Dads wear a lot of hats throughout the course of your life. When you were a kid, he was the superhero who carried you on his shoulders and the fixer of broken things. In high school, he taught you how to defend yourself from that bully and gave you terrible advice about girls. As an adult, he's become more of a friend you can knock back brews and complain about grown up things with, but he still manages to be, in a lot of ways, a superhero.
Before we get you all choked up listening to "Cats in a Cradle", be sure to show your dad how much you appreciate him this Father's Day (June 17). Whatever hat he wears now, he'll love one of these cool gift ideas.
On-the-Go Dad - Keurig Vue V700 Brewing System ($250)
Most of our dads enjoy nothing more than a fresh cup of strong coffee to get them going in the morning. If he doesn't have time to brew a pot before he jets out the door every day, this Keurig one-cup system is exactly what he needs to get going without sacrificing time or flavor. If your dad's a coffee drinker, you really can't go wrong with a Keurig.
Available at Keurig.com.
Mr. Fix-It Dad - Craftsman 40" Wide 8-Drawer Ball-Bearing GRIPLATCH Top Chest ($355)
No matter what, your dad is always going to love fixing things and working with his hands (even if he's more Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor than Al Borland). Give him a sleek place to store and organize all this tools with this Craftsman tool chest. The design will look great in his garage or basement, and the quality will make him feel like a pro even if he has trouble changing a light bulb.
Available at craftsman.com.
Clean-Cut Dad - Wahl Lithium Ion Shaver
Whether he likes to be clean shaven or leave a little scruff, this groomer from Wahl is the last electric shaver he'll ever need. It comes with a rotary shaver head for tight shaves, a trimmer head and a detail head, all powered by a rechargeable lithium ion battery.
Available at Wahlshavers.com.
Clean-Cut Dad - Philips Sonicare DiamondClean ($220)
You know what they say, "healthy teeth = healthy heart." Give your dad the gift of dental health and so much more with this state-of-the-art Sonicare DiamondClean toothbrush. As the name suggests, it made our tester's teeth feel significantly cleaner after just a week of use. With several modes for whitening or for sensitive teeth, it's perfectly customizable to what dad needs. The coolest part? Instead of a charging dock, you just pop it into the glass (which you can also use to rinse) and it charges. Futuristic.
Available at Amazon.com.
Clean-Cut Dad - Skin Authority MAN Age Defying Kit ($124)
Women aren't the only ones who need to worry about the toll UV rays, dirt and pollution take on their skin. This Skin Authority Age Defying Kit for men, which comes with face wash, shave gel, aftershave and moisturizing sunscreen, left our tester's skin feeling smooth, clean and refreshed throughout the day without getting greasy. If stress (probably due in large part to raising you) is starting to show on your dad's face, help him reverse some of the damage with this skin workout.
SPECIAL: Until 6/30/2012, use the coupon code FITNESS to get 10% off your purchase!
Available at Skinauthority.com.
Clean-Cut Dad - Zirh Shave Basics Kit ($39)
If your dad is more concerned with keeping a tight shave than wrinkles, get him this shaving kit from trusted men's skincare line Zirh. It comes with pre-shave oil to open up pores and get a closer shave, shave gel with aloe vera and soothing aftershave.
Available at Zirh.com.
Man Cave Dad - Krups B95 Beertender ($150)
If your dad likes to hide out in his man cave with a frosty beer and watch sports after a hard day's work (and Heineken happens to be his brew of choice), this Krups Beertender is the perfect gift. Designed to work with Heineken kegs, it will keep his beer fresh, cold and perfectly carbonated for 30 days, so every beer with taste like a perfect pour.
Available at Krupsusa.com.
Man Cave Dad - The Cold Maintaining Stainless Steel Beer Steins ($80)
If he wants something to drink that frosty beer out of, these steel beer steins are a great addition to his basement bar. The 16-ounce cups will keep his beer colder longer because there's nothing worse than warm beer at the bottom of your glass.
Available at Hammacher.com.
Man Cave Dad - Vinturi Spirit Aerator ($40)
If your dad is more of a single malt kind of guy, this spirit aerator is the perfect indulgence. Pour your drink through the measuring jigger, and experience the taste difference of a perfectly aerated scotch, whiskey, cognac, vodka—whatever his poison.
Available at Vinturi.com.
Man Cave Dad - Ted's Cigar Sample Five-Pack ($45)
The perfect accompaniment to a perfectly poured spirit is a hand-rolled cigar. This cigar sampler from Ted's are seasoned with Grand Marnier, hops, or even Maker's Mark for a unique (and tasty) experience.
Available at Tedscigars.com.
Golfer Dad - Callaway RAZR Fit Driver ($399)
If your dad prefers to smoke his stogies on the fairway, he should have a high-quality club to match. When you're talking golf, it doesn't get much better than a Callaway. This RAZR carbon fiber driver is lighter than titanium and features adjustable technology controlled by the golfer for optimum accuracy. It's the Ferrari of golf clubs.
Available at shop.callawaygolf.com.
Golfer Dad - Torn Ranch Golf Lover's Tray ($29)
If you're not quite ready to invest in a $400 golf club for dad, show him you still care about nurturing his interests with his Golf Lover's Tray from Torn Ranch. Feed his sweet tooth with the white chocolate ganache truffle golf balls, satisfy his savory tastes with the Southwest snack mix and keep his energy up through 18 holes with the cashews and almonds.
Available at Tornranch.com.
Golfer/Techie Dad - Garmin Approach S3 Touchscreen GPS Golf Watch ($350)
The perfect toy for any golf and tech loving dad. This Garmin S3 comes programmed with 27,000 courses all over the world, so it can accurately measure the length of his drives and offer tips on navigating obstacles.
Available at Garmin.com.
Techie Dad - HP TouchSmart 520 (Starts at $830)
If, like us, you have a painfully tech un-savvy dad, look no further for the right computer for him. This HP Touchsmart was incredibly easy to use. The enormous, crisp screen and sturdy base made it easy to navigate programs, the web and documents with a simple touch or swipe. The Beats by Dr. Dre sound system also delivered fantastic sound. There is also the option to use the wireless mouse or remote control, turning your Touchsmart into a standard computer or an entertainment system.
Available at HP.com.
Techie Dad - Sony Bloggie Sport HD Camera ($180)
Whether he's adventurous or just clumsy, your dad won't have to worry about breaking the Sony Bloggie over the course of long mountain climbs or just his butterfingers. It shoots crisp photos and 1080p video up to 16 feet underwater and features a 2.7-inch touchscreen and auto macro, so even if his photography skills aren't up to snuff, he'll still take great shots.
Available at Sony.com.
Techie Dad - Samsung W300 Camcorder ($129)
Is your dad an adventure junkie who likes to document his latest endeavors? The Samsung W300 pocket camcorder will let him shoot the hiking trails and even underwater adventures without worrying about breaking a fancy (and flimsy) piece of equipment. Water resistant up to 16.4 feet and shockproof, he can take it anywhere. Unfortunately, you're the one who'll have to sit through hours of videos of fish the next time you visit.
Available at Bestbuy.com.
Chef Dad - Williams-Sonoma Gift Sets ($50-$80)
Whatever your dad's indulgence of choice, trusted foodie brand WIlliams Sonoma has you covered. Their gift sets come customized for the dad who loves to barbecue, sip drinks or make his own juicy burgers that come complete with delicious drink mixes, spice rubs and marinades. Our tester was particularly into the burger seasoning, noting, "Be sure to apply a generous amount to get the full flavor of the spices."
Available at Williams-Sonoma.com.
Chef Dad - Porter Grab and Grill ($39)
The last thing your dad needs to worry about when he's manning the grill is juggling plates and marinades and grilling tools. This simple, but incredibly handy, Porter Grab and Grill comes complete with built-in compartments for raw meat, utensils, paper towels and whatever else you need so you can grab everything you need in just one trip.
Available at Quirky.com.
Chef Dad - Outdoor Cooler ($99)
This durable hardwood cooler will look great in his yard and withstand the test of time. It's sturdy, but easy to transport, and will keep beverages ice cold in even the hottest temperatures. The downside? Once you see it, you'll probably want to keep it for yourself.
Available at Worldmarket.com.
Chef Dad - FarmStead Pantry Box (Price Varies)
No one knows your dad better than you do, so when it comes to his tastes, you can make the call yourself by customizing a pantry gift box from Blackberry Farm. Does he have a sweet tooth? Choose from cookie and waffle mixes, natural peanut butter and preserves. Is he more of the savory type? There's a mouth-watering selection of cured meats, perfectly aged cheeses and sauces.
Available at Blackberryfarm.com.
Chef Dad - Omega Vert VRT330 Juicer ($330)
Show your dad you care about his health with this top-of-the-line juicer from Omega. This masticating juicer has a 2-horsepower condenser motor that will thoroughly juice the hell out of any vegetables, fruits and, probably, rocks (although we don't recommend tossing any of those in there). It's also quieter than centrifugal juicers thanks to it's slow squeezing feature as opposed to loud grinding.
Available at Omegajuicers.com.
Family Night Dad - Restoration Hardware Games ($129-$279)
Bring back family night in style with these vintage versions of your favorite board games. Challenge your dad to a game of Scrabble, chess or Monopoly on a carved wood game board that is worthy of display and will last a lifetime. If you're dad is the competitive and nostalgic type, this is the perfect piece for him.
Available at Restorationhardware.com.