I know men are notoriously hard to shop for, but to be honest, Dave is actually one of my favorite people to shop for! He has great style and appreciates good design, but rarely treats himself to new things. I keep a running list of gift ideas for him year-round, adding to it anytime he mentions an item that caught his eye. (Unfortunately for me, his love language is “staying on budget” so I frequently have to rein back some of my more elaborate schemes!) I asked him to take over the blog today to share his personal favorite things that he thinks the men in your life would love just as much as he does. We both hope you find a home run item or two below! If you have any questions, leave them in the comments and I’ll have Dave pop in to answer ASAP :)

1. Barbour jacket: Lisa got me this jacket in olive for my 30th birthday and it has been my go-to jacket for our mild North Carolina winters ever since. It is the best quality coat I’ve ever owned, I think, and is as functional as it is stylish.

2. Safety razor: I was convinced to try a safety razor many years ago and have not looked back. The shave takes a little getting used to, but once you get the hang of it, you won’t regret switching. I don’t think I’m the only man sick of Gilette’s latest gimmick of seventeen carbon-plated platinum-bladed, flexball handle with microcombs and seven bars of soothing gel…if you are, try this one out.

3. Yeti tumbler: Everyone knows you should get a Yeti, right? Well, I’m going to say it again! Lisa will attest that I drink a lot of water (and bug her about drinking more water almost as often as I fill up my Yeti). I have both the 30oz and the 20oz. Yes, I was quite the sight walking into the office with my briefcase, lunch, and two Yetis (one for water, one for coffee, naturally). Lisa keeps suggesting I get a drink carrier from Chik-fil-a and just reuse that. If I ever go back to an office, that’s a real possibility.

4. Shave soap: I’ve used Col. Conk soaps ever since switching to a safety razor and I don’t think you can do better. It leaves your skin feeling smooth and comes in many great scents, my favorite being Amber.

5. AirPods: Okay, this is super obvious, but it’s not as much a plug for AirPods as it is for the things you can do with AirPods. This is a life hack that one of our friends convinced us to try: during weekly chore night, you and your spouse each pop in your AirPods and put on your favorite podcast, audiobook, 80s hair band, you choose. You get some alone time and knock out all the chores, all while enjoying something in your ears without risking waking up the kids.

6. MVMT watch: I received a MVMT watch as a gift a few years ago and it’s still my go-to for everyday wear. They have a huge variety of face options, features, and colors to choose from for any style, with prices that won’t break the bank (which is nice when you have a nine-month-old literally chewing on them at church…). The one I have is similar to this, but I would love to pick up an all-black or a blue face option.

(We’re at the coffee section of the list, so bear with me. I’d call myself a coffee nerd; everyone else would probably say coffee snob. If you don’t like coffee, I don’t understand you :) But you can read this and buy gifts for your coffee-drinking friends!)

7. Chemex: I was told by a coffee-loving friend to get a Chemex coffee maker many years ago and I can honestly say it has changed my life. Dramatic? Yes. But true.

8. Fellow kettle: Along with a Chemex, you’ll need a few other things to get started with pourover coffee, such as a kettle, preferably with a gooseneck. We have this electric one which is awesome–I love that it holds the water at the correct temperature while you brew. Lisa listed all the coffee gear we use in this post, so check out the rest there.

9. Sam Cooke and Leon Bridges albums: This is not quite a gift recommendation (although these vinyls are on my Christmas list), but rather, a life recommendation. If you haven’t listened to the silky vocals from these two, you need to get on your streaming platform of choice and spend an hour with them. Separated in age by half a century, hearing Bridges’ voice instantly reminds you of Cooke’s iconic style. Both have been on repeat in the Kirk household constantly (even Charlie has a habit of saying “Alexa, play the Bridges song!”).

10. Allbirds: I struggled finding a pair of sneakers/casual shoes that looked good with a variety of outfits, but Allbirds completely solved that. Only a few shoes can pair just as easily with chinos as with athletic shorts. Or jeans. Or dock shorts. After wearing the Wool Runners for a few years, I picked up Tree Runners as well and have loved them both. Bonus: you can wear them without socks and just toss them in the washing machine when your wife tells you she can smell them…

More 2020 gift guides:
Lisa-Approved Gifts for Women
Wednesday: Charlie-Approved Gifts for Preschooler Boys
Friday: Azelie-Approved Gifts for Baby Girls
Saturday: 2020 Catholic Gift Guide