Dads are notorious for not being the easiest to buy for! They are quite happy relaxing in peace with a good read in hand, beverage of choice by their side and some great music in the background, am I right? They don’t ever want anything, however, we’ve come across a few ideas that we think dads will love, so you can skip the go-to lottery tickets and golf shirt this year!
- Bose Frames
- Nespresso Essenza Mini
- SodaStream
- Kobo Forma
- Belkin Boost Up Wireless Charging Pad
- Gamevice Controller for iPhone
- Nintendo NES Classic Edition
- Bose Noise Masking Sleepbuds
- Microsoft XBOX Customized Controller
- Amazon Fire 7 Tablet
- Photo Lab for Kids – Fun Family Portraits
- Amazon Storyteller Blueprint Personalized Story ALL ABOUT DAD
Dad thinks he’s smooth like James Bond? He’ll love these new frames that look like sunglasses but also offer Bose’s new state of the art audio AR technology hidden in the arms. He can listen to his music and no one else will know. And yes, they really are sunglasses that block 99% of UVA/UVB rays. Comes in two frame styles.
Image: Bose
In Ruby Red (or Ferrari red, our resident dads like to think) is the convenient perfect size to fit into dad’s office, man cave, or wherever he likes to hang out and enjoy his espresso. This compact size offers up two serving sizes and has the added benefit of having a built in Eco-mode that turns off after 3 minutes when not in use. The machine uses the Nespresso capsules which are also recyclable. Ask for the free postage paid return bag that can be easily popped into the mail.
The sleek sparkling water maker has announced a new collaboration with Australian company, Soda Press Co. offering new flavour essences that are certified organic, vegan, non-GMO (with no Stevia) and have up to 50% less sugar than regular soft drinks. Which means, a healthier option! Great for summer months ahead. Now dad can also experiment with being his own mixologist. Still wondering about which SodaStream to get? The easy to use SodaStream Fizzi has a slim design that looks great in any kitchen.
Image: SodaStream
Kobo’s thinnest eReader is also the most durable and most comfortable. With 8GB of storage, this version holds up to 6,000 eBooks. Great for travels and on the go. You can read in portrait or landscape mode. Waterproof means he can take it the dock, pool or beach without worry. The ComfortLight PRO feature also offers automatically adjusted light to dad’s reading environment for a more enjoyable read. By the way, did you know you can use a public library card to borrow books on the device as well?
Dad can conveniently charge up his devices effortlessly and easily by just placing his phone down on this pad. The sleek design offers wireless charging delivering up to 7.5 W to the phone. Subtle LED indicators lets the user know when the charging is activated.
Dad loves to play his games like NBA2K or Asphalt? His iPhone can now attach to this hand-held device for that classic gaming feel. The controller offers ABXY fire buttons, D-Pad, left/right triggers and bumpers, lightning connector and a headphone jack so he can play on the down-low when needed.
Image: Gamevice
Originally released in 1985, this gaming system has made a comeback with a cult-like following recently in this mini version. Dads can reintroduce the joy of the good old days of 8-bit, playing games like Donkey Kong, Metroid, Pac-Man, The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario Bros and more. Heck, he may even let the kids play.
If dad seriously needs really good sleep these Sleepbuds may be for him. They don’t stream music or have noise cancellation, instead, these wireless earbuds are preloaded with soothing sounds to cover up noises he doesn’t want to hear. Paired with the Bose app, dad has options on what sounds he would like to hear as he falls blissfully to sleep. Storage case also is used to recharge the sleep buds. One charge lasts up to 16 hours of use. Great for long flights too.
Image: Bose
The ultimate XBOX players can design their own controller – or let the kids do the creating for dad! Create your colour combo in the Design Lab and even personalize (we’ve added our screen name). There are millions of combinations and if you don’t know where to start, there are templates that can help.
This tablet is getting an upgrade and the latest version will be available (as of June 6) with affordable 16 GB and 32 GB options. Now dad can load more of his favourite entertainment including movies, books, songs, and games. The latest tablet offers up 2x the storage and is more durable standing up to drops, spills and everyday wear and tear. Battery life delivers up to 7 hours of reading, listening to music, watching shows/movies and browsing the web. It also supports up to 512 GB of expandable storage via microSD card.
Something fun to do WITH dad! Apple stores across Canada host free workshops and there’s something for all ages, all year round. This one is sweet! Kids and their families learn how to use an iPad or iPhone to take family photos. Instructors show kids how to direct their own photo shoot and offer tips like finding interesting backgrounds. BYODevice or the store can provide. Labs are free. Pre-registration is suggested as these workshops are very popular and lots of fun!
Another fun activity to create a very personal gift on Alexa enabled devices (Echo, Echo Show, Echo Spot, Echo Dot). Surprise dad with a story about him narrated by Alexa. Create the story and start with the sample story and then customize or start from scratch. You can drop in sound effects, add a personal greeting and then ask Alexa to share the story when dad is around.
