It's Wednesday and that means it's time for another gift guide! Next in the series, we have guide from a dude- and it's chock full of clever ideas. Enjoy!
Muhle R41 Razor
Every guy shaves, so why not learn to enjoy it? Seriously, this is
what our grandfathers used, and if they were willful enough to avoid the
temptation to “upgrade” to cartridge and electric razors through the
years, we would have inherited their Gillette razors. This Muhle ($55 -
$60) is both functional and beautiful. There are cheaper double edge
razors out there, but I think this one is an heirloom; it will outlast
you. The knurled handle prevents slipping in the wet/soapy shaving
environment, an important design element when there are two exposed
razor blade edges. Simple to use, very effective, and great for the
skin as it doesn’t lift hairs above the skin level to cut them like
modern cartridge or electric razors. That causes ingrow whiskers, the
bane of good skin everywhere. Be sure to pick up some double-edge
blades, as well (I prefer Derby).
Wallet – Two choices here: one by
Hartmann ($35!) and one by
Jack Spade
($85). Don’t want anything too big as it will spoil the line of your
rear (very important) and cause too much discomfort when driving. These
are slim but offer enough space to get you through your day with the
necessaries. Either will last for years without worry and is stylish
without being trendy.
DR Harris – ($10 - $75) One of the English
greats, and a genuine value in skin and body care for men.
Environmentally-conscious, but very traditional. Classy packaging, tons
of great product lines in very traditional male scents. Personally, I
use their shaving soaps and aftershaves (Pink in the summer and
Aftershave Milk in the winter). Look amazing in old-school glass
bottles on the bathroom counter.
Watch –
Citizen EcoDrive
($96) Never needs batteries, classic black band, with day/date.
White-face Timex watches are big with the Hipster crowd right now, but I
think black is a more mature look. Save the Timex for the weekends and
wear this to work.
Homebrewing Kit – If you drink, you should try your hand at making it. I
got started brewing about five years ago and have had a ton of fun
messing with it every couple of months since then. Totally manageable
in an apartment, too. Two big names in homebrewing gear are
Northern Brewer
($79) and
Williams Brewing
($115)
either of which will yield quality results. You’ll need a big stainless
stock pot (24qts or better), but that is multipurpose, so it’s not a
single-use investment to buy a good one. Making beer is as easy and
boiling water and waiting, and these will come with specific
instructions.
Tie – Face it, we all eventually get a tie for a holiday, so why not
make it a classic worth owning?
Sam Hober makes a grenadine tie that is an excellent value at $80. Grenadine is
not the color, but instead a type of weave used with either thin (fina)
or thicker (grossa) silk used for the tie which gives it a spectacular
depth. It offers a point of interest in an otherwise conservative look,
like with a light gray or navy suit.
Lytro Light Field Camera ($399) – The
most expensive and gadget-y thing on my Christmas list. They’re calling
it Camera 3.0, and it works like this: it captures an image of all the
rays of light in a given field, and then saves that information in the
image file. This allows you to manipulate the digital image focus and
zoom by simply clicking on it. Try it out on their website – it is
amazing. Not so great for printing images, but just fine for digital
use and sharing. Only works with Apple hardware right now, but a
Windows version is coming.
Cooks Illustrated – ($25/yr) This is a
very guy-oriented cooking magazine. Featuring gadget reviews,
historical cooking utensils, head-to-head comparisons, and in-depth
experimentation with explanations about the results that don’t insult
your intelligence, it’s a classic gift that keeps giving all year long.
I cook at least two dishes out of each new magazine that comes and have
yet to miss a beat. It’s a gift for him AND you!
Global Chef Knife – ($115 - $225 online)
A good chef’s knife makes all the difference in food prep. Sharp,
accurate, well-balanced, and stylish, I prefer the Global line of
knives. Amazon usually has the best prices, but they’re carried in
store by Williams-Sonoma, so you can go try them out. Hand feel is
important, so if you’re thinking of getting him a knife, take him to the
store so he can try some out. An 8- or 10-inch knife is perfect for
everyday use.
AirSwimmers ($40) And now for something
completely different: a remote-controlled shark that swims in the air.
Who says all gifts need to be practical to be awesome? I want one
because, well, let me repeat: a remote-controlled shark that swims in
the air.
Today's Gift Guide was written by Dave Brewer. For more information or suggestions for Dave, contact him: dave.brewer@ua.edu
