The 30+ Best Last-Minute Gifts for Any Dad (According to a Cool Dad)

He was “cool” before cool. He helped you ride your first bike. He’s the big cheese — your dad. When it comes to shopping for your old man, there are a few misconceptions and cliches you’ll want to avoid. Your dad, in general, tends to be viewed as “the man who has everything”, therefore making it difficult to gift anything that’ll truly surprise them — but that’s just not true.

Besides another “#1 Dad” mug and a coupon for one game of catch in the backyard, the best gifts for dad are unique and tailored to your specific flavor of dad. There are tech-savvy dads that keep up with the latest Apple releases more than their kids, dads who obsessively watch the forecast for ski season weather, and dads who would be willing to cross state lines to try out the latest restaurant opened by their favorite celebrity chef.

If you want to show him your love (or just finally out-gift him for once), we’ve consulted a self-proclaimed “cool dad” (my dad) to see what dads actually want to receive this year. The picks on this list are made up of editor-tested, dad-approved items (i.e. not another striped tie), along with top-rated products anyone would love.

From personalized accessories, to big-ticket items and experiences, these gifts will make your dad-io the talk of the town (or at least the neighborhood block). But no matter what, just remember that what he really wants is for you to text him back every once and a while (just ignore those spelling mistakes, ‘k?).