10 Father’s Day Gifts from $10 – $3,000
Father’s Day is just around the corner and this year, we know you can come up with something better than a six-pack of his favorite beer. Perfect for the trail, truck or skin track, here is a collection of practical and durable items that are just as at-home in the backcountry as well as the backyard.
And remember, the date is June 21.
Bag Balm
Fun fact: this stuff was originally designed for cow udders but was found to have the same soothing and moisturizing effect on the hands that applied it. Since 1899, everyone from farmers to athletes have found uses for the ointment that’s still produced in the Northeast Kingdom and a 10-ounce tin will last years. Look for the green can with a clover in your local pet shop, hardware store or online. For hands rough after climbing, carpentry or a day out in the cold, or for feet roughed up by time on the roads or trails the balm works hard to restore skin’s natural softness. $9.99. www.bagbalm.com
Miir Tallboy Pint Cup
Here’s a stylish way for Dad to enjoy his après-sport beverage of choice. These cups from bicycle and gear company Miir are constructed out of 18/8 medical grade stainless steel, are BPA-free and dishwasher safe. As an added bonus, each cup sold helps provide clean drinking water to a person in need. $12. www.miir.com
Ursa Major Essential Face Wipes
Made in Vermont by outdoorsman Oliver Sweatman, these all-natural face wipes are infused with Ursa Major’s four-in-one formula that removes oils, exfoliates pores and soothes and hydrates skin, leaving Dad smelling great. Plus the individually wrapped wipes fit easily in the pocket of a bike jersey or backpack, making them great for traveling or after a bike ride. $24. www.ursamajorvt.com
Dublin Dog Grip Trek leash
While he won’t be the one on it, here’s a gift for Dad’s other best friend. The Grip Trek leash from Dublin Dog is designed to be lightweight, comfortable and safe with a texture that’s easy to grip and a cushioned loop that’s comfortable in the hand. The high-visibility 3M material is easily spotted, which makes it safer if Dad is out walking the dog at dusk, or simply trying to find the leash in the house. $26. www.dublindog.com
Sun King PRO
For a portable lighting alternative, the Sun King PRO lamp charges by solar and can be positioned or suspended for lighting a tent, campsite, truck bed or boat. It also has a universal 5.5-volt USB charging port for handheld devices. A100-lumen power LED bulb burns for 45 hours after a day’s charge in good sunlight. $44.99. www.greenlightplanet.com
Mopha Industries/E.H. Works Tool Roll
The Mopha roll is as practical as it is good looking. At 16 inches long, the roll features ten pockets for tire levers, hex tools, spare tubes, CO2 cartridges. The contraption can be kept in the glove compartment or strapped to a seat post or handlebars to keep everything needed for making roadside repairs more organized, if not less aggravating. Tools aren’t included but then again, he probably already has most of them. $44.00. www.handeyesupply.com
SOG SwitchPlier
For the last multi-tool a man may ever need, consider the SwitchPlier from tool and knife manufacturer SOG. Designed for everyday use at home or on the trail, the SwitchPlier improves the modern multitool by introducing one-handed access to a pair of spring-operated pliers. The tool also includes all the basics like a half-serrated blade, can and bottle opener, medium screwdriver and a ruler. $64. www.sogknives.com
Deuter Airlite 28
A big, comfortable pack for long days on the trail, the Deuter Airlite offers 1,710 cubic inches of storage space in a 2.4-pound pack. Other features include a ventilated back system to keep the sweat off his back, trekking pole attachments and detachable waterproof cover. $119. www.deuter.com
JetBoil MiniMo Stove
An ultralight packing stove, Jetboil’s newest MiniMo can have water boiling in less than two minutes while a redesigned valve and regulator allow for great simmer control down to 20-degrees Fahrenheit. The entire apparatus weighs just 14.6 ounces. $129.00. www.jetboil.com
Mad River Canoe Explorer 16 KX
What Vermonter hasn’t dreamed of relaxed afternoon paddles on the local lake or extended expeditions down or upriver? For Dad’s ultimate gift Vermont-based Mad River Canoe makes crafts that paddle smoothly yet can carry up to 1,100 pounds of passengers or gear. Sure it’s one of the pricier items on this list, but Dad’s worth it. Aluminum: $2,705; Wood: $3,055. www.madrivercanoe.com
