9 Travel Gifts Every Man Needs in 2023
What are the best travel gifts for men in 2023?
So, the man in your life loves to travel. Are you looking for the best travel gifts for him? I’m a remote working, former digital nomad, content creating travel dad here to share the perfect travel gifts for men. Hooray!
Ahh, the dreaded question: “Ben, what do you want for Christmas?”. “Any gift ideas for you for Father’s Day?”. “Hey hun, any items on your anniversary wish list?”
Of course, I’m very grateful for the prospect of receiving a gift. It’s the list that’s the problem. I’m not sure if it’s a “guy thing”, but I don’t keep a list of gift ideas for myself. If I need something, I try to find a solution immediately instead of adding it to a wish list. So, when my wife asks me for a wish list, I always find myself whipping up a hodgepodge list that consists of impractical gift ideas that I probably don’t really need. I know I’m not alone in this situation. I also know my wife would appreciate a more thoughtful list of gift ideas. So, to help all the men out there (and their respective spouses/partners, family and friends) I’ve compiled my favorite gift ideas for men. And, because I’m a former full-time travel dad, family travel blogger, photographer and tech-nerd, I’ve filled the list with the best travel gifts every man needs! If you’re more interested in the best gifts for families, make sure to check our Top 10 Gifts for Families that Travel and Best Winter Travel Gear for Kids.
Here are 9 Essential Travel Gifts Every Man Needs
1. Unbound Merino
I’m starting the list with a confession. I’m not the most fashionable person (gasp!). If you know me, you know I like my clothes to be comfortable, functional and classic, which doesn’t always coincide with looking (or feeling) fashionable. Like many men, if I find something I like, I buy multiple of the exact same brand and style and move on with my day. Because we travel often, I also shy away from loud prints or anything else that screams “I’m a tourist!”.
I’ve recently discovered Unbound Merino and I couldn’t be more excited! It’s literally the perfect clothing for men, especially those that like to pack minimally. Unbound Merino has created clothing options that are extremely versatile and perfect for traveling.
They use classic designs and neutral color palettes to keep their clothes stylish in any setting. Merino wool is the perfect weight, naturally antibacterial and moisture wicking. Translation for men: it needs less washing to stay dry, clean and fresh. Score! If that wasn’t enough, it’s also sustainably sourced using mulesing-free Merino wool. Double Score!
Coming from someone who was hesitant to spend more than $10 on a shirt, I’ve always had difficulty justifying the cost of higher priced items. But, I clearly see the benefits of owning quality apparel like Unbound Merino. I’ve quickly come to realize that there is nothing comparable to their products. I now travel with much less clothing, have less laundry to do and stay fresh and comfortable, even on the longest travel days. The quality and versatility are simply unmatched.
In my opinion, Unbound Merino is the best travel gift idea for dads, husbands, brothers and sons in your life. Especially, because it’s probably something they wouldn’t think to purchase for themselves. That’s got to make them number one on the gift ideas list!
BUT, most exciting thing with Unbound Merino is that they recently launched women’s products as well. They look fantastic and now you can add something to the cart for yourself when shopping for him. WIN!
Click below and use code FUN10 for 10% off orders over $100. This is great news because Unbound Merino rarely goes on sale!
The McKinnon Camera Pack 35L is the perfect bag for every adventure. You can even pack camera gear and clothing in the same bag. They offer removable folding dividers, expansion, and external carry straps to allow you to pack it any way you want. It’s SO well made, has a plethora of pockets and has plenty of room for all my gear.
This versatile camera pack is designed to carry your drone or DSLR camera and has lots of extra space for all the accessories. Here are just a few of the items I typically carry in it: Sony a7iii camera, Zeiss lens, Tamron lens, DJI Mavic 2 Pro drone, WD external hard drives, 16” MacBook Pro, DJI Ronin SC gimbal. It has room for all of that, plus snacks.
However, it doesn’t have to be used as a camera backpack at all. Many times I’ve taken out the protective camera inserts and used it as one big backpack for the beach or the park. I’ve also used it as a reusable shopping bag. It looks cool, is super versatile and I can vouch for how well it’s made. It’s a fantastic gift idea that would make anyone happy, but especially that man that appreciates the technical quality of a Nomatic product. And, if you buy this bag and are curious about how to fill it, check out our Amazon shop to see what’s in my camera bag!
3. Drone: Mavic Mini or Mini 3 Pro
Whether he’s a first timer that’s intrigued by drones or he’s ready for a drone upgrade, few gift ideas bring more excitement than a drone. Both of my drones have been DJI and I highly recommend this brand. They offer quality products that are user friendly, which is important when it comes to drones.
The DJI Mavic Mini is perfect for someone that is new to drones and looking for something more than a toy. The Mavic Mini packs a punch for a small drone and can do anything a first-time drone pilot could possibly want. The price point is a major selling point for the Mavic Mini and it’s where I would recommend anyone new to the world of drones begins.
However, if he’s ready for a more professional grade drone, look no further than the Mini 3 Pro. This drone is on my wish list, and it’s actually a step down from my existing drone. Why would I wish to move down from a more high end drone to the Mini 3 Pro? Well, it’s all about size and features. The Mini 3 Pro packs all the quality and high resolution I expect from my older, more expensive drone and puts it into a much smaller footprint, making it easier for travel. Also, the biggest feature of the Mini 3 Pro is the fact that you can film in either landscape (standard for drones) or vertical! With the explosion of Reels and TikTok, being able to film directly in vertical mode is a huge plus. The Mini 3 Pro is a bit more expensive than the Mavic Mini, but the extra features and amazing quality match the price. The video and photo quality on both of these drones is amazing and they provide such unique perspectives. Hands down it’s one of the best gift ideas for tech-savvy men.
4. Sunglasses: Ray Ban New Wayfarer or Goodr OG Polarized
What man doesn’t need a new pair of shades? There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to sunglasses, but here are my two favorite brands and styles for the man that loves adventure and travel.
Ray Ban New Wayfarer Polarized Sunglasses are my go-to. They’re classic, cool and make any sunset look 78% more spectacular because of their polarized lenses. The Ray Ban New Wayfarers are perfect for the beach, resort, golf course or everyday use where they will stay relatively safe. If the Wayfarers aren’t your style, peruse the other styles at the Ray Ban Store. However, if the man in your life tends to lose or break sunglasses, the next brand on this list might be a better fit!
Goodr OG Polarized Sunglasses are a much lower price point than Ray Ban and I like to think of them as “adventure shades”. They are lightweight, flexible and scratch proof, which works wonders when you’ve got young kids constantly grabbing at them! Goodr also has a bunch of styles on the Goodr Store. After losing a few Ray Bans over the years I now have a pair of each of these and switch it up depending on my planned activities. Either way, a new pair of polarized sunglasses are an essential gift for the man in your life!
From my perspective, being able to put a high definition 1080P 100” projection screen in your pocket is about the coolest thing ever! The Kodak Ultra Mini Pocket Projector is the ultimate tech gift. This gift idea is perfect for those men that love to camp or go off the grid a bit and still want to tune into the big game or their favorite shows. It’s even fantastic for backyard family movie nights!
Every man uses them. And if the man in your life doesn’t, well… now’s your chance to convince him to get organized when it comes to travel toiletries! I have a version of this Tumi toiletry bag that ironically was a gift from my wife 15 years ago. Yes, 15. That’s how well the Tumi brand stands the test of time, even with the crazy amount of travel I’ve done in the last 15 years. It’s still going strong with no sign of slowing down.
On the other hand, if the price of the Tumi is a deal breaker, other options like this Bagsmart brand will still do the trick to keep him organized when on the road.
Looking for a quick, easy and inexpensive gift? Travel adapters for the win! These are staples of any international traveler and these are two of my favorite low budget gift ideas for travelers.
For the traveler with lots of devices, the Bestek Adapter & Power Converter is a no-brainer. We’ve owned this Bestek product for years and it’s a lifesaver when traveling abroad. It has 3 US electrical prongs on top to charge your larger devices all at once, as well as 4 USB ports on the side as well. It comes with a standard Europe plug as its main cord and multiple adapters so it can be used in over 150 countries.
For the light packing traveler, this Universal Travel Adapter is a great choice. This one small adapter can adapt to 160 countries and includes 4 USB ports, however it does not covert voltages like the Bestek does.
Whether he’s an avid runner, hiker or just wants to be able to monitor activities like steps and heart rate, a Garmin Rugged Outdoor GPS watch is a perfect gift idea. The Garmin GPS watch can communicate with your phone and send through push notifications while you’re in workout mode or when strolling about town. It can also provide GPS positioning, elevation gain and plenty of other health stats including heart rate and overall stress level. The Garmin Rugged Outdoor GPS watch is an essential gift item for the adventurous man, but be sure to check all the styles at the Garmin Store.
Keeping tabs on your most valuable possessions is of utmost importance while traveling. These Tile Bluetooth Trackers are probably the most practical gift idea for travelers. They are relatively inexpensive and can save you tons of hassle and stress if a bag, wallet or phone goes missing. This set from Tile even comes with multiple sizes and shapes to fit many different areas. There’s even a thin credit card style tracker that can fit in your wallet. Tile offers plenty of sizes so be sure to check out all the options at the Tile Store.
That’s my list of travel gifts and essential items every man needs! If you like this article, be sure to Pin It and Shop it!
Also, tell me what I missed or what YOUR favorite travel-related gifts have been over the years and where you are headed in 2023! If you’re looking for family travel inspiration and destination ideas, be sure to check out our detailed travel guides on Costa Rica or The Philippines!
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Affiliate disclaimer - some of these products use affiliate links, which means we may get a small kick-back if you purchase using our links. This never impacts the price you pay for these products, but does help us keep our blog going. And rest assured, these are products that we have traveled with and genuinely love and want you to love too! If you’re looking for our other favorites, be sure to check out The FUNemployed Shop on Amazon!
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