Valentine’s Day Gifts for Every Type of Man
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A great Valentine’s Day gift strikes the balance between personal and indulgent, a different measure depending on whom you’re shopping for. Some guys may be yearning for a high-qualityturntable; others may want nothing more than a reliablechef’s knife. Some want a trip to the spa andfancy skin care. (And, of course, there are the guys who truly just want a nice dinner and chocolate.) To help you find the right Valentine’s Day gift for the man in your life, I combed through the Strategist archives to find 51 items special enough to gift. (Everything on this list has also been through a simple heuristic: Would giving this as a Valentine’s gift start a fight? So nothing purely pragmatic or self-improvement-y here.)
Many are things Strategist staffers have gifted (or were thrilled to receive) themselves. All of the things on this list are available on Amazon but I’ve found some of them elsewhere, too, for those who like to shop around. And if you’re looking for more ideas,we have gift guidesfor everyone, from the person who just wantsflowerstofoodiesandwine lovers.
Updated on February 9, 2026
We made sure all these gifts are still available and correctly priced, and we noted any that may require expedited shipping to arrive before Valentine’s Day.
Under$25
For the man with a sweet tooth
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Fancy Belgian chocolate seashells filled with hazelnut praline are an unexpected twist on the standard box of chocolates.
For the man with tech neck
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If his neck is crunched from spending all day looking at screens, this neck stretcherbeloved by opera singers and Broadway starswill offer relief.
For the man with a stockpile of scented candles
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This is my favorite incense from Japanese brand Nippon Kodo — it smells better than a scented candle and is less expensive. (And it comes in a very giftable box.)
[Editor’s note: This item may arrive after Valentine’s Day depending on your shipping location.]
For the man with a preferred canned-tomato brand
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A made-in-Italy pasta board to get his gnocchi alla sorrentina restaurant-level perfect.
For the man who loves a bath
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Dye-free, fragrance-free, all-natural mineral bath salts from Japan.
For the man who camps out at oyster happy hour
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Buy a man an oyster and he’ll eat for a day. Teach a man how to use an oyster knife and you’ll feed him for life.
For the man who’s trying to cut down on screen time
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According tochess players, nothing beats an affordable, portable, roll-up chess set. GrandmasterSusan Polgar, a three-time chess world champion, likes this one, praising it as an “an inexpensive but durable set that’s perfect for casual or tournament play.”
[Editor’s note: This item will arrive after Valentine’s Day, but it’s still a great gift, even if a few days late.]
For the man who’s training for a half-marathon
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Novelist Haruki Murakami’s meditative book on running “is about so much more than just what is running, how to run, and how to run fast,” says runnerRich Roll.
For the man who bakes
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This insanely good French butter isbeloved by Dominique Ansel, inventor of the cronut. “You have to experience it to be able to understand it,” he says. “It’s higher quality than most butter you can find in the U.S. because of the cows and what they eat in France.” (And yes, it’s great for making croissants.)
For the man with a curated desk
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A display-worthy chunky metal mechanical pencil from Czech company Koh-I-Noor. (For 99 more pens, pencils, and markers for every taste,click here.)
For the man who puts hot sauce on everything
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Boon Sauce
We learned about this anchovy-boostedchili crispfrom chef James Park, who literally wrote thebook about everyone’s favorite spicy condiment.
For the man who never has a hair out of place
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This is podcasterMarc Maron’s favorite comb — it’s handmade and folds into an efficient pocket-size package.
For the menswear man
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Yahae’s luxurious Japanese socks are a favorite among fashionable guys. (In an issue ofSecret Strategist,William Frederickdesigner Bill McNicol called them out as an important component of his holiday-party outfit.)
For the man who loves international candy
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Ferrero Pocket Coffee Espresso
These espresso-filled chocolates are soldonly in the colder months in Italy, so they’re in season right now.
Under$50
For the man with a woodshop in the garage
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If he keeps sending you links to biscuit joiners, he’ll appreciate this introduction to Japanese carpentry written by architect Kiyosi Seike that highlights 48 different joint styles.
For the man who has trouble falling asleep
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One of ourfavorite weighted blankets, this cotton-and-glass-bead weighted quilt is a game changer,according to Strategist assistant editor and (formerly) restless sleeper Jenna Milliner-Waddell. “I now define my life as pre–YNM blanket and post–YNM blanket,” she says.
For the man who takes the best vacation photos
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These disposable cameras are easy to use and produce surprisingly high-quality black-and-white prints.
For the man who’s already sick of winter
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If you’re worried that another week of single-digit temperatures might break him, this box of tropical fruit (passionfruit, Meyer lemons, cherimoya, and more) will help him hold on till spring.
For the man who could lose an AirTag
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This slimcard-size trackerfits right into his wallet and can connect to an iPhone’s “Find My” function. (Joel Kim Booster named it as one of thethings he can’t live without.)
For the man who loves a spa day
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Claus Porto, a brand thatbarbers love, has been making its luxe soaps in Portugal since 1887. This soap from the company’s Musgo Real line has notes of sandalwood and patchouli. (It’s also a Zeigeisty shade ofgross green.)
For the man who cosplays as aTop Chefcontestant
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The pros go through tasting spoons faster than kitchen towels. This one is so thoughtfully designed that it’s become one of Strategist food and dining writer Emma Wartzman’smost-used tools.
For the man who listens to synthwave
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This cute little gadget is half-toy, half-instrument, winner of the “High Target Toy Prize” at the 2010 Japanese Toy Awards.Use the slider on the “tail” to make notesand squish its silicone cheeks for changes in tone.
For the man on a 2026 fitness journey
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For the man in a love-hate relationship with his charcoal grill
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This powerful clip-on fan is “a firestarter’s best friend,” according tochef Jean-Paul Bourgeois. It’ll get tons of air to the coals and get the fire burning hotter faster.
For the man with a passion for graphic design
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Milton Glaser ‘Big Nudes’ Poster
I discovered this almost SFW nude from designerMilton Glaser, the co-founder ofNew YorkMagazine, via my co-worker Liza Corsillo’s roundup of thebest butt-themed home décor.
For the man who’s getting into skin care
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A brightening vitamin C serum that’s one of 39 products inHeated RivalrystarHudson Williams’sskin-care rotation, as he told our friends at The Cut.
Under$100
For the man you travel the world with
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This useful device plugs into a headphone jack and connects via Bluetooth to your AirPods, eliminating the need for headphones on flights (and for unplugging your setup when your seat partner stands). This model can be paired with up to two sets of AirPods in case you’re watching something together.
For the man who wants to match with his dog
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For the man who forgets to lift from the legs, not the back
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Aback massagerwith a long wand that can unknot the hard-to-reach places a massage gun can’t reach.
For the fragrance nerd
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Escentric Molecules 01 is something of a meta-fragrance: It contains a high concentration of a synthetic molecule used in perfume-making, which gives it a woodsy, unisex scent that’s quite subtle and smells different on everyone.
For the man with a display-worthy sex-toy collection
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nJoy Pure Plug
For the man who does everything on his phone
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We-Vibe Pivot
This app-controlled sex toy is the “the Cadillac of cock rings,” according to Samantha Bard, co-owner of the Williamsburg sex shop and event spaceShag. It can be controlled via smartphone app from anywhere, a feature that makes it really popular, she says.
Under$200
For the man who likes to sleep under the stars
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Kelty Loveseat
Van lifersMegan Hogate and Ciara Ladromasay that this portable, durable loveseat is a “romantic”campingchair — “that’s the reason we got it.”
For the man who searches eBay for vintage Italian lamps
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ThisAlessistovetop coffee maker is a design classic and will make his coffee-making ritual a little more indulgent.
For the man who would rather stay on the couch
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These comfy, cork-soled woolenslippersare a splurge, but they last forever, according to chef and farmerPhoebe Cole-Smith.
For the man who already has a gnocchi board
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Continue hisfresh pastajourney with thischef-favorite, hand-operated appliance from a company that has been making pasta machines since the 1930s.
For the man who games on the subway
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Backbone Pro
This easy-to-use console is an upgraded version of one of our favoritegifts for gamersthat can now pair with a range of devices from iPhones to tablets. Strategist tech writerJordan McMahon writesthat “after trying the Pro for several months, I can’t see myself going back. Its improved ergonomics and more premium controls make long gaming sessions more enjoyable.”
For the man who kept his quarantine beard
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The Wahl Magic Clip is “the top product to own if you want to re-create a barbershop experience in the comfort of your home,” saysMiles Wood-Smith, master barber at Murdock London. It’spopular among barbersfor its power, sharp blades, and a good range of guard options for getting his beard length just right.
For the man who tosses and turns
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Latex pillowsare a splurge, but for restless sleepers, they’re worth it. The material is bouncy and not as easily compressed as foam pillows, and this Naturepedic model is made from organic latex with an organic-cotton cover.
For the man with holey sweatshirts
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Strategist contributor Leon Hedgepeth triednine gray sweatshirtsto find the very best, and Merz B. Schwanen came out on top. (Hedgepeth’s original pick sold out, but this one is almost identical.) The brand is also the maker ofJeremy Allen White’s white T-shirtfromThe Bear.
For the man who shovels out the car
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Ultrawarmcowhide glovesthat will wear in beautifully over time.
For the man with a New Year’s resolution to fix his sleep hygiene
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Loftie Clock
The Loftie alarm clock is great for removing devices from the bedroom, and it lulls you in and out of sleep with gentler noises than an alarm blaring. “It has greatly improved my sleep quality,”says Julianne Fraser, the founder and CEO of digital-marketing agencyDialogue New York. “I fall asleep to the sound baths and use the breath-work and meditation features instead of scrolling through my Instagram feed.”
For the man who has talked about getting guitar lessons for years
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Guitar-store owners say this Gretsch guitar is agreat (budget-friendly) choicefor both beginner and amateur players: “The small body makes it easy to hold, and the quality is outstanding, especially considering the price,” says one guitar seller.
For the man whose favorite show is his own biometric data
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Whoop 5.0
Used by onedata-obsessed doctorto track exercise and sleep: “If it ever broke or got lost, I would replace it immediately. I feel lost without it,” he says.
$200andabove
For the man who went to the Sheep & Wool festival
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This undyed wool sweater, knit in Vermont, is one of our favorite items from theSecret Strategistgift guide.
For the man who prefers Mr. Coffee to Chemex
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If he’d rather outsource brewingcoffee to a machine, gift him the Technivorm Moccamaster. It delivers a “consistently better cup,” according to Jim Munson, founder and president ofBrooklyn Roasting Company, and is made with “solid construction and better parts” than similar models, per Suyog Mody, co-founder ofDriftaway Coffee.
For the man who lovedPeter Hujar’s Day
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Peter Hujar: Speed of Life
The catalogue of a2018 Morgan Library exhibitionof works by photographerPeter Hujarsold out immediately, but you can still find copies from resellers on eBay and on Amazon.
For the man starting a vinyl collection
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When Strategist tech writer Jordan McMahon asked professional DJs and vinyl collectors about thebest turntables for beginners, this Audio-Technica was one of their go-to recommendations (and the least expensive of the bunch).
For the man on a quest to make the perfect pizza
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“If you want to see a grown chef cry, gift them an Ooni,”Strategist food and dining writer Emma Wartzman writes. The steel oven can get to very high temperatures, ideal for a good char on pizza crust.
For the pepper maximalist
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Most people don’t need a $200 pepper grinder. But if he is obsessed with pepper and wants to maximize his yield per grind, it’s thebest in the biz.
For the man who steals your red-light mask
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Jay Duplassswears by Novaalab’s light pad, which helped calm soreness when he was filming a horror movie that had him “running around like an idiot, getting beat up, and doing fight scenes, screaming and yelling, and your body hurts.”
More Valentine's Day Ideas
- 33 Gifts for Every Type of Husband
- Mother’s Day Gifts to Give Your Wife
- A Gift for Every Type of Wife
- Valentine’s Gifts Under $25 That Look Like You Tried
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