It’s that time of year, when we all collectively scratch our heads and think about what to get Dad. You don’t have to get him anything. He’d probably just love to hear from you at least once this month. But since you probably need to make up for some bad offspring behavior, these are the gifts that will help you bribe yourself back into your gear-addicted Dad’s good graces.
Suunto 7 with WearOS
If Dad doesn’t have a sporty smartwatch, this is your splurge. The Suunto 7 is half built for adventure–with an impressive suite of GPS fitness tracking, offline topo mapping, and health related apps–but it looks great and serves as a daily-wear smartwatch, with calendar alerts, Google Assistant, Google Pay and thousands of Google Play apps. The battery life is short–you’ll be hard pressed to go without recharging everyday–but thankfully, the watch recharges nearly instantly. For bikers, trail runners, hikers and multisport athletes, the Suunto 7 is a great tool to seamlessly transition from a hard day at work and a hard day in the hills. Shop Here.
Uncharted Supply Co. Zeus Portable Jumpstarter
Dad does not want a dead car battery at the trailhead. Period. Better to avoid the hike-out drama by keeping a fully-charged Zeus in the car. You can not only give a dead car battery several trip-saving jolts, but there’s also plenty of charge plugs for all of your devices (GPS, phone, headlamps, etc.) so you don’t have to fire up the ignition at your campsite just to power them all back up. We’d put this on the essential gear list for anyone driving into remote areas. Shop Here.
LifeSaver Jerrycan
Overlanders are crazy about these water-purifying Jerrycans, and for good reason. Whether Dad’s dreaming of the van life or just looking for a good way to turn 5 gallons of turbid river water into drinking water for the weekend, the Lifesaver Jerrycan is an easy way to purify water on extended road trips. Just fill it up straight from the source and the internal filtration system will remove 99.9% of the nasties in the water (including viruses). Plus, the charcoal filter improves the taste. It’s a great solution for campsites that are far from a water source. Shop Here.
Yeti Roadie 24 Hard Cooler
It wouldn’t be Father’s Day without a nod to the latest must-have from the cooler kings. Yeti’s updated Roadie 24 is lighter, roomier version of its classic day-trip hard-sided cooler, built to slip behind the seat on road trips and quick adventures. We love that it’s tall enough for an upright wine bottle. If yours is the kind of Dad who always likes an ice-cold beer waiting for him and the gang at the trailhead, this is his Yeti. Shop Here.
Danner Bull Run Moc Toe
We love the classic look of this utilitarian work boot, not to mention Danner’s built-in-the-US story. The Bull Run Moc Toe has a full-grain leather upper that’s built tough but breaks into an easy-wearing suppleness after a few weeks. And for those Dads who tend to step on live electrical wires, these boots come with non-conductive, shock-resistant soles and heels. Just don’t go walking a ridge in a lightning storm. Shop Here.
Smith Trace Helmet
Keep Dad safe and cool with one of the top bike helmets on the market. The Trace comes with Smith’s amazing Koroyd ventilation system (a Gear Institute Best New Gear Award winning technology) and the MIPS dynamic liner system to reduce rotational brain-trauma. We love the styling of this lid and the Hi-Viz color and reflective details for keeping Pops a little safer on the road. Shop Here.
BioLite FirePit
If you’re tired of smoke blowing around your face and keeping you set back from your campfire, you’re not alone. The BioLite FirePit is a game changer for off-the-ground campfires, with a self-charging fan that blows air onto the fire, keeping it hot enough to eliminate smoke in the air. That also makes it more efficient at burning wood, and it makes a great grill too! We’re completely stoked on this technology. Dad will be too. Shop Here.
Flylow Davis Windshell Jacket
In summer, we’re addicted to windshells. They’re the obvious go to for dry-weather aerobic activities and days on the bike when a softshell is a bit too much. They’re also a great call in buggy and sunny weather, like a day on the river. With all the roles we look to windshells to fill, we’re usually looking for exactly the kind of features you’ll find in theFlylow Davis–extreme breathability, extreme low weight (4 oz), a roomy fit for layering, and a hood to hunker into when a dry wind is ripping. And, as it always must, it fits nicely into your back pocket. Shop Here.
Dakine Seeker Hydration Pack
If Dad is still riding with his day-hiking backpack, do him a favor with an upgrade. The Dakine Seeker is a highly water-resistant, 10-liter hydration pack with a not-too-deeply arched, trampoline-style suspension for great airflow and comfort in a riding position. There’s also the standard helmet attachments and 420-denier fabric durable enough for Dad-style wipeouts. It comes standard with a 3L (100 oz.) Hydrapak lumbar reservoir with a quick-disconnect hose. Shop Here.
Pearl Izumi Pulaski Glove
Bike gloves are the wool-socks gift of the outdoor world. You’re always grateful for a new pair. And the Pulaski takes this stock gift to a new level, with supple, synthetic suede that looks and feels not just like leather–but like dreamy glove-glove leather. There’s also a touch screen compatible index and thumb. Shop Here.
Mystery Ranch Hip Monkey
Fanny packs have ridden the wave of mom jeans and floppy hats back into favor, and for good reason. There’s no need for the suffocating straps and suspension of a backpack on a hot day when you’re just carrying the basics. We’re all for the roomy, 8-liter Mystery Ranch Hip Monkey, which rides easily on the hips but has enough room for a six pack, or lunch, or rain gear–and is a budget-friendly choice at just $49. Shop Here.
WoolX 4-Season Lightweight Merino Basecamp Hoodie
We’re getting to be fans of WoolX, a merino-centric company making soft, cooling four-season shirts, underwear and socks from primo wool. For a gift, go for the utilitarian Basecamp Hoodie, a loose-fitting summer-weight (150g) hoodie shirt with a 25 SPF that’s washer safe perfect for sunny days on buggy rivers. You can’t find a more comfortable merino. Shop Here.
Tarpestry Rugged Blankets
I know what you’re thinking. Dad’s too practical for a camp blanket. That’s why you should get him a Tarpestry. This bomber weather- and dirt-resistant camp blanket serves as everything from a landing zone for picnics to an outdoor mudroom for the tent or camper. These are super tough, dirt resistant, and water resistant blankets that can be staked down or rolled out over damp ground. Psychedelic and cosmic designs abound with these guys, so you’ll also be set for the next music festival, too. Check out the ZigZag pattern, which was our favorite, though we couldn’t shoot it in time for this story. (Bonus: Tapestry’s Father’s Day sale through June 21 will save you 15%). Shop Here.
LaCrosse Alpha Range Air-Circ
The LaCrosse Alpha Range Air-Circ injects a lot more hot-weather comfort into the classic mudboot, with a quick-drying mesh liner and neoprene cuff you can roll down on humid days or for easy packing. LaCross uses a tough blend of rubber that won’t chip or crack after a season of stomping on garden shovels or mucking stalls. Paired with a thick wool sock, they also make for also a fantastically comfy camp boot. Shop Here.
Deuter Speed Lite 20 Backpack
Still stumped? Any guy needs a lightweight daypack, especially since Dad will probably take it upon himself to tote too much extra gear. For a simple, straightforward, can’t miss option, we’re stoked on the Deuter Speed Lite 20. It’s about as light as a daypack can get (1 lb), budget friendly at $75, and streamlined to just what you’d need. Plus, with just a lightweight foam backpanel, you can roll it up for easy travel packing. Shop Here.
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