The 34 Best Gifts for Dads (2026)

It occurs to me that, as a new(ish) father, and someone who reviews products for a living, I am a nightmare to get gifts for. I’m not alone. Most of my friends have no idea what to get their dad, and end up brainstorming in group chats with anyone they can get their hands on. 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. For the Foodie Dad This is the best pizza oven for the dad who doesn’t have space for a full-sized outdoor one. It’s an indoor electric pizza oven that can fit on a countertop, and can heat to up to 850 degrees Fahrenheit. Like all of the brand’s appliances, it’s easy to use, so it's more fun than work to make that fan-favorite pizza just right. For the Dad Who Is a Kid at Heart The Lego DeLorean Time Machine from the Back to the Future trilogy is the perfect centerpiece for any movie buff, but Great Scott, it’s $200. A better alternative is the version from Lego’s Speed Champions series. It’s much cheaper and easier to build (pick either the original with lightning hook or the “future” upgrade with Mr. Fusion and hover wheels), but it has the same charm and display quality. It comes with Doc Brown and Marty McFly Minifigures, but sadly, it won’t hit 88 miles per hour. For the Fitness Dad These are my favorite open ear headphones for anyone, not just Dad. Because they leave your ears open, you can easily hear the world around you, along with your music. That’s why I love them for outdoor runs and bike rides. This premium model uses a mix of bone conduction (think vibrations) and air conduction (think tiny speakers pointed toward your ears) to deliver sound that’s clearer than most smaller open earbuds. You can learn more in our full Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 review. Power up with unlimited access to WIRED. Get best-in-class reporting and exclusive subscriber content that’s too important to ignore. Subscribe Today. [Image text:] Marked See g tome nd the Woic A Proinsorming andor Agreenest Sarch BDQ owaia BioLite