‘Tis the season for nog, nut mixes and noodling through new and novel gift ideas for the men in your life. To lessen the stress of searching for the ultimate holiday gifts for the guys on your list, we’ve narrowed down the field. With the potential to elevate living spaces and lifestyles, each one of these curated gift ideas could be just the ticket.
Flip It and Reverse It
Reversible and oh-so versatile, these cozy Crate & Barrel throws are made from wool, acrylic and recycled polyester, making them 100 per cent machine washable. Bonus: You can add a personalized message or monogram — in a variety of typefaces and thread colours — for an extra $12.
Personalized Alpine Cozy Reversible Throw Blanket, Crate & Barrel, $160-$172.
Check Your Mate
These solid, weighty brass chess pieces are just begging to be put into play. Over time — and with every finger touch — the pieces will develop a personal patina, turning the set into something truly heirloom worthy.
Blackened and Polished Brass Chess Piece Set, CB2, $229.
The Making of a Man
Whether he’s making a campfire, making pancakes or making abstract porcelain vessels, an apron makes the man… less likely to get covered in muck.
This one by Japanese upcycling retailer Puebco is made from vintage tent fabric, which has been weathered by the wind, rain, soil and whatever else the world has thrown at it over the years. (Just like us!)
Vintage Tent Fabric Apron, Puebco, $68.
Split the Difference
Some like it hot, some like it (ice) cold. But no matter how they like their coffee, this split-function coffeemaker will do both at the touch of a button. Using the same sleek, glass carafe for both functions, SplitBrew can make hot, barista-quality coffee or full-flavoured iced brew.
Black & Decker SplitBrew Programmable Coffee Maker, Canadian Tire, $70.
That’s Hot
When thinking of sweet, sentimental gift ideas for your guy, sweat may seem like a strange suggestion. But when it comes attached to a Nordic spa sauna-circuit punchcard, it all starts to make sense.
Whether it’s at Victoria’s Ritual Nordic Spa or Toronto’s hip Othership Experience, check out your local hot sauna/cold plunge offerings and really turn up the heat.
Don’t Throw in the Towel
There are around 5.5 million people living in Finland… and an estimated 3 million saunas. So, if anyone’s going to have a lock on the top sauna accessories, it’s the Finns.
These quick-drying, large-waffle weave linen/cotton towels could accompany that sauna-circuit punchcard, or be a standalone gift to recreate that spa-like experience at home.
Harvia by Luhta Sauna Towel, Sauna Specialists, $67.
Blank Canvas
Simple, minimalist lines and strong heritage materials make this tote as tough as it is on-trend.
Double-reenforced off-cut leather for the handles and waxed canvas — first used by Scottish sailors in 15th century — for the main body, this made-in-Canada beauty is both timeless and will stand the test of time.
Waxed Canvas Beach Bag, Salt Shop, $160.
Related: The Japanese Art of Gift Wrapping
Temperature Taker
Incredibly accurate and nearly indestructible, this Bluetooth-enabled digital meat thermometre can be put directly into a barbecue, air fryer, oven or deep fryer. But most importantly, it can also be put directly into the dishwasher.
Meater Pro/2 Plus Wireless Bluetooth Smart Meat Thermometer, Amazon, $180.
Get Cooking
Recreate the mouthwatering comfort food of Sauble Beach, Ontario’s Heydays restaurant with this new 120-recipe cookbook. Give the chefs in your life the chance to perfect Heydays’ retro-inspired menu, including their signature buttered Hot Lobster Rolls and béchamel-covered Classic Mac and Cheese…and hope they’ll share.
Heydays at The June Motel: Beach Town Classics, Amazon, $45.
Keep the Piece
Sleek and simple, this leather watch roll is the perfect piece to keep his timepieces neat and tidy. Make it personal by adding a monogram or name for an additional $20 personalization fee.
Grant Leather Watch Roll, Pottery Barn, $141-$161.
Easy on the Eyes
Sitting in front of a computer monitor all day long will take a toll on anyone’s eyes. Headaches, blurred vision and dry eyes are all common place in our work-from-home world. But this smart, eye-monitoring monitor adjusts brightness, blue light and ambient screen flickering to sooth sockets and reduce strain.
BenQ’s Eye-Care 24″ Monitor, Amazon, $140.
Petal Power
Flowers have the power to instantly bring smiles to faces. Sign up your secret Santa for a local flower-delivery subscription, such as Bear’s Blooms or Our Little Flower Company, and spread the joy.
The Vessel Is Yours
Beautiful objects belong in all homes — no matter who lives in them. So, when thinking of gift ideas for the men in your life, go with form (plus a little bit of function).
This trio of ceramic vessels, designed for EQ3 by Winnipeg-based designer Carla Zacharias, ticks all the boxes. (And would pair perfectly with that fun flower-box subscription.)
Alfred Vessels, EQ3, $20-$35.
Time to Digest
Dive back through 100 years of Architectural Digest’s archives to snoop through celebrity homes and hone in on the style of celebrated designers.
A true coffee table book, being both beautiful inside and out, there is something for everyone inside this bound behemoth.
Architectural Digest at 100: A Century of Style, Amazon, $157.
Suck It Up
Sleek, light and oh-so-powerful, one of Miele’s latest DuoFlex HX1 models of cordless vacuums is a must-have in any man’s home. With a battery life of nearly an hour, this vacuum is set to suck up everything from pet hair to car mat dirt, all in one cleaning session.
Miele DuoFlex HX1 Cordless Vacuum, Miele, $650-$850.
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