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!

This is a great thread; thank you!

Good headphones? Apparently one of my most successful gifts for DP was a pair of bone conducting headphones to wear on his bike - as they don't go in the ear you can still hear what's going on around you. He loves a bit of tech and it's not really my thing so I think he was very surprised that I'd chosen them!

Ah, not really £15-20 though!

Ooh those quiet rebellion socks are great!

Meal box with recipe cards and the dry ingredients to make a different curry every month?

This one is £27 for 3 months but you can find cheaper.

www.simplycook.com/landing/recipebox?utm_source=PPC&utm_medium=Generic&utm_campaign=recipebox&KW=20010&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIl8mg-da11wIVz5PtCh1F6wc3EAAYAyAAEgJhY_D_BwE

4 wallet ninjas ordered

Place marking and thank you all for the suggestions!

I like magazine subscriptions as a gift (pay for my mum to have a magazine subscription every year) but then it becomes a bit of a bind - if you don't renew it, but they really enjoy the magazine, it looks mean, but if you have found a really great gift for them that puts the subscription over budget, it's a dilemma.

Best advice I got for blokes is they want what they already have but newer and better. They really are creature of habit

Food and drink always goes down well. plus vouchers

If the man in question has a specialist hobby, I HIGHLY recommend encouraging them to start a wishlist at their favourite technical store (or Amazon if stocked). Just make sure it includes some lower priced items as well as the big dreams.

If they are anything like my husband they spend literally hours every week just watching unbox in videos or reading mags about their hobby anyway, so they may actually love creating a wishlist, especially if you tell them that it is a kindness to you (and their mother, MIL, SIL, etc).

It has made birthdays and Christmas a lot easier for all of us since we don't know anything about this hobby.

I also keep an ear to ground for little gifts to do with the hobbies that other men in my life have. So if someone mentions something brilliant for guitarists, I will buy that for the guitarists I know.

Can someone explain to me what "cards against humanity" is all about please?

CAH is a completely vile and utterly hilarious game of fill in the blanks with all the filling in provided. Really disturbingly brilliant and not at all for stuffy uptight types, people who are upset by swearing or people who cannot bear having the very very darkest news stories suddenly become funny as fuck.

Some great ideas on here! I bought DH a DIY brewery kit a couple of years ago which meant he could brew his own ale. He asolutely loved it and it wasn't crazy expensive, maybe £35.

We got cards against humanity a couple of years ago, it’s a good game but we prefer “competitive” games

I bought dobble recently for when we have friends over including kids or when we are playing games as adults & we love it! So simple. We went on a weekend away with friends & they too had brought dobble & bananagrans (we are early 30s) we played dobble whilst drinking wine for a good hour & a half & it always makes an appearance now!

For anyone else needing to buy for the sports-mad, who already own every themed item and serious piece of kit, enjoy gag gifts far more than 'proper' or expensive presents, and possess a bawdy adolescent, frankly, sense of humour: crapgoods.com/products/england-rugby

I've decided on the "Rugby" facts and stats novelty loo roll. ("Football" also available).
A bit of nonsense, really, but will raise a laugh, and give said bloke something to unwrap.

[Apologies if similar have already been mentioned...am still working my way through thread. Excellent ideas from everybody!].

What can I get for the non gadget minded DH? He still has a nokia phone, no ipad just a laptop. He plays golf but isn't into the gadgets etc that go with that. I despair every year.

A bit more than £15-20, but I've always found that a subscription to Beerbods goes down well as a gift.

DH has no hobbies (grrr) except buying gadgets 2 weeks before Christmas (double grrr) but I'm considering a Tile or a Nut tracker. He requested a suit valet stand thing too.
DF is getting the 50 Things That Made The Economy book.
Couples are getting coffee/chocolates/Spicery kits. I've given up buying for my DB but I always used to get him craft beer and a Christmas themed book to read to his DCs.

Just been researching Power Banks (a small portable thing that you can recharge your phone from); and it seems you can get them at the £10- £20 price mark - and I think they'd make a great present for both men and women. Also, I think Solar-powered Power Banks (where the 'Bank' itself can be charged either by the sun or via the mains) would make a great 'gadget' prezzie too

ZivaDiva,
Might your DH enjoy this? Non-gadget gift, but still something of the theme.
The book had excellent reviews from those within the golf world.
(Avoid the film, which I'm told wasn't good).

Will certainly be getting this autumnalLeaves. He is so difficult to buy for.

Some great ideas .. but can't find what I need, can anyone help? Ive got FIL in secret Santa, about £30. He's 67, not techy, no real hobbies apart from ballroom dancing and watching dvds, but he has loads of dvds already. He buys any wine/whiskey he wants, doesn't really read, I wouldn't know what clothes to buy ... I'm at a loss.

Does he do ballroom dancing with MIL? Does he do it competitively?
Totally outside my comfort zone apart from the music. Wonder if MIL or dh or other in laws might know of some specialist gear he might need/want?
I’ll put my thinking cap on.

@justchillaxing if he likes whisky, I read in the times this week or last that there’s a new trend for Japanese Whisky, that might be a bit different & interesting for FIL?