In my online interactions with other dads, I find that most of them fall into one of two camps when it comes to getting a Father’s Day gift. One group say that they would love nothing more than to spend the day with their kids doing something fun. The other group say that they would just like a day to themselves to relax, enjoy an adult beverage, and maybe play some video games.
Both of those are perfectly valid wishes, to be sure, but what if you still want to get something for the cool dad in your life? Well, for a spark of inspiration, I’ve gathered some awesome items for this Father’s Day gift guide. They’re coming from the perspective of a nerdy work-at-home dad, of course, so adjust to taste.
For the Channel-Surfing Dad
I have a smart TV. And it gives me rudimentary access to Netflix and YouTube and such. But then we ran into a snag during this final season of Game of Thrones; the Crave app on the TV is really old, didn’t get updated, and doesn’t support closed captioning, a must when watching GoT with a sleeping preschooler in the other room. In short, my smart TV isn’t smart enough.
What I’ve found is way smarter solution is almost anything from Roku, and the Roku Express is easily one of the most affordable. At $30 US and $45 Canadian, the Roku Express grants you access to over 150,000 movies and TV episodes across just about every streaming service available. There’s also the Roku Channel that curates free content across some of these “channels,” in case you don’t want to pay for Netflix and Crave and all the rest of it.
Never again will dear old dad ever complain about not having something to watch.
For the Mobile Dad Blogger
Don’t get me wrong; I’d love to have a super fancy, super powerful laptop, but the truth is I probably wouldn’t use it nearly enough to justify the higher price tag. If you’re looking for a Father’s Day gift for a busy dad blogger, the Lenovo 300e Chromebook is an exceptional option, especially at the price.
You can typically find it for under $300. From what I can see, the Lenovo C330 for about $250 has similar specs in a more consumer-oriented body, though it lacks the pencil-enabled touchscreen. You can get a better sense of why I like this Chromebook so much in the video above.
For the Home Cooking Dad
Despite what you may be led to believe with some of my #KwansCreativeCatering posts on Instagram, I’m not especially helpful in the kitchen. I also recognize that many of my dad friends love to cook. Move beyond the stereotype of the outdoor BBQ grill with something a little more exciting.
The Cosori Air Fryer (5.8 quart, 1700W) retails for about $90 US and it’s one of the top-rated models on Amazon. You’ll want to pick up something with a decent size, just as was the case with the Instant Pot. And if the emerging air frying dad is looking for some inspiration, I’d recommend checking out Tony Conrad of Faith, Family and Technology. He posts videos on his Facebook page now and then with some of his air-frying adventures.
For the Fighting Game Dad
Growing old is mandatory (if you’re lucky). Growing up is optional. Even though I’m in the dark side of my 30s and picking up steam, I still adore my nerdy t-shirts. I might like them even more as I get older. Go figure. And Street Fighter has always been such a big part of my life.
Imagine my joy when Uniqlo announced its awkwardly named “Capcom The Game by Street Fighter” collection. As with so many Uniqlo collections, this set of Street Fighter t-shirts appears to be a limited run. I have the Chun-Li and Guile ones myself, because I did indeed go home to be a family man. They retail for $14.90 US and $19.90 Canadian each.
For the Smart Home Dad
Different people find different uses for all these smart speakers and smart screens. Me, I really appreciate the large 10-inch display on the 2nd-generation Amazon Echo Show for two main reasons. First, getting the video flash briefing from Alexa (customizable) is a great way to get caught up on news and weather. Second, it’s way easier playing Jeopardy! when I can actually read the clues too.
Right now, you can pick up the Amazon Echo Show for $230 US and it comes with a free Echo Dot (a $50 value). The Canadian deal at $300 isn’t quite as good, as you only get a free Philips Hue smart bulb (a $20 value), but that’s still something. You’ll need to wait until the end of June to get the new Echo Show 5, if that’s more your jam.
Happy Father’s Day
Father’s Day falls on Sunday, June 16 this year. That gives you a little over two weeks to shop, order, receive and wrap up whatever Father’s Day gift you decide on getting. Over here, my wife surprised me with a Nintendo Switch a couple years ago. It’s a gift that continues to spark joy… you know, whenever I find the time to play it, anyway.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Some items on this list were provided at no cost to me. All opinions are my own.
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