The holiday season is officially upon us and that means it’s time for our annual AoM holiday gift guide. When we make our gift guides, we try to hunt down and share the kind of products an Art of Manliness Man would want to find under the Christmas tree: manly, useful, and classic. We also try to include gifts that are unique and one-of-a-kind.
Use the guide to find the perfect Christmas gift for your father, husband, brother, or friend, or print out the post, circle your favorites, and casually leave it where your loved one will find it. And of course you’ll want to send a copy to the man at the North Pole.
If you don’t see something on the list that strikes your fancy, be sure to check out our gift guides from previous years for more ideas:
With this year’s gift guide, we took a tip from a reader and organized the items in order from most expensive to least, to make it easier for you to find something that matches your budget.
Hope you enjoy browsing the list as much as we enjoyed putting it together!
Anything from Saddleback Leather Company
From their iPad cases to their Dopp kits to their signature briefcases, there isn’t anything made by the Saddleback Leather Co. that most men wouldn’t be positively thrilled to find under the tree come Christmas morning. Handsome, well-crafted, and made to last (everything they make is backed by a 100 year guarantee), your loved one would likely trade a few years of tchotchkes that gather dust in his closet for one gift that he’ll be using until he goes to his grave. Look to spend about $150-$600. Trust me. It’s worth it.
Survival Training Courses with Creek Stewart
This year Creek Stewart wrote two of my favorites AoM posts of all time: How to Make a Bug Out Bag and How to Make a Survival Shotgun (and he’s got a great post for this week about picking a survival knife). But writing about survival isn’t a hobby for Creek; he’s the lead instructor at Willow Haven Outdoor School in Indiana where he teaches courses in wilderness and urban survival.The school features classes on building and using a Bug Out Bag as well as a 3 day “Survivacation,” a comfortable and relaxing trip where you learn 30 different survival skills. Experiences are always better than things, so why not sign up a self-reliant-minded man in your life for a spot in these classes? $300-$375
Pendleton Woolen Mills Robe
Every man needs a comfy robe he can wear around a cold house while he drinks his coffee and reads the morning paper. These robes from Pendleton Woolen Mills fit the bill. Made of 100% virgin wool, a Pendleton Woolen Mill robe is designed to keep you warm and toasty. $198
Mackinlay’s Rare Old Highland Malt Whisky
For the man of adventure: a bottle of the whisky that explorer Ernest Shackleton abandoned in the Antarctic more than 100 years ago. Back in 2007, some workers restoring Shackleton’s hut stumbled upon three cases of Mackinlay’s Old Malt Whisky that had been left behind on his ill-fated expedition. A company has recreated the original Shackleton whisky and made only 50,000 bottles of it. Get yours why they last. $175
Hold Fast Photography Equipment
Oklahoma Photographer Matthew Swaggart wanted functional photography equipment that looked good. After his searches came up empty, he just decided to make what he was looking for himself. That’s how Hold Fast Photography Equipment was born. Hold Fast Photography Equipment specializes in camera harnesses, straps, and bags that are functional, durable, and stylish. You’ll feel like a 1950s National Geographic photographer hoisting your camera gear in this stuff. Hold Fast uses leather and duck canvas to make their gear, and all of it is handmade right here in my home state of Oklahoma. Great gift for the professional or amateur photographer in your life. $135-$175
Tactical Tomahawk
Hand-Carved Mustache Comb by Nick Offerman
Here’s a gift for a man who fits two criteria: 1) he grew a kick ass mustache during Movember, and 2) he’s a fan of Parks & Recreation’s manly folk hero, Ron Swanson. These mustache combs were handcrafted in actor and woodworker Nick Offerman’s woodshop. Each comb is about 4 inches long and they are carved out of different kinds of exotic wood and coated with a non-toxic and mustache-friendly finish. Supplies are limited. $75
Moonshine Cologne
In addition to writing a best-selling cookbook for men and fantastic cooking articles on The Art of Manliness, Matt Moore has also created a manly smelling cologne called Moonshine. Not only does the story of how Moonshine was created make a good business case study, it’s actually a really great smelling cologne. Moonshine has a woodsy aroma with hints of spice, including notes of black pepper, tobacco, leather, gin, and patchouli. Guaranteed to make the women swoon. And it comes in a rustic burlap sack and wooden box, so it will delight the recipient too.
I’ve never been much of a cologne man, but Matt sent me a sample bottle, and I gave it a try out of courtesy. I was instantly converted. Now I’m always looking for reasons to splash on some Moonshine. What I like most about Moonshine is that it’s subtle. Most colognes are so overpowering that they make me feel a bit nauseous. With Moonshine I feel like I just finished a midnight bootleg run in the crisp Appalachian Mountain air. $72
If you’re a man fond of scotchy, scotch, scotch, leather-bound books, and the smell of rich mahogany a la Ron Burgundy, then might we suggest the Book Book iPad case to protect your iPad? The Book Book case is designed to make your iPad look like an old, leather-bound book you’d find in the distinguished library of a gentleman scholar. The case zips up to protect your iPad when you’re not using it. The Book Book’s real book feel will make reading on your iPad even more enjoyable. $70
Kaweco Liliput Al Fountain Pen
The Kaweco Liliput Al Fountain Pen is a great “everyday carry” fountain pen for the calligraphers on your list, or those who’ve never owned a fountain pen but have been curious about them. At just 3.8 inches (9.7 cm) in length when capped, the Kaweco Liliput fits nicely in your pocket. When you’re ready to write, just remove the pen’s cap and screw it on the back to give yourself a 5″ long pen. The Kaweco Liliput accepts standard international short cartridges. You can get the pen with the nib size and color of your choice. I picked up one of these babies earlier this year and now I’m always looking for excuses to write with it. $53
Hand Carved Badger Shave Brush
We’ve extolled the virtues of shaving brushes on the site many times before. A good shaving brush creates a thicker lather and helps get the shaving cream up under each whisker which results in better, smoother shaves. Plus, it just feels nice on your face to lather up with a brush.
While you could pick up a mass-produced, plastic-handled shaving brush, why not indulge a bit by getting a handcrafted one? Crafted by an expert woodwoker, each brush handle is handmade from the finest wood, and the brush itself is made of Silvertip Badger hair. Make sure to check out this artisan’s other creations in his Etsy shop. $40
Vintage Swiss Army Flashlight
A flashlight has always made a great, albeit boring, Christmas gift for a man. So find a flashlight that has some character, and you’ve got the perfect present on your hands.
Some guy discovered a huge surplus of decommissioned Swiss Army flashlights and now the fine gents at Cool Material are selling them. These flashlights were actually used by the Swiss Army over two decades ago and show some vintage wear and tear. Each one gives you three different light options: clear, red, and green. You can also perform Morse Code with this bad boy. Plus, they look flippin’ cool. $35
Ebbets Field Vintage Baseball Cap
Ebbets Field Flannels specializes in re-creating the hats and jerseys of by-gone sports teams. You’ll find hats from now defunct minor league baseball teams as well as the Negro League. All of Ebbets Field’s hats are made in the USA from wool broadcloth. Kate picked up a Tulsa Oilers ballcap for me last Father’s Day. It fits my giant noggin nicely and has become my go-to baseball hat. Great gift for the sports fan in your life. $30
Custom Coin Rings
Stay-at-home dad and metal worker, Brent, crafts some handsome looking rings out of a variety of different coins. The rings are double-sided and can be custom made for each buyer. His rings that are made out of the U.S. state quarters series are especially cool (examples pictured above). Great way to show off your state pride. He makes coin cuff links as well.
Brent’s got an Etsy store filled with lots of pre-made rings, but if you can’t find a ring you like, you can send him any coin from your collection and he’ll make a custom ring out of it. Maybe you have an old coin that belonged to your grandfather. It’s not worth much, and it’s just collecting dust. Send it to Brent so he can make a treasure that you can pass down from generation to generation. $30.
Jazz Age Chronicles
Before he was creating awesomely manly illustrations for AoM, illustrator Ted Slampyak had a popular comic book series called Jazz Age Chronicles. Set in 1920′s Boston, the Jazz Age Chronicles follows a team of adventurers battling enemies both earthbound and supernatural. Packed with vintage settings and Jazz Age slang (nice gams!) it’s one part Indiana Jones and one part hard-boiled detective novel.
You can now buy a two-volume set that includes the entire print run of Jazz Age that ran from the late 1980s to the early 90s, as well as a few stories that came out later, and some extras here and there. The pages have all been “remastered” from the original artwork, and they look better than the original print run. Definitely something enjoyable to kick back in front of the fire with on Christmas Day.
You can buy the two-volume set directly from Ted for $30, shipping paid. He’ll even sign them for you! $30
Even though all her children have grown up, every Christmas my mom always buys one “kid’s” toy for all the adults to play with. She knows even men like to play around like boys sometimes, and it’s a great tradition. If you’re looking for a gift along these lines, you can’t go wrong with balsa wood airplanes. They’re fun for young and old alike to put together and fly all over the house. The Duluth Trading Co. is offering a squadron of 12 made by a company that’s been making the planes here in America for decades. $27
Zippo Hand Warmer
Perfect for the skier or ice fisher or any man who spends a lot of time outside in the coldest climes, the Zippo hand warmer can keep your hands toasty for 12 hours or more. These warmers can be engraved, so they’re perfect for the man who’s always wanted a personalized Zippo lighter but doesn’t smoke. $13
Opinel No. 6 Carbon Steel Pocket Knife
The Opinel pocket knife was invented in 1890 by Frenchman Joseph Opinel as a knife to be used by peasants and poor folk. It quickly grew popular among farmers, herdsmen, and even the French bourgeois. The knife’s iconic wooden handle has put the Opinel in several design museums in Europe. The Opinel family still runs the company and produces over 15 million of their knives in their factory in France. Keeping with their made-for-peasants roots, the Opinel pocket knife remains a bargain buy. $8-$10
Grandpa’s Pine Tar Soap
It’s “soap from a simpler time.” Since 1878, Grandpa’s Pine Tar Soap has cleaned men with its manly pine tar smell. Chuck the clutter in your shower, because you can use Grandpa’s Pine Tar Soap for bathing, shampooing, and shaving. It has a very unique smell–it reminds me of a basement in Vermont, in a weirdly good way.
The soap looks kind of like a lump of coal, but it’s a great stocking stuffer for those who’ve been good this year. $5
Art of Manliness Swag
The Art of Manliness Manvotionals: Timeless Wisdom and Advice on Living the 7 Manly Virtues
The Art of Manliness Manvotionals: Timeless Wisdom and Advice on Living the 7 Manly Virtues is our second book and was just released last month. The book is an anthology of history’s best quotes, poems, letters, and excerpts from literature and speeches on living a life of virtue and excellence. It’s hard to beat a gift that can help the recipient become a better man and get the new year started off right, and we hope the book finds its way to many a Christmas tree across the world.
You can buy the book on Amazon for $11 or you can buy it directly from us for $14. I’ll even sign it and inscribe something personal if you’d like as well.
The Art of Manliness: Classic Skills and Manners for the Modern Man
We published The Art of Manliness: Classic Skills and Manners for the Modern Man back in 2009, but the info in it is still just as relevant today; it’s a timeless tome. The book is full of some of the best content from the early days of the site along with stuff you’ll only find in the book. Everybody needs something enjoyable to read through while they relax on Christmas Day. Like Manvotionals, you can buy it on Amazon or directly from us.
Art of Manliness Pocket Notebooks
Every man should have a trusty pocket notebook on him to jot down all his deep and manful thoughts. The AoM Pocket Notebook has John L. Sullivan emblazoned on the cover with the words “Semper Virilis” (Always Manly) circling his head. We had some of these left over from the book launch for those who are looking for a perfect stocking stuffer. Set of 3 $9.99
Click here to buy a set of AoM Pocket Notebooks
Art of Manliness Posters
Need something to hang up in your garage, office, or man room? How about one of our Art of Manliness posters? We have two designs to choose from and both will inspire you to be a better man:
Click here to view larger image $9.99
Theodore Roosevelt “Man in the Arena”
Click here to view larger image $9.99
Art of Manliness T-Shirts
In conjunction with the release of the Manvotionals book and its focus on the revival of the classical idea of manliness as virtue, Tankfarm created a new line of AoM t-shirts, one for each of the 7 manly virtues. These are our coolest shirts yet; each sports a sweet design and an inspiring Latin phrase. The awesome original Art of Manliness tees are still available as well. $16.50
Stationery for Men
Every man needs a set of correspondence cards in his desk for jotting off thank you notes and the like. But most of the stationery available out there these days is made for women. Enter the AoM line of staionery made by Page Stationery. The cards are made from quality stock and there are 25 manly letterpress motifs to choose from, such as a revolver, compass, deer, pipe, and razor. $15
Art of Manliness x Huckberry Holiday Gift Shop
Still need more gift ideas? We’ve partnered with the membership deal site Huckberry to create a holiday gift shop just for Art of Manliness readers. I picked the items to include and the gents at Huckberry worked with the companies to get a special discount just for AoM readers who sign up as a member of Huckberry. In some cases, you can get up to a 30% discount off the usual prices. A few of my favorite items are the Leather Head footballs that we featured in last year’s gift guide, as well as the manly looking lunch tote from Artifact. To browse the selections and make a purchase, you’ll need to sign up for Huckberry (companies are only willing to offer the special discounts because the sales are private and not open to the public).
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Best of Art of Manliness: October 2009
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{ 48 comments… read them below or add one }
Great post! Thanks for putting it together! Surprised you didnt include the hand made footballs. That would be a cool gift for sure!
The perfect holiday gift list for men! I will be using it this year! Great job!
Man, I haven’t seen one of those flashlights in almost 20 years. Certainly never thought I’d see them here. I can’t count how many of those I went through as a kid. As I recall they had a little flip down lid that functioned as a blackout hood. Neat little lights, holds quite a bit of nostalgia for me.
I just bought myself a shaving brush the other day. LOVE it! Now, I need one of those iPad cases…
started to think everything was going to be 100 bucks or more. think i’ll take the knife and flashlight
Thank you for featuring my hand turned shaving brushes. It is good to know that there are those who still value hand made quality.
Good list. I see several things I’d like to have and a few that I’ve already got. Earlier this year my wife made me a leather cell phone case for my birthday and I love it. But of course not everybody has the skills or tools to make something like that.
By the way, is there something like an Art of Womanliness gift guide on the web somewhere? I’d like to give my wife something too.
Question for anyone who has ever owned one of the Swiss Army flashlights: What kind / how many batteries does it require? How many hours can you expect to get from a set of fresh batteries?
Great list. A complaint, though: one of the great things about this site is that, unlike nearly every other site of the same genre, it espouses manliness without needing to debase women and families with nearly pornographic pictures on every page. Please don’t align yourself with trashy sites like Coolmaterials.com. “Fine gents” don’t need NSFW pictures of mothers and daughters to attract readers.
Always some great uncommon gift ideas!
I love the stationary and always get a positive response when I use mine!
The photos you posted from the Saddleback Leather Company are great! I would also highly recommend Colonel Littleton. They have all kinds of leather stuff, including accessories for Apple iPads. Plus, they make some amazing pocket knives. Sorry, I’m not trying to sound like an advertisement; I don’t work for them! I’m just a good customer and they make stuff that lasts. That’s a quality you rarely see these days.
i have been wanting something from saddleback for a while now… maybe next year i can get my wife to get me one.
I have one of Brent’s state quarter rings to represent my beloved Alabama. It’s VERY cool and a nice conversation piece, but it’s the only time in my life I wished I was from another state; I absolutely LOVE the way the Montana looks.
Amazing Gift Guide! All those items would be great to have. I just put together a gift guide as well with some really great products for men. It’s nice to see quality products grouped together in one place.
Concerning the Swiss Army flash lights: They are actually still used to this day in some units, I’m still serving in the Swiss Army Air Force.
They require one 4.5V battery (type 3LR12). About the battery life, I honestly don’t know, to take a wild guess I would say about 5 hours. With a bit of craft, you can change the light source to a powerful LED and extend the battery life. Shouldn’t be too hard, as there is plenty of space inside the flashlight case.
How about a good, sturdy umbrella? (Yes, it happens to be raining where I am) A lot of the little “pocket sized” umbrellas that you find are for all intents and purposes, disposable – since they aren’t likely to last through more than one real storm.
Get something well-made, that won’t fold up like a house of cards in the first stiff breeze, and is big enough to cover you and your companion…
I like the handcrafted shave brush and that you are supporting artisans. I want to point out that you can also find FINE hand crafted Pens both fountain and rollerball pens. I have made and sold some such pens, but, folks do not want to pay for the handmade quality.
Really cool stuff here, thanks for sharing. Added these 2 items to my Christmas list
- Zippo Hand Warmer
- Custom Coin Rings
You guys always put great lists together every year. Thanks again.
Thank you for the information Thomas.
Another good gift idea: storm proof umbrellas. Wind tunnel tested.
http://www.senzumbrellas.com/
A friend gave me the best gift. A jug of “Dark Corner Moonshine”. It is legally produced Shine made with the old mountain recipe. It has to be the smoothest liquor I’ve ever incountered. My wife (not much on drinking) does have a straight shot with me before retiring for the night. The “Dark Corner” is a rugged mountainous region in the northeastern corner of Greenville County, South Carolina. Over two centuries of home-distilled moonshine and still hand~spirited in small batches in a traditional handmade copper pot. still. Go to site: http://www.darkcornerdistillery.com
Thanks again for such a fantastic list of ideas! All of your lists were so helpful to me this year. My hubby will be very grateful!
I look forward to this list every year…it’s a new tradition of mine.
I can write novels expounding the McKay’s brilliance, but if I may, “swag” is an acronym for “stuff we all get.” Like the t shirts and pens and useless things one get, like, say at the Account Executives Expo last year at the Javits Center which was a waste of time with the gridlock and redundant presentations, which were all advertisements anyway.
Art of Manliness dont do swag. The McKays create a bulletproof product that the wise consumer invests in for its uplifting and edifying content.
Sorry, I’m that guy.
And I own three of the original t-shirts: they’re soft but durable. There’s a metaphor.
Lastly, can anyone weigh in on the zippo handwarmer? I only toyed with it once, but I found the ignition process a bit tedious. Thoughts?
Lefty,
I have two Zippo handwarmers and have never incountered a problem. All I do is fill it, reassemble it and light it with a match or lighter and keep my hands toasty warm.
It’s a little out of my price range, but I’d love to have a Tron Light Cycle:
http://www.hammacher.com/Product/Default.aspx?sku=11862
I also wish I could grow a proper mustache so I could take full advantage of that mustache comb.
These are some awesome gifts! I’m loving the camera gear and that vintage army flashlight…I noticed that this gift guide article was featured in this Men’s Gift Guide compilation from around the web > http://www.skinnyscoop.com/list/larissa/holiday-2011-gift-ideas-best-gifts-for-him
I would love to have the safety razor. I’ve always wanted to try one.
love the flashlight
The Pine Tar soap and the “Moonshine” cologne are a must.
♥ To see more really wonderful gifts for men, CLICK HERE: http://www.etsy.com/shop/StoriesDivinations/search?search_query=gifts+for+men&search_submit=&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5238400&shopname=StoriesDivinations&langid_override=-1&order=price_desc&page=1me
I wish the posters didn’t have the AoM advertising over it.
This takes away from the posters :/
Does anyone know where to get “IF” poster w/ out any logos?
I like that Handsom Dan Football.
But since it is not on the list, I like the stationary.
I didn’t know what to get my father for Christmas until I saw the featured pocket knife.
Richard – Go with a Knirps Umbrellas I have the Topmatic and I love it. http://www.european-umbrellas.com/knirps/knirps.php
When you buy the Grandpa’s Pine Tar soap, remember to buy a few bars for yourself. I switched over to it about 6 months ago. It goes quickly but is very much worth the cost. Now to try some of the Duke Cannon soaps!
Best Christmas list I have seen ever. What man doesn’t want a tactical tomahawk for the festive season.
Good List. As a boxing fan, I’m very excited about a new book, just in time for Christmas, entitled Billy Miske: The St. Paul Thunderbolt. For more information see:
http://www.ibroresearch.com/?p=5652
“He was a gentleman in the ring as well as out of it. As time rolls on and boxing fans discuss fights and fighters, those who knew Billy Miske personally will point with pride to the fact, for he was a MAN.”
GEORGE BARTON
I would love to order several “if” posters. How long will it take to get some in stock ?
Hello:
Please advise when you anticipate the Rudyard Kipling ‘IF’ and Theodore Roosevelt ‘Man in The Arena’ posters to be back in stock.
Many Thanks!
Dan Pike
Cool list, love the knife. The booze choice though could have been better. Whiskey is so predictable. Mezcal’s the new sheriff in town. I’m hoping to get some Ilegal Añejo this xmas. cheers.
Definitely agree with the Whiskey being so predictable. I’m so tired of seeing whiskey everywhere as we all know it’ll always be a gift. Something more original would be worth giving a look. I’ll check out that Ilegal. As for my nephews, I’ll have to get them the signed book so they can learn to have more than manners. Some manliness manners.
I’d love to get my husband a Saddleback (he just finished a degree, so it’s timely) but OUCH, that’s one quarter of my savings. Is there a not quite so top-of-the-line briefcase someone can recommend?
Great list! I have been using Grandpa’s Pine Tar soap from the list and absolutely love it. It was $4 at our local GNC store. Very manly scent to this stuff and it is a great moisturizer. Supposedly, it helps to keep mosquitos away, too, but will have to wait a few months to find out. Also, went with a Peacock handwarmer (instead of Zippo) and it, too, is great.
Unfortunately, all of the working Swiss Army flashlights seem to have been sold out. They are now selling ones that no longer work at the discounted price of $9.99.