The Best Gifts for Dads in 2026

Friends have been telling me I have “serious dad energy” for several years now, so becoming a real dad only made that worse. And as a dad, I have heard that dads, myself included, can be a real pain to get gifts for. I get it. When people ask me what I want, I usually say “I’m good” or come back days later with some hyper-specific item like a 100-watt USB-C cord or a really particular bike bottle.

While I can’t read the minds of every dad, I’ve written gift guides for years, and have collected gift ideas across all sorts of categories, including products I’ve gifted my dad in the past. The NBC Selected team has also tested hundreds (if not thousands) of products over the past year and gifted many to the dads in their lives. With their recommendations, my own dad expertise and advice from fathers that we all know, I crafted this list of the best gifts for dads, including picks in tech, travel, fitness, food and more.

I curated this list of the best gifts for dads from products our team of shopping experts at NBC Selected have tested over the years, as well suggestions from dads in our lives.

Apple’s new AirPods 5 are a great gift for dads who wants noise cancellation in a sleek package. They have up to 1.5 times more active noise cancellation than the last generation, and adaptive audio switches between noise cancelling and transparency modes. They’re also sweat- and water-resistant, and they come with hands-free Siri and real-time Live Translation.

NBC Selected senior editor Shalwah Evans tested a pair she received from the brand and says they’re perfect for any busy parents who want to take time for themselves even when they’re home. “I love how crisp the ambient sound is when ANC is turned off; I would imagine for parents who want to tune in and out of their music or podcast to check on the kids or household can appreciate that.”

If your father figure is looking for the best outdoor speaker, you should give them the JBL Clip 5. It has a built-in carabiner that lets him attach it to almost anything: a backpack, luggage, exercise bike, shower curtain rod, golf bag, the list goes on. It’s also IP67 water and dust proof, according to the brand — we’ve used it at the beach and pool parties with no problem.

The Kindle Scribe is part e-reader, part notebook — perfect for dads who like to write notes in the margins of novels and documents. Like other Kindles, it’s excellent for reading since it has a bright, glare-free screen and up to 12 weeks of battery life. Plus, it comes with a stylus, which NBC Selected editors found responsive and as easy as writing on paper when taking notes, signing documents and more.

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This is one of our favorite everything bags — it’s a weekender, beach bag, grocery tote, whatever he needs. “This may be the greatest thing I received all year,” says Evans, who got it as a gift at an event. “I didn’t think I could be excited about another tote bag, but this one surprised me. The quality is top tier and I actually use it all the time.” You can personalize the tote with a monogram or name up to ten characters long (just plan for extra shipping time). It comes in four sizes with two strap lengths, as well as a zippered top version.

“I wasn’t an ‘iPad person’ until I got one last year — it’s become my favorite travel companion, especially on long flights,” says NBC Selected commerce editor Cory Fernandez. He can easily prop it on the seat-back tray table and watch movies and TV shows in-flight. This 11-inch version has an A16 chip that makes connectivity faster, more advanced cameras than the previous model, an all-day battery life.

This Yeti Rambler is one of our go-to tumblers; it’s a double-wall vacuum insulated cup that can keep drinks the right temperature for hours. If you purchase one through Yeti’s site, you can customize the tumbler with personalized text, monogram or imagery for an additional fee. “My dad must have at least a dozen customized Yetis at this point,” says NBC Selected reporter Zoe Malin. “When he moved, he carefully wrapped and packed each one like a prized possession.”

This large duffel bag is made from neoprene fabric that’s water resistant, insulating and shock-absorbent, according to the brand. It comes in over ten colors and four sizes. It’s a great gift for dads who take a lot of quick trips for work, or goes to the gym and wants a nice-looking bag that he can take straight to the office.

I’ve gifted my parents (and others) this Apple AirTag for the holidays, and they always manage to find a good use for it. It’s a Bluetooth tracker that uses Apple’s FindMy app to show its precise location. The AirTag has found many a lost keyring, crossbody bag and more in my parent’s house. It doesn’t come with a case, however. If they want to attach it to luggage or a backpack, consider adding something like this Belkin AirTag holder to their gift.

I’ve used Field Notes memo books for years to take notes, both at work and at home. They’re just small enough to fit into any bag or back pocket, and have quality paper that doesn’t bleed through to the other side. Each book has beautiful cover art of U.S. national parks, though you can also get dad a plain black version.

“I love the old-fashioned charm this nameplate adds to my desk,” says Fernandez. You can personalize the text, subtext and color, with gold and silver options for the plating. The personalization process takes a few days so make sure you build in enough time to customize and ship it.

If he has a hard time falling (and staying) asleep because of noise, we highly recommend Loop’s new eye mask — it can be especially helpful if he’s trying to sleep soundly through busy city noise or airplane engine hum. It offers advanced light blocking without putting unwanted pressure on the face, according to the brand, and you can customize the fit. It’s also washable, so you can use it daily.

I’ve never been disappointed to receive an Amazon gift card as a present. Every dad I know (myself included) is constantly buying little necessities and luxuries from the storefront, and seeing a gift fund balance on my account always sparks joy and gratitude for the person who made that happen. The gift card is available as a physical card or a digital code.

Every time I’ve gifted someone a massage gun, everyone in the group wants to try it out. Theragun makes some of our favorites, and this one has a triangle-shaped handle that makes it easy for me to reach tricky spots like my shoulder blades and mid-back. It’s also simple to use for dads who don’t like fussy gadgets: there’s one button that turns it on, off and changes the massage speed.

The Brooks Ghost sneakers are some of NBC Selected editors’ favorite shoes for walking and running — and the Ghost 18 sneakers are a go-to for anyone looking for a comfortable, stable fit. They have breathable upper liners, nitrogen-infused v3 foam for superior shock absorption and a flat-knit tongue for top-of-the-foot protection. It’s available up to size 15 and comes in narrow, wide and extra-wide widths to suit a range of dad sizes.

I’ve given and received so many Carhartt beanies over the years, and I’m always excited to add a new color to my collection. It’s made of acrylic rib knit and has a fold-up cuff design with the Carhartt logo front and center. It comes in one universal size and more than a dozen colors.

In the winter, the thermal version of these boots are basically my second skin — always on my feet and ready for anything. They pair well with almost any outfit, and are so much easier to pull on and off than any other boot I own. The shoe is made with water-resistant leather and has a cushioned midsole for added comfort.

Whether the closest thing he’ll get to riding a tractor is in virtual reality, or he’s just a guy (likely a millennial) who likes a trucker hat, he could appreciate this snapback from CAT. Evans has this hat and she loves that she can adjust the fit for her small head. She’s a fan of hats from the brand overall, saying that they remind her of her college. “I also love the Payday hat, so much so, I’m planning to get one for my husband so we can twin — even if it’s against his will,” sahe says.

Most of us know a dad who doesn’t need sunny summer weather to fire up his grill. He may even dominate the kitchen regularly, or love to deep fry the thanksgiving turkey. Either way, he deserves this stylish and durable apron that comes with pockets to hold his tools and towel, and a bottle opener for his beer. It comes in more than a dozen colors, all with stainless steel accents and adjustable straps. The dads in your life can also use it for other activities besides cooking, like painting or home improvement projects.

While grilling tools may feel cliché to buy a dad, there’s a reason why dads who grill still enjoy receiving a great set. This one in particular comes with four 18-inch long-reaching utensils that lets them avoid getting their hands too close to the heat. They’re made of thick and durable stainless steel, not flimsy metals, and each piece is dishwasher safe. So you’ve also given your grill-loving dads the gift of not washing dishes. They’ll be thrilled.

If he needs fresh beans or wants to try purposefully ground blends for espresso or pour over, an Atlas Coffee Club subscription is for him. You can gift a three- to 12-month subscription of whole, ground or pod compatible coffee. He can choose to get surprise beans or an email ahead of time that allows him to choose based on his preferences.

Fly By Jing is one of our favorite AAPI-owned food brands, and with this variety set he’ll get several jars of the chili crips bestsellers, including Sichuan Chili Crisp, a sweet and spicy Zhong Sauce and extra crunchy Chengdu Crunch. “I’m not usually a spicy food person, but putting a little of the Chili Crisp sauce on my eggs, toast or salmon adds a crunch and kick that is just perfect,” says Malin.

Evans swears by this travel mug she recently received from the brand for testing. She loves how it keeps her drinks really hot for a couple of hours, eliminating the need to keep microwaving her coffee. “If your dad or husband is as adamant about making his own coffee as I am, he’ll appreciate this travel tumbler,” she says. “If he’s camping or taking a long train or car ride, he’ll benefit from how long the drink stays at your temperature of choice.”

The slim design makes it cupholder compatible, and the leak- and spill-proof lid is ideal for commuters who may need to throw it into a backpack or workbag during their journey.

Whether he’s walking, running, hiking, biking or just hanging out on a sunny day, these Goodr sunglasses won’t go flying off his face thanks to the grippy, rubberized finish. “I can wear these sunglasses on 10-mile runs and never have to adjust them,” says Malin. They’re also not very pricey — he won’t have to worry if they get a little beat up in a bag or on a weekend getaway.

My dad has a habit of gifting me pocket knives and multitools, and while I don’t think of myself as a pocket-knife kind of dad, I somehow end up using them almost daily around the house. This multitool from Victorinox tackles lots of jobs around my apartment, including opening packages, cutting bags and tweezing splinters.

If he has any interest in birds, wildlife or just spotting faraway buildings and landscapes, this pair of binoculars has helped me handle all three with ease. They’re easy to adjust to your eyes and face shape, in my experience, and easy to handle thanks to the rubber and plastic casing. The lenses have an eight-time magnification and can focus as close as 6.5 feet.

This tabletop fire pit can help bring a warm focal point to his outdoor space, and is small enough to move and store easily. It’s about seven inches tall and five inches across, and you can personalize it with his favorite sports team or a custom message if purchased directly from Solo Stove (for an additional fee). The stove requires firewood or pellets, which are sold separately.

A bird feeder is a great way to get colorful visitors soaring towards Dad’s house. This smart bird feeder automatically records birds as they visit the feeder. The Birdfy app sends a notification when a bird is in view, and he can open it to watch a live video feed, or check saved clips later. The camera is IP65 weatherproof — so dust, rain and snow shouldn’t cause any issues, plus it comes with a solar panel for renewable power.

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To recommend the best gifts for dads, I drew on my own experience as a dad and researched highly-rated options across a range of categories, including tech, apparel, and travel. I also gathered recommendations from dads that I know, and my team of shopping experts at NBC Selected. Every option on my final list comes from a brand we’ve previously covered or that our editors (and myself) have personally tried.

Some of the products were sent as a courtesy from the brand for testing, and others we bought with our own money. To evaluate each gift, I considered its quality, usefulness, durability and price, plus how well it fits into a dad’s busy life.

Harry Rabinowitz is a former NBC Selected reporter who frequently covered technology and fitness; he’s also a dad. Shalwah Evans is a senior editor at NBC Selected who contributed to and updated this story. For this article, they curated a list of gifts using Harry’s first-hand experience as a new dad, as well as NBC Selected staff picks, and top-rated items from previous testing and coverage.

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