Gifts for Dad

It holds 473 mL (16 oz) and keeps drinks hot for up to 11 hours, or cold for 24, by Contigo’s figures. One hand holds, sips and locks it. A hook inside the lid keeps a tea bag’s string tidy, the lid goes on the dishwasher’s top rack, and the steel body is washed by hand.

• Hot up to 11 hours
• Push-button lid that locks
• Tea-bag hook in the lid

What owners say: Coffee stays hot for a long time and nothing leaks or spills, owners say, and they like the lock button; it travels well and cleans easily.

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The USB-C port gives up to 30W, enough to take a recent iPhone or Galaxy to half full in about 25 minutes by Anker’s figures, and the USB-A port up to 22.5W for an older cable, both at the same time. A small LED picks out the ports in the dark, it turns its own power down if it runs hot in a parked car, and Anker covers it for 18 months.

• 30W fast-charging USB-C port
• 30W and 22.5W together
• LED light finds the ports

What owners say: Owners rate how quickly it charges and how much power it packs into such a small plug, and they like having USB-C and USB-A side by side and its blue ring of light.

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It brews about four mugs at a time. The filter has three layers of steel mesh, and two spare screens come in the box: stack one on for a cleaner cup when the grind is on the fine side. The handle and knob stay cool, and every part, filter included, goes in the dishwasher.

• Double-walled steel, 1 litre
• 3-layer filter, 2 spare screens
• Won’t crack like glass

What owners say: Owners say it keeps coffee hot well after pressing, looks smart on the counter and is easy to clean, and they find it sturdy.

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It’s 14.6 cm (5.7 in) long, weighs 0.43 kg (0.95 lb) and runs quietly, with a 7 mm stroke and five heads; save the softer ones for tender spots. A 15 W USB-C phone charger fills it in about two hours, it switches itself off after 10 minutes, and a case comes with it.

• Weighs 0.43 kg (0.95 lb)
• 7 mm stroke
• Fits in a gym bag

What owners say: Owners are struck by how much power it has for its size, use it most on calves and thighs, and find a charge lasts a long time; no recurring complaint comes up.

Pressures up to 160 PSI are set on the digital gauge. The threaded chuck screws onto the valve so it can’t pop off, and the nozzles and 12V cord live on board, so it can stay in the trunk; swap the hose to the deflate port to empty a mattress. The battery and charger are sold separately.

• DEWALT 20V battery, sold separately
• Stops at the set pressure
• 12V car cord included

What owners say: It runs well on owners’ own DEWALT 20V batteries, they say, is easy to use and fills to the programmed pressure accurately, and it carries easily.

Laurentian Chief has made moccasins in Quebec since 1945, and this one is cut from genuine cowhide that stays light and breathable on warmer days. The leather sole is for indoor floors rather than the driveway, so keep shoes by the door for a step outside. Men’s sizes run 6 to 13.

• Cowhide leather, soft lining
• Soft leather sole, indoors
• Handmade in Canada

What owners say: Owners praise the craftsmanship and the soft, supple leather, find them long-wearing and like that they’re made in Canada.

Coriander joins the lemon at first, with violet leaf and rosemary in the heart, and after a while the violet leaf and amber take over and give it a warmer, softer finish. Spray onto skin rather than clothes so the scent develops as it should: one at the neck and one at the chest is plenty for a working day. It’s made in France, in a 125 mL bottle.

• Woody amber scent
• Lemon, violet leaf, amber notes
• Fist-shaped glass bottle

What owners say: Owners like the scent from the first spray and plan to buy it again, and the big bottle’s price goes down well with them; how long it lasts on the skin is where they part company.

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It has no speakers of its own: the built-in preamp lets it plug straight into powered speakers or a stereo. Before the first record, set the counterweight to the 2 grams the cartridge is made for. The platter stops itself at the end of a side, it plays 33⅓ and 45 rpm records under a hinged lid, and the warranty runs two years.

• Switchable preamp built in
• Auto-stop at a side’s end
• Heavy base on isolation feet

What owners say: Owners single out the sound, find it easy, even fun, to put together and are pleased with the build and the built-in preamp. Some like its heft and some don’t.

Heads up: There’s no Bluetooth, so it can’t send a record to a wireless speaker or headphones: everything goes by cable.

The 2 L bottle is odourless PVC, and BICAREE says it holds its heat for up to eight hours; filled with cold water, it works as an ice pack. Press out the air, screw the stopper down tight and turn it over the sink to check for leaks before bed. It isn’t for the microwave.

• 2 L PVC bottle
• Soft cover included
• Wide mouth for easier filling

What owners say: Owners find it works better than a heating pad and holds its warmth, and they rate how well it lasts; the seal is the one point they disagree on.

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Each lamp has a spot beam that reaches 150 m (500 ft), a wide flood for close work and a red light on its own button, so there’s no cycling through white to reach it. They weigh 75 g (2.65 oz) each, charge by USB-C and are rain-resistant to IPX4. The head tilts 45°, handy for cooking at a campsite, and the band fits adults and kids.

• Two rechargeable headlamps
• Beam 150 m (500 ft)
• Fits adults and kids

What owners say: Owners call it a bright lamp whose charge lasts, comfortable to wear and good for more than one job. Nothing draws a recurring complaint.

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