Gifts for dad are the easiest kinds of gifts to get, in my opinion.  Maybe just because I have the worlds easiest dad to shop for.  There isn’t anything electronic on the planet that he isn’t at least partially interested in.  My dad’s home office is like a techno-jungle; its filled with so many little gadgets and devices it could easily double as a museum display for 21st-20th century technological marvels.  For me, finding gifts for dad is therefore as easy walking into a Circuit City or even a Radio Shack and picking out anything that beeps, has one or more moving parts or a flashing light.

I have a feeling I’m not the only one out there with a technophilic dad, but I suppose there are plenty of dads that couldn’t care less about gadgets.  If you have such a father, finding some good gifts for dad may be slightly more complicated.  Probably not much, however.  The one thing all dads have in common is some kind of hobby or obsession.  If its not gadgets, its something else.  Sports, history, movies, woodworking, cars, literature, gardening, there’s something that your dad does whenever he gets the chance, and you probably know what it is.   

Dad’s (all men really) like gifts that they’ll use; functional gifts are good gifts for dads.  So whatever your dad’s hobby is, think of some things he could use for it.  If he’s into woodworking, for example, get him some nice new tools to replace those old junky one’s he’s been using for years.  If his hobby is an expensive one, say restoring old cars, don’t despair; even the most expensive hobbies can lead to cheaper gift ideas.  Maybe a subscription to a car magazine, or some new tools he can use with cars? 

You say your dad doesn’t have hobbies, hmm?  Well what does he do then?  If he doesn’t have any hobbies at all, it’s probably because he’s working all the time.  Well, guess what, his hobby is his work!  What can you get him that he’ll use at work?  Does he wear ties at work?  Does he need a nice pen?  Or maybe he needs a break; how about a gift certificate to a spa/massage therapy center?  Those places aren’t just for women, and make for great gifts for dads that are overworked.  

You can’t really go wrong with more traditional gifts, like clothes for example, either. You can check out the internet for lists on what other possible gifts you can give. Just make sure it’s something your dad not only would want but also would use often.  A woman may be very excited about getting an outfit she’ll only wear once a year, but a man will be considerably unenthused by it more often than not.  Usefulness is the key when looking for gifts for dads.