With Father’s Day right around the corner, I was thinking about how best to change up standard gift-giving for dads. The cliched presents of ties and golf balls can almost be given ironically because it’s hard to show the father figures in your life just how much they mean with a single gift. This year, why not show your appreciation with a series of gifts? And no, a coupon book for grass cutting and car washing doesn’t count. Why not give dad, or stepdad, or grandpa, or favorite uncle, or big brother who is a great dad in his own right, a subscription box?
Today, there are dozens of subscription boxes intended for men and designed around just about every interest a dad could have. There are subscription plans in a variety of categories, such as hobbies, clothing, food, drinks, personal care, and entertainment. Here’s a rundown of some box options to consider this Father’s Day.
First up, for a subscription to guarantee dad a smooth shave, there’s Harry’s Best Shave Club. You can customize your subscription from blades to shave gel to balms. You can even throw in some hair and body products like texturizing putty, face wash, and post-shave lotion. Or select a presorted bundle, like their shave sets, shower trio, or a full skincare suite. There is also the Dollar Shave Club, which is a standard delivery of new razors, not so much customization, but more affordable at around $5 per delivery.
From shaving to shorts, there’s Basic Man, which supplies essentials like underwear, socks, and T-shirts each month for around $20. Each delivery contains a t-shirt, a pair of socks, and a pair of underwear for the man in your life who may not be the best at rotating his underthings in the mostly timely of timelines. Each product also comes with a “destroy by” date to let you know how long a well-worn, frequently washed garment is meant to last. And if you’re feeling left out, there’s also Get Basic for ladies.
If Dad needs a wardrobe-wide upgrade, then check out Stitch Fix. Stylists work with recipients on a curated box based on style preferences, size, and price range and send three outfits to try. He can then decide what he likes best, keep those pieces, and ship the rest back. Stitch Fix works with a variety of brands like Adidas, Polo Ralph Lauren, and Columbia Sportswear, to name a few. This is great for the dad who hates to shop or is too busy to go to the store to try on clothes.
For Foodie dads, there are so many boxes out there. From the standard meal delivery services like Hello Fresh and Blue Apron to Grill Master Club to snack subscriptions like Universal Yums. These options allow you to cater to your dad’s food preferences, whether he cooks daily, loves to barbecue, or wants to try snacks from around the globe.
For coffee-loving dads, there are a ton of java-based subscriptions. I was personally gifted 3-months’ worth of deliveries from Trade Coffee, which lets you sample from small roasters that focus on flavor and ethical sourcing. Similarly, there’s Atlas Coffee for the coffee drinker who likes to travel the world with each cup. This box will supply a steady stream of single-roast beans from around the globe from brands you won’t find in big chains. Atlas also offers tea subscriptions, from flavored tea, pure tea leaves, herbal teas, and blended teas. Word of warning: These subscriptions come in whole beans, not ground, so you may want to include a coffee grinder with your Father’s Day card.
If your dad is in the market for something stronger, there’s Flaviar Whiskey Club for a very high-end selection of spirits to build up his home bar. Each tasting box includes three 50ml whiskey samples. If your dad is more of a wine guy, there’s Winc, which delivers four bottles each month of unique, small-production wines at various price points. For beer drinkers, check out Craft Beer Club, which delivers 12 or 24 individual beers ranging from IPAs, stouts, sours, and ciders.
This is just the tip of the gift-giving iceberg when it comes to subscription boxes for those on your Father’s Day gift list. There are subscriptions for plant lovers, puzzlers, model-makers, and gadget and tech-themed boxes. Worried about the cost? Instead of boxes, you can opt for publications like yearly subscriptions to GQ, Smithsonian Magazine, Golf Digest, Guns & Ammo, Forbes, or Reader’s Digest. Shopping for dads can be tough. Hopefully, this will give you some ideas for thoughtful and creative gifts for Father’s Day.
