The Verge’s 2024 holiday gift guide for dads

There are a lot of Arthurian legends out there, though few tales are quite as enchanting as Lev Grossman’s most recent work. The lengthy novel centers around an aspiring knight and his motley crew of companions, all of whom set out to rebuild Camelot in the wake of King Arthur’s death. It’s classic sword and sorcery, only with a heaping of historical twists.
Price: $14.99+

Ugreen’s 2-in-1 charger doesn’t offer Qi2 speeds, a luxe design, or anything fancy. That being said, the adjustable stand is great for charging a pair of AirPods or supplying a MagSafe-compatible phone with up to 7.5W of power overnight. It also makes for a terrific StandBy companion for those who are running the latest versions of iOS and want to use their phone as a desk-friendly widget machine.
Price: $23.99

If you’re going to succumb to marathon gaming sessions on the couch, you might as well make yourself as comfortable as possible. Mechanism’s malleable 12-inch bean bag is designed to cradle a variety of handhelds — including the Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, and PlayStation Portal — so you never have to worry about whether your arms will hold up in the next dungeon.
Price: $59+

Apple’s latest AirPods pack better sound, a USB-C charging case with a built-in speaker, and improved comfort. But their biggest upgrade over the standard AirPods 4 is the addition of active noise cancellation, which lets you tune out the outside world surprisingly well for a pair of open-style earbuds. That’s an extra $50 well spent.
Price: $169+

Your dad may not need a folding phone, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t want one. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is the nicest book-style foldable there is, with a 6.3-inch outer screen that opens to reveal an eight-inch OLED inside. It also features IPX8 waterproofing, impressive battery life, and seven years of OS updates, which makes its lofty price tag a tad easier to swallow.
Price: $1,499

Jim Beam Black is a premium bourbon aged for seven years, offering a smoother, richer taste with notes of deep caramel and warm oak. Known for its refined flavor and versatility, it’s perfect for sipping straight, over ice, or as a sophisticated addition to cocktails. As part of the iconic Jim Beam lineup, it represents a blend of craftsmanship and quality, delivering a high-end bourbon experience at an accessible price. Its balance of tradition and bold taste makes it a standout choice for bourbon enthusiasts and newcomers alike.
Price: $24.99

The Garmin Forerunner 265 is the Goldilocks of running watches. It can track nearly every running metric under the sun and offers many of the same features as the last-gen Forerunner 255 — including dual-frequency GPS and an NFC chip for contactless payments — except it uses an always-on OLED screen instead of a memory-in-pixel display. The best part? It does it without destroying battery life.
Price: $349.99

I’m as big a fan of Lego’s homage to the Great Deku Tree as anyone, but $299.99 is a steep price to pay for a brick-ified rendition of a tree. Thankfully, for a mere $11.99, you can build your pops a minifig version of himself, complete with accessories and a T-shirt showing off his favorite catchphrase. Whether you want to give him a full head of hair is entirely up to you.
Price: $11.99

Thanks to its classy anodized aluminum build, the Bose SoundLink Home is the best-looking Bluetooth speaker you’ll see this year. Its lack of waterproofing means it’s not as rugged as the SoundLink Max or Mini, but you still get a built-in microphone, up to nine hours of battery life, and a USB-C port that conveniently doubles as an audio input. Just keep it away from the kitchen sink.
Price: $199.99

Unless you’re filming cinematic shots in Hollywood, you don’t necessarily need a fancy quadcopter. HoverAir’s so-called “selfie drone” is a great budget alternative to more premium models from DJI, with top-mounted controls, excellent object tracking, and a max video resolution of 2.7K / 30fps. And did we mention it can fit in your pocket? Because it can.
Price: $299+

It’s not the generous replacement policy or timeless, round look of Distil’s flexible Wando Sunglasses that makes them attractive — though they do look quite good. The real appeal lies in their hidden neodymium magnets, which let you effortlessly clip the polarized shades to your shirt or bag without having to worry about them falling off. That alone is worth the $69 price tag.
Price: $51.75+

What do Severance, Silo, and Sunny all have in common? They can all be found on Apple TV Plus. Five years into its existence, Apple’s once-fledgling streaming service has become the premier destination for all things sci-fi, making an Apple gift card a stellar gift for the dad who can’t stop pondering what life would be like in a postapocalyptic bunker or outer space.
Price: $9.99

Wyrmspan is like Wingspan but with cold-blooded beasties instead of birds. The one-to-five-player tabletop game features many of the same systems and mechanics as the lauded engine-building game that inspired it; however, the fantastical setting and a handful of thoughtful gameplay tweaks make it a great alternative, particularly if you own neither.
Price: $59+

With the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition, you no longer need a smartphone or tablet to enjoy digital book covers and illustrations in full color. Amazon’s latest ebook reader adds new depth to the reading experience with nitride LEDs and a color E Ink display, making it an eye-popping upgrade for someone long entrenched in the monochromatic world of traditional e-readers.
Price: $279.99

Blundstone’s original 500 Chelsea boot has changed very little since it was introduced in the late 1960s, and for good reason. It’s got a classic silhouette with elastic sides and pull tabs for easy entry, not to mention a durable TPU outsole and weather-ready leather that makes it well suited for hitting the streets or the old dusty trail — whichever your giftee prefers.
Price: $189.95+

Sadly, the MLS isn’t exactly known for producing good-looking kits, at least compared to soccer leagues in the UK. The Adidas x MLS Archive Collection is a bold step in the right direction, however. Each throwback jersey pairs nostalgia-inducing retro styling with a more modern aesthetic, resulting in an attractive third kit that pays homage to the city it represents.
Price: $79.99+

Being locked into an ecosystem sucks. Fortunately, Pebblebee’s rechargeable Bluetooth tracker supports multiple Find My networks, making it a solid pick for households using a mix of iOS and Android devices. Plus, unlike Apple’s like-minded AirTags, the Clip Universal is outfitted with a rechargeable battery and an integrated key ring for added convenience.
Price: $31.49+

Scissors are overrated. The Slice Auto-Retractable Box Cutter has been a mainstay in our gift guides for several years, primarily because the finger-friendly ceramic blade is great for tearing through paper packaging tape and cutting plastic wrapping. The comfortable tool also comes with a sturdy reinforced nylon handle and a hooked design that makes it easy to stow when not in use.
Price: $15.19+

No one has captured the exquisite beauty of the Japanese countryside quite like renowned 20th-century printmaker Hasui Kawase. The Road to Nikko remains a great example of his keen eye for detail and ability to capture natural lighting, which, in this instance, dapples ancient cedars on the famed road into the mountains north of Tokyo.
Price: $14.40+

No one should have to deal with a rat’s nest behind their desk when devices like Anker’s 2-in-1 USB-C cable exist. The handy USB-C cable splits at the end, giving you the ability to charge up to two devices from a single port. That means you can split power between a phone and tablet or juice a 16-inch MacBook Pro to 50 percent in just 20 minutes using a single port.
Price: $18.99

Bachan’s Japanese Barbecue Sauce should be a staple in every household. The savory-sweet condiment is pretty atypical compared to American BBQ sauces, which often rely heavily on brown sugar or molasses for taste. Instead, Bachan’s recipe offers a nice balance of ginger, soy, mirin, green onion, and other Japanese flavors that work great if you’re trying to add a kick of umami to your next meal.
Price: $7.98+

Although the latest phones from Apple and Google may come with two years of free satellite connectivity, none of them are as rugged or long-lasting as the new inReach Messenger Plus. Garmin’s robust satellite communicator lets you send photos and audio clips in addition to texts, ensuring you can maintain contact with emergency services or loved ones no matter how far you wander off the grid.
Price: $499.99+ (subscription required)

We’re not entirely sure when smash burgers became a capital-T Thing in the culinary world, but if your dad is into compressed beef and caramelized crust, Cuisinart’s stainless steel press will surely be a hit. The inexpensive six-inch contraption is more convenient than using a shoddy spatula or the bottom of a pan to crush patties, though it’s not any more difficult to clean.
Price: $19.25+

Think you and your old man are on the same wavelength? CMYK’s outstanding board game is one way to find out. The simple premise has you guessing where your partner thinks a specific word or topic fits between two diametric ends of a spectrum, which, believe it or not, can be incredibly difficult depending on how well you know your teammate.
Price: $29.99+

Much like Mad Max: Fury Road, the new D&D Player’s Handbook is a triumph mired in controversy. Despite its long and rocky production, the redesigned 384-page tome is an exceptional resource for fifth-edition D&D players, owing to a more streamlined structure, gorgeous artwork, and other quality-of-life updates that render it as robust as it is user-friendly.
Price: $44.34+

Apple’s latest Mac Mini is as charming as it is capable — a remarkable feat for a desktop that starts under $600. It’s the best value in the current Mac lineup as a result of Apple’s zippy M4 silicon and the fact it now ships with 16GB of RAM by default, which should allow the adorable machine to perform a wide range of tasks for years to come.
Price: $500+

Nemo’s Stargaze is certifiable proof that not all camping chairs are created equal. The collapsible rocker is extremely comfortable thanks to its generous padding and elbow room as well as an auto-recline mechanism that lets you set your preferred sitting angle by simply leaning back. It’s basically a backcountry La-Z-Boy, except you’re not likely to kill yourself moving it.
Price: $149.89+

Apple’s MagSafe technology ushered in a whole ecosystem of accessories, including god knows how many magnetic wallets. Satechi’s sleek four-card holder, while not particularly fancy or inventive, is an easy recommendation that doubles as a stand for propping up your phone in landscape or portrait orientation. Just make sure your dad owns an iPhone 12 or newer.
Price: $23.99+

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is a redemption story, if only for BioWare. The action-packed RPG is the best thing the studio has done in more than a decade, anchored in gorgeous environments, deep lore, and a nuanced cast of characters that would give those from previous Dragon Age titles a run for their money. Now, let’s hope dear old dad has a cool 80 hours to kill.
Price: $62.99+

You can “look ma, no hands” your lighting needs with Black Diamond’s handy 400-lumen headlamp. The low-profile light is a convenient way to illuminate your immediate vicinity, as it offers more than enough power to navigate your home or local hiking trail in the dark. Best of all, it’s dual-fuel compatible, meaning you can power it with either a rechargeable BD 1500 Li-ion battery or three AAAs.
Price: $37.39+