The gifts guys actually want for Valentine’s Day

BY ANDREW UTTERBACK

Podcast Producer

Valentine’s Day is here. You can find a nice card and box of chocolates just about anywhere, but if you’re looking to give the special guy in your life something a bit extra but aren’t sure what, I’ve got you covered.

The first foolproof gift idea is cologne. If your Valentine already has a favorite cologne, a fresh bottle will be much appreciated.

If you know he has a new bottle already or if you want to be a little more budget conscious, then a travel size bottle of his scent of choice is a great alternative.

And if he doesn’t have a preferred cologne yet, take him to the mall and help him pick one. A trip to the fragrance counters at Nordstrom, Dillards or your department store of choice is an easy Valentines Day outing and a great excuse to shop.

The price point here can be as little as $50 but can obviously go much higher depending on the scent he chooses.

Staying in the mall mindset, another excellent gift idea is jewelry. Guys already have jewelry at the front of their minds for Valentine’s Day gifts, but most would love to receive some as well.

You can’t go wrong with a nice watch as a gift and could even get the back of it engraved with initials or a message. Fossil stores will engrave while you wait.

And, on the off chance that you think this gift might break your budget – no worries.

For $150 to $300, you can get a solid watch from a name brand like Fossil that he’ll be sure to wear when he takes you out for Valentine’s Day dinner. If your special guy is more into bracelets or chains, you can also get a great gift for the same price point.

What guy doesn’t love a good pair of sunglasses?

We’re still in the winter months, but spring break is just a handful of weeks away, meaning he’ll be breaking out the sunglasses again pretty soon.

For $200 or less, you can buy a nice pair of Ray-Bans for a classic look or Oakleys for the more active guy. Sunglasses in this price range almost always come with a nice carrying case and are sure to be the gift he appreciates year after year.

However, if he is the type to lose pair after pair of sunglasses, Goodr is a solid option with surprisingly high quality frames for around $25.

I speak for myself and just about every guy I’ve ever met when I say you can’t go wrong with a LEGO set. It really doesn’t matter if it’s the Millennium Falcon or a small car – if it says LEGO, you can check the gift off as a success.

The price point on this completely varies on which set you select, and LEGO has offerings for just about any personality or interest. If you go for a bigger set, building it together can also be a fun date-night activity.

If your special guy is into cars, Etsy is full of custom car posters, keychains, pillows and just about anything you can print a car onto.

If he has a perfect dream car, then anything themed with that car is sure to be a hit. If he has his own car that he is always working on (or at least talking about), then there are plenty of custom options for a more personal touch.

If your significant guy doesn’t already have a good pocket knife or he’s looking to add to his collection, then there are more than enough options from which to choose.

If you’re looking for quality on a budget, Buck Knives is a great pick.

In the mid range category, Civivi is a great choice and my personal everyday carry choice.

In the higher-end range, Spyderco knives tend to be a fan favorite.

All of these brands have options in a host of different colors and blade sizes, so you can shop until you find the perfect one. You can even get them engraved with their name or initials for an extra personal touch.

All of these are great gift ideas for that special guy in your life, but definitely not required. Any thoughtful gesture is more than enough to make for a great Valentine’s Day.