"When asked what he would like for Christmas, my husband’s go-to response is “nothing.” I would even go as far as to say he actually does not like receiving gifts. Heâs not a fan of clutter or having excessive “things.” In his mind, the perfect holiday is one that includes the family together around a cozy mealâprobably why Thanksgiving is his favorite occasion. And while I usually love his distaste for holiday commercialism, I do also love him and enjoy buying a couple of practical and thoughtfulâyet still minimalistâgifts for him as a means of celebrating the season.
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Despite the fact that my husband would probably rather receive a lump of coal than another shirt he wonât wear or an appliance that will sit in the cupboard unused, I doâonce in a whileâstrike gift-giving gold and buy him a gift he truly adores. It helps that weâve been together for over 10 yearsâI know him wellâbut I also like to think that my thoughtfulness when it comes to gift-giving has also come into play. While it doesnât happen often, when I do land on the perfect gift, it feels like nirvana. Truly, I feel unstoppable.
If this gift-giving scenario is striking a chord with you as you frantically search the internet looking for gifts the men in your life will actually enjoy, here are a few minimalist gifts for himâfrom someone whose husband loved them on receipt and continuously after.
1. LED Light Therapy Flex Pad
If your husband is also known as the resident kid wrestler and airplane simulator (cue “Daddy fly me!”), chances are his back muscles require some TLC, too. This muscle pain relieving pad is heaven-sent for soreness, whether induced by dad duties or otherwise. The red and infrared LED lights are the same ones professional physical therapists use and go above and beyond the effects of heating pads. It can be used anywhere on their body and the adjustable straps help keep it in placeâeven during those beloved piggyback rides. It’s a must for active dads or anyone who experiences regular joint aches and muscle spasms. Be sure to use code THEEVERYMOM for 35% off your purchase!
2. Minted Custom Map Print
Sometimes, personalized gifts can get a bit of a bad rap from minimalists who like to fly under the radar. But this custom map situation from Minted is proof that personalized gifts can make a less-is-more advocate fall in love. Whether he decides to hang it in his office or his man cave, this print is guaranteed to take him back to his favorite place. With five size options, ten colors to choose from, and some different framing options, you’ll be able to find the perfect combination to fit his vibe. Working with one of Minted’s designers to ensure they do his go-to spot justice is super easy (and free!) and you can use code EVERYMOM20 for 20% off of your first order.
3. Smart Garage Video Keypad
If your hard-to-shop-for guy prioritizes functional gifts over all else, then a home surveillance upgrade may be just the thing for him. I know my husband doesn’t mess around when it comes to family safety, so this smart garage keypad and video monitor is the ideal functional gift for dads who feel the same way. The monitor connects to any smartphone through the myQ app to provide real-time alerts from the wide-angle camera’s advanced motion detection feature. The app also offers personalized access with unique PINs for family, friends, and even service providers. Plus, from November 1 to December 31, you can use code Mom10 to score 10% off of your order!
4. Ember Coffee Mug
The first time I tried an Ember coffee mug, I instantly fell in love. I adored how it kept my cup of joe at optimal drinking temperature for an extended period of time, forever solving the cold coffee conundrum that parenthood had thrust upon me. After my first hot cup of coffee in over a year, I knew immediately that this mug would also make the absolute perfect gift for my husband (and, honestly, everyone I know). Upon receipt, I knew my husband had some reservations. Heâd heard me rave about my mug, but I knew deep down he was holding onto some skepticism. All it took was one mugful, though, and he was hooked. As a dad to one young child at the time, it had been a while since heâd had a hot cup of coffee himself. Stylish, easy to clean, practicalâweâre Ember fans for life.
5. Aer Duffel Pack Bag
I recently gifted this bag to my husband and it is now one of his favorite possessions. He commutes to the office every day and enjoys working out in his officeâs fitness center during his lunch break. Prior to owning this duffel, he was lugging numerous bags to work every day. This bag has streamlined his daily haul, accommodating his laptop, work essentials, and gym gear all at once. Aside from keeping work essentials neatly separated from gym gear (who wants the bottom of their gym sneakers rubbing up on their laptop?) the backpackâs design is also slim. Truly, youâd never know just how many items itâs holding inside its streamlined design.
6. UNTUCKit Wrinkle-Resistant Shirts
My husband isnât exactly a fashion fanatic. To him, clothing is an essential part of life and not necessarily something to indulge in. So, when I buy him clothes, I try to buy him things he really needs versus items heâll view as ânot necessary.â We recently discovered UNTUCKit shirts and they have brought both positivity to my husbandâs outlook on clothing and professionalism to his wardrobe. Theyâre designed to look good untucked (win), dryer-friendly (double win), and wrinkle-resistant (it couldnât possibly get any better). He absolutely loves these shirts and wears them to the office every day. I will definitely be picking up a shirt or two for my husband this Christmas.
4 colors and patterns available
sizes S – XXXL; three fit options
7. Weber Gourmet BBQ System Pizza Stone with Carry Rack
During the COVID years, my husband and I (along with the rest of the world), were looking for ways to elevate our everyday lives at home. While everyone else was making sourdough, my husband became invested in making pizza. While I purchased this pizza stone with our (ie: his) grill in mind, my husband has used it in our oven countless times. And although pizza isnât my favorite food (youâd never know my grandparents were Italian), I sincerely look forward to when my husband bakes up a pizza pie on this stone. The crust comes out unbelievably crisp on the outside and chewy on the inside, which really elevates the entire dish. The accompanying carrying rack is especially useful should you or your gift recipient plan on using the stone on the grillâmaking transport from outdoors to table a cinch.
8. Yeti Can Insulator
Not all great gifts have to be groundbreaking. If you have a beverage fan in your life, then something as simple as this Yeti Can Insulator can be a homerun. My husband absolutely adores his, to the point that he used it every single day this summer. Itâs easier to slip onto your beverage than a traditional koozie (not to mention it looks way less tacky) and can keep your drink cold for hours.
9. Fair Harbor The One Short
Despite the fact that we live in cold Central New York, itâs not uncommon for my husband to reach for shorts year-round. Because we have two young kids, we keep our homeâs heat dialed in, making it somewhat toasty indoors, even in the dead of winter. For Fatherâs Day this year, I gifted my husband two pairs of these shorts and I can honestly say Iâve never seen him so excited about an article of clothing before. The shorts are extremely lightweight, making them exceptionally comfortable. And yet, despite their comfy status, they boast a put-together aesthetic. My husband wears them so much Iâve debated donating all of the other shorts sitting unused in his closet.
10. Meidase S950 Cellular Trail Camera
I wonât lie to you: I was pretty proud of this gift idea. Living in a more remote area, my husband and I are constantly finding different animal tracks in the snow during the wintertime. More than once, I heard him speculate as to what species of animals were leaving the tracks. I decided to help him answer that question by gifting him this trail cam. This device rings in at a reasonable price point and comes with a number of fun, useful featuresâfrom cellular transfer to no-glow night vision. It’s a perfect gift for those who have little need for material possessions and love the great outdoors.
11. Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder
This might be specific to my husband, but he actually loves bird watching. While I havenât actually gifted this item to my husband yet (and Iâm hopeful he doesnât read this article), I currently have this smart bird feeder on my to-buy list for this coming Christmas. Similar to the trail cam I gave him a couple of years ago, I know heâll love watching the birds that come to the feeder (a pastime Iâve seen him enjoy many times before) and will also be really entertained by the images it captures.
12. Garage Hooks
I actually canât take the credit for this oneâmy mother bought these garage hooks for my husband last Christmas and itâs the small, random gift that has kept on giving. My husband was so thrilled to hang them in our garage, using them to organize his many tools and cords. One year later and the hooks are holding strong (literally). If youâre looking for a menâs stocking stuffer, I canât recommend these hooks enough.
13. Kiel James Patrick McCallister Apparel
One of my husbandâs favorite Christmas movies is âHome Alone.â When I saw that Kiel James Patrick offered a replica Kevin McCallister knit hat, I knew I had to grab one. In truth, it was so great I ended up gifting it to him early and buying matching pieces for everyone in our family. The sweater and socks boasting the same design also managed to make their way under the tree.
14. Platterful Charcuterie Kit
My husband and I recently received a Platterful charcuterie kit and it ended up being a fun and enjoyable gift for him and I both. Weâre far from the fanciest people youâve ever met, but we can surely appreciate a solid snack assortment, arranged in an artful way. Following the kitâs instructions, we really enjoyed assembling the board together and it even led to an impromptu lunch date in. We enjoyed grazing the board while our kids were napping, trying different jam-cheese-cracker combos and pretending we were dining out and not, in fact, sitting at our kitchen counter with two baby monitors in reach. With both one-time and subscription purchase options, these kits are truly the perfect gift for the snacking fanatics in your life.
15. Cedar Shoe Trees
My husband really is a minimalist, especially when it comes to clothing and shoes. Compared to my probably 50 pairs of shoes (Iâd like to say thatâs an exaggeration but canât), he has approximately five or six total. Because he likes to maintain a minimal wardrobe, heâs adamant about maintaining the longevity of his pieces. Last Christmas, I gifted him these cedar shoe trees and he has used them every day to help protect his leather work shoes from moisture and odor. If youâre truly stumped on what to give the minimalist male in your life, this is a practical gift that theyâll never see coming but will surely use more than any other item they receive this holiday season.
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Emilee Janitz, Contributing Writer
Emilee is an accomplished communications strategist and lifestyle journalist. She currently works on the content team at Enterprise SEO company Terakeet where she creates and executes reputation management strategies for Fortune 500 companies. She is a Contributing Fashion Writer for The Everygirl and has additionally been published on POPSUGAR, Motherly, MSN, and Yahoo.
This post contains a sponsored inclusion of LED Technologies, Minted, and myQ but all of the opinions within are those of The Everymom editorial board.