father's day 2017

The Best Father’s Day Gifts, According to 12 Real Dads

There’s no better way to find out what dad wants for Father’s Day than to, well, ask. We decided to go straight to the source, talking to a dozen dads of various ages to find out what they truly want on June 18. Below, the best Father’s Day gifts according to real dads.

“Cosmos Crew sweatshirts are pretty much the ultimate fatherhood apparel. They’re comfy and thin — you can wear it as a heavier long-sleeved shirt or a light sweatshirt.” — Danny Shapiro, beverage director, father-to-be in November

“For Father’s Day this year, I’d love to wake up next to my kids in Miami at the Edition Hotel. We’ll have pancakes for breakfast, swim and eat ice cream during the day, then go bowling in the basement at night.” — Zak Normandin, CEO of Dirty Lemon, father of a 6-year-old, 9-year-old, and 11-year-old

“My love affair with Lego was rekindled with the arrival of my older son Kasper, and we quite often battle over bricks while on a Sunday-morning build session. It’s a good way to spend time together, and actually quite therapeutic after a week at work. To take it to the next level, I would love to get The Lego Architect book by Tom Alphin together with an Architecture Studio Lego set to show Kasper who is boss in the building stakes. I also love to write and sketch wherever I travel, so a good sketchbook or notebook is a must. I keep all my old books as a creative diary, so for Father’s Day I’d love a personalized Smythson sketchbook in navy blue, my favorite color.” — Dean Gomilsek-Cole, design head of Turnbull & Asser, father of a 6-month-old and 11-year-old

“Most of what I really want for Father’s Day are unobtainable things, such as extra days in the week, hours in the morning, sunshine in the Chicago winter, or Hamilton tickets. But if pressed, I’d say I’d love a Postalco notebook. And if the kids strike it rich on their YouTube channels, I’d ask for a pair of Aëdle headphones.” — Jason Hammel, chef, father of a 6-year-old and 9-year-old

“These white sneakers are casual, go with everything, and are perfect for summer.” — David Root, consulting creative director, father of 11-year-old twins

“My son Henry is in bed by 7:30 p.m. most nights, which pretty much means my wife and I either find a sitter or we are staying in. All those nights at home mean we are consuming a lot more wine these days. A wine fridge for storing all those bottles would be a great gift.” — Ethan Mosbaugh, software engineer, father of an 18-month-old

Biking in New York City is too dangerous. I want to see my son’s future birthdays. So to stay fit, get engaged with other bikers online, and prepare for triathlons, I would like a solid indoor trainer that I can control with my iPhone. Wahoo’s Kickr trainer is the perfect Father’s Day gift for me.” — Scott Sinawi, investment banker, father of an 18-month-old

“I am always on the go, and I love the idea of an Apple Watch that gives you immediate updates. The only problem is that you need a charger for your iPhone, one for your laptop, one for your iPad, and an additional one for your Apple Watch. The ideal gift would be ONE charger for ALL devices, but I would already be very happy with this portable one for my Apple Watch.” — Naveen Jain, entrepreneur, father of a 20-year-old, 23-year-old, and 27-year-old

“It’s so hard to decide what I want. It’s my first Father’s Day, so I wanted to get something cool and classic — and this bike is it. I always knew I’d want to pass it along to my daughter one day. Aside from that, my real desire is to spend the entire day with my little girl.” — Deon Douglas, manager of A$AP Ferg and head of marketing at Trap Lord, father of an 8-month-old

“As a family, we spend a lot of time outdoors, and these are the perfect sunglasses for the playground, park, and beach. Gotta keep dads looking chic.” — Jason Oranzo, vice-president of brand creative at Victoria’s Secret, father of 11-year-old twins

“I like this five-in-one tool pen a lot. I doubt I’d ever use the screwdriver and level on it, but I think it would look cool on my desk. The banned-books socks are also a must. As a writer, I’d have to have them, particularly as so many of my favorite books are on them. I think this gift has to be given in tandem with the democracy coasters.” — Jonathan Santlofer, writer and artist, father of a 34-year-old

“Fatherhood can sometimes be a thankless job. But I love to grill. I have specific grill rules, too, which are mostly not to touch the grill. Add a smoker, and I get to be a chef! I’m in my element when creating recipes with family and friends, so, in essence, this gift is another way for me to give more love.” — Yahve Alcinay, medical sales consultant, father of a 12-year-old

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The Best Father’s Day Gifts, According to 12 Real Dads