Hey friends, it’s me again! With Father’s Day coming up on June 18th, I’m sure everyone is thinking (or worrying) about gifts! Whether you’re strapped for cash or shopping consciously, you can find some great gifts at a thrift store! If you are not used to shopping for men at second-hand stores, here’s a few things to keep in mind:
- Sizes – Men’s sizes can sometimes be different than the standard S, M, L, XL+. I’ve included a size chart below, to help when navigating men’s sizes.
- Quality – I’m not sure how most other men are, but my hubby is a snob for quality. If a shirt has a small hole, or if a tie has a tiny stain on the INSIDE, he won’t wear them. If you’re guy, or dad, are anything like this, double and triple check. It’s always a good idea to check items against a window. Natural light will reveal SO much.
- Understanding – As far as outdoors stuff, I feel confident enough to understand if something has all the pieces/ is working properly. But when it comes to tools, I’m practically clueless. If you aren’t confident about something, bring someone who is along with you! And ALWAYS asked to test electronic items, even if the sticker says it’s already been tested. You can’t return items to thrift stores!
Without anymore ado, here are the items I’ll been on the look out for, for my husband!
Ties
Including the tie he wore in our wedding, most of my husbands ties are from Goodwill. Every Goodwill that I’ve ever been to has had tons of ties. Some are older and faded, some are huge. Some are PERFECT, and others are just nice, casual neckties. No matter what though, a businessman always appreciates a good tie. The best way to find great ties is by knowing great brands! That’s what I’m here for! Take this list along with you, so you’ll know what to keep an eye out for.
- Roundtree & Yorke
- Murano
- Cremieux
- Brooks Brothers
- Hart Schaffner Marx
- Ted Baker
- Original Penguin
- Calvin Klein
- Michael Kors Men
- Pronto Uomo
- Joseph Abboud
- Tommy Hilfiger
But remember, a tie is still nice even if it’s not one of these brands. In fact some of my favorite of Clayton’s ties are just regular brands, nothing fancy.
Another special gift I’m going to be looking for is a tie pin! I’ve NEVER seen one of these at a thrift store, but I have a great feeling about it. Clayton has been asking for a new tie pin for a while, so I’ll be on the search!
Dress Shirts
This is another item that can be found in almost all resale stores. Know your sizes though, because men’s shirts have tricky sizes sometimes.
It can also be important to know your brands when shopping for dress shirts. This is the list of shirt brands that I keep a special eye out for. These are known for their quality and durability.
- Calvin Klein
- Polo Ralph Lauren
- Van Heusen
- Alfani
- Kenneth Cole Reaction
- Dockers
- Geoffrey Beene
- Perry Ellis
- IZOD
- Nautica
- Banana Republic
- Murano
- Roundtree & Yorke
- Stafford
- Express
- Graham & Co.
If you find a shirt your father or husband will love, then the brand really doesn’t matter. I keep an eye out for these brands just so I know that I’m getting a quality shirt. But there are always exceptions, so don’t stress if you can’t find these specifically.
I’ll buy Clayton a new shirt most times I go thrifting. I love when he is really fond of a new shirt. He will wear it the very next day, and it makes me feel really appreciated! Sometimes I’ll get the wrong size, or pattern that I like, he may not. Luckily men’s dress shirts are one of the more versatile articles of clothing, especially if you can sew! See my Pinterest board on ideas for re-purposing men’s shirts.
Outdoor / Sports Gear
We are not sporty people. We can’t tell you when the Superbowl is, and definitely don’t know who is playing in it. We don’t follow any sports teams at all. But, we love the great outdoors, and have lots of “toys” for camping, hiking, and kayaking. Clayton is real big on fishing, I’m pretty big on foraging and nature art. So I’m lumping these categories together because I don’t know much about sports. The outdoor equipment is almost always with the sports gear at thrift stores. These are something I’m a stickler for quality on. No holes in the netting, no rips or tears, no broken buckles. Camping gear has the potential to be LIFE SAVING, so it needs to be in great condition. Avid campers take good care of their gear because they know it is well worth it. I don’t know much about sporting equipment, but I know that if you’re giving it as a gift, it should also be in near-perfect condition. Here’s some things to keep an eye out for if your guy is a fisherman/outdoorsman:
- Tackle/box – I ALWAYS see various fishing tackle new in the box when I go thrifting. I don’t know enough about fishing to determine which will be well suited for my husband, but I know that they are normally like 25-50 cents each, and I’m willing to buy them and see if he likes them. If you’re making a basket for him, these would be perfect as a filler. A tackle box (in top notch condition) would be an awesome “basket” for smaller goodies. Candy they like, tackle, small tools, ties, ect.
- Tarps and Hammocks – Check and double check for holes!
- Mess Kits – I have yet to find one that I really love, but old Boy/Girl scouts used these perfect little mess kits. They come entirely apart and can be made into 3-4 different pots/pans and the handle comes off and is used as a lock to hold them all together.
- Water bottles and French Presses – French presses are perfect for making coffee at a campsite, and they are EVERYWHERE at thrift stores. Make sure it has all the parts though!
- Silverware – Something I am definitely getting this Father’s Day is some cheap, second hand silverware. You don’t want to take your good silverware camping because if they get lost or left in the camping bag, you’ll be missing pieces forever. So I want to find the perfect little bag for a camping cutlery kit. I’ll put a few handkerchiefs in there, cheap silverware, a box of matches, a small knife, a small flashlight, and maybe a little basting brush!
- Herb and Spice kit – The cutlery kit gave me another idea I want to try! I’ll keep an eye out for one of those 7 day pill organizers and fill each spot with different cooking herbs, specifically ones for fish! I could pack it in his cutlery bag!
- Clothing – Sporty clothes and fishing shirts are really easy to come by at Thrift stores!
Lifetime Warranty Brands
There are some brands of sporting equipment that offer lifetime warranty on their products. Most of these you do not have to provide an original receipt for, although some you do. I look out for these brands because if they do get a tear the company will happily stand by their product and fix/replace it for you. Read the specifics for each brand before you make a decision to buy though. Some only fix/replace under certain circumstances. Here are a few that I know offer Lifetime Warranties:
- Camelbak
- Dr. Martens
- Duluth Trading
- Goruck
- JanSport
- L.L. Bean
- Osprey
- The North Face
- Zippo
Tools
Again, I don’t know much about tools. Clayton has more tools than you could even imagine anyway. The only time he ever needs a new one is if whatever project he’s working on requires a specialty tool. So I personally won’t be getting tools for Father’s Day. If you want to get second hand tools or building materials I recently learned about Habitat for Humanity’s Restores. Although I haven’t yet been to our local Restore, I’ve been told that they sell used tools, building materials, appliances, and other household wares.
Two brands of tools that I know offer Lifetime Warranties are Craftsman and RIDGID.
Kitchen Appliances
Maybe your guy likes to cook, or maybe he just needs something specific. Clayton needs a small coffee maker for his office. He normally just makes a huge pot of coffee at home and takes a Yetti thermos full to work. They thermos keeps it hot for almost the whole day. But, if he’s in a hurry he will forget, or just not have time, to bring the thermos with him. Rendering him coffee-less for the whole day.
I thought about getting him a french press, but those take longer and he has no way to boil water at work. So, I have been on the look out for a REALLY small coffee maker. A few days ago I saw a little cup warmer that looks like a small hot plate. I didn’t buy it but I’ll definitely consider getting that if I don’t find a little coffee maker.
If you’re looking for a larger appliance, definitely check your local Habitat for Humanity Restore, or For Sale Facebook page before buying new. No matter where you’re buying from, always ask to test it first. And do your research to ensure that you’re getting a fair price.
Knives and Grill Sets
Knives. Men who cook even a little are big on good kitchen knives. It seems life most good knife brands offer either a lifetime replacement warranty, or a lifetime sharpening warranty. Bring your phone along and google the brand’s warranty statement before you buy.
Used grill sets that are fully intact AND in good condition can be hard to come by. Definitely buy one if you find it, even if it’s just for yourself! Some men are very particular about their grill sets, check with your dad/husband first to see if they any preferences that you should keep an eye out for!
Hobbies and Needs
Consider your guy’s individual hobbies and needs. Does he collect record albums? Does he like old action figures? Does he need a new ball cap? A new lighter or watch?
These little gifts with lots of thought and character are ones that they will really appreciate. When you take just a moment to consider what they really need or want in their lives, it goes a long way! And when you do this, you won’t end up with a typical “dad” gift.
Free Gifts
Having an awesome Dad in your life, whether its your husband, brother, father, uncle, stepdad, or grandpappy, should truly be celebrated. At the end of the day, if you can’t get the perfect gift, spend some time with them. A good memory will last forever, and things will always fade away. It’s never a bad idea to skip the gift and buy tickets to an event or just schedule a park day for the two of you (and your kids). Tell them how much you really appreciate them in your life. This is the ultimate gift and it can be completely free!
If you have some more cool ideas for Father’s day, or some perfect kid’s crafts, please comment below and share them with me! I’m itching to incorporate some kind of craft into this year’s gift! Remember to Subscribe to my email list if you want regular updates on when I make a new post! I’m working on a very special (video) project that I can’t wait for everyone to see!
Stay Thrifty, my dears!
Megan@ThriftingAdrift