With Father’s Day right around the corner, the team here at Digital Trends wants to help you avoid buying pop another tacky neck tie and instead get him something he really wants. Whether he’s a golf enthusiast pining for a (digital) trip to the links or a tech-forward dad who knows more about iGadgets than you do, we’ve found the perfect set of gifts to please those special fathers. So cancel that trip to Target with Mom to buy socks, here are the 10 best gifts to buy your dad this Father’s Day.
Corkcicle Whiskey Wedge ($18)
There’s nothing quite like enjoying a conversation over a glass of scotch. For the refined dads out there, the Whiskey Wedge is a great gift. This ingenious device is designed to mitigate the unwanted effect of ice watering down whiskey, bourbon, scotch — or any other spirit best enjoyed on the rocks. Sure, a little water opens up the flavor of certain alcohols, but too much can ruin an otherwise enjoyable drink. The Whiskey Wedge comes with a glass, and a silicone wedge that fits over it. The wedge is inserted into the glass and filled with water through a tiny hole on the top. Set the glass in the freezer and in a short while, you’ve got the perfect vessel for serving alcohol on the rocks. The sheer, slanted ice face reduces surface area and stays in place — preventing the ice from melting too quickly — and keeps the the liquid on top for easy drinking. Plus, there’s enough room in the glass for a generous pour. No unwieldy ice balls or rock cubes to worry about here. And best of all: no dilution.
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Corkcicle Amazon Sur La Table Wine Enthusiast Bed Bath & Beyond
Apple Watch Sport ($350)
Yes, we realize the Apple Watch may very well be the most expensive smartwatch currently on the market. However, it’s also the most capable device of its kind, providing robust connectivity with your smartphone and serving as a top-notch fitness tracker when your dad decides to ditch the necktie and venture outside his cramped cubicle. The Sport iteration of Apple’s much-hyped device does everything the more expensive models do, while reveling in a sleek aluminum enclosure available in one of two sizes with a variety of plastic bands to match. Once properly set up and paired, the unique device grants him access to a host of embedded apps and subtle notifications, not to mention incoming calls and text messages. Furthermore, it plays music, tracks an abundance of basic fitness metrics, and serves as a small alarm clock designed to wake you with discrete vibrations instead of blaring noise. It may be more of a luxury toy than an everyday necessity, sure, but it’s only going to get better with every software update and app release. Read our full review here.
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Quirky Refuel smart propane tank gauge ($50)
It’s happened to all of us at some point. There you are, grilling up some burgers, when all of a sudden the flame goes out. You frantically fiddle with the dials before realizing you’ve run out of propane. Now you’re scrambling to find a replacement tank while your guests stare at you scornfully and your burgers cool and decay into spongy discs of meat in the midst of an uncaring universe. If only you’d known how much propane you had left! It might be too late for your lunch, but you can at least save your dad from the same fate with the Refuel smart propane tank gauge. Position the Refuel gauge under any standard tank and it will give you accurate readings. Best of all, the Refuel can use your Wifi network to beam its readings directly to your smartphone. Don’t let your dad lose another meal to a lack of preparation.
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Parrot BeBop drone ($500)
Remember RC Cars? Your dad probably does. Growing up, every kid gets a kick out of piloting a tiny car around the neighborhood. Now your dad is an adult and he drives a real car, so when he’s trying to have fun on a Sunday afternoon a toy car just won’t cut it. Thankfully, 2015 is the year of the drone and Parrot is leading the industry with one of its latest models, the BeBop. Equipped with a 1080p camera and built in GPS, the BeBop will let your dad take to the skies, flying over the city and observing everything from a bird’s-eye view. The drone’s camera allows the user to record high definition pictures and videos, so home movies are going to get a lot more exciting. The best part is, the BeBop doesn’t require a controller: a handy app let’s your dad use his phone to operate the drone. This Father’s Day, why should the CIA have all the fun? Read our full review here.
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Sennheiser Momentum on-ear headphones ($89)
Every guy likes music, whether it be hip-hop, jazz, rock, or one of the many guilty pleasures your father has been hiding from you over the years (ahem, Dave Matthews). That said, quality tunes demand a quality pair of headphones. Sennheiser’s Momentum on-ear are the best pair of cans we’ve found for under $100, offering up deep bass tones and superb instrumental spacing within an ergonomic design your dad can be proud of. The built-in cushions are far comfier than the throw pillows he must succumb to every night, too, and their outstanding frequency range of 16-22,000Hz helps them forge an accurate sound signature regardless of the artist or genre at hand. Plus, they come in one of seven colors, which lets you pick the perfect pair to match the leather briefcase he carries to work daily or the swanky home theater system he still can’t figure out how to operate. Sadly, it happens to the best of us. Read our full review here.
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