a photo of a computer with a father's day drawing on a desk.
iStock

The Best and Most Thoughtful Tech and Non-Tech Gifts for Dads

These tech and non-tech gifts can be ordered online and sent directly to Dad for Father’s Day or you can pick them up at a major retailer and give them to him on his special day.

Like GearBrain on Facebook

While every gift is thoughtful, Father's Day is almost a guarantee of a gift that Dad may not always be able to use. Sometimes a better gift is a present he can use quickly, like a smart stud finder, a great bottle of whiskey or steaks to grill on a summer evening, to a class he can take to improve one of his favorite pastimes.

This year, we have pulled together a lot of options for you to choose from, starting with a weeding robot. We also found gadgets any geek would love, which can be ordered right from the computer or a smartphone where you're reading this right now. Whether you've grown up and living far away, or you're picking up a gift your children can give on their own, we're pretty sure one of these are likely to make him feel appreciated this Father's Day.

Walabot DIY 2 – The Smart Visual Stud Finder

a photo of Walablt DIY 2 Visual stud finder unboxed on a countertopWalabot DIY 2 Visual Stud Finder GearBrain

For the handy dad who likes to tackle DIY projects on the weekend, the Walabot DIY 2 Smart Stud Finder is the perfect gift. It works on a Wi-Fi connection to help you identify anything up to 4 inches behind your drywalls. And you don’t have to be technical to use it.

Check out our full review here.

The Walabot DIY 2 costs $189.95 and is available on the company website. There is also a Walabot DIY 2 Bundle which goes for $239.95. The Bundle consists of a Walabot DIY 2 and a protective case. You can also purchase Walabot DIY 2 on Amazon.com for $189.95.

Buy Here

Father's Day Tech Gift Ideas for the Grilling Dad

A Smart Meat Thermometer For Dad

photo of Meater Block on a countertopMeater Block comes with four smart meat thermometers to help you cook your food perfect everytime. GearBrain

If your Dad likes to grill, a smart meat thermometer is a perfect gift to consider getting him this year. This little smart device will help Dad cook the perfect food every time. Just download the app onto your smartphone (iOS or Android) and follow the instructions in the device's app. Once set up, will notify you when you need to flip your meat or when it’s ready to be served. Here are the smart meat thermometers we recommend for Dad this year:

  • The MeatStick 4X: costs $124.99 and is available on the company site. It works with ovens, air fryers, stove tops, smokers, grills, sous vide, and even deep fryers. Buy MeatStick 4X
  • Meater Plus Smart Wireless Meat Thermometer: (Full review).It is a smart cooking thermometer that comes in a wooden block that acts as a holder and charging station. It runs on AAA batteries and pairs with your smartphone via a home Wi-Fi network. The Meater Plus costs $109.95 and comes in Brown Sugar, Honey, and Cherry. Available on Amazon.
  • Meater Block: Meater Block which is 4 Meater Plus probes and a wooden charging station for $349.95 as well as a bunch of accessories that are bundled together on their site. You can also buy Meater Plus on Amazon.
  • The Weber Connect Smart Grilling Hub costs $139.99 and is available on Amazon and Weber's site.
  • Yummly Smart Thermometer is a smart wireless meat thermometer for ovens, grills, stovetops, and smokers. It uses the Yummly app to provide cooking assistance, timers and alerts to make sure you get the best results each time. It costs only $99.99 and is available on the company’s website as well as on Amazon. (Read our full review here.)
  • INKBIRD IBT-26S Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Smart BBQ Thermometer: a good wired BBQ smart meat thermometer that works on both a Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connection. It costs only $90 and you get 4 probes, a LCD Backlit Meat Thermomer, stands and long lasting battery to help you cook the perfect steak, fish, chicken, or whatever food on your grill or in the oven every time. (Read our full review here.) Available on Amazon.

Grill and BBQ cooking classes

barbecue camping fathers day gift guideThink about a gift that let's your dad enjoy the summer Getty Images/iStockphoto

It's summer, and a lot of people who can get outside, or have the space to do so, will — and that means grilling. But maybe your Dad could you a little assistance with his grill skills. Or maybe he'd just like the master the ones he already has. There are some excellent online classes that can get your father grilling like a champ in no time.

America's Test Kitchen has an online class called Introduction to Grilling, and you can take this class through a $19.95 one-month gift subscription or through the $179.95 one-year membership. If you want to spring for the $180 annual fee for MasterClass, your dad can watch 16 episodes of Aaron Franklin teaching Texas-Style BBQ. (Franklin won the James Beard award and is the owner of Franklin Barbecue.) Finally, the BBQ Champs Academy has annual and individual classes you can buy online, starting at just $6.98 a course.


Tertill Weeding Robot – The Perfect Robot for Dad’s Vegetable Garden

A man and child in a garden with Tertill Weeding Robot weeding.Tertill Weeding Robot will help keep you Mon's vegetable garden weed free all year long. Tertill

If Dad likes to grow vegetables, there is nothing better than having a robot to help him weed the garden. From the inventor of Roomba Vacuuming Robot, you can get Tertill Weeding Robot to help keep the garden weed free. Their solar power robot works just like a robot vacuum, but instead of cleaning your floors, it cleans your garden of weeds.

The Tertill Weeding Robot costs $349 and is available on Amazon and the company’s website. There is also a Tertill Gift Giver Bundle for $398.99 which you can make a perfect gift for Dad.


Arccos Caddie Smart Sensors – The Smart Connected Golf System for Dad who loves to Golf


a photo of arccos Caddie smart sensors gift box.Arccos Caddie Gift Box Bundle Amazon

If your Dad loves golf, Arccos Golf is his perfect gift. Their Caddie Smart Sensors come with the first ever A.I. Powered GPS Rangefinder built in. This technology is in the 14 sensors you attach to every club in your bag. Once installed and connected to the Arccos app, it will adjust in real-time to provide the most precise yardage for you. It will also help keep track of Dad’s game and show areas of improvement. Arccos also provides shot tracking, club distances, details, and real-time player data. All valuable insights to have in your bag.

To learn more, you can check out our review.

Arccos Caddie Smart Sensors are available on Amazon for $199.99.

Lenovo Smart Clock 2 with Charging Dock – A smart alarm clock for Dad

a photo of Lenovo Smart Clock 2 with wireless charging station on an end table in a bedroomLenovo Smart Clock 2 with Charging Station GearBrain

An alarm clock for Father’s Day doesn’t sound like an exciting gift for Dad; however, this alarm clock is more than just a clock. Lenovo Smart Clock 2 is a smart alarm clock with a 4-inch LCD touchscreen with either Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant built-in. You can customize the face displays and adjust brightness in case you need a night light. It also connects to your home Wi-Fi network (5GHz and 2.4GHz) and can work on Bluetooth 4.2 wireless connection. But having a Magsafe compatible charging dock bedside is a nice addition for Dad. (Check out our Lenovo Smart Clock 2 review with Charging Station.)

Lenovo Smart Clock 2 retails for $69.99; when you add the wireless charging pad, the cost goes up to $89.99. For Father’s Day, you will be able to get the Smart Clock 2 for only $49.99 or $69.99 with a charging station on the company website. These devices are on sale at Best Buy, Walmart or other consumer electronics retailers.

Buy on Lenovo Site

The Haymaker Wireless ANC Bluetooth Headphones – Surround Sound Headphones for Dad

a photo of The Haymaker headphones unboxed on a countertopThe Haymaker headphones come with a hard travel case, power cords, instructions and 2X\u00a0extra ear pads. GearBrain

How about a pair of headphones for Dad this Father’s Day? If so, check out The Haymaker. These headphones come with 7.1 surround sound built-in along with ANC to provide Dad an immersive all-encompassing audio experience. If Dad really wants to escape into his own little world listening to his favorite podcast or group, The Haymaker will give him this experience and more. Their HD sound and long-lasting battery life will come in handy when Dad uses these over-the-ear headphones commuting to work, playing video games or traveling.

The Haymaker costs $3129.95 and is available on Amazon and the company website. And they come with a hard traveling case, a 3-inch Aux. cable, 5” Micro USB-C cable, and PC controller cable.

Read our full review of The Haymaker ANC Bluetooth Headphones.


Scosche PowerUp 32K – Portable Power Station for Dad’s Car

a photo of Scosche PowerUp 32K portal power stationScosche PowerUp 32K Portable Power StationScosche

If your Dad likes to take road trips, go camping, or work in the garage/workshop a lot, Scosche PowerUp 32K portable Power Station is a perfect non-tech gift that can power up any smart device anywhere. This compact, rugged power bank has a protective rubberized coating, a built-in LED flashlight, and a carrying handle. Its 32,000 mAh/118Wh Lithium-Ion battery will charge multiple portable devices at once with 30W USB-C: Power Delivery (PD) (input/output); 20W USB-C: PD output; USB-A 12W output and 110V/100W AC outlet.

The Scosche PowerUp 32K power bank charges portable electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets, cameras, small fans, drones, portable gaming systems, and more. A digital display indicates battery level, and a 20W USB-C PD charger, USB-C charging cable, and protective carrying case are included.

Scosche PowerUp 32K costs $249.99 and is available on the company website. They are running sales on their site, so you might be able to get additional discounts for Father’s Day.

Buy

Nanit Pro Smart Baby Monitor for First-Time Dads

a photo of nanit pro camera mounted on the wallNanit Pro also reads the temperature and humidity in a room GearBrain

If it’s Dad’s first Father’s Day, one good gift idea is a smart baby monitor that can track their newborn’s health while everyone sleeps. Nano Pro Smart Baby Monitor is a unique baby monitor. It can track your infant while they are sleeping. It can monitor their breathing, movements, and any other activity while they are in their crib. But one of the best features of this smart baby monitor is that it will give Dad peace of mind and help him sleep better at night too.

The Nanit Pro Camera comes with an HD computer vision-powered baby monitor, an electronics-free breathing band (0-3 months) to help track your baby’s breathing, access to science-backed support on sleep and parenting, and a year of free data and storage of memories (insights Basic).


Wild Turkey Tasting Skill – Guided Bourbon tasting with Wild Turkey’s Master Distillers and either Alexa or Google Assistant

a photo of 5 bottles of Wild Turkey and echo dot on a countertopWild Turkey Tasting Skill for the Dad who likes his bourbonwww.gearbrain.com

If Dad loves bourbon and you have a smart speaker or display by Google Assistant or Alexa, here is one of the least expensive gifts for Dad. Wild Turkey has created a skill that is a guided tour led by Wild Turkey’s master distillers, Jimmy, and Eddie Russell, as well as Matthew McConaughey, Wild Turkey’s creative director. The group shares their knowledge of the brand’s history and personal experiences with each Wild Turkey bottle you want to taste with your smart speaker.

The cost for the Wild Turkey skill is free, but the bottles of Wild Turkey might get a little expensive. The skill will take you through five bottles of Wild Turkey: the flagship 101 Bourbon, 101 Rye, Longbranch, Rare Breed, and Kentucky Spirit. And if Dad doesn’t have a smart speaker or display by Google or Alexa, that will add a little to the cost of your gift. But in the end, isn’t Dad worth it.

GearBrain’s review of Wild Turkey Skill with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant


Whiskey for Dad

A bottle of whiskey may be something Dad will even share with youTwo glass of whiskey with ice Getty Images/iStockphoto

Does Dad like a bit of the brown stuff? A great bottle of whiskey can't be a bad choice, then, and there are some subscription plans out there that not only take care of sending the bottle — but, in some cases, let your father choose what he'd like as well.

One, Flaviar, lets you choose between a half-year subscription for $190 and a full year for $300. They can pick the kind of whiskey they get — which almost makes this more fun. Shot Box has kits you can send from those that make cocktails to, yes, those just focused on whiskey, which start at $49.99. Caskers lets you sign your dad up for an American or World selections whiskey club, which starts at $147.

Guitar lessons

Guitar lessons for Father's DayOnline guitar lessons can be ordered, and received, immediately Getty Images

Perhaps your dad has always wanted to learn how to play guitar? There are online lessons and apps that can get him, maybe, part of the way there. Fender Play, for example, breaks down favorite songs into bite-size chords so he can learn a favorite tune. Even better, you can sign him up for an account for three months for free, and the app works on piano, guitar, and ukulele. Fender even has a new app just for the latter, the Fullerton Ukulele Series. Or get your father a membership in Playground Sessions, with video lessons for all levels of experience from beginning to advanced. Expect to pay $119.88 for an annual gift or $17.99 for the month.


Photo books

Father's DayPhoto books can remind dad of all the adventures he's shared with his family to dateGetty Images/iStock

Photo books are a fantastic way to honor your dad, especially if you haven't seen him in a while. These are easy to put together — you just need a computer — and the entire book can be put together online and sent directly to your father's home.

There are a ton of options, from Shutterfly to Amazon Prints, and you can get started on some of these sites for under $10 a book.


Steak of the Month clubs

grilled beef fillet steak fathers daySteak of the month clubs can sometimes be customized Getty Images/iStockphoto

Maybe Dad's a griller or not. But he likely would appreciate a great steak. There are some online sites that can send steaks as one time gifts or even monthly deliveries. One, Kansas City Steak Company has options ranging from a full year for about $1,000 to three months, starting at $275, including shipping. Omaha Steaks is one of the classics, and they have Father's Day gifts at the ready, including a Deluxe Steakhouse Dinner, on sale for $129, which includes not only filet mignons but the apple tarts for dessert. You can also try Heritage Steaks, which keeps going until you stop, and charges $145 a month, and includes antibiotic-free meat.



Coffee

Young father with his daughter having breakfast.Coffee can make any morning that much brighter Getty Images/iStockphoto

Java is always the best gift for anyone who drinks coffee, and most companies have monthly — and even weekly — subscription clubs that can do whole bean and ground.

Companies that have them include Peets (which starts at $18.95 monthly.) You can choose how often they come, what kind of strength, and even if you want them whole bean or ground for a certain kind of coffee maker.) Cafe Grumpy also has a monthly coffee subscription, which starts at $18 and includes a free mug with delivery. You can get free shipping with new subscriptions to La Colombe's coffee of the month, and finally, Philz Coffee, which makes each cup of coffee in their shops to taste, has subscriptions for each of its signature beans, and you can choose as well how often you want them delivered and the grind.

Bread

male hands breaking open baked bread in halfGreat bread is easy to send, and something they don't have ti display on a shelf Getty Images/iStockphoto

Perhaps people are getting tired of baking bread — but rest assured, people still love eating it. And some wonderful choices are out there, from classic breakfast snacks to heartier options for dinner. Have a Dad who loves bialys? Kossars is a bakery that's been around since 1936 in New York and ships anywhere in the U.S. You can send a dozen bialys or bagels for just $56 — and that includes free shipping.

Zingerman's is well-known in the foodie world for its wide variety of bread, and you can create everything from a customized pastry basket to a gift with a single loaf of the company's Parmesan Pepper Bread, which starts at just $18. Finally, maybe your father has some gluten issues. Mariposa Bakery in California's San Francisco Bay Area is completely gluten-free and has everything from baguettes to almond croissants ready to send. For example, a brownie and biscotti gift set will set you back $53.95.


Grooming kits

Shaving accessories father's dayGrooming kits can be fairly inexpensive, and something Dad can use every day Getty Images/iStockphoto

Lucky Scruff has a kit $20 a month and on sale for $10 a month. Dollar Shave Club is classic, starting with incredibly inexpensive razors and now branching into shampoo and even shaving cream. You can spend under $10 a month and cancel these at any time. And also, there's Harry's, which has a $15 subscription membership program called Core, which also includes a 10 percent discount on other products from the site.

Dollar Shave Club 4-Blade Razor Starter Set, 1 Handle, 4x4-blade Cartridges, 3oz Shave Cream, Silver/Blue



The GearBrain, First Compatibility Find Engine for Smart Deviceswww.youtube.com

Check out The GearBrain, our compatibility product find engine to find other smart devices and compatible products that work with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa-enabled devices, which will make good Father's Day gifts. And remember, you can also ask questions and troubleshoot any problems on The GearBrain, all for free.

Like GearBrain on Facebook
The Conversation (0)

GearBrain Compatibility Find Engine

A pioneering recommendation platform where you can research, discover, buy, and learn how to connect and optimize smart devices.

Join our community! Ask and answer questions about smart devices and save yours in My Gear.

Top Stories

Weekly Deals