The Best Father’s Day Gifts for Grandfathers, According to Grandfathers

If he forgot about the beauty of ashoehorndecades ago, this nice-looking one will jog his memory. It’s well priced and works with most shoe heights, from his snug Merrells to long-beloved Blundstones.

You can never go wrong witha giant bucket of Maldon, but this white-truffle salt will be a nice alternative if he’s still working through the tub you got him last year. In the words of our kitchen and dining writer Emma Wartzman, “A little goes a long way.”

If he’s always forgetting to take his pills, he might just need a betterpill case. This one has seven labeled compartments for each day of the week. He’ll be able to switch the order of the lids as he pleases, meaning he can set it to the first day of his retirement vacations.

BonBon’s sour gummies may be popular with the youth, but they’d make a nice gift for the grandfather with a sweet tooth, too. Best of all, if you order online, he won’t have to waitonline to get his candy fix.

Sure, he probably has thegrilling essentials, like ameat thermometerand a personalizedapron, but a dedicated cheese-melting dome is less likely. It can also be used to cook vegetables and keep food warm when it comes off the grill.

If he treats every grandchild’s masterpiece as he would art from a gallery, consider this picture frame that’s easy to open and close as the art pours in. Plus it doubles as art storage since it can hold up to 50 pieces.

This fill in the blank-style journal contains simple but creative prompts that grandfathers and their grandchildren can complete together over time. Older grandkids could also complete the exercises solo, then gift an already completed book of love notes for their grandfather to read and enjoy.

For the grandfather who starts every sentence with “When I was your age,” this book includes 12 prompted letters for him to record all his best memories for his grandchildren to cherish and even includes envelopes and stickers.

Here’s a book to add to the story-time queue. It includes tips for “babysitting” a grandpa, like what to eat for snacks and what to do on a walk.

DeeDee Moore, the founder of the grandparenting blogMore Than Grand, likes gifting Richard Eyre’s book to new grandfathers. “It’s an excellent gift for those grandfathers who want ideas to help shape their role as grandpa or who need a little help getting outside their comfort zone,” Moore says.

For the Jewish grandpa who embraces his wise age, I recommend this guide that promises to teach readers how to “how to eat, dress, get around town, and schmooze like a seasoned OJM” — meaning Old Jewish Man. If your grandpa already considers himself an expert in those categories, it’ll at least give him a good laugh. (That was the case when I gave the book to my boyfriend’s grandpa, anyway.)

My parents recently gave this book to my grandfather, who is in the middle of writing a book. He loved it so much that he keeps recommending it to me so we can chat about it.

Here’s a gift for car granddads, gadget granddads, and perhaps most important, clumsy granddads. TheShark Tankproduct goes in between the seat and the center console to prevent important things like iPhones and wallets from falling in the crack.

Juicers usually offer little in terms of innovation, but this one is so unique I actually show it off during dinner parties. Instead of squeezing citrus from the rind to the center, it folds the fruit in half and catches all the seeds in the process. Even if Grandpa’s juicer isn’t chipped and scratched, this one is an upgrade. (It also folds flat, making it easy to store.)

ChefThomas Kellerhas been using this shaving cream since he moved to New York in 1984. Decades later, he says, “It’s still the richest, smoothest shave cream that I’ve tried.”

Board gamescame up with multiple grandparents who said they’re a fun gift that encourages family time. Go with Mouse trap, a ’90s classic that’s suitable for playing with grandkids ages 4 and up.

Whether he’s a fan ofSeinfeldor likes a good party trick, this traveler pen is a reliable writing utensil for filling out travel forms, journaling, or completing crosswords. It can be used on any surface, in all weather conditions, and at any cabin pressure.

Small but mighty, this massage ball is ideal for the grandpa who’s serious about his afternoon walks and can’t resist a morning bike ride but needs a little something extra to knead out aches and pains.

And if it’s his back that’s achy, gift him thishook-shaped massagerdesigned for kneading out hard-to-reach spots.

Even grandpa deserves a “lippie” moment — as Gen Z says. Here’s an olive-oil-based lip balm that comes recommended byBobby Flay(and his on-set groomer).

Here are some nice-lookingcompression socks, which help prevent heavy legs and swollen feet during long flights to see the grandkids.

For the grandpa counting down the days until Paul Simon’s summer tour, someconcert earplugswill protect his ears when the day actually arrives. When our writer tested them during multiple concerts, she didn’t feel like she was missing out by wearing earplugs — “and I definitely needed hearing protection,” she says.

A tatteredDopp kit(complete with old toothpaste stains and loose Q-tips) is no way to vacation during retirement. This one from Tooletries, which is our favorite waterproof Dopp kit, is leakproof and essentially stain-resistant.

A set of pit gloves will keep him from scalding his fingers. These are coated with neoprene rubber and “designed fortrue-blue barbecuerswho have to handle hot meat on the smoker — that means they’re waterproof, stainproof, and, most important, greaseproof.”

My grandfather was looking for a sleep mask that wasn’t too tight and would help him snooze deeply. I gave him this one, which is adjustable and the most effective blackout sleep mask that I’ve tested since writingour guide to sleep masks.

For the longtime Little League coach, a Sports History by Mail subscription will send detailed replicas of original patents for classic sports equipment right to his door. (If he’s particularly into regular history or sports, you might considerRecipes by MailorHistory by Mailinstead.)

If he’s partial to a specific team, go for this ceramic ice-cream-bowl set that is a sturdier version of the baseball cap cups you can get in stadiums today.

When wesurveyed 1,000 seniorsabout the things they buy, they shared that books are some of the most useful gifts to receive. For the grandpa who’s a pickle enthusiast, consider gifting him this comprehensive guide to at-home fermentation.

Pair it with the kit that includes everything you need to master the art of fermentation.

Or if he prefers his briny delights fried, this kit includes everything he needs to make fried pickles, including dill pickles, tempura mix, and Panko breadcrumbs.

GrandparentsBarbara and Fred Zucker have multiple grandkids in college and suggest gifting a crewneck from a grandkid’s alma mater. It’s a cozy way to keep the grandkids with you at all times.

Whether or not your grandpa has a green thumb, thisindoor gardenmakes it easy to grow everything from basil to mint thanks to its LED lights and hydroponic growing system.

After sustaining a coffee addiction for many decades, he’s probably tried more than a few brews — even if he still prefers his coffee black. But if he’s open to something new, thisflash-frozen coffee concentrateis a good bet. “They’re made fromgoodbeans, too — as soon as you dissolve a little puck in water, it tastes like you’re drinking a cup straight from your local shop,” reports our kitchen and dining writer Emma Wartzman.

For the sober-curious Pop, I recommend Ghia’s nonalcoholic spritzes, which are made with complex ingredients like yuzu, elderflower, and allspice extract.

While the results of oursenior surveyrevealed that most seniors don’t find DNA tests particularly appealing, a couple grandparents still expressed interest in documenting and passing down their family history. This virtual class from the National Genealogy Society teaches students how to document family history at their own pace within a six-month time frame.

Grandfathers deserve nothing less than our favorite memory-foamtravel neck pillow, which has slightly raised sides to stop your head from slumping. It’s so good that our travel writer will use it to cheat on our top pick, theTrtl.

Make his morning strolls that much more relaxing with Merrell’snotoriously comfortableslip-ons.

No oneneedsahigh-tech personal fan, but this one from Shark will make all the other grandpas at his golf course (or country club or gym) jealous. It comes with different interchangeable heads that can be clicked into the body: a ten-speed fan, a mister, and a cooling plate.

If he’s agolfer, he probably already has all the gear he could need. This handsome pouch has enough room to keep everything organized (as in, five balls, eight tees, a range finder, and more).

Hokas were a favorite among seniors who contributed to oursenior surveybecause the sneakers are extra cushioned and comfortable. In fact, they’re the Strategist’s favorite ultracushionedwalking shoe.

If his current robe is tattered, gift him our favorite 100-percent cottonbathrobefrom Parachute. It’s lightweight yet warm and looks very classic.

The Aura digital picture frame came up again and again when I chatted with grandparents about the gifts they actually want. You can set this one up beforehand to avoid hours of tech help in the future.

Whether he’s a regular at the gym or knows all the neighbors because of his daily walks, ourfavorite fitness trackerwill allow him to track his workouts, count steps, and keep an eye on his heart rate. Plus it has built-in GPS to help track long walks and bike rides.

This isn’t any old corkscrew. It’s best for the wine enthusiast with an extensive collection of older bottles because it combines a classic corkscrewwith a forkedAh-So-style wine-openerto better remove those old corks that might fall into the bottle.

It wouldn’t be a gift guide for grandfathers without this trendypickleballset that includes everything Grandpa needs to enter a match with his buddy: two paddles, two balls, and a storage backpack.

This solar-powered smart bird feeder livestreams avian friends straight to Grandpa’s phone. Grandmother Mary Eckenrode says the only thing her husband has on his wish list is a camera to watch the animals in his backyard.

If he’s always recommending a new classic for your to-read list, surprise him with this clock that tells time with quotes from books spanning the past six centuries. The creators add new quotes every day, so he won’t get tired of seeing the same ones over and over again.

Grandfather Manny Oliverez told us hisgrillwas one of the best gifts he’s received, because “what is better than being together grilling and eating with friends, family, and the grandkids?” We like this trulysmokeless grillthat still gives grill marks.

Ronnie Green’s husband, Frank, is a train enthusiast and loves sharing that passion with his grandchildren through overnight train trips. Thisnew suitcase from Awayopens from the top rather than in a clamshell, making it easy to access everything inside.

An exercise bike was a popular wish-list item in our senior survey, and it will keep Grandpa active. This Schwinn bike has multiple adjustable settings and workout programs for a customized ride, and it displays your ride history.

If he already has the bike (or just a dedicated walking routine), he can use these high-techcompression bootsto improve circulation and reduce muscle soreness.

These waterproof binoculars will signal to the other bird-watchers that Grandpa isnota beginner.Our resident birder, Katherine Gillespie, says, “They have a slightly larger lens diameter and ESP dielectric coating, which delivers excellent contrast and color fidelity, helping you see the patterns and hues on a bird’s feathers.”