So. Really good presents for men that are NOT...

[monkeymamma]

Hip flasks (why do magazines think men want endless hip flasks?)
Books about gin (look, gin is all very well, but who wants to READ about it?!!)
Scarves, gloves, hats (as I've done these items many times over)
Toiletry sets they won't use
Novelty games, puzzles etc.

I have some very lovely men in my life (BILs, boyfriends of much-loved nieces) and I don't want to burden them with stuff they don't need or want, but I don't know them well enough to say, choose a book for them.

What presents in the £15-20 range can you get for men that are genuinely useful and not gimmicky or purely decorative (as I don't know many men who genuinely want decorative stuff...)?

All ideas received with interest and thanks!

Liking the idea of the OS maps, with the personalised touch.

Sugru is brilliant and they do fab gift packs. It's basically playdoh that sets hard. sugru.com/

I don't understand the aeropress...it's just a cafetiere?

Oh. My. Goodness. I did not expect to get so many (all excellent) replies! Thank you all for your suggestions.

JigglyTuff - I didn't have my dad in mind when I started this thread (as he usually tells me, when asked, what he'd like!) but he would be in heaven with Sugru. He is definitely a fixer!

Likewise I wasn't really thinking of DH (he has no problem telling me exactly what he wants just sends Amazon links) but he'd love a Gridit. Perfect.

TheRadiantAeryanSun and Redjellybean both made an excellent point which I had never really considered before and which may in fact be life changing! Men (and in fact people) actually often DO just want a new version of something they love. This actually made me feel a lot better about all the repeat gifting I do!

Reed1 - I kind of know what you mean, BUT my DNs were 'the children' of the family for many years, and they've grown up to be lovely, interesting people and good friends (with very nice partners!). It would feel a bit weird to me to suddenly stop sending them anything because they're now over 18. I would like to think that no-one feels under any pressure to buy me anything (I much prefer to see my kids open presents). But I don't think 'Christmas is all about the kids' really works in families where some people don't have children (or whose children are long since grown).

I went down the hobbies route in the end - and managed to find books that fit the bill! Very happy ending for me - fingers for a similar outcome for PP who were also looking for ideas!

My DH is probably a bit unusual in that newer versions of old favs are not appreciated. I bought him a new north face black peak cap. He has had his current one so long that it is a dark grey washed out colour. He would like new glasses for Christmas. Not something that would have occurred to me. But in general he is hard to buy for.

The customised OS maps are such a good idea! ... and they're on sale at the moment too...

A favorite tv show series, a nice jacket, belt, or anything that he can wear on a daily basis. Sometime men don't necessarily ask us about these stuffs but would be happy to be given little things they actually don't have time to buy for themselves.

Something my DH loves (which he bought for himself) is his contigo coffee mug. I know there are lots of travel mugs on the market but the contigo one is definitely superior. DH drives from our house in Kent to his company’s office in Holland every few weeks, he fills his contigo up at the channel tunnel and the coffee is still properly hot by the time he gets to the office.

OMG I am over the moon I have just found this site
www.loveyourlocation.co.uk/
I have ordered loads of stuff for the men of my family
I had a code for £5 off surveyfiver ,if you spend over 350 with the voucher sadly then you get free delivery
I went into a gift shop in my home town and they were selling the stuff you can get off there but for much more money
I hope this will help us who have trouble buying for the men in our lives

sorry that should read if you spend over £50 lol

Mrsmadevans..hmm I tired and no results for my post code or any surrounding towns!

Last year we bought a couple of gadgets that allow you to turn any beer bottle into a drinking glass. Come to think of it, DH would probably like one for himself...

Oh sorry Whiskey I tried a few names to be honest and in the end for the elderly lady I did Yorkminster because her son lives there and she loves it there . I also did Southampton because my dh used to love Southampton when he was child.

@Mrsmadevans If you like those vintage travel posters, have a look at Becky Bettesworth I love her pictures, though she does mainly focus on the south west.

Following

Love the gridit for my OCD Dad!! My mum will probably hate me for it but great present!!

Book on mushrooms & mushroom knife ( for foraging)
Cinema voucher
Krispy Kreme voucher
Egg poacher pan ( for all those eggs and avocado breakfasts)
Nando’s voucher
Rugby ball
Football
Branded sport socks eg pack of 3 Nike socks
Proper Biltong from a deli
Leather belt
Leather wallet
Phone cables
Folding phone charger
Muji Pencil case full of nice Muji gel pens ( for writing)
Audible voucher
Tile tracker fob ( this was loved!)
Cheese hamper
Rees peanut butter chocs hamper
Slow cooker plus a few recipes
A good cutting knife
Sport Base layer garments
Hat with a bobble
Book of the best speeches thru history ( just out)
Cards against Humanity game

Loving this thread, I’m stuck for DH this year as he doesn’t have any hobbies (he does follow football but I don’t want framed fan pictures etc in the house and I can’t afford a season ticket!)

I won’t buy all of these, but so far on my list...

A pack of Form cards
Grid it
A six pack of his favorite beer
A new jacket
Costa vouchers
He’s a driver so a coffee flask is a great idea.
Wallet ninja
Lego
A Haynes manual for his car

We always buy each other a joke present - this year I ordered a personalized tin of Heinz beans with his name on!

Thank you Chica her work is divine I do love the travel type pictures .

Ooh Haynes manual, there's an idea. DH has had a new car since last Christmas but if he tries to poke around in it I'll kill him.

Marking place to read through tomorrow

This thread is ace.

Form cards definitely on the list.

For whiskey fans, giant sphere and cube ice cube moulds. Under a tenner on eBay and TKMaxx but up to £20 for a designer kitchen shop version.

Liking the Grid It and the Form cards too. Will MN cause their sales to soar?

Thanks to this thread my DH’s Christmas stocking has a Wallet Ninja (best four quid spent this Christmas I think!), Form Cards and a Grid It. Once I’ve got his usual geeky PJs, some chocolate and an Android Play voucher I’ll be done. Thank you so much - his stocking is usually by far the toughest thing to shop for!

Wallet ninja! That is also brilliant.