For the dad who says he doesn't need anything: a better cup of coffee, tools for the grill, something for the car and a tracker for the keys he keeps losing. Each pick was recommended by independent reviewers.
Every product below comes from recent independent reviews, and an automated fact check confirmed each detail against its source. We don't test products ourselves. How we pick.
Products last fact-checked .
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Burr coffee grinder
Grinds whole coffee beans right before brewing.
Budget pick
Cuisinart Automatic Burr Coffee Grinder
- Has 18 grind settings spanning fine, medium and coarse. (NBC Select)
- NBC Select lists an 8-ounce capacity, and Cuisinart says it makes grounds for up to 18 five-ounce servings. (NBC Select)
- Grind size ranges from ultra fine to extra coarse, with simple, automatic operation. (Engadget)
- Comes with an 18-month warranty. (NBC Select)
Recommended in: NBC Select, Engadget
See price on AmazonMid-range pick
OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder
- Coarseness adjusts across 15 settings. (Food Network)
- A timer dial sets grinding from 0 to 30 seconds. (Food Network)
- The hopper holds up to 3/4 lb of beans, and the grounds container holds 2 cups. (Food Network)
- Reviewers at Food Network found it brewed one of the best-tasting cups among the grinders they tested. (Food Network)
Recommended in: Food Network
See price on AmazonSplurge pick
Breville Smart Grinder Pro
- Offers 60 grind settings. (Food Network)
- A front screen shows the grind setting, grind time, brew type and amount. (NBC Select)
- Food Network's tester found it relatively quiet and easy to clean. (Food Network)
Recommended in: Food Network, NBC Select
See price on AmazonInstant-read meat thermometer
Checks the temperature inside meat and other food.
Splurge pick
ThermoWorks Thermapen One
- Taste of Home says it reads in under a second, with a stated accuracy of ±0.5°F. (Taste of Home)
- Waterproof body rated IP67; runs on a single AAA battery with automatic sleep and shutoff. (Taste of Home)
- Comes with a 5-year warranty. (Food Network)
- Can be recalibrated and comes with a calibration certificate. (Reviewed)
Recommended in: Food Network, Taste of Home, Reviewed
See price on AmazonCast-iron skillet
A heavy pan that works on the stove and in the oven.
Budget pick
Lodge Pre-Seasoned 10-Inch Cast-Iron Skillet
- Comes pre-seasoned. (Yahoo Shopping)
- Reviewers at Yahoo Shopping said it does exactly what it's supposed to do and holds up over time. (Yahoo Shopping)
Recommended in: Yahoo Shopping
See price on AmazonMid-range pick
Victoria 10-Inch Cast-Iron Skillet
- Weighs about 5.5 pounds. (Yahoo Shopping)
- Has a long, curved main handle plus a helper handle. (Yahoo Shopping)
- Reviewers at Yahoo Shopping found its cooking surface smoother than most and its pour spouts left only a few drips. (Yahoo Shopping)
- Made by Victoria, a Colombian brand that has made cast iron since 1939. (Yahoo Shopping)
Recommended in: Yahoo Shopping
See price on AmazonGrill tool set
Tools for flipping and turning food on the grill.
Budget pick
OXO Outdoor Grilling Turner and Tongs Set
- A two-piece set: a 16.5-inch spatula and 18.7-inch tongs, both in heat-resistant stainless steel. (NBC News (NBC Select))
- The spatula has a beveled head with slots that drain grease, and the tongs have scalloped edges for grip. (NBC News (NBC Select))
- Both tools are dishwasher safe, with anti-slip handles and hanging rings; the tongs' handle has a built-in bottle opener. (NBC News (NBC Select))
Recommended in: NBC News (NBC Select), The Week (on Yahoo Shopping)
See price on AmazonCar detailing kit
Cleaners and cloths for cleaning a car at home.
Mid-range pick
Stoner Car Care 99056 Interior Detailing Kit
- Comes with Invisible Glass, a carpet and upholstery cleaner, a trim cleaner and protectant, a trim shine spray, a leather cleaner and microfiber towels. (Road & Track (on Yahoo Autos))
- Has no brushes or swabs; Road & Track's tester used an old brush they had on hand to work in the carpet foam. (Road & Track (on Yahoo Autos))
- Reviewers at Road & Track found its carpet cleaner did at least as well as the top-pick kit's on old floor mats. (Road & Track (on Yahoo Autos))
- Road & Track found the Invisible Glass cleaner left a streak-free finish with little effort. (Road & Track (on Yahoo Autos))
Recommended in: Road & Track (on Yahoo Autos)
See price on AmazonHeadlamp
A hands-free light worn on the head for camping, walks or power outages.
Budget pick
Nitecore NU20 Classic
- Puts out up to 360 lumens. (Treeline Review)
- Weighs about 1.34 oz, including its built-in 500 mAh lithium-ion battery. (Treeline Review)
- Recharges over USB-C. (Treeline Review)
- Rated IP66 against dust and water, but it shouldn't be submerged. (Treeline Review)
Recommended in: Treeline Review
See price on AmazonMid-range pick
Nitecore NU25 UL
- Weighs about 1.7 oz. (CleverHiker)
- Maximum output of 400 lumens. (CleverHiker)
- Recharges in about an hour and a quarter. (CleverHiker)
- Rated IP66, so it handles rain but isn't meant to be submerged. (CleverHiker)
Recommended in: CleverHiker, Outdoor Life, Field & Stream, Switchback Travel
See price on AmazonSplurge pick
Petzl Swift LT
- Weighs about 1.5 oz. (CleverHiker)
- Maximum output of 380 lumens. (CleverHiker)
- Rated IPX4 for splashes and rain. (Treeline Review)
Recommended in: CleverHiker, Treeline Review
See price on AmazonBluetooth item tracker
A small tag that helps find keys or a bag with a phone.
Budget pick
Chipolo Pop
- Works with either Apple's Find My network (iPhone) or Google's Find Hub network (Android). (Engadget)
- Engadget lists a replaceable battery that lasts about a year. (Engadget)
- Rated IP55 for splashes and dust, and has a hole for a key ring. (Engadget)
- In Engadget's test, its left-behind alert came when the tester was about 400 feet from their things. (Engadget)
Recommended in: Engadget
See price on AmazonMid-range pick
Pebblebee Clip 5
- Works with Apple's Find My network on an iPhone or Google's Find Hub network on an Android phone. (Engadget)
- Recharges over USB-C and is rated for up to 12 months per charge. (Engadget)
- Engadget measured its ring at 97 decibels, the loudest tag it had tested, and rang it from about 480 feet away with line of sight. (Engadget)
- Rated IP66 and comes with a carabiner-style key ring. (Engadget)
Recommended in: Engadget, Yahoo Tech, Android Authority
See price on AmazonPortable power bank
A pocket-sized battery for charging a phone away from an outlet.
Budget pick
OKZU 10000
- Holds 10,000 mAh. (CleverHiker)
- Weighs 6.6 oz on CleverHiker's scale. (CleverHiker)
- Recharged from empty to full in about 2 hours 36 minutes in CleverHiker's test. (CleverHiker)
Recommended in: CleverHiker
See price on AmazonMid-range pick
Nitecore NB Air
- Holds 5,000 mAh. CleverHiker measured about 16 Wh of usable energy. (CleverHiker)
- Weighs about 3.1 oz. (CleverHiker)
- Rated IPX7, meaning it can be submerged to about 1 m for 30 minutes. (Pack Hacker)
- Has a single USB-C port rated at 18W in and out. (Pack Hacker)
Recommended in: CleverHiker, CleverHiker, Pack Hacker
See price on AmazonSplurge pick
FLEXTAIL Zero Power 10000
- Packs 10,000 mAh into about 5 oz. (CleverHiker)
- Has two USB-C ports and no USB-A. (CleverHiker)
- Supports pass-through charging. (CleverHiker)
- Outputs up to 22.5W and is rated IPX4 for splashes, not submersion. (PaddlingLight)
Recommended in: CleverHiker, PaddlingLight, Adventure Alan
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