cabinets or walls. The Logitech Harmony Elite is also compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, which means dad can use his voice to control the TV, lights, smart thermostat, and much more.

Buy at Amazon Buy at Walmart

Experiences for the Dad Who Wants Nothing

Masterclass Annual Subscription

Three portraits of Masterclass instructors.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Your dad can learn how to cook from Gordon Ramsay or take a screenwriting class with Aaron Sorkin thanks to Masterclass. An annual Masterclass subscription grants unlimited access to over 100 world-class instructors across 11 categories. Every class is available to watch on-demand so dad can go at his own pace.

$180 from MasterClass

Vinyl Moon Monthly Subscription

Vinyl records of various colors on a table.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Perhaps dad is thrilled that vinyl is making a comeback. Add to his music library (and his happiness) by giving him the gift of Vinyl Moon. Each month, Vinyl Moon curates songs from 10 up-and-coming artists and presses them to high-quality vinyl. Members also receive discounts and free shipping in the Vinyl Moon store, which means dad can build his music collection and save some cash, too.

$27 from Cratejoy

Alison Barretta
Former Former Contributor, The Manual
Alison is a freelance writer and editor from Philadelphia who specializes in skincare & beauty, lifestyle, and general… Read Full Bio
Topgolf brings back John Daly to continue to “disrupt” the game
john daly

To the uninitiated, golf can feel like a stuffy game. There is a dress code, there is an etiquette, and you even have to be quiet. At a sporting event. For those of us who love golf (don’t get me wrong, I am a huge fan but believe it is called golf because the other four-letter words are taken), we recognize golf isn’t stuffy as much as it is steeped in tradition. But there has always been one man who shirked the shackles of the tradition and disrupted the game of golf with one of the most immaculate vibes in the sport, John Daly. With his drinking, smoking, wild pants, wilder mouth, and general who-gives-a-sh*t nature, he was everything golf wanted to keep out. Now, the game embraces him and his vibe, and Topgolf brought him in to continue the disruption.

I love the vibe at Topgolf. It’s a place where you can smash a golf ball, listen to music, have a drink, and enjoy yourself with friends and family. That’s my kind of golf. – John Daly

Read more
Cigar Lounge Spotlight: The Carnegie Club takes you back to Rat Pack days
Couch, Furniture, Body Part

Three blocks south of Central Park, before you find yourself lost in the hectic environment of Times Square, is a cigar lounge tucked back away from the hustle and bustle. It almost feels like a secret. A place only those in the know are privy to. Of course, if that is the intention, then lovers of this establishment will be coming for me in no time with their pitchforks. I am talking about The Carnegie Club—a cigar lounge sitting on 56th Street between 6th and 7th Avenue. From the moment you walk in, it doesn’t feel like a normal, run-of-the-mill bar. No, this has a New York feel, but a specific kind of New York feel. One that harkens back to the days of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr. This feels like the Rat Pack days.

The space

Read more
Isaac Rouse is our new James Bond…it’s not what you think
Young James Bond

We’re all out here waiting on pins and needles to see who will take on the iconic role of James Bond in Amazon’s newest movie series. All the while, 2026 is just dropping Bond project after Bond project to whet our appetites. From 007: First Light dropping for the gamers in the franchise, to King Zero by Charlie Higson and All In by Dan Jones hitting the bookshelves, to yet another project you get to sink your teeth into, Young Bond: SilverFin.

If the last one sounds familiar to you, then you are a fan of Bond on the page as much as on the screen. First published in 2005, SilverFin follows a young James Bond long before he is recruited by the 00 program. Also written by Charlie Higson, this release is a full cast audio drama set to invade yet another part of your life. And young Isaac Rouse is set to voice our favorite future Bond. And there are a few fun Bond historical connections among the cast as well.

Read more