Men’s gift ideas (Image: Express)
Buying birthday presents for men, whether he’s your friend, father or partner, can be difficult and it’s not getting easier as the years pass by. Wnd while cliche gifts are fun, it’s about time to get something they actually appreciate and will use.
So let’s forget about the “happy birthday” mugs, there are lots more to choose from, whether it’s clothing, grooming or audio products. Skincare brand Elemis has partnered with the Aston Marin F1 team to launch a limited grooming collection, while Debenhams has dropped the price of a stylish wristwatch by 91% that can be dressed up or down for any occasion. For any beer fans, we’ve even found a pair of stylish flip flops with a hidden bottle opener – making quite the party piece at any summer barbecue. Below are some of our favourite items for birthday ideas.
The Next Box is worth £88 with seven body and skincare items (Image: Next)
Next The Spoiled Him Grooming Box – £22, worth £88
High street retailer Next has curated an edit of hair, face and body essentials to treat your dad a well-earned pampering. Priced at £22, the box includes seven items from brands like Bath and Body Works, Rituals, Aromatherapy Associates and more – they are designed to de-stress and refresh skin for an energising pick-me-up.
Start the day with Rituals’ Homme Charcoal Scrub to remove dirt and dull skin before nourishing the skin using Age Defence Serum from Percy Nobleman to hydrate and protect skin against environmental aggressors. The Mo Bro Cherry Beard Balm is formulated to tame, control, and hydrate the mane, while Percy & Reed’s Session Styling Define & Hold Finishing Cream works to smooth strands, define styles and control hair.
There’s also a Bath & Body Works 3-in-1 wash and a hand soap as well as a De-Stress Muscle Gel from Aromatherapy Associates to recover sore muscles. The items in the box are worth more than £88, according to Next.
Other than Next, Liberty’s His Essentials Edit, £76.50, includes a printed wash bag with eight products including MALIN+GOETZ Grapefruit Face Cleanser, Sunday Riley Good Genes Lactic Acid Treatment (worth £50), fragrances from Maya Njie and Liberty. Your giftee will receive products worth more than £360.
You can enjoy a drink anytime and anywhere with the Reef Fanning sandals (Image: Reef)
Reef Fanning Sandals (with built-in bottle opener) – £55
Beer-loving men will get the best of both worlds – a pair of new sandals just in time for summer and a bottle opener to crack open a cold one on a laid-back weekend. The Reef Fanning sandals were invented by three-time world surf champion Mick Fanning, and this year, they are celebrating their 20-year anniversary.
Featuring high-rebound EVA on the footbed with a built-in airbag for added comfort, the sandals, which comes in various colours, has a mix of premium strap materials with a soft padded jersey lining. Your gifte can rock a pair of Fanning sandals for beach days, boat trips and chilling in the garden.
Should they be thirsty for a cold beer or fizz, they can take off their sandals, use the built-in bottle opener on the outsole, and quench themselves in no time – quite the party trick. But it’s debatable for some as shoppers might find it “unhygienic” to use. If your giftee loves a “charm” instead, then Croc’s Classic Slide is a fun gifting option. Currently reduced to £20.99, the slides can hold up to 22 Jibbitz charms. The slides are light and fun, which is great for pool side and for summer walk, the deep cupped Croslite foam footbeds are made for lasting comfort.
Treat your dad a luxurious pamper with Neal’s Yard grooming kit (Image: Neal’s Yard Remedies)
Neal’s Yard Remedies Complete Grooming Kit – £65
Shoppers have praised natural beauty brand Neal’s Yard Remedies for making their partner’s skin look good and smell great. This three-piece Complete Grooming Kit is kind to skin with certified organic ingredients.
It includes the Purifying Face Wash, which has amassed a high 4.46 out of five on reviews, with one sharing: “My skin feels fresh and clean and never feels dry like when I have used soap and gels before, smells nice and pump dispenser delivers the right amount to wash my face and neck it’s great.”
The lavender scent delivers a ‘calming and spa-like’ sensation, and it does not irritate sensitive skin. For the final step, moisturise the skin with Rejuvenating Moisturiser For Men, worth £35 alone, an everyday face cream with an organic blend of conditioning almond, softening jojoba, and antioxidant-rich green coffee. For tired skin, the Age-Defying Moisturiser, £45 is recommended. It features a plant-based 3-peptide complex that is “specifically chosen to work with male skin” to target loss of firmness, expression lines and dark circles.
Clinique For Men Starter Kit is a great option for an under £20 gift. The three-piece travel set includes a face wash, shaving cream and a face gel – delivering intense hydration for those with extra dry skin. One shopper said: “Fantastic gift for my partner – he really enjoyed it.”
The speaker has an improved bass and longer playback time (Image: Marshall)
Marshall Emberton III Portable Speaker – £149.99
Whether they listen to podcasts while cooking or enjoy listening to music in the house, Marshall’s bluetooth speaker Emberton III is a lightweight portable mini boom box that is dust- and water-proof. Upgraded from Emberton II, the latest addition has an extended playtime of up to 32 hours and it returns to full charge in two hours.
I have the Emberton III in black and the robust rubber-like case gives more protection than my old Bose Soundlink speaker. When used with the app, I can adjust the bass and give it a powerful boost. It also comes with a microphone for hands-free phone calls, another feature is the upgraded bass with dynamic loudness to adjust the tonal balance. It also supports Auracast, which can be transmitted to other devices such as TVs, laptops or other speakers. The Emberton III is also available in cream and sage.
The Tribit StormBox Flow Bluetooth Speaker is a more affordable alternative and is available on Amazon for £79.99. This speaker delivers a remarkable 25W output power and up to 30 hours of playtime. The sleek yet robust design makes it perfect for outdoor activities, like hiking, camping and everything in between.
The wash bag is adorned with Elemis and Aston Martin F1 logos in Racing Green colour (Image: Elemis x Aston Martin F1)
Elemis x Aston Martin Armaco F1 Iconic Discovery Skincare Collection – £85 (worth £118)
Elemis skincare is designed as unisex, and their Pro-Collagen line is loved by many who are looking for a youthful appearance and healthy-looking skin. The special partnership between the two big brands delivers the Iconic Discovery Skincare Collection, which includes three bestsellers – a Cleansing Balm, Pro-Collagen Future Restore Serum and Pro-Collagen Marine Cream.
The goodies are all housed in a wash bag featuring both the Elemis and Aston Martin F1 logos in Racing Green colour, making it a perfect gift for an F1 fan. The cleansing balm is gentle yet effective enough to remove dirt and clean pores while the serum is packed with hydrating hyaluronic acid and exclusive Opal Skin Algae Complex to visibly improve skin firmness by up to 46% in just four days.
Harry’s Skincare x ASOS Exclusive offers four pieces of skincare must-have for those who want a simplified yet complete routine. Available exclusively on ASOS, the £23 gift is a beginners-friendly gift that features a face wash, day and night cream and eye cream.
The scale can swap between 13 body measurements (Image: Homedics)
Homedics Glo Analyser Scale – £34.99
Health enthusiasts who are constantly on their watch for a better physique can try this body scale. Combined with an app, the Homedics Glo Analyser Scale can give readings like body mass, BMI, muscle mass and fat-free body weight etc.
If your giftee has to watch his diet or wants to acheive certain weight goals, this scale is equipped with 13 body measurements including protein, body water and bone mass. It’s also called Glo for a reason, the light at the bottom can be doubled as motion-sensing night light that activates from two feet away, but this feature can be turned off by clicking the button at the base of the scale.
Withings’ Body Smart Scale is sleek, polished weighing scale that provides insights to standing heart rate, Visceral Fat Index, and BMR and offers nutrition tracking. It’s priced at £89.95 and shoppers can choose to go with or without a Withing+ subscription, which offer more targeted guidance with access to behaviour change modules, daily missions and exclusive content to create a healthy routine that sticks.
The smart casual watch is an eye-catching accessory for dads (Image: Debenhams)
STÜHRLING Original Depthmaster 4048 Dive Watch – £153.75 (was £1,795)
A watch can be used for time keeping but it’s also an accessory to complete the wearer’s outfit and on their birthday, a fancy wristwatch makes a great gift to complement your dad or partner. Recently shoppers are jumping on the opportunity to snap up the STÜHRLING Original Depthmaster 4048 Dive Watch at a jaw-dropping discount of 91%. With an RRP of £1,795, this sought-after timepiece is now on offer for £153.75.
Though available in various colours, with such an irresistible deal, all but the black models have flown off the shelves. The 4048 model boasts a stainless steel triple row bracelet, Japanese Automatic movement for “precise timekeeping”, and a classic rotational bezel that effortlessly complements both sharp suits and laid-back ensembles.
It’s not just stylish – with a 10 ATM (100 meter) water resistance rating and secure screw-in crown, it stands as a bona fide diver’s watch ready for any underwater adventure. Reveling in a flurry of glowing praise, the STÜHRLING Depthmaster 4048 Dive Watch has garnered a perfect five-star score from 29 buyers.
On the other hand, Omega’s MoonSwatch watches, £240, has been an all-time favourite among timepiece collectors and watch lovers. The new version allows shoppers to change the watch straps, the polished rubber straps offer an elevated style than the original ones and they are £24.
The Lynx fine fragrance sprays deliver more refined scents (Image: Lynx)
Lynx Fine Fragrance Collection – £34.99
Not all men wear deodorant and cologne at the same time as most prefer one over the other. However, grooming brand Lynx has combined both and launched a Fine Fragrance Collection. This five-piece bundle is available on Amazon for £34.99, introducing a new wave of sweet gourmand notes like Emerald Sage, Blue Lavender, Aqua Bergamot and more.
In just a few spritzes of the bodyspray, it provides up to 72 hours of freshness and unbeatable confidence. With two times more odour-busting zinc technology than Lynx’s standard body spray.
One said: “I wanted to try them all so this pack is ideal, now I’ve got my favourites but would still purchase again, buy all the toiletries in bulk it’s cheaper and convenient.” A second noted: “My husband loved the different smells from these, cheaper to buy seperately if you have a favourite.”
Fussy, a natural deodorant brand endorsed by Dragon’s Den investor Deborah Meaden, launched limited edition refills including Wildflowers Floral, Rhubarb and Grapefruit, Rosemary and Jasmine and Wilderness Fresh. Shoppers can pick a case of their own to match with the refill and a starter pack starts from £26.
A portable smoothie maker is a perfect gift (Image: Ninja)
Ninja Blast Cordless Portable Blender – £49.99
If your giftee is invested in smoothies, juices or milkshakes but too busy to make it at home, this Ninja blender-bottle combo is perfect for on-the-go smoothie making, equipped with a rechargeable blender for blending your favourite ingredients whenever it suits throughout the day. It’s also perfect for whipping up frozen cocktails or milkshakes when the weather is nice.
The handheld blender is powered by a USB-C rechargeable base that gives you 10 blends per charge and it boasts a generous 530ml capacity and a leakproof lid, making it safe to carry in your gym bag, work tote, or handbag without worrying about spills.
The Ninja’s Blast Cordless Portable Blender, available in six colours, has become a sensation, amassing over 770 five-star reviews on the Ninja website. One satisfied customer exclaimed: “This little blender is the bees knees. Crushes ice and blitzes frozen berries down to nothing. So happy with my purchase.”
Other than Ninja, Smeg’s Retro Blender & Smoothie Maker is aesthetically cool and it comes with two 600ml Bottles-To-Go so it’s ideal to enjoy that morning smoothie at work or a juice for a hike. It’s on 33% off on Debenhams and reduced to £98.95.
Fujifilm’s new X-Half camera has combined retro and modern features in one (Image: Fujifilm)
Fujifilm X-Half Camera Compact Digital Camera – £699
Most of us are getting used to taking pictures with mobile phones, while phone cameras have had major upgrades since 2000, they take up the majority of capacity in the phone storage and Fujifilm is determined to bring back the love of digital cameras as they launched the new X-Half camera.
Providing iconic Film Simulation and Grain Effect to reproduce the unique grain texture of film photos, it also offers new filters such as light leak and halation, to offer users with a wide range of creative expressions. There are elements of retro cameras including the physical shutter release lever and the appeal of classic cameras in charcoal silver, black and silver.
It also offers a unique new “2-in-1” mode, which allows users to combine two still images or movies into one composition in-camera, providing richer storytelling capabilities than single images and it’s easy to transfer images to the phone without any cables. New users might be confused with the virtual film cannisters function and it can lead up to storing pictures in multiple virtual films.
Ricoh’s GRIII is an alternative that camera fans might compare with but it’s more expensive priced at £999.99, the camera can shoot at ISO 102400 and process high image quality.
Azure Sky is fruity fragrance that reminds of a sun-drenched holiday in Italy (Image: Yankee Candles)
Yankee Candle Azure Sky – £23.99 (was £29.99)
For someone who enjoys pamper time will like an at-home aromatherapy with this Yankee Candle in a huge 567g size. Azure Sky is a lovely blend of fresh mango, sweet coconut cream, and solar tuberose – a vibrant scent that reminds of gentle breeze brushing through the hair while sunbathing by a hotel pool overlooking the Positano coast.
The large Signature jar offer a burn time between 65 to 80 hours, which can last for a couple of months. Shoppers can expect to get top notes of orange, mango and pineapple before the mid notes of coastal tuberose, rose, coconut and sea salt open; while the base notes are vanilla, amber and tropical musk.
Instead of a candle, diffusers are also popular choices and the Neom Wellbeing Pod Luxe Diffuser, £139, doubles as a mood light. Your giftee can change the scent by swapping the essential oils.
AllSaints’ new fragrance collections feature industrial designs and leather details (Image: AllSaints)
AllSaints Perfume Shoreditch Leather EDP 100ml – £46 (was £69)
Fragrance can be quite personal and it can be a risk to get as a birthday gift but if your giftee is a fan of leather, then they will appreciate the Shoreditch Leather, inspired by AllSaints’ leather jackets. It has a gradient effect, moving from light to dark tones. The scent starts out with rosewater alongside the fresh, spicy scent of elemi, which has a lemon-pepper aroma, and when combined with the stunning majesty of saffron, it creates a suede-like texture.
The Shoreditch Leather EDP is currently on offer at Boot while other AllSaints perfume – Ravaged Rose and Sunset Riot – are available at full price, £69. All three perfumes can be layered for an extinquish yet personal scent.
If you have more budget to spoil your giftee, Mind Games’ chess-inspired eau de parfums are a collection of exquisite fragrances designed to captivate the senses and command attention. The Soulmate Eau de Parfum Collection Set or Artisan Eau de Parfum Collection Set, £50 each, include 10 sample-size perfumes ranging from rich, velvety oud to fresh, citrus-infused notes.
