A father is hugging his daughter while holding a small gift box in one hand.

Photo: iStock.com/LordHenriVoton

Welcome readers! If you’re here, you’re probably on the hunt for some Father’s Day gifts. Well, good news! You’re in the right spot. At the time of writing, it’s still a little while away, but there’s never any harm in being prepared, because the dad in your life deserves it! We’d like to just preface that fathers come in many different shapes and sizes – they can be stepdads, fathers-in-law, or even someone in life who’s played that role for you (even if they don’t know it). So, think about that father figure (or even multiple figures) and the things that they like; their passions, hobbies, and personalities. 

Today, we’re going to discuss how to create a dad survival kit. Essentially, this is going to be a collection of gifts, all put together to create the ultimate collection! This article will hone in on different categories, lifestyles, or groups of dads, with gifts tailored to each. But, you can also go even further and create a kit that incorporates items related to many different things they like! At the end of the day, you know them the best, so it’s entirely up to you. We’ll suggest some things that we think would work well in a set, followed by a list of even more items to choose from! Now, without further ado, let’s get gifting!

The Art of the Father’s Day Kit

Before you go over the wide variety of gifts, let’s quickly discuss the presentation! This step can be done before or after you decide what to get, and there are benefits to both. Using a ‘design-first’ approach will allow you to know exactly what size constraints you’ll have, make faster decisions, and have a clear theme in mind. Using a ‘gift-first’ approach will allow you to have more flexibility in your gifts, your items will fit perfectly, and you might save some cash! Whatever works for you is the best route. Either way, we’d recommend a gift bag (or multiple) or even a large box! 

The New Dad Survival Kit 

Let’s kick things off with a new dad bundle. This kit can be comprised of lots of small bits – both practical and absolutely adorable! Toss in some new baby apparel or even a pair of matching/coordinating personalized t-shirts, one for dad and one for the newborn! Adorn them with something cute like “Our First Father’s Day,” or even a goofy pair like “I’m the New Father” (on dad’s shirt) and “He’s With Me” (on the baby’s shirt). A stylish diaper backpack would never go astray either! And to top it all off, he’ll really appreciate a sleep mask because, well, that’ll be a thing of the past, at least for a while… 

Some More New Dad Gift Ideas: 

  • Baby carrier
  • Coffee beans (or maybe two bags of them)
  • Neck pillow
  • Quick self-care products
  • Yummy snacks
A father is wearing a black t-shirt that says "Best Dad Ever" with his baby on his shoulders. There's a blue sky and trees in the background.
An excited baby is wearing a white body suit that says "Happy 1st Father's Day." There's some toys and a gray couch in the background.

The Sporty Dad Survival Kit 

There are plenty of dads out there who can’t get enough of football (or baseball, or soccer, or even the gym). Well, with summer peeking around the corner and game season afoot, let’s put together a kit that’ll have him primed and ready for a sweaty season! Personalize a water bottle or a new gym bag with his initials, a picture, or something unique to his tastes (which you’ll know better than anyone). Oh, and speaking of game season, it’s now become standard policy at most major professional and collegiate games to have a clear bag, so why not throw one in there too! You could even use it as your gift bag, so that it serves as both the packaging and the present. And if he doesn’t have one already, then a massage gun will probably be the best gift he’ll receive all year! 

Some More Sporty Dad Gift Ideas: 

  • Fitness tracker
  • Socks
  • Exercise ball
  • Personalized sports towel
  • Duffel bag
A black water bottle with the word "Dad" is featured clipped onto a bag. In the background is the top half of a bicycle.
A man is holding a black gym bag with the words "Daddy: to Felix and Ella" printed on it.

The Cat/Dog Dad Survival Kit 

We absolutely cannot forget about all the dog dads out there! Whether or not he’s also a human dad (sounds weird, but there really isn’t any other way to put it), the cat/dog dad deserves a kit too! Firstly, and probably the most obvious gift, is a customizable dog collar and pet tag – find a picture of two of them, place it on, and there you have it! Next up, you could do the same with a blanket or pillow, so that when they’re snuggled up on the couch watching a movie, they’ll be nice and cozy. To top it off, throw in a few treats for his pet (or for dad, dealer’s choice). 

Some More Cat/Dog Dad Gift Ideas:

  • Memory book filled with pictures
  • Funny pajamas 
  • Tie with their pet’s face printed all over
  • Christmas ornament
  • Stickers
A Wiener dog is seen sitting on a blue blanket with his name, "Pistachio," and a Wiener dog-style white element printed all over.
A pillow is featured with a picture of a brown Labrador and the words "Best Dog Dad Ever" printed on it.

The Gamer Dad Survival Kit 

Gamer dads are amongst the easiest to buy gifts for – all you have to do is figure out their favorite game, and Bob’s your uncle! Bonus points if you can nab a collector’s item. But there are a bunch of other gifts you can get that aren’t specifically themed to their video game. For example, you could grab a new desk mat (with your face on it, naturally) or even some gamer setup upgrades (like headphones, a mouse, or a keyboard)! And one thing (almost) all gamers share in common is their favorite mug, to be filled with tea, coffee (and sometimes energy drinks), so perhaps a new one is in order. Be sure to check out our article on “10 Creative Gifts for Gamers to Level Up Their Experience” for some more inspo!

Some More Gamer Dad Gift Ideas:

  • New video game
  • Next-generation gaming console
  • External hard drive 
  • Gift voucher (for his relevant gaming system)
  • Foot rest
A black desk mat with "Dad Mode" written on it in multi-colours. It's on a brown wooden desk with a gaming controller and a plant to the left.
A man is holding a white mug with "Dad by Day, Gamer by night" written on the front.

The Chef Dad Survival Kit 

To have a dad who loves cooking is a blessing in itself , because everything they make is seasoned with love (and maybe a little too much salt). So, let’s assemble a kit to feed that skill, which will also benefit you because that means even more delicious food! A new cutting board or even an apron is a good place to start! You can throw a message on there like “The Grillfather” or “King of the Kitchen,” for example. Then, if you put in a chic new knife set, well, he’ll just be left with no words. A nice, final touch is to add a binder where he can print or write his favorite recipes, then (eventually) that could be yours.

Some More Chef Dad Gift Ideas: 

  • Grill thermometer
  • Chef hat
  • Kitchen sign or print
  • New cookware
  • Spice rack
A man is seen with a white apron that says "Best Flippin' Dad Ever," standing in front of a car and a few people.
A brown cutting board with "Greatest Dad Ever" printed on the front, with a plate of meat and a bowl of tomatoes featured around it.

With that, we’ve reached the end of this week’s gift guide! Just one final note before we let you go: to make the day truly special, add a Father’s Day card to round out the kit! No matter what someone says, a card with a heartfelt message will always be appreciated. And if you need some tips or message ideas, check out our article on “What to Write in a Father’s Day Card.” We know you’ll make his day truly special because you are, in your dad’s eyes, the best gift of all.