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!

@ShotsFired - wow! Please tell me where you got the tube of gallium

Ooh, like the wooden glasses holder!

Amazon dot is a great fun gift & very useful-ours is linked to lamps on a smart plug so voice activated on & off & it's enjoyed by everyone!

Dh loves his aero press too & a mini leatherman from years ago is used regularly. Other than that the beer subscription I got him 4 years ago that he loved so am still paying for every month now 😒

My DP loves to travel so I have bought him one of those scratch off maps (like a scratchcard finish) so he can rub off all the places he's been. I wish he liked jewellery as these El Camino bracelets are gorgeous! I have dropped a hint for him to get me one, but we shall see....

Thanks shhhfastasleep just ordered my brother the metal cash holder from True Utility on Amazon.

Excellent, kitty!

Just got dp a lazy arm for his tablet / phone. Went down very well.

IWOOT

I swear the site was made for this problem. From emergency mustaches to tetris lights. Everything you didn't know the men in yor life needed until you researched.

www.iwantoneofthose.com/

A magazine or number one record from the year they were born then put it in a frame.

Depending on their age. Smash hits , time , private eye or an old mag of their hobby.
Or cheesy single released of their football team.

You can often pick them up cheaply on eBay.

Placemarking

Blatantly Placemarking.

Thank You Penelope for the scratch map suggestion. Great idea!

Oh, we have a scratch map. DD uses it to complain that we Never Go Anywhere.

Given that she's (a) refusing to let anyone else scratch off places they've been that she hasn't and (b) scared of flying, I think the map beyond mid-Europe is going to stay black for quite some time.

OOh, scratch map! LOVE IT.

Thanks for the great ideas.

Great thread.

One year I got DH a customised jigsaw puzzle of the OS map with our house in the middle (he loves maps and we live in an interesting area). It was the hit of Christmas.

Brilliant ideas here - have ordered so many things from these suggestions - thank you so much.

@Uumellmahaye @ShotsFired - wow! Please tell me where you got the tube of gallium

Amazon

I also like sites like redbubble or Etsy - I'll look for a new phone cover for my brother who is a nightmare to buy for.

I got DH a model ford capri one year as he loved them as a teenager. It had pride of place for years until it was siamantled by a toddler who could reach higher than we'd realised.

some really good ideas here...

My husband loved a bread making class at our local bakers and another year, a butchery class! He's also loved a pop up archery set from Decathlon. Thanks for all the ideas have ordered wallet ninjas!

Top 10

If you want to give socks (DH and I love getting socks) then you could do worse than Quiet Rebellion or similar, which appear plain when he's wearing shoes but are SNAZZY underneath.

DH has about ten pairs very similar (can't remember where from though) and they are absolutely his favourite for everyday wear.

Great list @holte

I always but DH an airfix model..... it keeps him happy for a few hours

Some of things we have brought for the many men in our family over the years:
Crystal cut whisky glass
Whisky rocks (you freeze them and put them in drink to instead of ice so the drink it cooled but not watered down)
Character egg cup and toast cutter set
Character mugs
Rucksack
T Shirt / polo shirt
Experience days
Leather bound journal / diary
Razor set
Chilli sauce set