OluKai Kipuka Hulu Men’s Leather Slippers

Comfortably durable slippers you can actually wear on the go

$120 at Amazon

Tiege Hanley Men’s Skin Care Set, Essential Skin Care Routine for Men

An uncomplicated skin care routine

$80 at Zwilling

D&D Starter Kit: Dragons of Stormwreck Isle

The gift of imagination

$6 at Amazon

Nintendo Switch – OLED Model

A supreme video game system that goes where you go

$149 at Amazon

Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition

A step up for Kindle lovers

$298 at Huckberry

L.L. Bean Men’s Signature Cotton Fisherman Sweater, Shawl-Collar Cardigan

A smart-looking sweater, for the discerning cardigan lover

$300 at Amazon

RTIC Cooler

What dad doesn’t love a quality cooler?

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The festive season is right around the corner, and if you’ve got a father figure in your life who needs celebrating, we’ve got a slew of cool gifts that require your attention. The ever-busy elves at CNET have carefully curated a list of presents for the dad in your life. Whether he’s into camping, cooking, comic books or coffee, there’s probably something here that dear ol’ Dad would love to unwrap during Hanukkah or on Christmas morning.  

This story is part of Gift Guide, our year-round collection of the best gift ideas.

There’s a cavalcade of goodies to sort through below, from casual clothing to high-tech gadgets to everything in between. Whether you’re shopping for a video-game dad or an avid bookworm, we’re sure something will strike your fancy. Maybe it’s the sleek travel backpack or the high-fidelity turntable. Whatever you decide, just make sure you beat the holiday rush. And don’t forget to wrap it. 

Tired of making your own cold brew at home and hoping the ratio of coffee grounds to water is correct? The Oxo Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker is here to quench your cold coffee thirst. There’s an art to making cold brew, and this puppy churns out a consistently strong and smooth cup that’s sure to get your day started on the right foot. And if you fancy a pot of tea, the Good Grips is good too — it can be used as a tea infuser. If you’re concerned it’ll look chintzy on the counter, don’t fret — the brewing container and glass carafe will add style to any kitchen. 

Read our Oxo Cold Brew Coffee Maker review.

When cooking with a Lodge cast iron pan, you’re operating on a whole other level. Yes, this cookware requires a different type of cleaning regimen — don’t scrub these with soap and water, please! However, their ability to hold high heat is the secret weapon that’ll make your chicken dinner go from fine to fantastic. And they come pre-seasoned, which means that after Dad unwraps this iconic cooking tool, he can get straight to cooking his famous French toast breakfast for the whole family. Talk about a win-win!

OluKai does footwear differently. The company’s Hawaiian roots can be felt in every product it creates, and these Kīpuka Hulu slippers are a prime example. Whether you’re relaxing around the house, out running errands, or even kicking it at the beach, these kicks deliver the goods. An on-the-go slipper like no other, these are designed with premium nubuck leather on the outside and soft shearling lining the inside to keep your tootsies nice and cozy. And if you prefer a more slip-on approach to your footwear, these have a “Drop-In Heel Design,” which allows the heel to fold for for easy foot access.

If Dad isn’t exfoliating properly (please tell him to toss out that bar of soap), listen up! Tiege Hanley’s Essential Routine for Men is the perfect starter kit to get him on the road to hydrated skin. A face wash, exfoliating scrub, a.m. facial moisturizer and p.m. moisturizer all come in this collection. It’s a simple and speedy routine, and the simplified user’s guide will help keep him on track to younger-looking skin.

J.A. Henckels’ Zwilling Gourmet 8-inch Chef’s knife is CNET’s top pick for the best midprice chef’s knife — one you don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on but that still feels good in your hand. Dad can slice and dice meat and veggies with ease thanks to this knife’s ergonomic polymer handle. And the large blade means it can tackle most kitchen tasks.

The Fizzics DraftPour makes any beer better by converting natural carbonation into microfoam, which gives beer the aroma and flavor you usually get only from a bar tap. The beer dispenser works with most beer cans and bottles, and any type of beer: lagers, IPAs, ambers, porters and more.

Is Dad a comic book lover but unsure of what the cool kids are reading? Amazon’s Comixology is a digital storefront that has over 230,000 titles — from comics to manga to graphic novels. And with Comixology Unlimited, its monthly subscription service, visitors can peruse over 45,000 comics, which include Comixology Originals, creator-owned works by popular scribes like Scott Snyder. The Comixology app is available to download from the App Store and Google Play and comes with a 30-day free trial. 

Looking for a record player that won’t break the bank? The Audio-Technica AT-LP60X is an affordable turntable that brings an automatic play option to the mix (but you can still futz with the tonearm, if you’d like). It comes in four color options: red, black, white and silver. According to CNET’s Ty Pendlebury, this is a turntable that “offers excellent midrange and bass response for the price of a nice night out.” Finally, your dad can dust off his old vinyl collection.

Amazon’s Smart Thermostat sets a new standard for the category. It has a clean, modern touchscreen design, and it’s easy to use, whether you’re adjusting the temperature at the thermostat, through the Alexa app or with Alexa voice commands with a compatible Alexa-enabled speaker or display. It earned a CNET Editors’ Choice award for best value smart thermostat.

Read our Amazon Smart Thermostat review.

L.L. Bean consistently delivers quality, comfort and style on the cardigan front. The vintage flavor is off the charts here. But the company has upgraded the formula, adding new cotton yarns to the mix to weave in comfort and versatility. Refined, yet rugged — cardigan sweaters aren’t just for winter anymore. Who knew?  

The JBL Go 3’s durable design, coupled with surprisingly decent sound for its tiny size, make it one of the top micro Bluetooth speakers out there.

Available in multiple color options, it has an IP67 water-resistance rating, meaning it can be dunked in water and is dust-proof. Battery life is rated at up to five hours.

This pair of stainless steel tumblers is nice enough to use at home, but they also come with a hard case that’s perfect for travel. Each durable tumbler holds 11 ounces of whiskey (or maybe spiked hot cocoa for the holidays) and features double-walled insulation to keep that drink chilled or hot. It’s available in stainless, copper and gunmetal.