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A great Valentine’s Day gift strikes the balance between personal and indulgent, which is a very different measure depending on whom you’re shopping for. Some guys may be yearning for a high-quality turntable; others may want nothing more than a reliable chef’s knife. Some want a trip to the spa and fancy skin care. (And, of course, there are the guys who truly just want a nice dinner and chocolate.) To help you find the right Valentine’s Day gift for the man in your life, I combed through the Strategist archives to find tried-and-true items that would make thoughtful presents for any type of guy. Many are things Strategist staffers have gifted (or were thrilled to receive) themselves. All of the things on this list are available on Amazon but I’ve found some of them elsewhere, too, for those who like to shop around. All will arrive by Valentine’s Day, but buy soon, as shipping deadlines are fast approaching. And if you’re looking for more ideas, we have gift guides for everyone, from the person who just wants flowers to foodies and wine lovers.
Under $25
For the man with a sweet tooth
Do him one better than a heart-shaped sampler from the drugstore with this four-pack of bars from Tony’s Chocoloney, which the Strategist named a status Halloween candy after speaking to in-the-know parents and candy experts.
For the man who likes old-school candy
Ride the marzipan renaissance with these elegant fruit-shaped candies. (If you’re in New York, also check out the marzipan selection of at Fortunato Brothers in Brooklyn.)
For the man who’s on his feet all day
This analog foot massager was recommended by immunologist Lina Velikova in our roundup of the best gifts for doctors — it’s even compact enough to fit under a desk.
For the man who’s read “The Mushroom at the End of the World”
A glowy cluster of mushrooms are a perfect nightlight for the amateur mycologist.
For the man who takes great vacation photos
These disposable cameras are easy to use, portable, and produce surprisingly high-quality black-and-white prints.
For the man who camps out at oyster happy hour
Buy a man an oyster and he’ll eat for a day. Teach a man how to use an oyster knife and you’ll feed him for life.
For the man who’s trying to spend less time staring at his phone
According to chess players, nothing beats an affordable, portable, roll-up chess set. Grandmaster Susan Polgar, a three-time chess world champion, likes this one, praising it as an “an inexpensive but durable set that’s perfect for casual or tournament play.”
For the man who doesn’t drink
Help him stock his nonalcoholic bar cart with these tasty adaptogen-fueled spirits from Kin. They come recommended by several experts, including Jeremy Mustakas, the director of restaurants for ABC, who particularly loves High Rhode, which he calls a “must-have for any at-home nonalcoholic bar.”
For the man who already has NBA League Pass
These mesh shorts are one of our favorite gifts for basketball fans. (They also come in a blue colorway with “Los Angeles” embroidered across the front, but I prefer New York.)
For the man who makes a beautiful latte
This battery-powered, heatless milk frother produces pillowy foam for his espresso drinks, and it’s compact enough for a travel coffee setup.
For the man who bakes
This French butter is beloved by Dominique Ansel, inventor of the cronut. “You have to experience it to be able to understand it,” he says. “It’s higher quality than most butter you can find in the U.S. because of the cows and what they eat in France.” (And yes, it’s great for making croissants.)
For the man with threadbare sweatshirts
Model-actor Miles Garber told us he lives in his Gildan sweats: “They’re cool because they look vaguely ’90s, which is the best era of sweatwear, I think.” (Pair with matching elastic-hem sweatpants for a true Seinfeld-era gym look.)
For the man who watches music documentaries
He’ll love this book on the creative process by legendary producer Rick Rubin. “It’s just as much about mindfulness and awareness as it is about creativity,” says Strategist writer Jeremy Rellosa.
For the man who’s on Grilltok
If he’s always fiddling with his grill setup, give him specialty charcoal. Strategist contributor Regan Stephens discovered that these Thai charcoal logs — made from the wood of rambutan trees, a renewable resource — were the secret to “the most tender, wildly delicious poultry I’ve ever tasted.”
For the pastry chef to your chef de cuisine
A cookbook of Filipino American sweets to inspire the dessert artist.
For the man with a woodshop in the garage
If he keeps sending you links to biscuit joiners, he’ll appreciate this introduction to Japanese carpentry written by architect Kiyosi Seike that highlights 48 different joint styles.
Under $50
For the man who has trouble falling asleep
One of our favorite weighted blankets, this cotton-and-glass-bead weighted quilt is a game changer, according to Strategist assistant editor and (formerly) restless sleeper Jenna Milliner-Waddell. “I now define my life as pre–YNM blanket and post–YNM blanket,” she says.
For the man who hates letting grocery-store herbs wilt
Give him the gift of infinite fresh produce with my best-in-class smart garden, which is compact enough to fit in a small kitchen but, according to my earlier review, produces “a prodigious quantity of herbs.”
For the man who plays with fire
Heat things up with this cookbook from chef Francis Mallmann, one of our favorite gifts for grilling enthusiasts.
For the man who loves a fancy soap
Claus Porto, a brand that barbers love, has been making its luxe soaps in Portugal since 1887. This soap from the company’s Musgo Real line has notes of sandalwood and patchouli.
For the man who listens to synthwave
This cute little gadget is half-toy, half-instrument, winner of the “High Target Toy Prize” at the 2010 Japanese Toy Awards. Use the slider on the “tail” to make notes and squish its silicone cheeks for changes in tone.
For the Pauline Kael of Letterboxd
Taxi Driver screenwriter Paul Schrader’s book of film theory is a great gift for a cinephile. (Buy the 1988 edition at Abe Books if you want the more interesting cover; you can also find it at Thriftbooks.)
For the man who puts potato chips on his sandwiches
A paint can full of gourmet Spanish chips will last him longer than a bag of Utz. (“They’re the best potato chips I’ve ever had in my life,” says Amy Sedaris.)
For the man who knows the blender trick to aerate wine
If he uncorks a lot of natural wine or decants everything, he’ll love this sediment-straining wine funnel. We learned about it from Camille Lindsley, co-owner and beverage director of the NYC-based queer restaurant HAGS: “It’s something that seems like a silly, pointless little gadget, but honestly, it’s so utilitarian,” she says.
For the man with a curated sweats drawer
Comfy sweats are a foolproof gift, and in our guide to the best loungewear for men, Adidas’s sweatpants were recommended several times. “I would generally never wear sweatpants out,” says Matthew Malin, co-founder of Malin+Goetz, “but I’ve had these track pants with a stripe down the side for a couple of months now and I find myself wearing them pretty regularly.”
For the man with aches and pains
Sometimes, the most romantic gift you can give is to help unknot his back. The TriggerPoint foam roller is our best-in-class pick for its firm-but-not-stiff density: “It’s the first foam roller I recommend to everyone,” says Strategist fitness writer Jeremy Rellosa.
For the man with a Crunchyroll Premium subscription
For anime fans, a Gundam action figure is the Valentine’s equivalent of a box of chocolates.
For the man with sensitive skin
Sometimes a small upgrade to an everyday task makes the best gift. The excess minerals in hard water, like calcium and magnesium, can wreak havoc on your skin and hair; filter them out by installing one of these doodads that combines activated-carbon and oxidation-reduction technology.
For the man who loves indie sleaze
This book contains more than 300 photographs by party chronicler the Cobrasnake — valuable Y2K fashion inspiration.
For the man who wants to match with his dog
For the man with a passion for graphic design
I discovered this design-y, silly, almost SFW nude from Milton Glaser, the co-founder of New York magazine, via my co-worker Liza Corsillo’s roundup of the best butt-themed home décor.
Under $100
For the man you travel the world with
This useful device plugs into a headphone jack and connects via Bluetooth to your AirPods, eliminating the need for headphones on flights (and for unplugging your setup when your seat partner stands). This model can be paired with up to two sets of AirPods in case you’re watching something together.
For the man who games on the subway
This easy-to-use console for the iPhone is one of our favorite gifts for gamers. Strategist tech writer Jordan McMahon writes that its portability has “turned gaming on my iPhone into a first-class experience that can follow me nearly anywhere.”
For the fragrance nerd
This is my absolute favorite scented candle; it smells like “rainwater in eucalyptus groves off Highway 1.”
For the man who wants to start a podcast with you
The Blue Yeti mic is a favorite of Twitch streamers and podcasters, and since it plugs into your USB port, it doesn’t take much technical skill to set up.
For the man with an extensive skin-care shelf
This algae-based eye cream is a favorite of Emilio Quezada of the skin-care podcast Dewy Dudes, who describes himself as “genetically unblessed with big ol’ eye bags and dark circles.” Algenist’s balm “reduces puffiness quick and provides a bright-eyed effect in the morning.”
For the man who refuses to get a smart watch
Drag queen Katya Zamolodchikova wears this no-nonsense digital watch specifically because it isn’t connected to the internet: “I don’t want email on my arm,” she says. It has all of the necessary functions — an alarm, a stopwatch, and a light-up face — and nothing extra.
For the man who does everything on his phone
This app-controlled sex toy is the “the Cadillac of cock rings,” according to Samantha Bard, co-owner of the Williamsburg sex shop and event space Shag. It can be controlled via smartphone app from anywhere, a feature that makes it really popular, she says.
For the man with a display-worthy sex-toy collection
Under $200
For the man who likes to sleep under the stars
Van lifers Megan Hogate and Ciara Ladroma say that this portable, durable loveseat is a “romantic” camping chair — “that’s the reason we got it.”
For the man who would rather stay on the couch
These comfy, cork-soled woolen slippers are a splurge, but they last forever, according to chef and farmer Phoebe Cole-Smith.
For the man who just picked up a new sport
Beloved by doctors, basketball players, runners, and Strategist beauty writer Rio Viera-Newton, this mini percussive massage tool will soothe aches and pains.
For the man who makes you coffee
A top-of-the-line kettle is a great splurge gift — it’s beautiful, reliable, and will make an everyday task smoother. Fellow’s electric kettle is beloved by so many experts (and Strategist writers) that it made the Strategist 100 — our list of the most-stood-behind products we have written about.
For the man who broke your favorite mug
Get him into artful repairs with this kit for kintsugi, the Japanese craft of mending ceramics with gold lacquer to emphasize rather than hide imperfections.
For the man who kept his quarantine beard
The Wahl Magic Clip is “the top product to own if you want to re-create a barbershop experience in the comfort of your home,” says Miles Wood-Smith, master barber at Murdock London. It’s popular among barbers for its power, sharp blades, and a good range of guard options for getting his beard length just right.
For the man who gets competitive about bird-watching
This pair of bins comes highly recommended by Strategist contributor and bird enthusiast Steven John. Their durability and light weight make them a favorite pair for hiking and camping adventures.
For the man with a New Year’s resolution to fix his sleep hygiene
The Loftie alarm clock is great for removing devices from the bedroom, and it lulls you in and out of sleep with gentler noises than an alarm blaring. “It has greatly improved my sleep quality,” says Julianne Fraser, the founder and CEO of digital-marketing agency Dialogue New York. “I fall asleep to the sound baths and use the breath-work and meditation features instead of scrolling through my Instagram feed.”
For the man who already has a gnocchi board
Continue his fresh pasta journey with this chef-favorite, hand-operated appliance from a company that has been making pasta machines since the 1930s.
For the man who needs a better knife
If he is still trying to cut tomatoes with a steak knife, do him a favor and upgrade to a chef’s knife that emerged as the best overall after Strategist contributor Nick Marino consulted 25 experts and tested the top picks himself.
For the board game nerd
It was BoardGameGeek’s best game in the world for an unprecedented five-year run. It’s sold out everywhere, but true love is finding a pristine set from a reseller online.
For the man who wants to play like Phoebe Bridgers
While Bridgers didn’t reveal her actual guitar when we asked her about the stuff she can’t live without, other experts (as in guitar-store owners) say this Gretsch guitar is a great (budget-friendly) choice for both beginner and amateur players: “The small body makes it easy to hold, and the quality is outstanding, especially considering the price,” says one guitar seller. Taylor Hollingsworth, Bridgers’s frequent collaborator, told us he’s a fan of this guitar.
$200 and above
For the man who prefers Mr. Coffee to Chemex
If he’d rather outsource brewing coffee to a machine, gift him the Technivorm Moccamaster. It delivers a “consistently better cup,” according to Jim Munson, founder and president of Brooklyn Roasting Company, and is made with “solid construction and better parts” than similar models, per Suyog Mody, co-founder of Driftaway Coffee.
For the man with an art-book collection
The catalogue of a 2018 Morgan Library exhibition of works by photographer Peter Hujar sold out immediately, but you can still find copies from resellers on eBay and on Amazon.
For the man starting a vinyl collection
When Strategist tech writer Jordan McMahon asked professional DJs and vinyl collectors about the best turntables for beginners, this Audio-Technica was one of their go-to recommendations (and the least expensive of the bunch).
For the man who likes to play with fire
“If you want to see a grown chef cry, gift them an Ooni,” Strategist food and dining writer Emma Wartzman writes. The steel oven can get to very high temperatures, ideal for a good char on pizza crust.
For the man who’s training for a half-marathon
Give the gift of less soreness on recovery days. “My legs feel less tired, less sore, and less tight after I use them,” says Queens Distance Runners co-founder Maria Wong.
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