ahhhh the guys.. always the hardest to shop for. what I’ve learned about shopping for the men in my life is that it’s usually about upgrading the things they already have, but would never upgrade for themselves. I’m talking about the items they’ve been using for the past several decades that are beyond worn, but they’d never shell out the cash (or energy) to replace them on their own!

this allows you to intentionally recognize the things they’re already using and loving, but also bring them up a notch and give them a bit of new life.

anything available on Amazon is linked here!

01 / duffel bag
I don’t know about you, but my husband still tosses everything for every trip into his college wrestling duffel bag. and while the bag still works, we could definitely use an upgrade from the one that has a decade of sweat baked into it. I recently upgraded to this one from Dagne Dover myself, and instantly thought it would make the perfect bag for Landon for everyday, the gym, or packing to take on trips. I love that the air mesh options are totally breathable for those sweaty gym clothes! I’d also combine it with this toiletry kit (bundling the two saves 15%!!) to upgrade the one he’s also been using since the dawn of time.

I also love these duffel bags from Walker Family Goods, a small family-owned & operated business that has tons of great bags geared towards minimal family travel. I’ve had my eye on these forever and love the idea of each member of the family having their own color to stick with, just like the Walker family’s design.

02 / new cologne
this one is the prime example of the it’s-still-perfectly-fine-why-would-I-get-rid-of-it mentality i’m talking about… I finally upgraded the Ironman cologne Landon bought at the mall in middle school THIS YEAR. y’all… he’s 27 lol. it was timeeee. Dime has incredible scents that don’t trigger headaches, and Landon can attest, it’s been a huge upgrade. Dime uses Sugar Cane Alcohol instead of the commonly used SD40 which aggravates skin. their scents are all incredible! code HAYDENLOALBO saves you 20%!

Dime Cologne No. 1 / a bold blend of sandalwood, zesty bergamot, and amber musk

Dime Voir Le Bon / French for “see the good”, this upbeat fragrance will energize your senses and have you looking for the good in each day.

Dime Beauty’s black friday sale was extended through today! if you’re shopping today, November 6, use code HAYDENLOALBO.BF for 30% off your entire order.

03 / ember travel mug
okkk I’ve known about the ember mug for years, but did you know they also make a travel mug now?? I’m all for an open mug all the time, but it’s something that drives my husband absolutely crazy. as a teacher & coach, Landon is drinking coffee multiple times a day, but he’s also on his feet/outside/moving… I love the idea of this mug for him so he can keep his coffee hot throughout the day! so genius

if the men in your life don’t need mugs that keep their coffee a certain temperature, this tumbler from Fellow is a simple, sleek option that also fits right under most pour over coffee makers!

04 / good coffee (& maybe a machine to go with it)
speaking of coffee, if the guy in your life likes coffee, there’s nothing better than investing in some good, fresh beans for them. my favorite option is always to go to a local coffee shop that roasts their own beans, but if you’re looking for good options online, Purity Coffee has great, clean options (& you can get $20 off your first order with this link!)

and if you’re feeling extra nice, maybe upgrade their coffee-making situation while you’re at it! I actually did this last year.. we’ve used & loved our Breville espresso machine for the past 4 years, but my husband’s preference is drip coffee. to get the best of both worlds, I bought us the TK-02 from Terra Kaffe last year. we’ve been waiting (not so) patiently for the past year, and I’m so excited to finally get it in our hands this winter!! Terra Kaffe is a small startup that began in Berlin & is now based in Brooklyn, NY. If you’re a coffee nerd like Landon and I, you’ll LOVE everything about them! While the TK-02 sales are currently on waitlist, the TK-01 is still incredible, and it’s on sale! You can get an additional $100 off a TK-01 using this link — making it wayyyy cheaper, and more intuitive, than the fancy Brevilles!

05 / a robe & slippers
I know there’s nothing cozier than getting ready for the day or lounging around the house in a robe and slippers on a cold morning.. and it’s a gift the men in my life could be blessed by! of course, my favorite robes & slippers of all time are from Parachute- they have tons of cozy options great for men and women! my picks for the guys would be their Classic Turkish Cotton Slippers & Robe.

Parachute’s black friday sale begins on 11/20 and will feature 20% off everything sitewide!

06 / a go-to, neutral sweatshirt
if you have a spouse who loves a good sweatshirt but want to elevate the look, try getting him a cozy sweatshirt that doesn’t have the logo of his favorite sports team on it. Landon lives in loungewear, and I finally got him a neutral sweatshirt last fall! He loves it & wears it all the time and has basically become a marital compromise… he gets the coziness of a sweatshirt & I get an outfit that isn’t made up of wrestling gear, lol.

100% Organic Cotton Men’s Fleece Crewneck by Mate the Label / $128

Premium Weight Long Sleeve Crew by Everlane / $60

2-pack Relaxed Fit Sweatshirts by H&M / 2 for $30

07 / electric toothbrush
this is another one of those things that the men in my life would love, but probably never splurge on for themselves! this one from Sonicare comes in rechargeable and battery-operated versions and tons of different colors.

08 / good joggers
Landon was introduced to these joggers from Lululemon last year and now has a major obsession with them. I love that they wear so much better than typical sweatpants- truly, he wears them every day while coaching and they still look good as new! Landon does not gravitate towards higher priced items, so the fact that he says these pants are worth the Lululemon price tag speaks volumes.

09 / adventure-proof sunglasses
we have a running joke that the only things my husband ever asks for are sunglasses and running shoes.. and these sunglasses always make the list. Roka makes sunglasses (and eyeglasses!) specifically designed to be worn during sports and adventures, staying on through running and high-movement activities. If the men in your life are always on the move, these are such a great option!

Roka’s black friday event started today 11/06 and runs through 11/20, with sale prices up to 50% off!

10 / accupressure mat
this one goes out to the Huberman Husbands! acupressure mats target the pressure points in the back to soothe tension, improve sleep quality, and ease pain. this one is made of linen & coconut fibers and includes the mat, head/neck pillow, and a bag for storage. I keep ours under our bed and use it before going to sleep!

11 / books

Landon loves to read, so I thought I’d add in some of his favorite books here for you too!

there you have it! hopefully these gift ideas inspire you to find some intentional gifts for the men in your lives this holiday season! see you tomorrow for another guide!

xx

Hayds