20 Gifts for Dad

Moms, we had our day in the sun (or rain, as it happened). Now it's Dad's turn for attention as we think about what to do and what to get for Father's Day.

Depending on your bathroom count, this gift can be tongue-in-cheek, or pointedly instructional. The Blomus Men's Room Sign will amuse any dad, especially those living in a house of multiple women and fewer washrooms. Made of stainless steel with adhesive backing, all signs point to this gift being an amusing hit.

You married him because he was smart, so don't be shy about turning him into an even bigger Egghead. The Big Green Egg Ceramic Cooker is now available in Canada and has developed a following among backyard foodies. For the barbecue master in your home, the Egg may be the best gift yet, and it'll give back to the whole family in the form of deliciously cooked food. The Egg's space-age ceramic make up ensures that food never dries out. It can handle cooking steak or even a loaf of bread using natural charcoal.

You owe us one. This is the slyest Father's Day gift yet. Support their favourite hobby while keeping them close. Now they can perfect their swing at home…under the careful eye of golf pro Nick Starchuk. Starchuk will have the links lover in your house upload a video of his swing, and return with a detailed analysis using still photos from the video. Via Skype (or phone), Starchuk will help to improve their stroke without having to spend extra hours on the range or at the course. No sub-par gift here.

Father's Day is the perfect excuse for a gentle push (or forceful shove) into a wardrobe update. His weekend-wearing baseball hat with fraternity-insignia is past its prime but Gap's Open Weave Fedora is completely current. The paper straw topper with canvas trim may not be for every dad, but for those who can rock it, give him a fedora he'll adore. It could be amore at first sight.

It's rare to find a father who worries about sun protection, but protecting their iPhone/iPad/Mac, is a whole other priority. A customized skin for any of their Apple items is functional, practical, and presents a perfect opportunity to show off their family, favourite team, flag or more. The laminated, vinyl skins adhere tightly to the back of the device preventing scratches and sticky fingers. Parenthood can wreak havoc on our bodies, and our electronics, but at least something in the house will love the skin its in.

Put away the knives and forks and dig in with your hands with this classic Grilled Sausage on a Bun meal that he's sure to appreciate (as will Mom when it comes to clean-up time).

For the dad in your life who most appreciates quality and precision—and AM/FM radio—a gift of the Tivoli Audio Platinum Series Model One Radio will speak volumes about how well you know him. Made of lacquered, high-gloss wood, iPod and MP3 compatible, with excellent sound quality, this will add timeless elegance to any office, bedroom, or man cave (especially the latter).

By now, playoff fever will have hit your house (especially if you're in Vancouver), so for any die-hard hockey dad who can't get enough of the sport, these hockey cufflinks are a total score. Made of stainless steel with a bullet-back closure, he may be at a total loss when he opens them.

Stubble-trouble in paradise? A good mirror can be hard to find, so when you can get hold of one that works well in the shower, keeps things steamy (without being foggy), and is easily attached, hang onto him…er, it. Panasonic's Wall Mountable Fog-Free Mirror easily clips onto a shower caddy or a flat surface and comes with a two year warranty. Gift this on Father's Day, and we guarantee things will get smoother from here.

You're never too old to play a little footsie. For older dads (grandfathers, fathers-in-law) a little foot activity is almost a necessity. The Humanscale Foot Machine with Massage Balls does double duty in the foot department during long periods of sitting (watching the Masters, the Grand Prix, Manchester United...). The roller balls relax the feet and body while the rocking motion keeps the circulation moving through older legs, helping prevent varicose veins, blood clots and tendon pain.

Before having kids, you had those talks: children would fit into your life, not vice versa. And then you had kids. Suddenly weekends consist of Splashpads and Pay-TV family movies. If your baby daddy is going a little stir-crazy on the home-front, a free pass for a UFC fight—or any other sporting, musical or theatrical event they would love to go to—is the ticket. Ticketmaster offers gift cards in six different denominations. This is one gift we know won't (and, frankly, can't) be returned.

Fatherhood has already proven to be a wild ride, so channel their inner James Bond (minus the Bond girls, of course), and give the gift of a kiteboarding lesson or an off-road Segway tour. Trythat.ca offers a whole variety of unexpected ways for them to play that will have them reminiscing—and reliving—the event for weeks to come.

Steak on the barbie is a summertime fave, so if dear old Dad likes to indulge in some grilled beef, try this delish Chimichurri Marinated Flank Steak that has a fresh kick.

The fallout from bad forecasting this spring will make this a popular purchase, especially with dads who love to boat, surf, camp and hike. Lee Valley's Wireless Weather Station shows the current temperature (indoor and out), a barometre shows changes in air pressure, and the device can receive temperature transmissions from up to three outdoor sensors. A radio-controlled clock keeps accurate time and the entire unit operates on four AA alkaline batteries. Sometimes weather forecasting is best taken into your own hands.

Run along now…Fatherhood won't dampen the intensity for any endurance athlete, but it will cut into their training time (unless you are a really understanding partner). Keep them competitive—whether they're just starting out or Ironman-ready—with the Garmin Forerunner 210 with Heart Rate Monitor which will track their pace, distance, calories burned and includes a GPS for those oops-got-lost-relieving-myself-in-the-woods moments.

Deliver laughter and a little light reading, compliments of 5 Very Good Reasons to Punch a Dolphin in the Mouth (And Other Useful Guides). It's a series of cartoon strips by author Matthew Inman, originally created for the humour and satire site, theoatmeal.com. Now in book form, among other imperative information, your beloved will learn the six reasons bacon is better than true love ("Love is fleeting, but bacon stays in your arteries for all eternity") and the six phases of a tapeworm's life (you don't want to know).

The kids may hold a special place in their heart, but for just a few seconds any dad who really digs music, podcasts, or the spoken word may place the Sennheiser HD 595 headphones at the top of their love list. (We're sure you're a close third.) Audophiles agree the Sennheiser sound is worth the price with their “eargonomic acoustic refinement” design channels that put the audio signal directly into ears. The headphones are lightweight too, offering comfort even after hours of wearing (though the likelihood of any father getting extended listening time alone is slim).

Looking for something old school to add a little spice to Father's Day? L'Occitane's soap-on-a-rope is an elegant update on the old classic. From a practical standpoint, it keeps soggy soap from sitting at the bottom of the tub or shower. Scented with Verbena (not overly flowery or feminine, more of a sweet musky scent), it may start a new tradition with your own kids. Wrap up your Father's Day shopping with a gift of the rope.

All that stretching, straining, moaning…you and your pelvis may have endured childbirth, but their shoulder and back muscles are enduring just as much pain (apparently). Luckily for fathers facing sport injuries, arthritis or insomnia, there's the Sports Therapy Heat Wrap which allows up to an hour of heat relief (can also be used as a cold press) and is made extra large to provide moist heat for whatever ails them.

Whether Dad actually caught the fish or not, he's definitely going to appreciate the flavour of our Spicy Cedar Plank Salmon.