Gift guide · 12 ideas
Gifts for dads who want nothing
“I don’t need anything” usually means “don’t buy me clutter”. These are useful upgrades and small treats he’ll actually use.
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Most dads who say they want nothing aren’t being difficult. They’ve got what they need, they don’t like fuss, and they’d rather you didn’t waste money. So the trick is to skip novelty and go for one of two things: a better version of something he already uses every day, or a consumable treat he’d never buy for himself.
Everything below passes the “will this still be in use in March?” test.
Merino wool socks
Socks are the classic dad gift for a reason, but merino ones are a genuine upgrade: warmer, softer, and they don’t get smelly the way cotton does. He’ll notice the difference on the first cold morning.
Danish Endurance Merino Hiking Socks (3 pairs)
£20–£30
Three pairs of merino-blend walking socks, cushioned where boots rub and with breathable panels that help keep feet dry. They’re made in Portugal, OEKO-TEX certified and sized for men and women.
What owners say: Owners find them comfortable and warm without being thick, good on long walks and longer-lasting than ordinary socks, though some find them tight, value divides them and not everyone agrees they stop blisters.
A closer look: Wash them at no more than 40°C and dry them on an airer, as the tumble dryer is off limits for these. On a walking holiday, a pair can be aired overnight and worn again without turning whiffy, which saves space in the rucksack. Danish Endurance replaces any pair that wears a hole within the first year.
- Three pairs, merino blend
- Men’s and women’s sizes
- Cushioned against blisters
A cordless tyre inflator
He’d never buy one himself while the forecourt air pump still works, yet he’ll use it every month once it’s in the glovebox.
SFGSUP Cordless Tyre Inflator
£10–£20
- Light at 435g
- Compact 13cm body
- Stops at the set pressure
- Short 15cm hose
Small enough to live in the glovebox, and it stops automatically at the pressure you set, so topping up the tyres takes a couple of minutes on the drive. Its 4000mAh battery also charges a phone over USB.
What owners say: Owners find it a handy portable pump that stores easily in the car and adjusts the pressure simply, saving trips to the tyre shop; battery life gets a mixed verdict.
A closer look: Check the tyres when they’re cold, before a drive, and you’ll find the right pressures in the car handbook or on a sticker inside the driver’s door or fuel flap. The custom mode takes any figure from 3 to 150 PSI, for a trailer or wheelbarrow tyre.
A rechargeable head torch
He’s the one called when the lights go out or the sink leaks, and he still does it with his phone held up for light.
Blukar Rechargeable Head Torch (2-pack)
£10–£20
- Wave-to-switch sensor
- Spot and flood beams
- Two torches in the box
Wave a hand to switch it on: exactly what you want when you’re holding a fuse box cover or a muddy lead. Two come in the pack, each rated IPX5 for rain and snow, with eight modes including a red light.
What owners say: Owners find the white light very bright and the battery long-lasting, say it’s easy to switch on and off, and like it for dog walks in the dark, with a wide headband that stays comfortable.
A closer look: Use the narrow spot for the path ahead on a dog walk and the soft flood for close work like a plug socket or the inside of a tent, or run both together. Long-press the button to set the brightness anywhere between full and 30%, handy when a bright beam bounces back off a white wall. Blukar has since brought out a Gen 2 (K9128), sold singly, but this model is still sold new.
A digital meat thermometer
If he’s in charge of the barbecue or the Sunday roast, it’s the small bit of kit he’ll use every weekend without it cluttering a drawer.
ThermoPro TP03H Instant-Read Thermometer
Under £10
- Accurate to ±0.5°C
- Rinses under the tap
- Built-in calibration function
Settles the “is the chicken done?” question in one to three seconds, to within half a degree, from a probe that folds away into the body.
What owners say: Owners say it’s accurate, quick and easy to read, and keeping it stuck to the fridge or the barbecue means it’s always to hand.
A closer look: A hold function freezes the reading, so you can pull the probe out of a hot oven and check the number away from the heat. Now and then, dip the probe in a glass of iced water: it should read 0°C, and if it doesn’t, the calibration function sets it right.
Fleece-lined moccasin slippers
Many dads are still wearing the same slippers from a decade ago, and a new pair is a small luxury he’ll use every evening.
VeraCosy Closed-Back Memory Foam Moccasin Slippers
£10–£20
- Closed back stays on
- Rubber sole for walks outside
- Machine washable
A smart moccasin in textured microsuede, with two-tone stitching, leather trim and a hand-stitched front, lined with coral fleece. A non-slip rubber sole means it copes with walking the dog or a short drive as well as the hallway.
What owners say: Owners say they keep feet warm on cold days, like the quality and the sturdy sole that copes outdoors, and think them good value, though some find they come up slightly small.
A closer look: The closed back keeps the heel warm and the slipper on when you’re going up and down stairs. The coral fleece is light enough for spring evenings too, and VeraCosy says it soaks up sweat, so feet stay dry through a long evening in front of the television. With socks, or between sizes, go up a size.
Rechargeable hand warmers
A Saturday on the terraces or an afternoon on the riverbank with a rod means hours of cold hands, and a warm pocket sees him through.
KQPZ Rechargeable Hand Warmers (2-pack, 6000mAh)
£10–£20
- Four heat levels, 40–55°C
- Shows battery and temperature
- One cable charges both
A magnetic pair with a small LED display showing the temperature and the battery left, and four heat steps from 40°C to 55°C rather than the usual three. Split them between two coat pockets, or clip them together and hold both in one hand.
What owners say: Owners find they heat up and cool down quickly, recharge fast and last well between charges, and say the heat settings are simple to use and the build feels durable.
A closer look: One two-way cable in the box charges both warmers at once in about four hours, or one on its own in three, so a single USB plug by the bed does the job overnight. The aluminium and ABS body is smooth and curved to sit in the hand rather than dig into it.
A coffee or tea selection
A consumable treat that doesn’t add clutter. A selection box lets him try something better than his usual without committing to a whole bag.
Black Vibes World’s Coffees Gift Set (6 × 50g)
£10–£20
Six 50g vacuum packs of ground single-origin coffee from Colombia, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Brazil and Ethiopia, roasted in northern Italy. They range from rich and intense to lighter and fruitier, in a presentation box.
What owners say: Owners like the variety and the smart box, though some say it’s smaller than they expected.
A closer look: Everything comes ready ground, so it won’t suit a bean-to-cup machine that grinds its own beans. Brew each origin the same way, one at a time, and the differences between, say, Brazil and Ethiopia really stand out. Once a pack is open, fold it tight, clip it and keep it in a cool cupboard.
- Six single-origin coffees, 50g each
- Ready-to-give gift box
- Ground, not beans
Heads up: The packs are tasting size, 50g each, so it’s a sampler rather than a month’s supply.
or compare other optionsA cordless screwdriver
Every dad has a drawer of screwdrivers; few have one that does the work for him. Flat-pack furniture, loose hinges, curtain rails and battery covers on the kids’ toys all get quicker.
Bosch IXO 7 Cordless Screwdriver (with angle attachment)
£30–£50
- Angle attachment included
- Strong 5.5Nm torque
- Up to 190 screws a charge
- No case for the bits
Bosch’s little screwdriver, now in its seventh generation, with 20% more torque than the last (5.5Nm) and up to 190 screws a charge. The angle attachment in this edition gets into the back of kitchen cupboards and behind radiators.
What owners say: Owners like how long it holds its charge and how compact it is, small enough for a pocket. Strength is where they differ: some call it robust, others find it not very strong.
A closer look: Let it do the work on flat-pack, then give the last quarter turn by hand so the screw doesn’t strip the soft chipboard. At about 235rpm it turns slowly enough to start a screw straight by eye, which matters most on hinges and cabinet handles, where a crooked screw shows.
A car cleaning kit
For the dad who washes the car on a Sunday morning: a kit that brings the seats, dashboard and windows up to the standard he keeps the outside.
Autoglym The Collection: Perfect Interiors Kit
£20–£30
- Trim dressing restores faded colour
- Interior only, no exterior cleaners
- No cloths or tools
- No bag or bucket
Three full-size bottles for the inside of the car: a shampoo for seats and fabrics, Fast Glass for windows and mirrors, and a dressing that brings faded dashboards and door trims back to colour. Autoglym has been making car care products in Hertfordshire since 1965 and holds a Royal Warrant from the King.
What owners say: Owners say seats come up looking new, the glass cleaner cuts through grime and grease, and everything dries quickly and smells pleasant.
A closer look: Vacuum first, then shampoo one seat at a time, testing on a hidden patch. Leave the glass till last to wipe off any stray spray from the other two. There are no cloths in the pack, so tuck a couple of microfibre cloths in with it.
A retro sweets box
Black Jacks and Fruit Salads take him straight back to the corner shop of his childhood, and they’ll be eaten rather than put in a cupboard.
All Occasion Sweet Shop Retro Sweets Gift Box
£10–£20
A candy-striped gift box of 22 different retro sweets, from Fruit Salads, Black Jacks and Parma Violets to a Sherbet Double Dip, a Wham Bar and a candy watch. The box measures 21 × 15 × 6cm.
What owners say: Owners love the taste and the range of nostalgic sweets, though several say the box doesn’t match its pictures and the contents are smaller than they expected.
A closer look: With so many different sweets inside, glance at the ingredients if anyone sharing is vegetarian or has allergies. Set it out after a birthday meal and let everyone pick out their old favourites. A Candy Whistle, a Candy Lipstick and Fizz Wiz popping candy are there for any children at the table.
- 22 kinds of retro sweets
- Small box, easy to wrap
- Candy-striped gift box
Heads up: Most sweets come as one or two pieces, so it’s about variety rather than volume.
or compare other optionsA history of his football club
Most clubs have illustrated histories, great-players books or season retrospectives. It’s personal without being soppy.
Worth knowing: Search for the club’s name plus “history” or “official annual”.
See options on AmazonA wind-resistant umbrella
He’s probably been making do with a bent one from a petrol station for years, the kind that turns inside out in the first gust.
TUMELLA Windproof Travel Umbrella
£10–£20
- Nine flexing fibreglass ribs
- Opens and closes one-handed
- Lifetime replacement cover
Nine fibreglass ribs flex in a gust instead of snapping, one button opens and closes it, and it folds to 29.5cm for a coat pocket or a car door. TUMELLA backs it with a lifetime warranty.
What owners say: Owners find it covers two people yet still slips into a handbag, and several report it coming through stormy days unscathed.
A closer look: Small enough to forget about until the rain starts, it can live in a car door pocket or the bottom of a work bag. Point the tip away from people before pressing the button, as the spring opens it fast. Indoors, give it a shake and stand it open in the shower tray to dry.
How to buy for a dad who wants nothing
- Think about what he uses every day and what’s getting worn out: slippers, socks, the car kit, the torch that never works.
- Consumables are a safe bet because they don’t add clutter: coffee, sweets, a good bottle of something.
- Ask whoever lives with him what he moans about. That’s usually your answer.
- One good thing beats three small ones.
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