Father’s Day Gift Guide: 24 Ideas for the Health-Conscious Dad
"By the time a man realizes his father was right, he has a son who thinks he's wrong."
—Charles Wadsworth
Looking for a unique Father's Day gift for the dad who prioritizes his health? This guide explores a variety of options, from fitness gear to recovery tools and brain-boosting supplements. Whether your dad is a seasoned athlete or simply focused on well-being, there's something here to suit his interests.
Happy Father's Day!
24 Gifts for the Health-Conscious Dad
Books
Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals
One of my all-time favorite books.
The Non-Toxic Living Guidebook: Hacks, Strategies, & Products for a Better Life
My book on living a little less toxic.
Excellent Advice for Living by Kevin Kelly
“Wise, practical, optimistic life advice from author and leading technology thinker Kevin Kelly”
Footwear
I have a pair the Bare Footwear casual minimalist shoes which come with are flexible with a wide toe box and zero drop. I also wear their Baresocks 2.0 which combines the comfort of socks with the protection needed for rugged adventures and outdoor terrain.
High-end minimalist formal shoes. They're made with soft, supple leather and a wide toe box and look as good as they feel.
Luna Sandals was founded by the infamous Barefoot Ted from the book Born to Run in 2006. They make trail, road, or hybrid sandals meant for running or walking in. You pick the type of grip, the thickness of the sole, and whether you want standard strapping or one with extra ankle support and they’ll find the best option for you from their variety of lines. They’re durable enough to compete in the Leadville Trail 100, they come with a 30-day return window, and free shipping.
Nutrition
On days when I need extra focus (sleep deprived, big presentation, lots of work, etc.), I use Mind Lab Pro. wanted something that didn’t have stimulants (e.g. caffeine) and had research behind it. Mind Lab contains 11 clinically studied ingredients and it’s also been shown to improve information processing, memory, and concentration in two separate studies. It improves my focus and attention without any jitters, making me way more productive throughout the day.
The best (and healthiest) coffee I’ve ever made. Learn more here.
Made with 100% wild Axis deer raised in the valleys of Maui, these tender sticks are packed with more protein per calorie (20%) than any other food (salmon and bison 14%, grass-fed beef 9%). Each stick has 9g of protein, tastes delicious, and they’re sourced from free-roaming deer, these sticks are free from antibiotics and hormones.
The Always Pan by Our Place is our new favorite cookware. Made of a non-toxic ceramic, versatile (we use it for everything from eggs to salmon, to chicken), and it has over 34,000 reviews averaging 4.6 stars.
High-protein, low-carb, and low-sugar nutrition bar without seed oils. Plus, they’re made with nutrients that make them stand out from the typical protein bar including Lion’s Mane, flavanoids, MCT, vitamin E, and magnesium . My recc: Peanut Butter Chip.
The best hangover prevention I’ve ever used. It’s a 0.5oz “shot” of genetically engineered bacterium that produces an enzyme that breaks down acetaldehyde, which is more toxic than the alcohol itself and a major contributor to hangovers. I’ve used it many times and found a 100% success rate—simply incredible.
Health
GORUCK Rucksacks (Ruck Plate Carrier 3.0 or Rucker 4.0)
GORUCK rucksacks are made with military-grade durability, designed to comfortably carry heavy loads, and come with a lifetime guarantee. I got into trucking years ago and since I got my GORUCK rucksacks I’ve used it during walks with the kids, yardwork, and backyard workouts. Learn more about trucking here.
Bon ChargeMini Red Light Therapy Device
The Bon Charge Mini Red Light Therapy Device. This portable powerhouse delivers powerful red and near-infrared light to improve everything from skin health to cellular energy to recover faster from injuries, workouts, and scars, to many a few. It sells for a fraction of the cost of similar-quality devices of the same size too.
I’ve been using this portable sauna blanket for over 5 years now. It’s durable, easy to set up, and gives you all of the incredible benefits of the sauna without having to hit the spa, including detoxing, improved skin health and immune system, and exercise-mimicking benefits. I went with HigherDOSE because it’s low-EMF, portable, made with non-toxic materials, and it has a warranty.
After years of DIY cold showers, I found The Ice Pod—the most affordable cryotherapy option providing durability, portability, and a lid for easy insulation (and keeping debris out when you’re not using it).
A great gift for any dad who’s interested in nutrition. There are 10 self-paced modules which include topics of nutrition in the 21st century, nutrition fundamentals, detoxification, healing your gut naturally, balancing hormones, managing chronic disease and cancer, and more.
Soft tissue mobilization has proven to be an effective way to address low back pain by reducing sensitivity and targeting those hard-to-reach muscle adhesions or "knots." One of my top choices for allowing patients to perform self-mobilization on their hot spots is the Symbodi Vertiball. The process is straightforward: identify the inflamed area, mount the Vertiball on the wall at this height, and then go back and forth over the problematic region until the muscle gradually releases tension.
Kid Related
We got this as a gift at our baby shower (thanks Kay and BJ!) and waiting for my son to be sturdy enough to use it was like waiting for Christmas as a toddler. Around that 6 month mark, we started using it for neighborhood walks then worked up to more adventurous trail hikes and everything in between. It’s a huge advantage on the beach to avoid lugging your child across the sand in wheels and to avoid their feet from getting burnt.
You probably hear the phrase, "The days are long but the years are short" every time you talk about your kids to anyone older than 50. It’s annoying but it’s true so write down the best moments in a journal.
Fact: kids get your car gross. Keep a small vacuum that plugs into the car in the back for easy cleaning.
Everything Else
This (surprisingly inexpensive) kit is a great pack to keep in the car. It comes with the essentials like a blanket, flashlight, and first aid gear but it also has the stuff you’ll need in those more extreme situations such as a shovel, hatchet, and fire-starting tools.
The Battery Daddy is a must-have for every parent. It beats the last minute trip to the store to find overpriced batteries and it’s a heck of a lot easier to know what you’ve got (and what’s actually working) than the bags-o-batteries we used in my house as a kid. Buy batteries in bulk and keep it stocked.
After years of going from sleep mask to cheap sleep mask, I found this and now my wife and I each have one over our eyes every single night. It’s a game-changer. It’s durable (had ours for years), light, and comfortable, and it’s made of 100% organic. It also comes with a 100% guarantee so try it out and send it back if you hate it.
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