I’m back with the second installment of my 2020 Gift Guide series!
This time, the focus is on the guys. I consulted my own personal shopper who happens to be male, my husband Tom. He is the kind of guy who does a ton of research into the things he buys, spreadsheets and all. He’s very particular on the products he uses and the clothing he buys, so I consider him a very discriminating shopper and therefore perfect for helping me choose awesome gifts for all the good guys in your life.
My Gift Picks for the Good Guys:
1. Beautycounter Counterman Fresh Essentials Set
$55, beautycounter.com
Formulated with Sequoia Stem Cell Complex, the shampoo and body wash helps protect skin and hair from everyday stress, and The Clean Deo (made without aluminum) gives him a safer way to stay fresh all day. The deodorant is boosted with charcoal powder, cornstarch, and baking soda to absorb sweat and neutralize odor for a revitalized feeling, as well as coconut oil and shea butter help keep skin hydrated and nourished. The body wash contains natural rosemary, mint, and citrus oils and activated charcoal, and is a favorite of my hubby’s.
I’ll be using the CM Purifying Shampoo myself once a week or so to get all the minerals from our hard water and hair product build-up out of my hair. I’m also a fan of the Counterman Charcoal Body Bar (great for acne-prone skin like mine) and the CM Smoothing Shave Cream.
2. Watches
price varies, jackmasonbrand.com / deepbluewatches.com
Tom has become quite the watch connoisseur this past year and has built up a collection any watch aficionado would appreciate. He frequents watch groups on Facebook and participates in waffles (watch raffles) to win the next great timepiece for his collection.
As an affordable yet still stylish and high quality option, he recommends the Jack Mason brand, which is a microbrand based in Austin with a good reputation and multiple styles to suit just about any preference.
At a higher price point, he recommends Deep Blue, another microbrand he’s a big fan of that sells dive watches. Although Tom and I are both SCUBA-certified, we haven’t been diving in many years, so these watches are purely for show. 😉 I believe this is known in the watch world as “desk diving,” lol. As of this writing, you can get 40% off with the code CYBER.
3. Groove Life Silicone Rings
$49.95 regular price, now on sale 2 for $44, groovelife.com
The Groove Life Zeus Ring is 3 rings fused into 1 – the ultra-durable outer band, a patented nylon band concealed inside that does not allow the ring to stretch but still breaks, and a breathable inner band (so sweat and moisture doesn’t get trapped). Perfect for those guys who are active or have physical jobs and don’t want to risk losing or damaging their wedding ring, as well as those who just want a more comfortable option for wearing around the house.
4. Mission Belt
$34.95 and up (30% off sale), missionbelt.com
As seen on Shark Tank! These belts don’t have holes like traditional belts, and adjust every 1/4-inch, unlike traditional belts that only have holes every 1 inch. Even when you lose or gain a few pounds Mission Belts adjust with you for the most comfortable fit. They’re also interchangeable; you can mix and match buckles and leathers (or nylon). And they offer 2 different widths of belts (35mm & 40mm).
The mission part of the company’s name features their philanthropic effort — a dollar from every belt sold goes to fight hunger and poverty worldwide through micro-lending, ranging from $25 to $500 dollars per loan, via Kiva, a peer-to-peer micro-lending institution. Micro-loans invest in individuals with an idea and the desire to work who don’t have access to traditional sources of capital.
5. Birddogs Shorts
$59.95 and up, birddogs.com
Tom is a big fan of these uber-comfortable shorts with built-in underwear. He lives in these shorts while he works from home. They come in a variety of colors, 3 different lengths, and sizes from Small to 3XL. They also have khaki, oxford and seersucker styles. They look like these classic fabrics, but they move, stretch, and feel as comfortable as the original Birddogs. You can even swim in these shorts.
6. Season 13 Hot Ones Trio Pack
$40, heatonist.com
Hot Ones is a popular YouTube web series whose basic premise involves celebrities being interviewed by host Sean Evans over a platter of increasingly spicy chicken wings. The sauces used on the show come from the self-proclaimed purveyors of fine hot sauces, Heatonist. Heatonist is a small hot sauce shop with a tasting room located in Brooklyn, New York offering customers a select group of all-natural hot sauces made by small, independent makers.
This gift pack features the first, fifth, and tenth sauces in the lineup of Hot Ones, including the newest Hot Ones exclusive, The Classic: Garlic Fresno Edition or “Blue Label.” This sauce maxes out the garlic and swaps in Fresno chiles. Los Calientes Rojo is a fruity sauce that mixes habanero heat and cumin smoke with the sweetness of apricots and a splash of citrus. The hottest ever version of The Last Dab sauce features The Apollo, the world’s hottest pepper just released by Hot Ones.
For fans of Hot Ones the show, grab the Hot Ones Truth or Dab: The Game. You’ll battle your way through friend trivia, get roasted, and tell hard truths with 250 cards worth of cringe-worthy questions.
7. Helmm Deodorant Heritage Gift Set
$55, helmm.com / 5% cash back on Rakuten
Tom loves this natural, eco-friendly deodorant so much that I had to include it in this list (even though Beautycounter’s Counterman deodorant is fabulous and is featured above ;-)). Helmm deodorant comes in refillable containers (the Heritage or Compass).
Choose the scent and formula (natural deodorant, sport deodorant, antiperspirant and deodorant) and get refills delivered as often as desired. The distinct fragrances were developed by Cecile Hua, an award-winning French perfumer — Trailblazer, Coastline, Hudson, and Night Market (my hubby’s fave).
The Starter Kit Gift Set includes 1 Helmm container, 1 refill cartridge, and 1 premium gift box.
8. Ice Shaker Insulated Water Bottle/Protein Shaker
$34.99, iceshaker.com
Another Shark Tank-backed company, Ice Shaker was created by NFL player Chris Gronkowski and his 4 brothers. I discovered the awesomesauce-ness of this shaker by chance after winning one as part of a silent auction earlier this year (pre-pandemic). As much as I love my Yeti tumblers (based here in Texas), the Ice Shaker has taken over the top spot for a variety of reasons, one of which is the handle. Silly, I know, but it’s so convenient to take on my long walks or to physical therapy sessions.
The Ice Shaker’s 26oz double wall vacuum insulated bottle will hold ice for over 30 hours in a 75 degree room when filled with just ice, the 16oz Ice Shaker cup will keep your drink cold for 24 hours and the 36oz will hold ice for well over 40 hours! The Ice Shaker features a removable twist in agitator for more mixing power, a sturdy handle for easy carrying and fill lines inside the bottle for measuring. It’s also odor-resistant (no gross smells from forgotten protein shakes). Also comes in 16-36 oz. sizes and tons of colors.
9. Twillory Menswear Masks
$29 each/3 for $45/10 for $99, twillory.com / 1% cash back on Rakuten
These days one can never have too many masks, right? What about those guys who need to dress up for work or just want a mask that fits well and looks good?
Twillory is a company that at its surface offers high-quality men’s shirts at an affordable price. But look deeper and it’s a company that is going above and beyond to do good in every aspect of its business. For one, it developed a non-iron fabric called SafeCotton that is formaldehyde-free (the industry’s first).
“For years, the industry standard for making non-iron shirts consisted of using formaldehyde-treated cotton. In the last few years, however, it’s become apparent that the chemical has the potential to pose health risks to humans, with the U.S. National Toxicology Program labeling it a “human carcinogen,” says Twillory CEO Asher Weinberger.
Not only are their non-iron shirts made with the ultra-soft and breathable SafeCotton fabric, but their masks are as well. The variety of colors and patterns are fashionable as well as functional. The masks have a moldable nosepiece and a comfortable fit.
And each Twillory purchase is accompanied by a pre-addressed mailer bag where consumers can pack the shirts they no longer wear or need and leave it at their doorstep for the USPS to pick up. The postal service then drops off the clothing directly to Twillory’s partner charity, CareerGear, who distributes the clothing to jobless, homeless, and disaster stricken individuals. How freaking awesome is that?!?
10. Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye Whisky
$30 for 750 ml, liquor stores nationwide
High quality liquor is always a welcome gift, no? The hubs is a big fan of Crown Royal. Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye is his favorite of the varieties available and is one of his top picks for making his famous Old Fashioned (they really are amazing — message me and I might share the recipe ;-)). According to the CR website, “it combines the distinctive flavor of Canadian rye grain with the unmistakable smoothness of Crown Royal for a truly exceptional Canadian whisky.” The Northern Harvest Rye is the first Canadian Whisky to earn World Whisky of the Year in Jim Murray’s Annual Whisky Bible 2016. It has gentle oak tones, rich butterscotch, spiced vanilla and soft peppery notes.
11. Moso Natural Shoe Deodorizers
$9.95 for pack of 2, amazon.com
This may seem an odd choice for a gift, but pair it with a new gym bag, sneakers, or fitness gear, and it’s a super useful addition for any guy. These deodorizers are filled with just one powerful ingredient, moso bamboo charcoal, which absorbs odors and moisture without fragrance or toxic chemicals. They will keep your shoes and sports gear fresh, dry and odor free. Each Moso Bag can last up to 2 years and afterwards can be sprinkled into your garden to promote plant growth. How cool is that? This item has 4.5 stars on Amazon with over 5,000 reviews, so you can feel assured that it works as advertised.