Father’s Day is a secondary holiday, at best. As a kid growing up I never knew what my dad wanted for Father’s Day. Suggestions were never offered, and the obvious golfing related presents my dad might like were well out of reach.
Plus, he usually won his clubs.
Dads want stuff, but they know kids usually aren't in a position to buy those gifts. So the default guidance is usually something along the lines of “Anything you get me I will love.”
The reality is that what dads want most is the weekend to themselves, but “How about you leave me alone all weekend” isn’t really something you can say to a child.
I fall squarely into the category of wanting nothing, expecting nothing, and most of the time suggesting nothing. I do the same for my birthday, and Christmas.
Yeah, it’s odd, I know. It also makes me rather hard to shop for by anyone but myself.
This coming Father’s Day, don’t be like me. Come up with a list of possible presents you actually want, and your family can afford. Which, let’s face it, often means what dad can afford.
If you know, you know.
Regardless, Father’s Day is upon us and here are some suggestions that might be useful as you head out to shop.
Kitchen Knives Dads Will Love
Several knife makers from the tactical and EDC realm now make their own version of kitchen cutlery. They’re offering a full block of knives designed specifically for food prep in the kitchen with chef knives, boning knives, fillet knives, and steak knives.
One such maker is Bear & Son Cutlery. Their White Smooth Bone 10 Piece Block Set (with Walnut Block) comes in at $999.99. This includes a 10 1/8″ Professional Chopping Knife, a 12 7/8″ White Smooth Bone & G10 Professional Chef Knife, a 12 7/8″ White Smooth Bone Professional Santoku, a 11 7/8″ White Smooth Bone Professional Fillet Knife, and a 11″ Professional Boning Knife.
There is, of course, a 4 piece set of 9 1/2″ White Smooth Bone Professional Steak Knives.
The full block set might be a bit much to bite off all at once, so start with just one piece and build your way towards the full set.
It’s Gotta Be The Fishooz
If dad likes a good pair of comfortable slip-on shoes, then take a look at the Sunwashed Men's Slip-On from Fishshooz. I have a pair that I have worn while traveling through airports and on the last day of trade shows when your feet have had about all they can take.
They come in Black/White, Grey/White, Navy/White, and Teal/White. They also offer a lace up version in the same colorways.
I’d pair these up with Guide Series No-Show Merino Cushioned Socks from Fish Monkey. There are seven color options for the socks, depending on size availability.
Papa's Got A Brand New Bag
I’ve become a huge fan of 5.11’s travel gear and bags. The SOMS 3.0 126L is the bag I have been traveling with and I honestly love it. It comes in Black, Ranger Green, and Kangaroo (tan).
If your dad is going to head to the airport with this bag, get one in black. The other colors are awesome, and I have the Kangaroo version, but airport baggage handlers remain undefeated when it comes to turning a brand-new bag into a well-used one after a single trip.
Black will disguise the scuff marks, along with the dirt and grime. If dad isn’t flying with the bag, definitely pick the color you or he likes best.
As for sizing, you can go with the smaller 90L version (only in Black) or scale up with the 186L model (above) which comes in the same three colors as the 126L bag. The cost for each bag is $325 for the 90L, $400 for the 126L, and $425 for the 186L. If you're hesitant about the cost, don't be. These bags are durable and will be around for the long haul.
Leather For The Discerning Pistolero
In the age of Kydex, a leather holster isn’t for everyone, but if dad would rock a leather holster there are few options better than those from Kirkpatrick Custom Holsters.
A couple Christmases ago I ordered one of their QuickShip holsters for the 1911 as a gift for a family member. The QuickShip line is made up of popular fits—1911, Glock 19, Sig P320, P365, and P365X Macro—that are ready-made and in inventory for, as the name implies, shipping quickly.
The holster looked great, as all their hand-dyed brown holsters do. Their QuickShip holsters run from $130 to $140.
But what you really want to do is browse their custom holsters and rigs, like those for Cowboy Action Shooting, Western Movie Gun Holsters, Double Holster Belts, Hunting Holsters, and more. These can arguably be described as masterpieces.
OWB and IWB holsters range in price from $130 to $260 while their full rigs run anywhere from $385 up to $1,000.
The Classic Field Coat
If you are from the Northeast then you probably received a few L.L. Bean catalogs. Their catalog was a staple in our house. Besides clothes for school, one of my favorite L.L. Bean items is their Men's Original Field Coat.
Living in Arizona gives me very few opportunities to wear mine but I wouldn’t part with it. Originally introduced in 1924, the coat is made from heavy-duty two-ply 10-ounce cotton canvas and arrives pre-washed for a broken-in feel. It also comes with a button-on wool/nylon liner for those cooler fall, early winter days.
It's designed with two angled hand pockets, two patch pockets, one zippered chest pocket, and a button front. The sleeves feature 100-gram polyester Thinsulation™ insulation. Watch this product video for a better understanding of why this L.L. Bean garment is so beloved by customers.
If dad’s an outdoors guy this might be just the casual everyday coat he’ll want to add to his wardrobe. This model goes for $220, and a cotton-lined version runs $180. Sizes run Small to 3XL in either regular or tall. There’s also an Upland Field Jacket variant for $200, in case dad’s a hunter.
Stop Dragging Your Feet
A set of the Ruck Recovery™ Thermomoldable Insoles from VIKTOS is a low-cost gift that will breathe new life in dad’s old shoes and boots.
Available in sizes 7-8, 9-11, 12-14, and 15-17, the insole is a performance-enhancing orthotic designed to fit into any footwear. The insoles feature a sculpted footbed geometry and thermoformable EVA footbed for custom support. A high-rebound EVA heel insert increases energy return, while a molded TPU arch support structure provides stability.
The key to their design is in the thermoformable EVA footbed. To customize the fit you remove the old insole then place it on top of the Ruck insole and trim away the excess forefoot material. After you confirm the fit, you place the insoles into an oven preheated to 215 degrees for 120 seconds. VIKTOS recommends using a timer.
When time’s up, remove and insert the insole into footwear, and put footwear on. Bear weight evenly on the warm insoles for ninety seconds or until cooled. Do NOT walk. Once the cooled, the insoles maintain their custom shape.
The Ruck Recovery Thermomoldable Insole retails for $30 per pair. Please note that due to the customization, insole sales are final and there are no returns or exchanges.
Dad’s Bag of Tricks
Another VIKTOS product that caught my eye at this year’s SHOT Show is their Counteract Organizer Kit. This versatile bag can be used for everything from toiletries to tactical gear.
The overall dimensions of this compact bag are 7.5" H × 10.5" W × 3" D. It features a clamshell zip opening for full access, YKK® zippers for durability, a weather and stain-resistant Tuff Hyde™ chassis, and internal compartments sized for toiletries, first aid, or gun-cleaning supplies.
The Counteract Organizer Kit comes in either Black or Green and retails for $50.00. Its versatility makes it an easy gift recommendation when you're not entirely sure how dad will use it.
– Paul Erhardt, Managing Editor, the Outdoor Wire Digital Network