The best fathers day gifts

Father's Day arrives shortly (June 15th to be precise) and tradition has it that us dads are 'difficult to buy for.' We say no! We say this can no longer be an excuse for going with the sock/aftershave/'bottle of something nice' combo yet again.

We say that no matter what the dad in question is into, there's an ideal gift out there somewhere. And to prove the point, we've tracked a few down....

Metro-dad

Grooming Kit

And if you're going to be the coolest dad in town then it's only right that you look your best at all times and this grooming kit will enable you to maintain Clooney-esque levels of effortless suave at the drop of a hat (not that it includes a hat).

This set contains every product a skin conscious (or not so conscious) Dad could need. Covering all the bases: A fantastic gift which comes stylishly gift wrapped in a Mankind signature gift box.

Buy now from: www.mankind.co.uk

Price: £95 (10% discount for Dad Info users until June 18th! Use the code: FATHERS2008)

The Book of Cool

A 320 page book and three DVD set which contains the secrets of the universe. Not really, but, even better, the experts assembled will teach you how to do jaw-dropping tricks with footballs, skateboards, bikes, pool cues, juggling chainsaws (yes, really) and anything else which makes people slap their foreheads and say 'How on earth...?'

Buy now from: www.firebox.com

Price: £24.95

Gadget-dad

Instant Music Vinyl and Cassette Ripper

All that music you spent years collecting on vinyl and tape, all gathering dust as the formats die off one by one. Well, not any more. This device allows you to attach your tape or record deck to your PC and convert your old tracks to formats including MP3 and nice, shiny CD's. It'll even clean up the sound for you, so your kids have got absolutely no excuse for not listening to that rare Genesis b-side...

Buy now from: www.firebox.com

Price: £39.95

Transmita II

A very neat little gadget - attach one unit to sound source such as a TV, I-pod, PC etc, and the other unit to any sound source within a 50m radius and it transmits sounds wirelessly, which means you can listen to your on-line radio stations through the radio in your shed, or get 'Later With Jools Holland' beamed up to the bathroom.

Buy now from: www.iwantoneofthose.com

Price: £49.95

Old-fart-dad

The Beer Machine 2000

Many people think pubs aren't what they used to be but beer itself will never go out of fashion. The Beer Machine 2000 is a self-contained unit, which allows you to brew 20 pints of top class home brew in 7 days with the minimum of fuss. Comes complete with everything you need for that first batch.

Buy now from: www.amazon.co.uk

Price: £74.99

 

Tv-B-Gone

Sick of television sets blasting out everywhere you go? Shops, pubs, other people's houses, dominating the room and killing the art of conversation. If this rings a bell then we've found the gadget for you. Tv-B-Gone is a key-ring sized device which allows you to switch any television within 15 m

etres on or, more importantly, off. Naughty, yes, but undeniably satisfying.

Buy now from: www.iwantoneofthose.com

Price: £12.99

Big-kid-dad

Executive Marble Run

Black wooden blocks and polished chrome marbles combine to produce a marble run, which will let you spend hours constructing ever more intricate routes for the marbles to run down. And if anyone catches you playing with it, you can pretend it's a piece of minimalist sculpture.

Buy now from: www.amazon.co.uk

Price: £7.25

Indoor Crazy Golf

Crazy golf - what real golf would be like if it was fun. And this set allows you to play it indoors, thus avoiding the gale force wind and drizzle that the English seaside specialises in. Complete with a motorised clowns mouth and moving windmill. Just remember, you've got to let the kids win once in a while...

Buy now from: www.gadgetgrabber.co.uk

Price: £34.99

Eco-dad

Dadgear Bag

If you're traveling anywhere with a baby or young child, you need a bag to carry the tons of equipment necessary. Until now, that has meant toting some pink and yellow monstrosity with a picture of teddy bears on it. Well, the Dadgear Messenger changing bag combines functionality (it's designed to be used 'hands free' and is easily cleaned) with style (it doesn't look anything like a changing bag).

Buy now from: www.dad.info

Price: £65.00

 

A Tree

Gadgets and toys are all very well (and we're all for them) but this gift will still be around when the latest hi-tech gizmo is yesterday's news. A young tree, delivered to the door, in biodegradable packaging. Sizes range from small Crab Apple trees and Cherry trees to Horse Chestnut trees, which can reach up to 115ft.

Buy now from: www.tree2mydoor.com

Price: £24.50 to £119.99

  

 

 

 

Author

Steve Cochrane is a freelance journalist and scriptwriter who is married with three children, varying in age from 17 to eight. As well as writing he has worked as a full time 'househusband', unofficial family childminder and has spent many years trying to come up with a better word for 'househusband'.

 

 

Your ideas

Any other inspired ideas for Fathers Day gifts? Share your genius here, use our comments system below.