Research: Men want useful gifts, not fluff this holiday season

Let’s face it – most men are really hard to buy gifts for. If you’re trying to choose a meaningful gift this holiday season, psychologists have some advice for you: Consider what he will actually use and appreciate, not what you believe expresses your feelings. And please not another tie.

Many of us simply don’t pay enough attention to what gift recipients (particularly men) are likely to value, according to research from Stanford Business. And men in general are less interested in the symbolic value of a gift than its actual usefulness or utility, meaning “women are best off getting their guy a gadget” says research referenced in The Atlantic.

“This breakdown between givers and receivers happens all the time, even though most people have been both givers and receivers often in the past, and therefore should have some understanding of the other party’s perspective,” says Frank Flynn, co-author of the Stanford study.

Here are some great ideas for utility-driven gifts for men this season:

Electronics: This category encompasses a wide range of gadgetry from the latest smartphone to the most cutting edge TVs, alarm clocks, drones, speakers, gaming systems, home theater systems, laser printers, GPS devices, remote controls or photography accessories. If it offers an advancement over what men currently own, it’s likely to be a winner.

Outdoor gear: According to outdoor retailer Gander Mountain, some of this year’s most sought-after gifts for outdoorsmen include the YETI Hopper Flip 12 Cooler, which is easily transported to the most remote tree stand, duck boat or campsite; the Lew’s Mach Speed Stick Series Rods, a high-quality graphite blank fishing rod optimized for both recreational and tournament fishing alike; the Infinite Edge Pro Archery package from Diamond by BowTech, a comprehensive archery kit that offers everything you need to start bow hunting; or the Luci Collapsible Outdoor Solar Light, which solves on-the-go lighting issues using the capacity of 10 ultra-bright LEDs. The experts at Gander Mountain are knowledgeable within the outdoor industry with a focus on everything related to hunting, fishing, camping and shooting sports. The company’s Best Price Plus guarantee ensures the lowest prices this holiday season. If a guest finds a lower advertised price on an identical in-stock item at another local retailer, Gander Mountain will match it plus give the guest 10 percent of the difference.

Other hobby-related items: Highly unique to the gift recipient, this category could include most anything designed for real-life practical use. Examples include sports gear, metal detectors, books, pet gear or supplies for art, photography, music, cooking, woodworking, travel, etc.

Automotive gear: These selections might range from scanners that diagnose mechanical issues or electric waxing/polishing kits, to dashboard cameras, auto vacuums and even the latest in jump starters, tools and work stations.

If you’re really at a loss as to what to give the men in your life, consider just asking them. But giving careful thought to how they really spend their time could work just as well.

“Think about things that might be just out of his price range or that he wants but can’t really justify buying for himself,” writes James Cave in the Huffington Post. “These are the perfect gifts for the holidays.”

Article porvided by BPT