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AIBU?

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Original poster

If you are a man, what do you really want?

60 replies

WheresTheBear · 10/01/2022 21:38

BF's birthday coming up soon, I've no idea what to get him, If you are a man, what do you really want for your birthday?....or definitely not want?

OP posts:
Dottybackorcid · 10/01/2022 22:45

Couple of suggestions for you
ThruNight flash light (the THRUNITE Catapult V6 LED) currently has 30% off on Amazon. Even police stopped me one night and asked to see it, every gadget fan needs one 🙂

VIOFO dash cam there all brilliant. Blow all nextbase rubbish out of water.

If he has a vr head set or console and used battery's for hand sets the
Panasonic Eneloop Pro rechargable batterys are amazing and last for ever.

Dental flossers are a good stocking filler fire water every where and clean his teeth.

Anker power bank 20,000 MH are awasome

Mykittensmittens · 10/01/2022 22:47

My DH loves a woolly hat that has a torch in the front. Great for camping, walks back from the pub in the dark, de-icing the car on early starts.

He also likes some USB rechargeable hand warmers for his coat pockets.

Lollipop567 · 10/01/2022 22:51

A 3d printer? I bought my dh one for Xmas and he loves gadgets. It was on offer on Amazon for less than £100

AllTheSunshine · 10/01/2022 22:54

@Dottybackorcid

Couple of suggestions for you ThruNight flash light (the THRUNITE Catapult V6 LED) currently has 30% off on Amazon. Even police stopped me one night and asked to see it, every gadget fan needs one 🙂

VIOFO dash cam there all brilliant. Blow all nextbase rubbish out of water.

If he has a vr head set or console and used battery's for hand sets the
Panasonic Eneloop Pro rechargable batterys are amazing and last for ever.

Dental flossers are a good stocking filler fire water every where and clean his teeth.

Anker power bank 20,000 MH are awasome

I can't find the torch at 30% off Sad Maybe too many of us looked and there's an alogorithm
AllTheSunshine · 10/01/2022 22:55

Algorithm

MattDillonsEyebrows · 10/01/2022 22:55

Do you have a decent BBQ? Look into Weber or Outback, kept my DH in presents for a few years. Previously I have got him, meat thermometers, BBQ gloves, scrapers, burger press, there's loads of stuff if you can get him into it. DH has bbq'd some amazing things, including the Christmas turkey a couple of times.

Also, we are building a collection of swanky Dalstrong chef knives

Cooking courses have been a hit in the past, especially bbq ones for my dh - Weber do some good ones. I'm currently looking for a meat carving course, but can't find one.

Shunter350 · 10/01/2022 22:59

Something to do with any hobbies he may have.
You may have to do some real digging.
So no “coffee table” type books, general purpose clothes ( socks etc )..
If you have kids then a weekend away with his gf in a different bed ( seriously) or even if no kids the same applies. A change of scenery and romance.
Personally that would do it for me.. or perhaps train set..Wink

Dottybackorcid · 10/01/2022 23:00

@AllTheSunshine here is a screen shot of mine, are you on prime?

If you are a man, what do you really want?
WarmSausageTea · 10/01/2022 23:05

I like gadgets, but I’m not hugely tech-minded, so I like things that are pretty much plug and play. Some favourite things…
Bluetooth, noise-cancelling/reducing headphones.
Power bank that can do a full charge, but isn’t too bulky.
Kevlar charging leads, different lengths.
Kindle Fire, though I don’t read as much as I should.

I also like a good shoulder/messenger bag. I’d love a Mulberry one, but have never felt able to justify the outlay.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 10/01/2022 23:07

My brothers have recently wanted from various family members:

Holder for phone in car to use as sat nav (only good if you’ve got an oldish car I guess)
Phone case
Old records (one is into his vinyl)
Super dry jumper
Craft beers

Both work for games companies and in the past recommended this gadget thing where you can play old 80s video games - it’s quite cool. Nothing to do with their jobs or the companies they work for mind you, but just that they also have this interest.

JudyGemstone · 10/01/2022 23:09

@MattDillonsEyebrows

Do you have a decent BBQ? Look into Weber or Outback, kept my DH in presents for a few years. Previously I have got him, meat thermometers, BBQ gloves, scrapers, burger press, there's loads of stuff if you can get him into it. DH has bbq'd some amazing things, including the Christmas turkey a couple of times.

Also, we are building a collection of swanky Dalstrong chef knives

Cooking courses have been a hit in the past, especially bbq ones for my dh - Weber do some good ones. I'm currently looking for a meat carving course, but can't find one.

That’s a great idea, my boyfriend is a massive bbq nerd and has a Weber. It’s his birthday at the weekend too!

Is there any accessory your husband would particularly recommend? I’m pretty sure he already had quite a few!

Freecuthbert · 10/01/2022 23:12

My partner loves everything to do with gaming, computers, tech, etc and I find him easy to buy for. I'm a gamer too so I'm always in the know about what he's got his eye on which helps!

mediumbrownmug · 10/01/2022 23:16

My DH says:

Oculus Quest
Apple Watch
AirPod Pros

You know, nothing too expensive. Hmm

CanIHaveASnaaaaak · 10/01/2022 23:17

A conversation with my FIL over Christmas really got me thinking and it made me understand DH so much more.

Men are (traditionally) expected to be the breadwinner and do DIY, and be a manly man. They have been expected to be providers for so long, they have trained themselves to not want for anything.

So the things that mean most are the little things that they use all the time but won’t replace by themselves. Wallet, socks, etc. They are a cliché gift, but always well received.
They also love a gift they can use with/for the family. BBQ tool set, car care kit (that he’ll probably use on your car or the kids car first!).

The last point is that men have little interests that we don’t understand, or don’t even realise they have. They don’t need us involved ( they would love it but it would take the enjoyment away as they would concentrate too much on us enjoying it) but showing we accept it would mean the world. So a related gift card or free pass out to partake guilt free would be perfect.

Willome · 10/01/2022 23:20

A bike trainer stand thing - so you can ride a bike indoors. They have them on Amazon for £50.

SunflowerSmith · 10/01/2022 23:22

If he's into gaming then an Oculus Quest 2 headset, great for gaming and exercise.

AlecTrevelyan006 · 10/01/2022 23:24

personalised hip flask

AllTheSunshine · 10/01/2022 23:25

@Dottybackorcid
Thanks! I've never noticed those vouchers before.
Torch is arriving Wednesday Grin

LondonQueen · 10/01/2022 23:28

DH says anything but socksGrin

Teenagehorrorbag · 10/01/2022 23:56

My DH always asks for socks for Christmas! Mind you, we both work on the theory that anything we really want, we buy during the year for ourselves, so we don't spend big for Christmas or birthdays.

DCs and I have lots of fun disguising things like bottles of beer or cans of deodorant or spicy chilli sauce, so he can't guess what they are. That's the fun! He may get a couple of things he's asked for - max £50 and probably chosen by him, but more likely I'd take him out for lunch while the children are at school. It's not about money, and we can never understand why people want to spend huge sums on their partners when it's nearly always not what they want anyway.

Sometimes we have booked a family holiday and called it our present to each other. I do like the idea of 'vouchers' for putting the children to bed or a free pass out with the boys. It's about showing you've put thought into it rather than spending money, as such.

Thomasina79 · 11/01/2022 00:24

Think my last thread got lost, but my OH loves the Swiss army knife I bought him years ago. He has even used the tool to get stones out of horses hooves and the orange peeler tool he uses every day. I bought the original victorinex one which is a bit stronger.

VeniVidiWeeWee · 11/01/2022 01:06

Lego Technic.

ShowOfHands · 11/01/2022 07:56

All men are different. For example, the description of the man above who has trained himself not to want anything but secretly adores socks and wallets or wants a car care kit or things for a little hobby I don't understand, genuinely made DH laugh out loud. Although, he did say it sounded a little bit like a bloke he knows at work. DH wouldn't want any of the above stuff.

DH is about to celebrate a big birthday and his main present is a weekend away with me, learning a new skill. We tend to buy each other experiences or trips out so things like theatre tickets and bushcraft/survival weekends as that's what we like. He would never want alcohol, food, aftershave or free passes to do a hobby or have a night off (we both have free time anyway as part of our day to day lives).

SpookyScarySkeletons · 11/01/2022 08:00

Does he follow a team at all?

DH is a big rugby fan and I got a framed print of his team with shirts and numbers from our most successful year (we literally won everything) and the scores from all the matches. It was from Etsy and he loved it.

Don't buy a beard grooming kit. DH has a little beard and received 4 separate beard grooming kits. He has never groomed his beard. They are all going the local cat rescue for their tombola!