Fear not, I’m here to make gifting a little easier this year (or at the very least, contribute to the brainstorm). Below are some of the best WIRED-tested gifts for the dad or father figure in your life, including travel gadgets, dad-approved apparel, and best-in-class earbuds. I’ve personally gifted a few of these to my dad, with great results.
Updated September 2026: I completely overhauled this guide with 27 new picks, including tech accessories, headphones, dad-approved apparel, fitness gear, and more. For the Travel Dad For the Music-Loving Dad If Dad loves to host large get-togethers, parties, or tailgates, this portable party speaker is one of the loudest, most durable I’ve tested. It’s got a clean, understated, loudspeaker-slash-rock-concert look that’s a far cry from the light-show techno vibes of most portable party speakers.
It’s very durable, with large silicone balls on each corner for impact protection. Plus, it has a swappable battery. I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if it outlasts most other speakers in his collection.
You can learn more in my full Soundboks Rider review. Dad-Approved Apparel For the Outdoor Dad I can’t think of many dads who don’t love an electric bike. The Letric XP4 750 isn’t just one of WIRED’s top electric bike picks, it’s one of the best-selling electric vehicles in America, ranking third behind the Tesla Model Y and Model 3 in 2024.
WIRED reviewer Michael Venutolo-Mantovani says it only took 20 minutes to assemble and lasted well over 50 miles of riding on a single charge. This version has an upgraded 750-watt motor that helps tackle hillier terrain than the original. For the Car Dad I didn’t think I needed a tiny portable vacuum (I have a perfectly good cordless vacuum), but I was gifted this tiny Hoto vacuum years ago, and it has been endlessly useful.
I use it to clean strollers, keyboards, my desk, you name it. It’s small and portable enough to take anywhere you need a quick clean. I gifted one to my brother-in-law, and he uses it to clean his car constantly—it basically lives in his car’s glove compartment.
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