Valentine’s Day Gifts For Him
Do you agonize every year over what to get your valentine? My mother always taught me to be a good gift giver, meaning to put love and thought into it rather than just buying something for the sake of giving a gift. But sometimes that’s hard to do when your man has just about everything.
Some people love, some loathe, and some just tolerate Valentine’s Day. (Haven’t we all felt all three at some point in our lives?) But if you are dreading it mainly because you can’t think of anything but a heart-shaped box of chocolate or a flannel shirt just like the 17 others in his closet, fear not. We’ve got you covered with some cool, creative, and thoughtful Valentine’s Day gift ideas to fit every budget.
Men can be difficult to shop for, but you don’t have to go for the typical cheesy gift cliches. All it takes is a little thinking outside of the box to find the perfect gift for your husband or boyfriend.
We’ve come up with a long list of fun and unique Valentine's Day gift ideas for him, and in each category, you’ll find something in every price range.
Gadgets
What guy doesn’t need another cool gadget? And you don’t have to try very hard to find something that he doesn’t even know he needs!
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Zippo Hand Warmer
If we’re socially distancing properly this winter, then we’re spending more time outside in the cold, bundled up and trying to stay connected with our friends. And nothing says love like wanting your loved one’s hands to be warm and cozy.
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Tile GPS tracker
Tired of waiting on your guy and listening to him grumble as he searches for his keys, phone, wallet...the remote?? (Why is it so hard for them!?) This cool system keeps track of all your things through a set of bluetooth enabled tracking devices. It’s ingenious, yet such a novel concept!
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Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones
Before working from home all day was really a thing, most people didn’t fully appreciate the beauty of noise cancelling headphones. But these are an indispensable part of life in our household now, and they make a great Valentine’s Day gift for any guy.
Cooking Related Gifts
Whether your husband or boyfriend is a professional chef or just loves to cook, great gifts for the kitchen are always a hit.
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Spicewalla Spice Collection
We’re so impressed with Spicewalla’s beautiful spices! Their spices are staples in my kitchen, and their collections make great gifts for any boyfriend or husband that loves to cook! Choose a collection, or mix and match the ones you think he needs. They also have dry rubs and signature blends. These make for a really nice and thoughtful gift that you don’t have to break the bank for.
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The Meater Wireless Meat Thermometer
Whether grilling pork chops or baking a turkey, this meat thermometer is THE meat thermometer to have for a guy who is a perfectionist about his cooked meats or just loves cool gadgets. This wireless meat thermometer connects to your device through Bluetooth, and you can monitor your meat through the app.
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Phantom Series Dragon Spire 6 pc Knife Set
This sweet knife set and its beautiful walnut wood block is a really special gift that will be both useful and meaningful to your guy. (And don’t we all secretly want to give a gift that we also want for ourselves?!)
Personalized Valentine’s Gifts
A personalized gift can be a really thoughtful way to show love for your guy. But they can also take longer if they have to be made, so if you’re having something personalized, you best go ahead and order it now, so it arrives in time for your Valentine’s Day date night!
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Custom Coffee Mug
Design a coffee mug for your guy with a picture or sweet message!
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Personalized Docking Station
I feel more organized just looking at this thing. This ‘man stand’ is such an aesthetically pleasing way to organize all his things. I already have one on the way for my husband...and, who am I kidding, one for myself!
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Personalized Leather Duffle Bag
Aren’t we all so ready to take a trip?! Your boyfriend or husband will love this handsome large leather duffle bag, and it makes for a very thoughtful gift that he’ll be able to use forever.
Food and Drinks
Who doesn’t love getting delicious food or drinks as a gift? The key is to think outside the box and choose things he may not have ever thought of for himself. Chocolate covered strawberries as a Valentine's Day gift? Old news. Get creative! These ideas will help you get started:
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French Broad Chocolates
We all love chocolate, but not all chocolate is created equal! If your guy has a sweet tooth, this is the place to shop for the best and most beautiful chocolate! Some of the highest quality chocolate you will find anywhere. They have a strong commitment to sustainability and they source all their chocolate and other ingredients directly from farmers they have built relationships with. So you can feel good about buying and eating chocolate! (Be sure to get enough so your guy has plenty to share with you!)
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Have a beer tasting!
If you and your man love good beer, this could be a fun Valentine's date night for you! If you don’t know stouts from sours or an IPA from a pale ale, not to worry, just consult this guide. Then go to your local wine and beer shop and ask for some recommendations! Get a wide variety of different craft beers that your man may not be familiar with and then have fun trying them together. And get a personalized beer mug for each of you to make it extra special!
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Wine and Cheese Subscriptions!
Getting both a wine and cheese subscription is the perfect gift for you and your guy to look forward to and enjoy together throughout the year. Plus, it’s a great way to support wineries and cheesemakers during the pandemic. If you really want to splurge, add on a charcuterie subscription too!
Outdoor Gear
If your boyfriend or husband is really in to the outdoors, it may be hard to think of something he doesn’t already have. But there are always cool new products that make life outside much more comfortable and enjoyable, so get him something he’ll use and love!
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Leatherman Style PS Multi-Tool
A mutli-tool is always a winner, and this one is great because it’s keychain sized, yet has all the tools he would ever need, minus a blade. So while it can clip onto his backpack for quick access, it will also make it through airport security!
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Stanley Camping Coffee Press
This large insulated coffee press is a must-have for any coffee-loving outdoor enthusiast! It’s great for car or van camping. If your guy spends more time backpacking however, go for something a little lighter, like the Snow Peak Titanium French Press.
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Bonfire Solo Stove
This smokeless portable fire pit is one of the coolest new outdoor products out there. It’s super light and easy to move, so bundle up together and enjoy your fire pit anywhere. Your guy will definitely be excited about this gift!
Unique Gift Ideas
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DIY Gift Box
Put together a collection of your man’s favorite things for a Valentine’s Day gift basket, or choose a theme from one of these ideas: Coffee Lover’s Gift Box, Grillmaster’s Gift Box, Man Spa Gift Basket, Cocktail Lover’s Gift Basket. Have fun and get creative putting these together!
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If your guy likes to grill, make sure he’s grilling with the best grill set on the market. Add the grilling apron to make it a really special Valentine's Day gift.
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What, you’ve never thought of giving your boyfriend a hand forged axe? Trust me, he will love it. Maybe some wouldn’t exactly consider it a romantic gift, but romantic is in the eye of the receiver! And his friends will definitely think he has the most badass girlfriend!
Experiences
Research shows that experiences give people more joy than possessions. So make your Valentine’s Day really meaningful and give the gift of a fun experience together!
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Plan a fun day outside!
Whether it’s a hike in a beautiful place or a paddleboard trip along the shore, pack a picnic of your guy’s favorite things and go spend the day together! Bring along the If book too! It’s a great way to start conversations about things you may not know about each other...no matter how long you’ve been together!
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Plan a Valentine’s Day date night dinner at home!
Whether you’re a good cook or struggle to pull together a meal, a well-planned date night dinner can be the most romantic gift of all. Need some menu ideas? Baked salmon, homemade alfredo sauce over linguine, maple-roasted Brussels sprouts and salted caramel chocolate tart for dessert! Now grab a bottle or two of good wine, and some adult games to play and you’ve got yourself a date night!
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Couples massage
Getting massages together is a really great way to connect with your man. Call your local spa a couple of weeks in advance to make sure you can get an appointment together on Valentine's Day.
Gift Certificates
Sometimes they get a bad rap, but the right gift certificate can show just as much thoughtfulness and love as an actual gift on Valentine’s Day! And there are so many options that your boyfriend or husband will love! Not to mention, buying gift certificates from local businesses is the best way to support them during a global pandemic!
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Your Local Bookstore
Books are great Valentine’s Day gifts! But, unless you know exactly what book your guy is looking for, it’s best to just let them pick out their next great read. And a lot of small bookstores, like Malaprop’s have many of their titles online, and will order and ship directly to you.
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Your Local Music Venue
Small music venues have been among the businesses that have struggled most while we all stay home and avoid large crowds, and live music is also one of the things we all miss the most! So let your man start getting excited about some great concerts in the, hopefully near, future and get him a gift certificate to your favorite local music venue for Valentine’s Day!
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Cloud 9 Living Experience Gift Card
If you really want to go all out for him this Valentine’s Day, get him an experience gift card from Cloud 9 Living! Anything from a helicopter lesson to a sailboat cruise to fly fishing lessons...you will be hard-pressed not to find something he hasn’t done yet.
So just have fun with your gift-giving this year! No matter what you choose to do for him, he’ll appreciate the thought you’ve put into making his Valentine’s Day special. And, despite the title, all of these gifts could just as easily be used for her, or your Galentines! And the sexy truth, if you find yourself without a valentine this (or any) year, do not think twice about buying or doing any of these things for yourself!
The History of Valentine’s Day
While much is unknown about the history of Valentine’s Day, there are legends and theories, some with dark and not very romantic origins, about how we came to celebrate the day of love. One of the earliest origins of Valentine’s Day dates back to ancient Rome when the Romans celebrated the feast of Lupercalia from February 13-15. While this was a celebration of fertility, they commemorated the festival by sacrificing a goat and a dog, as well as beheading a Christian martyr. During this drunken festival, men would draw the names of women with whom they would be paired off.
There were also at least two St. Valentines who were executed on February 14th by Roman Emporer Claudius Gothicus. The Catholic Church then honored their martyrdom with a celebration on that day and named it St. Valentine’s Day.
So how on Earth did that turn into a celebration of love? One legend maintains that one of those executed St. Valentines was a Roman priest who would perform weddings for soldiers who had been forbidden to marry because of the Roman Emporer’s belief that married men did not make good soldiers.
Later, Pope Gelasius combined St. Valentine’s Day with the feast of Lupercalia to rid the festival of its pagan rituals, but maintained that it was a celebration of fertility. It was also believed that February 14th marked the beginning of birds’ mating season in England and France and therefore should be thought of as a day of romance.
But St. Valentine’s Day’s true transformation into a celebration of love likely didn’t happen until much later when English poets Geoffrey Chaucer and William Shakespear romanticized it their works. That era became known as a time when romantic sentiments were often expressed in the form of poems and songs in which the word “valentine” was used to mean “lover”. From there it eventually became the highly commercialized tradition of cards, hearts and gifts we know today.
Written by Meredith Daniel Sims
Devoted follower of the farm-to-table scene, Meredith is most well-known for her ability to whip up a gourmet meal in the tiniest of spaces, including her camper van.
