Caught with the week winding down looking for Father’s day gifts he’ll love? Try pizza and beer. Most dads love that stuff. If you’re still of the mindset that you need to purchase a gift to show how much you care, really – pizza, beer, maybe both, maybe a different order.
But even after that if you still want to browse from some cool gadgets, here are things I have found to be actually cool in the past year.
Side note – clicking on these and purchasing probably makes the site referral money (6-15% I think,) which leads into one of those “oh, are these actual reviews” sort of things – so feel free to not click – as far as I know searching for the thing on Amazon yourself they don’t have a way to tie it back to reading this, and really, your choice.
Paul’s 2016 list of ten or so things that are awesome – Father’s day edition
#1 Fizzics Beer Enhancer
As a father of two under four, my ability to get to go to a bar and drink something fresh from a properly maintained tap, eat cheese fries, and watch sports something I’m not interested in on TV are greatly diminished. This solved at least one of these.
You can read my review of this beast over on my other project.
#2 Ditto notification device
While it took a little setup to get it like I wanted, I’ve ordered replacement batteries enough to last me probably four years.
For me, it’s also been really nice to put the phone down when I’m playing with my rugrats but still know when I need to go and check why someone’s blowing up my email without having to hear what sounds like a casino paying out a jackpot.
You can read my review of The Ditto discrete notification device here.
#3 Nixplay photo frames
Will mention Nixplay is just the brand that I’ve played with extensively. I’m not claiming they’re the best in the land. Just the best I’ve laid hands on and I’ve used the Nixplay Edge frame for over a year now and I’m currently playing with a Nixplay 10″ Seed.
For what they do, they’re great.
#4 VR goggles
If they’re not interested, there’s not a lot that these things have to offer. If they are I’ve actually been impressed by this set.
#5 Themed Portable Chargers
MimoPower makes a bunch of chargers with themes. They’re cute. I don’t know. Here’s a review of the Darth Vader MimoPowerBot. They’re just cute.
#6 BoomCloud 360’s BoomStick
I’ve never gotten answers to my technical questions on it so I can’t say there’s much more than it making everything sound better, which as a specs guy kills me inside.
Alternately you could get dad and HTC 10. There’re better prices than that as a note.
#7 A phone or car jump starter
These things are great for when you come out and find that your lights have been left on, your battery is near dead, and you can’t get the thing to start.
The average jump starter battery can handle several starts, and also charge your phone in case you get into an emergency.
#8 travel router
Depends on if dad travels a lot if this would be useful. I find it quite useful, but then again I’m in IT and set up little portable hotspots everywhere.
#9 stop buying into consumer holiday guilt
Think that you’re required to buy someone a card, gift, or whatnot in order to celebrate a holiday? You’re not. Write a card, give a hug, take dad out for pizza, realize that whatever gift you’re giving is that much more work to earn that money and therefore by extension time away from the person you love.
Or a tie, get dad a tie. He might be the one person who wants one.
#10 pizza
Mood elevated.