Last Second Gift Guide!

Welp, the holiday is drawing near and since my woman That Gal From SoCal writes so many interesting posts about food and fashion, and all I write about is running, music, movies and beer…I figure I should branch out and share some male holiday insight in the form of a gift guide for the middle-aged, outdoor, tech nerd, beer savant, runner enthusiast you may be cursed with.

Here are some of my holiday gift ideas for 2013 if your recipients are anything like me then they would be psyched to receive any of the following…

1. Nest Thermostat

I mean…what guy doesn’t want a thermostat for Christmas?  Seriously, it sounds like a terrible idea BUT you are only thinking about this from a non-tech nerd perspective because if you were looking at it from mine you may skeet yourself.  This is not just any thermostat, it is literally the iPhone 5 of thermostats…the unit was created by a former Apple design genius that is responsible for delivering multiple generations of the iPhone and iPod.  Not only do you get a sleek-looking thermostat but you also get an ingenious reinvention of the centerpiece of a modern home.  First, it learns your patterns so that it can efficiently control the temperature in your home and save you cash (and the environment)!  Second, it looks awesome.  Third, you can control it with your phone!  Too many times I have walked out the door and thought, dammit, I left the AC on…my bill is going to be through the roof this month…well, with Nest, you can access the thermostat and turn off the AC on the go or if you are really lazy, like me, from the bedroom if it is too cold and want the heat on for a few minutes but can’t be bothered to get up!  Pretty awesome.  Buy it now at Best Buy for $249 HERE!

2. Running Gear  courtesy of Lululemon, Saucony and Bose

Clothes : I am quickly moving past my embarrassment of wearing Lululemon clothing because it is so damn good.  Not only do the shirts actually fit but they are also technically advanced.  Moisture wicking material, venting in all the right places and something called Silverscent that eliminates some of the bad manly odors.  As for the shorts, I have the core shorts in black and navy and love them.  They are a basic workout short, no inner liner since they are meant to be more versatile than standard running shorts.  They have some awesome pockets but the main reason I like them is the fabric, when I buy something from Lululemon I feel like I am getting an article of clothing that is actually worth the price tag.  The shorts tend to run a bit long on me, I am 6’3″ and they go over my knee  a bit and I prefer a short to go slightly above the knee but everything else is so good I can get past it. SHIRT HERE and SHORTS HERE.

Shoes : This is my favorite short distance shoe.  It is not meant to be a rugged training shoe and it is not meant for the over or under-pronator so make sure that your man can take advantage of it before buying, the last thing you want to do is buy a “minimalist” shoe for a non runner who lumbers and needs support…that will just lead to injuries or discomfort.  These are my race day shoes so I want them to be somewhat flashy and scream, I am here to rock this biznaaassss! Purchase at Saucony.com.

Headphones : First off, everyone needs a good set of headphones…whether it is for working out or traveling they are pretty much a necessity.  I am very partial to Bose and in particular their SiE2i Sport Headphone.  The sounds quality is awesome and they make these silicone ear plugs that fit any ear which is perfect for running, no more ear-bud-pop-out out when you crank up the pace!  These really are the best ear buds on the market and this sport package not only comes in cool colors, a short cable and mic (so you can talk on the phone), they also throw in a sports armband for the iPhone (not sure if it works with other devices, it may).  Buy these HERE.

Bonus : If your man is a runner, push your gift over the top by registering him for a race…run it with him or promise to be there to support from the cheering section!

3. Apple iPad Mini

I don’t think I really need to write much on this…if your significant other doesn’t already have an iPad then this is an awesome solution.  I don’t even use a computer anymore outside of work, just the iPad.  I can listen to music, watch movies via Netflix/HBOGo, peruse the internet, play games, snap photos, read books and video chat all from one device!

4. A New Outfit courtesy of Ashbury Eyewear, Levis, James Perse and Converse

Please skip this one if you think I dress as poorly as my girlfriend does and proceed to buy him the exact opposite of what he likes in hopes that he clings to one wool half zip sweater until it is the only cold weather item that he wears and then blame yourself for making him think that business casual can become hobo chic when he wears it 5 days in a row.

Ashbury Eyewear : I like the Griffin myself, it is a take on the Ray Ban Wayfarer but it actually fits my face.  They have tons of different colors and styles to choose from at www.ashburyeyewear.com because lord knows you aren’t trying to clone my style!

James Perse is a stupid company that charges too much for a plain shirt…but they fit so well and feel oh so good!  It is annoying to spend that much money for shirt but like my girlfriend says…it is not the price as much as the cost per wear.  I wear t-shirts everyday (sadly) and will not retire one until it gets holes or a stain, so my cost per wear is fantastically low.

Levi’s are a timeless classic that most men probably need but won’t buy but every two years.  Careful though, this requires some stalking through his closet to make sure that you get the right size and fit…you can’t just go out and buy a random pair, it took a lot of time and annoying effort for him to nail down the right fit. Stay away from pre-faded denim and stick to the basics!  Buy them at Levi.com, some are even on sale right now… HERE.

5. Sounds, Suds and Cinema err Bookema? SPECIAL!

Suds : This one is touchy, I mean, giving alcohol as a gift makes me feel weird…so make sure you aren’t saying I know you love to get drunk and instead are saying, I know you enjoy a beer every now and then…here is a one you will love!  Need help, read any of my previous SSC’s or send me a reply with what your significant other likes and I will recommend something he will love.  Push the beer stocking stuffer over the top with a specialty glass to make him feel like he just graduated from Beer U with a degree in High Snobiety.  My favorite is a tulip styled glass made in Germany by Spiegelau, you can buy it from Bloomingdales HERE.

Spiegelau Tulip Glass is my favorite craft beer vessel!

Books : If you want it to really be a small set, choose a classic book to complement the beer…I am really into Hemingway right now and loved A Farewell to Arms.  Pick one yourself but I recommend sticking to something classic…if you want to try something more relevant to today, then I strongly recommend Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman, it is a book that examines society by comparing A Brave New World by Aldous Huxley and George Orwell’s 1984.

Sounds : Well when it comes down to it…gift giving is very personable so don’t be afraid to think outside the tangible.  If you are like me then you like doing anything with your significant other so maybe a concert would be a nice gesture.  Sort through his music library, iTunes does a great job of tracking the most played tracks…then head to the internet to see if any of those bands are playing in your area soon and purchase some tickets!

Bonus : Does your mate like to get creative?  Then maybe some canvases and paint?  The point is to not get overwhelmed with the cost or the quantity of gifts, your loved one probably doesn’t care about any of that and finds more pleasure in knowing that you know who he/she is and what really makes him or her happy.

Bonus Tech Geek Gifts :

Garmin 310XT

Now, this is an expensive piece of crap for someone like myself.  I would only wear it running so in reality it is a $250 upgrade over my $2 Nike+ GPS app on my phone, the only advantage would be that I could get this thing wet while running…which I only do once a year at a mud run.  If your gift recipient would actually wear this as part of a normal outfit then he most likely has six-pack abs and is training for a triathlon, he may also wears Oakley Razors about town…if this is your man…this is the gift he wants or already owns.  If I received this, I would be psyched because although it is awesome.  I would never bring myself to buy it since I could think of better ways to spend the money. If the man in your life wants to scream “serious runner” then he need only have this on his wrist and be halfway svelte.

 

 

GoPro Hero Cam

If you or your man are into the outdoors and want to document an outing, then this little guy is all you need.  The picture quality is STUNNING from this pocket-sized video camera and it is extremely easy to use.  It can be taken to the snow, in the water, on the trail, anywhere you go, it can go.  TIP : If you happen to use AMEX and get reward points, you can use those points to get REI gift cards and the GoPro just happens to be sold HERE. Here is a little video that shows the possibilities of the Hero Cam…