To help you decide what to buy for dad, we surveyed the office to round up some of our top picks below.
Stanley Classic Vacuum Insulated Thermos ($40)
I'm not buying my dad a new because the one he bought in 1974 still works like new. If your dad doesn't already have one, get on it. —Jay Bouchard, editorial fellow
Yeti Lowball Rambler Tumbler 10 Ounce ($20*)
Yes, this is an . But for $20, you cannot find a better vessel from which to sip hot, and more importantly cold, beverages. Give him one of these, and that ice cube in his single malt will stay intact for a lot longer. He'll also be the envy of his drinking buddies. —Bryan Rogala, video producer
MPowered Luci Outdoor 2.0 Lantern ($20)
My dad spends five weekends a summer in Lake Powell to escape the snowy Vail Valley and take in some red-rock heat from the driver's seat of his 21-foot speedboat. This year, I'm giving him a to take with him. The light is ideal for a few reasons: it packs down to the size of a bagel, which is good for the cramped quarters in the boat; it emits a warm, diffused glow for late-night tent pitching; and it charges on sun power, which is pretty much guaranteed in the desert. —Axie Navas, executive editor
Pladra Elli Flannel Shirt ($55)
As a Mainer, flannels are pretty much my dad's outfit of choice. fits a little slimmer so it will look good for his day job as a college professor, but the thick cotton is burly enough to for his evenings spent working in the garden or splitting firewood. —Ben Fox, assistant editor
Redington Rise II 5/6 Fly Reel ($115)
ճ is a sleek, lightweight, and affordable option any trout angler would be happy to turn line on. (For those in the know, it's also an update to Redington's rock-solid Rise fly reel.) My favorite part is the 2.05-inch diameter arbor, which means faster line retrieval and less chance of generating coils. —Greg Thomas, senior editor
Garmin Vivosmart HR+ Smartwatch ($180)
My dad has been recording his workout metrics since long before wearables were a thing. That's why he'd love the , which measures step count and heart rate, and uses GPS to track pace, distance, and elevation gain. It's also waterproof so he can take it swimming. —Collete Harris, editorial fellow
Apple AirPods ($160)
Yes, this is a lot to pay for wireless headphones. But here's the thing: if dad commutes, . Thanks to the slim carrying case, they take up no space in his bag. They also do away with the awful rats nest he's used to. In his ears, the sound is top-shelf so he can drown out the incessant yapping of his train or bus companions. Finally, the battery life is solid thanks to the case that doubles as a wireless charger.—Jakob Schiller, online gear director