The Christmas round-up: gifts for him
Christmas, for all its yuletide cheer, can also be a source of present-related angst. If the thought of shopping for your brother/father/significant other is enough to reduce you to the foetal position, fear not friends. We’ve round-up some Christmas gifts for him that he won’t be lining up to return.
The Groomer
Good quality grooming gear that won’t compromise his manliness is always a winner. Anything from Triumph & Disaster’s fine-looking collection will be a sure fire hit but if you can’t decide, opt for the stash box deluxe set. Stocked with a tube of Old Fashioned Shave Cream, a genuine Badger Hair Shave brush, Rock & Roll Suicide Face Scrub and Gameface Moisturiser, this stash box contains everything he needs to look and feel like he’s winning at life. Hunter Lab’s daily tool kit will also kit him out with all of the essentials. If his locks are wilder than Miley Cyrus, grab him a tin of King Brown Pomade, available at a bunch of fine boutiques and barbers around the coast.
The Stylish Stud
For gents who are going places and aren’t satisfied simply jamming clothes into a backpack, Atlas Lifestyle Co. can kit him out with a leather wallet, passport holder and leather bag, and for those who are perfectly happy jamming clothes into a backpack, the Banks Stratton backpack from Coolangatta’s Stock and Supply or basically anything by Herschel Supply Co. is a mighty fine choice. Status Anxiety can also hook him up with some sleek leather accessories. If he is a fairly modest gent when it comes to his fashion choices and appreciates his shirts sans excessive branding, take a look at Melbourne label Mr Simple at Pacific Fair. As implied by its name, the brand offers uncomplicated apparel for the modern male including crisp white short sleeve shirts, slim-leg cotton chinos and sharp chambray shirts, among its consciously minimalist collection. And just when you thought you had them pegged, Mr Simple goes and throws the festive Holbrook 3 Amigos shirt into the mix for those times when a plain white tee simply won’t do. A new pair of shades from EPOKHE, Oscar & Frank or the Gold Coast’s own Valley Eyewear are guaranteed to be a hit or make punctuality a pleasure with a new timepiece from Simple Watch Co or John Collins Watch Co. If the gent in question doesn’t mind doing things a little differently, a wooden bow tie from local company Wood&Beau could be right up his alley.
While a bottle of decent tipple will always be well received, give the gift of sweet satisfaction with a small batch brew kit from Box Brew Kits. Unlike traditional home brewing kits that err on the side of ugly, the Box Brew Kits are sleek and elegant so you can proudly display it in plain sight. If he fancies himself a budding mixologist, set him up with a decent cocktail kit from W&P Design. For the beer enthusiasts, this Hop pack from Bridge Road Brewers offers a quick education into the unique characteristics of four Australian hop varieties. If he’s an avid traveller, save him from depressingly plain plane booze with this Carry on Cocktail kit, which is pretty much just as it sounds and if he’s been known to sneak a beer or two into the shower, this beer shampoo bar from Beauty and the Bees is bound to please.
The Cruiser
If he’s more of a laid back lad, hook him up with a new handmade skateboard from Worthy Skateboards, Cottage Skateboards, Be.you or Kippy Skateboards. If he’s an avid wave-seeker, give him a new challenge with a finless alaia surfboard from local company Maywood or give the gift of eternal happiness with a custom wooden surfboard from Harvest. If your budget doesn’t quite stretch all the way to a new surfboard, a hand plane from SURF/BRAND is a pretty decent alternative and is sure to bring a smile to his dial. Nixon’s Ultratide watch is the world’s first real time surf watch that delivers up-to-date surf conditions so he’ll never experience the pain of missing an epic session again. If he’s ever lost some sunglasses to the watery depths, he will appreciate the Cultiv8 collection of floating bamboo shades from Cult Optics that little bit more than most.
The Foodie
If he’s a fan of food, this DIY jerky kit and Dude Food cookbook would make a pretty excellent gift but if you really want to win at Christmas this year, give him endless hours of entertainment with a meat smoker. Ranging from entry level smokers for beginners right through to Mac Daddy Bradley digital smokers, he’ll be a pitmaster in no time.
The Adventurer
If you know a chap partial to a bit of camping, Alton Goods produce high quality equipment designed for exploration. The Kerouac hammock weighs only 550 grams and is perfect for attaching to a couple of palm trees or coastal she oaks for a day at the beach. A Snow Peak titanium coffee press is a must-have for the bloke who needs a cuppa even while camping and the Shwood x Stanley adventure pack has you covered with a Stanley classic flask and a pair of Shwood titanium sunglasses.
The Music Lover
If he doesn’t mind waiting, pre-order him a floating record vertical turntable from Gramovox. Built in Chicago, the orders won’t be shipped until February 2016 but his patience will be rewarded with an elegant and visceral vinyl experience. If he’s already got a sweet vinyl setup, expand his musical horizons with a subscription to Vinyl Me, Please – it’s the gift that keeps on giving.
If you’re still undecided, opt for a gift voucher from one of his favourite stores and let him choose something for himself. Alfred’s Apartments’ gift vouchers can be used in the store, the barber shop and even the diner so he can grab himself some new threads, a haircut and burrito all in one hit. Happy shopping!