Gifts for Dad

It’s 6.25 in long, machined from a solid billet of aluminum, with the magnets held in a patented track so they can’t drop out and vials at level, 90°, 45° and 30°. The tapered nose slides into a back pocket or tool pouch, and the bright orange body is easy to spot on a cluttered bench. It suits pictures, outlets and brackets; shelves and countertops need a longer level.

• 6.25 in, billet aluminum
• Reads 0°, 30°, 45°, 90°
• Thumb screw clamps to conduit

What owners say: Owners are struck by how hard the magnets grip and how solid it feels, and expect it to last for years. Electricians single out the thumb screw for checking angles while bending conduit.

DEWALT says the case has a 20% more compact grip, and a finger brake is built into it to control the blade on the way back: feather the brake as the blade comes home. Fractions are printed on the blade, and a slide lock holds it wherever it’s set, which helps when taking a living room corner to corner.

• 30 ft blade
• Slide lock and finger brake
• Reaches 13 ft before bending

What owners say: Owners say it’s tough enough to survive serious drops, easy to read and accurate, and long enough for whole rooms without being bulky. The blade comes back under control rather than snapping home.

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The hardened steel blades take branches up to 1.5 inches thick, and shock-absorbing bumpers stop the handles jarring together at the end of each cut. At 28 inches they reach into the middle of a shrub. Cut just outside the collar where a branch meets the trunk, wipe the sap off after use, and when the edge finally goes, the blades can be replaced.

• Cuts up to 1.5-inch branches
• 28 in long, bypass blades
• Lifetime warranty

What owners say: Owners say the blades go through branches like butter and keep their edge season after season, and they call it light, solidly made and close to unbreakable.

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LifeStraw designs it for germs, microplastics and silt, not chemicals or heavy metals, so it’s for fresh water from streams and lakes. It filters down to 1 micron, lasts up to 1,000 gallons and weighs 1.6 oz. After drinking, blow back through the mouthpiece to clear the water out, as LifeStraw advises.

• Filters up to 1,000 gallons
• Removes bacteria, parasites, microplastics
• Drink straight from the source

What owners say: Small and light enough to go on every trip and to sit in the emergency kit, it makes backpacking easier, and some call it a lifesaver in a tight spot.

Heads up: Drinking through it takes a firm, steady sip, so give it a try at home before the trip.

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Its HyperElastic SoftFast core adds ball speed, and it feels good off the putter, which suits golfers from beginners upward. The box comes in white, yellow or matte colors: yellow is easier to follow against a gray sky, and the matte finishes stand out on the fairway.

• 2-piece ball, hybrid cover
• White, yellow or matte colors
• Suits beginners upward

What owners say: The soft feel wins most golfers over, and some pick up extra distance off the tee without losing control. It’s easy to spot in most light, and a single ball can last two to four rounds.

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There are 14 pockets in all, the body is 1680D ballistic weave, and the fully molded base keeps the bottom dry. Pliers go in the outside pockets too, with a meter or a drill in the middle. It’s an electrician’s or a handyman’s everyday bag rather than one for big power tools, and the base wipes clean after a wet day on site.

• 14 pockets, open top
• Fully molded base
• Orange lining shows small tools

What owners say: Roomy enough for a full working day, and plenty expect it to last ten years or more. The boot-like base keeps it standing without tipping, and the handle sits where it should.

The box holds Original, Chipotle, Chili Garlic, Green Pepper, Chili Lime and Sweet Habanero in 5 fl oz bottles, made with árbol, piquín and other Mexican peppers for what Cholula calls balanced heat. Keep the Original by the stove for rice and beans; Chili Lime suits fish tacos and guacamole, Chipotle brings smoke to chili and barbecue, and Chili Garlic stirs into a marinade or noodles.

• Six 5 fl oz bottles
• Everyday table sauces, not fiery
• Made in Jalisco, Mexico

What owners say: Owners like the flavors and the lack of a tangy aftertaste, and think the multi-pack is fair value. The bottles are a good size and get used across plenty of dishes.

Belkin says the 30W USB-C port takes an iPhone from empty to half full in as little as 21 minutes, and a Galaxy in 26, with PD 3.0 and PPS. With both ports in use it gives 30W and 12W. No cable comes in the box, and some cars cut power to the socket when the engine is off, so check the owner’s manual before relying on it while parked.

• USB-C and USB-A ports
• Up to 30W by USB-C
• iPhone 0–50% in 21 minutes

What owners say: Quick enough that one owner timed about one percent every 90 seconds on a phone, and durable with it. With both USB-C and USB-A, newer and older cables each have a home.

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The heads resist rust, and the SoftGrip handles ease the strain on wrists over a long session; Fiskars covers them with a lifetime warranty. Break up crusted soil with the cultivator before planting, then use the slim transplanter for bulbs and seedlings and the wider trowel for bigger holes. No bag comes in the box, so hang them by their handle holes somewhere dry.

• Trowel, transplanter and cultivator
• Soft-grip handles
• Eases wrist strain

What owners say: They feel solid in the hand, with a comfortable grip and a good weight, and the heads don’t flex when they meet hard ground. One owner likes having the measurements on the planting trowel.

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The slotted blades run from 3/16 to 5/16 in, and the tips are black oxide. Spin a screw in with your fingertips on the slim speed zone near the shaft, then move your palm to the fatter torque zone for the last firm turns. The stubbies are 1-1/2 in long, short enough for the screws inside a cabinet or behind the washer.

• Eight drivers, two stubby
• Phillips #1 to #3, slotted
• Black oxide tips grip screws

What owners say: A sure grip and tips that don’t slip are what owners mention most, and the spread of sizes handles common car jobs as well as household ones.