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Whether he’s a stepbrother, half-brother, brother-in-law, or biological brother, he’s probably special to you. (Special enough, at least, that you’re reading a story on the best gifts for brothers.) With that uniqueness comes the need for an equally exceptional present that shows how well you know him — and his very specific interests. My own brother is very particular. But after years of gifting him birthday presents and Christmas gifts — some winners, some duds — I’ve learned that the more the gift speaks to one of his specific hobbies or tastes, the better. (He’s a comic-book nerd, and the best gift I’ve gotten him was an ultrarare Batman figure.)
Maybe your brother is a fitness fanatic, like mine, or a plant enthusiast who likes to listen to records in his spare time, or someone who is always traveling. His hobbies may range from cooking and baking to hiking, or maybe he’s the type of brother who just got into pickleball. He may be a bookworm — or maybe he’s the biggest Star Wars fan that you know.
Whatever the case, finding the perfect gift for your brother (or brothers) can be tough. To help save you time, I pulled together a list of products we love and have written about before, plus a few more gift ideas any brother would appreciate. (And if you still can’t find something that’ll make your brother smile, check out our big list of over 50 holiday gift guides.)
Under $25
For the brother who’s been using the same 3-in-1 body wash since high school
I’m somewhat of an evangelist for this energizing peppermint-and-eucalyptus bar soap, which has little bits of pumice in it that help exfoliate the skin.
For the brother who’s too busy for coffee some days
These espresso-filled chocolates deliver caffeine with a little sweet kick. Senior editor Jen Trolio gave her brother two packs for his birthday. “He’s a personal trainer and loves them as a pre-workout treat-slash-boost,” she says.
For the brother who volunteers for spider catch-and-release duty
With this magnifier, he can inspect each bug he catches — and release it into the wild safely. It’s one of our favorite toys.
For the brother who wants an everyday watch he doesn’t have to worry about
This retro-looking watch is casual enough for everyday wear, and at $23 it won’t break the bank if your brother loses it. We think it’s one of the best gifts you can get for under $25.
For the outdoorsy brother who likes to show off his cool gear at camp
This sleeve fits on a standard lighter, and turns it into a multi-tool — perfect for having around camp. It’s one of writer Ali Slagle’s camping-van essentials.
For the brother who adopted a cat
For the brother who dislikes the Notes app
These handy notebooks have moisture-resistant paper, so his notes won’t smudge over time. They’re also approved by filmmaker John Wilson.
For the brother who wants to pack a bowl with his multitool
The Geekey comes with the usual tools: a screwdriver, bottle opener, ruler, serrated edge, and more. But our favorite feature is the bowl and pipe stem built into the tool’s body. “Compared with a one-hitter — perhaps the most famous camouflaged-pipe option — the Geekey wins out with its more generous, easier-to-pack bowl,” writes Strategist contributor Aleta Burchyski.
For the outdoorsy brother who gets his gear soaked
I take a dry sack on most hikes and backpacking trips so I can keep my valuables dry — even if my backpack gets drenched by a storm.
For the brother who’s always on a bike
I’ve used these bike lights as my main set for three years. Despite their small size (either can fit easily on a keychain or in a pocket), they help me stay visible at night and during the day. They come in a bunch of colors and make great gifts for cyclists.
For the rap-fanatic brother
Rap Capital explores the history of the Atlanta rap scene and how it shaped — or was shaped by — artists like Lil Baby and Migos as well as lesser-known but equally important players in the music industry.
Under $50
For the brother who likes to keep his protein shakes cold
This is the superior shaker bottle. It’s made of stainless steel, so it keeps smoothies and shakes cold for hours, and its mixing ball is integrated into the lid, which shuts tight and doesn’t leak.
For the brother who’s getting into foraging
I gave this field guide to a friend last Christmas after he got sick from making a soup with some mushrooms he foraged in Colorado — help for picking out the right ones in future foraging sessions. In general, the National Audubon Society Field Guides are great gifts for any nature lovers (I recently bought the field guide to the night sky for myself), and the flexible vinyl cover gives them a timeless feel.
For the brother with a stiff neck
This massage cane is one of the ten things that director Daniel Kwan can’t live without.
For the brother who took up cooking (and went plant-based)
Chef and Chopped winner Adriana Urbina named this vegetarian cookbook one of the best out there, noting that the recipes are “creative” and incorporate lots of seasonal fare. It also has stunning photography, so it can double as a coffee-table book.
For the brother who loves adventure photography
Featured in our roundup of the best gifts for outdoorsy types, this book showcases photos taken by director and mountaineer Jimmy Chin, who co-directed Free Solo with his wife, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi. In it, he documents his journeys in Nepal, Antarctica, and Tibet, among other destinations.
For the brother who can’t talk right now because he’s golfing
These are Rob Lowe’s all-time favorite golf balls because they offer a solid combo of distance and control.
For the brother who watches every Knicks game
Written and illustrated by the co-hosts of the podcast Cookies Hoops, Ben Detrick and Andrew Kuo, this encyclopedia is filled with hot takes that are accompanied by colorful graphics, illustrations, and charts.
For the brother who lost his wallet this year
One of our tech writer’s favorite MagSafe iPhone accessories, this leather card holder snaps onto the back of his phone so he doesn’t have to carry — or lose — his wallet.
For the brother who likes to watch his shows in bed
With this charger, he won’t need to plug a cable in his phone’s charging port — this Belkin gadget charges his iPhone battery from the back, plus it has a kickstand.
For the brother who carries his own cup
Keep Cups were designed by baristas, so they’re the ideal shape and size to replace the paper cups at your local cafe.
For the brother who knows he should take care of his skin, but doesn’t know where to start
While moisturizing your skin is an important step in most skin-care routines, applying SPF is even more crucial. Start him off with this moisturizer, which has caffeine, vitamins C and E, and SPF 20.
For the brother with hoop dreams
Instead of daydreaming about hitting buzzer-beating shots, he can actually practice them in his bedroom.
For the sourdough bro
This dough-focused coffee-table book is full of bread-making secrets from one of the most famous bakeries in the world.
Under $100
For the athlete brother whose feet are constantly sore
If your brother is the active type, he will appreciate the soft, cushioned support of these Hoka slides, which feel like walking on clouds, according to Timothy Grindle, co-founder of Canoe Club. We picked the Oras as the best overall men’s slipper in our roundup.
For the brother who just moved into a new apartment
This piñon incense smells like a New Mexican fireplace.
For the brother who wins every lawn game
This Finnish lawn game — which editor Maxine Builder describes as “a cross between bowling, billiards, and blackjack” — is easy to pick up and is casual enough to played at the family picnic.
For the brother who cooks with fresh herbs
This is our favorite indoor garden kit. Explains Strategist writer Erin Schwartz, “It’s compact, comes in a range of sizes, contains a pump and comes with fertilizer, and produces a prodigious quantity of herbs even the brand’s smallest model.”
For the brother who always stuffs his running shoes with newspaper
For the brother who has to fly home to see the family
This gadget makes long flights a little more bearable by allowing you to connect your wireless headphones to the in-flight entertainment system.
For the brother who would enjoy a new food project
If your brother has ever mentioned how cool it would be to pickle vegetables or make kimchee, consider giving him this kit, which we featured in our list of the best gifts for gardeners. It has everything he needs to get started, including a recipe book.
For the brother with a sweet tooth
He might love candy, but if your brother wants to maintain a dazzling smile, a water pick could make all the difference. This one is Dr. Inna Chern’s (of New York General Dentistry) model of choice for those who want to see “massive improvement in stains and between-teeth plaque buildup.”
For the brother who dressed up as Link for Halloween
The long-awaited sequel to Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom builds on the expansive, open-world gameplay of its predecessor while adding new mechanics — such as fusing and autobuilding — to the gameplay.
For the brother who knows each of your family members’ Hogwarts house
If he’s a Potterhead, he’ll enjoy this open-world game full of witch- and wizardry-related quests that take place at Hogwarts and beyond.
For the gamer bro
Smartphone technology is so good these days that some mobile games can be just as immersive as games on a console. This snap-on device takes phone gaming up a notch.
For the brother who will challenge you to any lawn game
If your brother’s still in grade school, chances are they’re familiar with Spikeball, the sport that combines elements of volleyball and foursquare and is played in elementary- and middle-school P.E. classes across the country. While we featured the portable set in our roundup of the best gifts for 9-year-olds, Spikeball is also a great lawn game for brothers of all ages.
For the brother who likes to host …
Hedley & Bennett aprons are beloved by chefs for their sturdy construction and lifetime guarantee. Plus, they’re available in many different (non-boring) colors and patterns, like jalapeño orange, aubergine purple, or classics like this one in midnight blue. The brand also offers custom embroidery.
… and prepare steak dinners
Tom Colicchio says this smart thermometer from Meater is the best one he’s ever used.
For the kid brother who’s already dreaming of being an Eagle Scout
He may only be 5 years old, but it’s never too early to learn how to treat a bee sting. This board game made of 100 percent recycled materials comes beautifully illustrated (and requires no reading skills), so he’ll be teaching you which plants are edible and which are poisonous in no time.
Under $200
For the brother who always borrows your gloves during ski season
These cowhide leather gloves are stylish enough to wear when he’s not on the slopes. Plus, they come with a removable wool liner.
For the brother who’s always training for a marathon
Massage guns tend to be bulky and loud, but not this one — it’s my go-to recovery tool, especially when I’m traveling. It packs a punch for its relatively small size, and its motor is whisper quiet.
For the brother who lives far away
One of our most-recommended gifts, this digital picture frame allows you to view and share photos with loved ones no matter where you are. It also works with the iCloud photo library and Google photos.
For the brother who documents every social gathering
If your brother is too impatient to develop his rolls of film, he’ll like the speed of an instant camera. Photographer and designer Dan Rubin travels with this one from Fuji, and likes how its “business-card-size film” is easy to stock up on (and inexpensive).
For the brother who always dresses in athleisure
These premium sweatpants are a major upgrade to the standard cotton pair that he’s been wearing since high school. Plus, they’ll last years — Kevin Kafesu, a senior menswear buyer at Norse Projects, says Reigning Champ’s products are “unbelievably durable.”
For the brother who’s had to call AAA one too many times
I recommend keeping a portable jump-starter in your car for any road trips or outdoor adventures, because you never know when your battery might crap out (or your road-trip buddy might accidentally leave a light on overnight).
For the brother who’s grown up but still loves his Legos
We featured this Statue of Liberty replica in our roundup of the best Lego sets for all ages. This one comes from the Lego Architecture line, and is slightly more affordable than other sets in the line.
For the brother who loves to travel
Strategist contributor Margaret Eby dreaded packing until she discovered this carry-on backpack from Cotopaxi. It can fit a “shocking amount” of stuff — perfect for the brother who’s always heading off on another trip.
For the brother applying for jobs
A great deal for such a nice-looking (and interview-appropriate) Japanese automatic watch.
For the brother who bought a house
This sleek gadget is capable of deterring real-life robbers. Your brother can program the Doorbell Pro to greet visitors who arrive on his doorstep; he can also program it to send alerts any time there is movement. If he subscribes to the Ring Protect Plan, he can review recordings as far back as 60 days.
Over $200
For the brother who loves music
If your brother is still playing music from his ten-year-old college speakers, get him a multiroom wireless speaker like the Sonos One. Jade Baker, partner and assistant buyer at the British department store John Lewis, says, “This is the classic starter speaker for your multiroom collection. With the ability to link up to all other Sonos speakers in the range, you can kit out your whole house with room-filling sound.”
For the brother who tracks everything
When I rounded up the best fitness trackers, I picked the Whoop as the best for recovery. It uses heart, respiratory, stress, and sleep data, it paints a holistic picture of your health. It’s also a favorite of many athletes, including Sue Bird and Aryna Sabalenka.
For the brother who likes to write in the margins
Strategist tech writer Jordan McMahon prefers his Elipsa over his Kindles because it allows him to jot down notes on articles and books, which make his thoughts “a part of the text and easy to take in at a glance, rather than something hidden that I have to dig up later,” he writes.
For the brother who goes crazy for movie nights
This compact portable projector is perfect if you’re limited on space or don’t have the furniture to set up a bulkier model. McMahon likes to prop it up on his nightstand to watch shows on his ceiling before bed. He also says it’s great for outdoor movie nights.
For the brother who just started collecting vinyl
If your brother is starting a vinyl collection and needs a turntable, go with this one from Audio-Technica. We picked it as the best-overall turntable. Jake Sullivan, co-owner of Wooden Tooth Records in Tucson, Arizona, says it’s great for beginners. “Somebody who has no experience with records can look at it, figure out how to play a record, and get good sound out of it,” he says.
For the brother who loves throwing pizza parties
Ooni’s ovens make excellent gifts for aspiring chefs because they’re great at achieving temperatures above 900 degrees — that’s hot enough to cook a pizza in well under two minutes. This model can be powered by either gas, wood, or charcoal, and if your brother can operate a barbecue grill, he’ll be able to cook with the Karu easily.
For the brother who lives for podcasts
Apple’s widely beloved pair of headphones (with noise canceling) will help him catch up on politics, basketball, or true-crime podcasts — or get a little privacy for his Zoom calls.
For the brother who’s more of a tea guy
Strategist contributor David Schwartz described his Breville tea maker as “groundbreaking.” (We also selected it as the best large electric tea kettle.) “The Breville’s pièce de résistance is a metal-mesh basket that robotically dunks loose leaves in boiled water for the exact steeping time and then removes them, resting above the water’s surface to prevent too-bitter brews or totally weak souse,” Schwartz writes.
For the brother who wants to go treasure hunting
This metal detector comes recommended by two real-life treasure hunters. While you can’t ensure he’ll actually find anything, experts think this is a pretty good model for the money, and it’ll definitely get him started.
For the brother with an almost perfect lawn
It’s hard work maintaining a lawn, but you can make it a little less tough for your brother by giving him the Rachio smart sprinkler system. He can input details like sun exposure and plant type to make sure he’s using the perfect amount of water. The Rachio also checks the weather, so it knows to skip watering on rainy days.
The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
