Ladies, it’s almost that time of year. What should you get him? Another Tie? Maybe a belt? How about a watch? No, no, and no. Here are 10 things every guy needs, whether he knows it or not.
1. Traeger
When I moved to Iowa, I heard there was a way to cook meat that I had never heard of before. Not by grilling it, but by smoking it. Smoking meat has become my new favorite hobby. I may or may not have even turned down a round of golf this summer to smoke a brisket instead. Many seasoned smokers will tell you using one of these is cheating (I don’t entirely disagree), but I call it efficiency. No doubt this thing makes me look good, and it will make your S/O look pretty good as well. Follow the instructions and be ready to eat beer can chicken, wings, brisket, tenderloin, pulled pork, and many more delicious meats all year around. His skills will impress your Dad. But will it replace your current Weber Charcoal grill? Absolutely not. You still need that Weber for steaks, burgers, brats and much more.
2. Wool Socks
Give me a break. No one has enough of these. Great stocking stuffer.
3. Cole Hann Loafers
If his work dress code is business casual, this is the shoe for him. I’ve probably owned five different pairs of Cole Haans and have been happy with all of them (Editor’s Note: I swear I pick up multiple pairs of these shoes from all over the house every week. Roomie does love them.) They look great but more importantly they are incredibly comfortable. No more shopping for dress shoes at Kohls or JCP. Neither of them will be around much longer anyway.
4. Undershirts
Much like wool socks, you can never have enough undershirts. Anna constantly tells me I should ditch the undershirt but I just can’t. These shirts are comfortable, light, and a must-have for the winter months.
5. Humidor
I am going to get some backlash here. “Smoking can kill you,” “Such a typical boy gift,” “Are you kidding me, Ryan? I don’t want him smoking cigars!” As long as your guy doesn’t inhale, he will be just fine. Cigars are for the golf course, or when the boys get together to grill some ribeyes on a warm summer night. Point is, this is a once in a while activity. In the meantime, cigar collecting is a fun hobby, and if he likes cigars, this humidor is perfect for beginners. If you are completely against this gift idea, go and buy him a few non-iron shirts from Brooks Brothers. I haven’t owned an iron my entire life thanks to those shirts.
6. Wine Opener
Imagine this: You’ve invited some other couples over for wine night. All you have is the generic go-to wine opener. Your boy has trouble getting the corkscrew in, mangling the outside of the cork on a beautiful Cab that your girlfriend brought over. Once he finally gets the corkscrew in, he pulls way too hard, slams the bottom of the bottle against the cabinet, shattering it and spewing red wine all over himself, your guests, and the dog. Do yourself a favor and buy one of these.
7. The Famous Grouse
He likes whiskey. He’s getting into scotch, but doesn’t want to spend $80 on the Macallan 12 Year. This scotch was introduced to me by a friend’s Dad. Most good scotch is expensive, but not this stuff. I love it, he will love it, and everyone will be happy.
8. Whiskey Rocks
If he can’t quite stomach the above scotch served neat, get him some of these. Ice cubes dilute the drink and flavor. There is no worse sin (Editor’s Note: Yes, there are.) than pouring a good scotch and realizing 15 minutes later that it’s now half water.
9. Benchmade Pocket Knife
My grandpa is the only person I know who carries around a pocketknife. He has his whole life and he uses it for everything. I’ve seen him open letters, chop up a steak, and adjust the tiny screw on his glasses with it. I have the larger version of this knife, but wish I had this smaller one. Your first reaction might be “This is super expensive for a tiny little knife.” It is expensive, but so worth it. The blade on this is so sharp you can cut anything. I’ve used mine to cut a variety of food, rope, small branches, weeds, siding, and everything in-between. If it gets dull (which takes awhile), a quick sharpening with a stone from the backyard will make the blade cut like new. If you want to score some major points this year, this is a perfect gift.
10. DIRECTV Now
You are going to think I’m crazy; I know. Trust me. If you haven’t already, ditch cable and get a subscription. It’s Netflix for live TV. You can watch HGTV and he can watch sports. All is right with the world.
Editor’s Note: How do you guys think the roomie did as a blogger? I’m so proud I could cry (did I mention I’m super dramatic and emotional yet?).