Relax and take a deep breath. There’s still time to find Dad a gift. And not just any gift, like a tie or a boring wallet, but a gift he will appreciate and talk about for many years to come. You just have to act fast. From rocking out to going out, we have you covered with the best headphones, fitness trackers and more.
For more ideas, check out our best Father’s Day gifts. Our choices for Mother’s Day would also be great gifts for fathers. Don’t forget to check out our other guides, such as Hiking 101 and Best Gifts for New Parents.
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Health and Smartwatch deals
WIRED contributor Simon Hill gave it an 8/10, WIRED recommends because it offers health tracking features such as heart rate monitoring, ECG and blood oxygen levels, all in a classic-looking design that doesn’t scream “smartwatch”.
Jorn does not have the most advanced fitness and health tracking features, but review editor Julian Chokkattu likes it for its intuitive user interface and ease of use to see weather information, heart rate and gait tracking. Men’s size also available at the same price.
Even on closer inspection, it would be hard to see Retro Pilot as a smartwatch, and yet it offers music playback controls, tracks step count, monitors sleep performance and can even be configured to operate dad’s phone camera when paired with his smartphone through the app.
We have mixed feelings about DNA test kits, but if you and your dad understand and accept the potential implications of looking into his genetic history, Ancestry’s kits are among the most detailed on the market.
The Homelabs watch is my favorite sunrise alarm, not because it’s the most fully equipped watch on the market, but because it does all the basics just as well (or better) than sunrise alarm clocks that cost several times the price. If dad is having a hard time falling asleep or waking up in the morning, a clock at sunrise may be just what he needs to ease his way in or out of bed.
Triple, flexible rotating heads ensure a close shave by following the contours of dad’s face. Since it is waterproof, he can use it in the shower, which some people like to do when shaving. It also comes with an accessory to trim the edges of his beard if he is not all-in on the completely clean-shaven look.
Sound and music offerings
For a small speaker, Roam is capable of a large sound that is not distorted at high volumes. This is partly why it got a strong 9/10, recommends WIRED in our review. It offers not only Bluetooth connectivity but also Wi-Fi. Part of the speaker’s appeal is that it’s also the cheapest way to join the ecosystem of Sonos devices.
The Fenders Player series is my favorite recommendation for a dad who wants a high quality electric guitar that is a step up from the starting axes but who does not want to break money. This model offers all the distinctive Strat bell and brightness with three single-coil pickups and a maple neck and fingerboard.
AirPods are favorites in the WIRED office, but for training and active pursuits, the Beats Fit Pro (9/10, WIRED recommends) stays more solid in the ear. Associate Reviewer Parker Hall calls them the best everyday headphones for iPhone users, thanks to their comfortable and secure in-ear fit and excellent sound quality.
It’s not the biggest discount, but the Apple AirPods Max rarely goes on sale, saying they’re the best wireless headphones he’s ever used. Their excellent sound and build quality gave them an 8/10, WIRED recommends in his review.
Dealing with monitors
The Go Portal (8/10, WIRED recommends) has a 10-inch screen and can act as a Bluetooth speaker, but its eye-catching feature is that the smartphone automatically zooms and pans during video calls to make it look like is a personal camera crew at work.
The 2021 release of the iPad Mini includes Touch ID and a powerful A15 processor along with an 8.3-inch touch screen. If Dad likes to browse on a tablet on the couch or in bed, but does not need or want the 11-inch screen on the iPad Air, the Mini is without a doubt the best tablet for him.
The starter kit with three lenses costs only $ 39 more than the kit with two lenses, so you might as well skip for the extra lens. It includes an iPhone cover that allows Dad to mount all three lenses that come with the kit. You can choose your combination of lenses, from fisheye to telephoto to macro lenses.
Kitchen and outdoor offerings
Even easy-to-adjust cooking temperatures and burners make Spirit II our favorite gas grill. It is a bit small for large families and lacks a side burner, but the porcelain-coated cast iron grill grills have it.
Ray-Ban’s classic Wayfarer gets all the attention, but the New Wayfarer is perfect for fathers who might feel like the original is too big. The New Wayfarer has slightly smaller lenses and is less slanted, so Pop can have the whole style in a slimmer package.
Electric kettles heat up faster than electric kettles on the stove, so if dad is the kind of guy who wakes up and goes straight for his coffee or tea, then speed up his mornings with this digital kettle. The gooseneck design allows for more control while pouring up if your pop is for making pour-over coffee.
Parker Hall gave the 7S an 8/10, WIRED recommends because of its quality components and low cost (for an electric bike). It is light at 37 pounds, has seven mechanical gears, reaches a top speed of 18 miles per hour and has a range of 20 to 40 miles per charge. Through June 20, Propella will also provide free shipping.
Because when dad just needs a stove with push buttons that he can set and forget while he goes his day, Foodi offers a laundry list of options. This Instant Pot competitor does pressure cooking, air frying, steaming, slow cooking, yogurt making, frying, sautéing, frying, frying, sous vide and more.
Senior product reviewer Scott Gilbertson likes Gevi because it meets two important criteria for an espresso machine: It is mainly made of metal and it can reach a pressure of 15 bar. And it does all this at a budget price when many espresso machines cost a nice penny.
It can hardly be called cheap, but even the more affordable 52-watt version can reach a top speed of 38 miles per hour and go up to 40 miles on a single charge. Because when a bike just takes up too much space in storage, the foldable Phantom V2 can easily be taken into dad’s office or home.
Father’s Day retailer pages
If you’re still on the hunt, here are the full sale pages from some major retailers. We wish you good luck!