Shopping
26 Best gifts for men UK 2024, tried and tested
IF YOU’RE looking for a fabulous present for the man in your life, but you’re not sure where to start then you’re in luck.
Shopping for men can be tricky, but to make things easier we’ve tried and tested a load of products and have listed the ones we think would make the very best gifts for men, whatever your budget or tastes.
We’ve put together the ultimate list of gifts we recommend for men, whether that be your special someone, dad, son or friend, all tried and tested by us.
We’ve scoured the virtual shelves of popular online brands and high-street favourites such as Amazon, Oodie, Reiss and River Island to bring you a great selection of gifts that will make the guy in your life smile.
Whether he’s into fashion or fitness, beer or beauty products, we’ve got you covered, with prices starting from as little as £5.
Everything in this gift guide comes with The Sun Shopping team’s seal of approval, as we’ve put dozens of products to the test to discover which ones are worth your money.
Here’s our pick of this year’s best gifts for him.
Oodie
- Oodie, £35.60 (Was £89) from The Oodie – buy here
Why we love it: It’s warm, soft and cosy and there are loads of designs to choose from. It could also potentially help to reduce your heating bills while the weather is still chilly
What could be improved: It is quite expensive when not on sale and can be bulky to store when you’re not wearing it. It isn’t the most flattering piece of clothing either so fashion-conscious fellas may not approve
We put the bestselling Oodie to the test, and for the ultimate in comfort when WFH or snuggling up on the sofa, and in our opinion nothing beats it.
These oversized hooded wearable blankets have gone viral in recent years, and after trying them out ourselves, we get the hype. We love how unbelievably soft and comfy they are, and they really do keep us warm on cold days at home.
One downside is that they’re quite expensive at full price but you can usually find some sort of deal on, such as the current 60% off sale.
We found the designs to be fairly unisex, but for the ultimate cosy couple look, you can buy matching Oodies for yourself and your partner – luckily there’s currently a ‘buy one, get one free’ deal on the Oodie website.
If your other half loves cosying up on the sofa with a good film, then we think this is the gift for him.
You can read our full Oodie review here.
Oura Ring
- Oura Ring Heritage, from $299 (£234.24) + $5.99 (£4.69) monthly membership from Oura – buy here
Why we love it: Tracks steps, sleep and heart rate. It is lightweight and comfy to wear and looks sleek and stylish
What could be improved: Pricey, need to pay for a monthly subscription, takes a little getting used to wearing
Wearable health trackers have come a long way in recent years, and Oura rings are one of the coolest ways to monitor functions such as your heart rate, sleep quality and activity levels – so we just had to try it out.
Three of our Sun Shopping testers tried it out for a month to see if it was worth the cost – and it’s a big thumbs up from us.
Our reviewers loved how easy it was to set up, how quickly you get used to wearing it and the detailed results it gives, and were soon converted from their Apple Watches to the Oura.
It’s pricey but if your other half is interested in monitoring their health, it’s one of the smartest pieces of tech on the market and makes a great tech gift.
Read our full Oura ring review here.
Mahabis Slippers
- Classic Slippers, £99 from Mahabis – buy here
Why we love it: Can be worn inside and outdoors, has several different colourways to choose from, is warm and comfy, sustainably produced
What could be improved: Quite expensive, difficult to clean, tricky to find the right size
If you’re looking for a gift for a man who values comfort and style, we think a pair of these bestselling Mahabis slippers will make a thoughtful gift – and we’ve tried them out before you buy.
We loved the comfy cushioned sole, warm-yet-breathable feel and eco-conscious credentials, with our tester saying they “provide the support and comfort that I normally seek in a trainer” and calling them “a great investment”.
Although more expensive than some other options, we think they’re the perfect present if your partner works from home or wants a cool and practical indoor footwear option.
Read our full Mahabis review here.
Stanley Quencher
- Quencher H2.0 Flowstate Tumbler, £44.99 from Stanley – buy here
Why we love it: Large 1.2L capacity, keeps drinks cold for 11 hours and hot for nine hours, comes in lots of different colours
What could be improved: It is not very easy to transport due to its large size and can leak a little when the straw is in place
We never thought a cup could bring so much joy – until we tried the Stanley Quencher ourselves.
Priced at around £45, the Stanley Quencher H2.0 Flowstate Tumbler isn’t the cheapest travel mug around – but after getting our hands on one, we admit that we’ve fallen in love with this TikTok-famous bottle.
We love the fashionable design and colours and how easy it is to drink from and found it to be a surefire way to ensure we were drinking our recommended 1.5-2 litres of water a day.
It may not be the most practical for carrying around as it is heavy when full and does leak a little when the straw’s in, but it has become an at-home essential for us.
Read our full Stanley Quencher review here.
PerfectDraft Beer Dispenser
- Beer Dispenser Bundles, from £225 (Was £320) from PerfectDraft – buy here
Why we love it: Looks smart, pours great pints, perfect for parties, easy to set up
What could be improved: Expensive, a bit noisy, could be a little more cost-effective
Being able to pull your pint at home is something many dream of, and we’ve given the PerfectDraft Beer Dispenser a thorough test (all in the name of research, of course) to see if it delivers on pub-perfect pints.
Our tester found the dispenser and matching keg easy to set up and didn’t take up much space – and, most importantly, once pouring began, the beers were “much the same as you’d get with a pub pump”.
One downside is that it’s not especially cheap, both the upfront cost and the price per pint. Although it is still cheaper than a round at the pub.
If your boyfriend, husband or partner loves a pint or dreams of having an at-home bar, he’d love this as a gift.
Read our full PerfectDraft Beer Dispenser review here.
Guinness Nitrosurge Device
- Guinness Draught Nitrosurge Device, £30 from Amazon – buy here
Why we love it: Easy to use, not too expensive and you can pour a pint like in a pub
What could be improved: You have to buy special Guinness Nitrosurge cans
A more affordable way to replicate the taste of a pub pint is with this nifty little Guinness Draught Nitrosurge Device – and we’ve put it to the test.
Our in-house Guinness connoisseur confirmed that this easy-to-use little gadget did indeed create a pint of Guinness that tastes like what you get out of the tap at the pub.
If you’re looking for a smaller gift for anyone who loves Guinness, why not get him this tool plus a pack of Guinness Nitrosurge cans?
Read our full Guinness Nitrosurge review here.
Lumin Skincare
- Skin, hair and body products, from £5 or get a free trial of Lumin’s personalised skincare routine – buy here
Why we love it: Lightweight and non-greasy, not strongly scented, makes skin look brighter and more even-toned
What could be improved: Not cheap, the website is tricky to navigate, and you may not need every product in the bundle
Buying skincare for men can be a bit of a minefield, which is why we tried out one popular men’s grooming brand – Lumin – to see if it delivers results.
Our tester loved the effect that the Lumin products had on his skin, remarking that they made his complexion look brighter and healthier with less redness.
There wasn’t one dud product amongst everything he tried.
If your fella is completely new to skincare then the Lumin bundles would go down a treat, or top up his existing routine with individual products like Charcoal Face Wash and Daily Face Moisturizer.
Read our full Lumin skincare review here.
Lavazza A Modo Mio Deséa Coffee Machine
- A Modo Mio Desea Coffee Machine, £199 (Was £249) from Lavazza – buy here
Why we love it: Makes great coffee, looks good on your kitchen worktop, makes a wide range of drinks
What could improved: Not compatible with other coffee pods such as Nespresso ones, can make some drinks too hot, has a short power cord
Nowadays there are a lot of home coffee machines on the market but, after testing it for a month, we think the Lavazza A Modo Mio Desea model is a real winner.
When trying this out, we loved the number of different coffees it made, including cappuccinos, lattes and espressos (all of which tasted great), how easy it was to use, and that the drinks work out as slightly more affordable than other makes.
For these reasons, we think coffee lovers would love to receive this.
Read our full Lavazza Coffee Machine review here.
Power Plate Mini+ Handheld Massager
- Power Plate Mini+ Handheld Massager, £149.95 from Amazon – buy here
Why we love it: Lightweight, travel-friendly, cheaper than some others
What could be improved: Nothing
If the man you’re buying for does a lot of sports on exercise, he’ll find this massage gun ideal for soothing sore muscles after a workout.
The Power Plate Mini+ scored 5 out of 5 when we tested handheld massagers, with our reviewer finding nothing bad to say about this powerful yet lightweight and travel-friendly bit of equipment.
Our reviewers liked that it was super light, so is good to take on the move or travelling.
It can also be safely controlled with one hand, and our testers particularly liked that the manual included real-life test subjects to show how to use it correctly.
Read our full Power Plate Handheld Massager review here.
Attachments: 5 different heads, Battery life: 5 hours
Micro Scalextric James Bond 007 Race Set
- Micro Scalextric James Bond 007 Race Set, £65 from Argos – buy here
Why we love it: Good attention to detail, a super gift for Bond fans, something dads can play with their children
What could be improved: A quick and simple track could get boring quickly, more convenient if it was mains powered instead of using batteries
A brilliant gift set for big kids, those with kids or just die-hard James Bond fans, we had loads of fun racing these two Aston Martins around this 3.5m-long Scalextric track when testing this out.
While we wish it was mains powered instead of battery operated, we got a decent amount of entertainment out of this toy, which allowed us to live out our inner 007 dreams for a few minutes at least.
Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser
- Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser, £99.95 from Hotel Chocolat – buy here
Why we love it: Makes delicious hot chocolate at home, range of flavours to choose from, and compact
What could be improved: Only works with Hotel Chocolat products, makes one drink at a time, expensive
We’ve put Hotel Chocolat’s Velvetiser hot chocolate maker to the test, and it has quickly become one of our favourite kitchen appliances, especially when the weather’s cold or we fancy a little treat.
Okay, so it’s not an essential, but when trying it out we were seriously obsessed with how delicious the hot chocolates are that it makes – “rich, creamy, frankly heavenly” is how our tester described them.
It also scored top marks for being easy to use and clean, although at £13 for 10 sachets, it could get expensive to use if your hot chocolate obsession gets out of control.
But if your sweetheart has a sweet tooth, we bet he’ll be thrilled to receive this.
Read our full Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser review here.
Kiehl’s Ultra Pure High-Potency Serum
- Ultra Pure High-Potency Serum 1.5% Hyaluronic Acid, £29 from Kiehl’s – buy here
Why we love it: Leaves skin feeling soft and hydrated, suitable for sensitive skin, absorbed quickly
What could be improved: Won’t work miracles on wrinkles, cheaper hyaluronic acid serums are available
If you’re looking to get him one skincare product only, make it a hyaluronic acid-based serum; this Kiehl’s serum scored highly with our tester, who saw results after just two days of using this and found that it absorbed quickly and didn’t irritate their sensitive skin.
Anyone looking for a simple yet effective way to get their skin looking a little fresher should try this.
Read our full Kiehl’s Ultra Pure High-Potency Serum review here.
Champion Men’s Hoodie
- Champion Men’s Reverse Hoodie, £49.15 from Amazon – buy here
Why we love it: A great fit, excellent quality fabric, good value
What could be improved: Other colours could be easier to find on Amazon, some may not like the logo on the chest and arm
Comfy and cool, a good hoodie should be a staple in any wardrobe – and this colourful Champion design came up top when we tested men’s hoodies out.
If it’s a great fit you’re after then this is the one for you, with our reviewer writing that “this hoodie was the best fitting we tried” and “struck the best balance between quality and value”.
It’s also available in a good range of colours, so you’ll be able to find a style to suit anyone.
Read our full review of the best hoodies for men here.
Birkenstock Boston Clogs
- Birkenstock Boston Clogs, £130 from Office – buy here
Why we love it: Comfy, fashionable, large number of colours available
What could be improved: Expensive, sizing can be tricky to get right
Birkenstock styles such as the Boston clogs were a popular shoe choice in 2023 – and they’re a hit with the fashionable fellas here at The Sun, too.
In our in-depth review of wearing them out and about, our writer calls them “one of the most comfortable pairs of shoes I own” and describes how “they can be dressed up to make a very stylish outfit”.
If he knows a thing or two about style, we bet he’ll love to receive these.
Read our full Birkenstocks review here.
Ultrahuman Ring AIR
- Ring AIR, $349 (£274.20) from Ultrahuman – buy here
Why we love it: Lightweight to wear, long battery life, helpful advice and insights, free app
What could be improved: Gets scratched easily, some features are still being developed, expensive
If you’re looking for an alternative to the Oura ring, we’ve also tried out the Ultrahuman Ring AIR to see how it compares.
We wore it for six months and in that time we were impressed with the detail in which it monitored our health and activity, especially our sleep, and it got us moving more and restricting our caffeine intake.
Unlike the Oura, the Ultrahuman doesn’t require you to pay a monthly subscription.
A couple of cons: the finish we tested did get scratched quite easily. As it’s a new product some functions are still in development, but if you’re looking to buy a health obsessive fitness tracking ring, Ultrahuman is worth a look.
Read our full Ultrahuman Ring AIR review here.
RockJam Sing Cube Portable Bluetooth Karaoke Speaker
- RockJam Singcube Rechargeable Bluetooth Karaoke Machine, £33.05 (Was £39.99) from Amazon – buy here
Why we love it: Good value for money, easy to use, good quality sound
What could be improved: The sound could be louder
If your partner likes to think of himself as something of a rock star, surprise him with this retro RockJam karaoke machine, which scored highly in our round-up of the best karaoke machines.
It got almost full marks across the board for quality of sound, ease of use and value for money, with our tester saying, “You’d think it was much more expensive” and “The sound isn’t that loud but fine for parties and gatherings at home…[and] it won’t annoy your neighbours”.
Read our full RockJam Karaoke Machine review here.
Kuddly Weighted Blanket
- Weighted Blanket, £49 (Was £99) from Kuddly – buy here
Why we love it: Plush and soft material, comfortable, decent weight
What could be improved: Quite bulky, can make you overheat, takes a while to dry
A unique gift for a homebody or someone who loves settling down on the sofa for the evening, this Kuddly weighted blanket is one of our favourites.
Our (male) tester called this “a game-changer”, with a decent 4.7kg weight and a plush feel that creates “a cosy cocoon that goes above and beyond your standard blanketing experience”.
Our reviewer added that it was like a “comforting hug” and made from “super-silky material”, so you know they’ll be comfortable.
It scored an impressive 4.5 out of 5 in our guide to the best-weighted blankets, beating ones by Oodie, Emma and Aeyla.
Hattingley Valley Classic Reserve
- Hattingley Valley Classic Reserve, £33.99 from Waitrose Cellar – buy here
Why we love it: Respected wine producer and award-winning, vegan, luxury-looking bottle
What could be improved: Expensive
Looking for a tipple to celebrate? This Hattingley Valley English sparkling wine is certain to hit the spot (and it’s a gift that you can enjoy too!).
With notes of citrus fruits, pear and brioche, when tasting this our wine expert called it “a complex, perfectly executed bubbly that would make any celebration feel truly special”, and scored it 4.5 out of 5.
Read our full guide to the best English sparkling wines here.
Adidas Marathon Jacket
- Marathon Jacket, from £45 (Was £90) from Adidas – buy here
Why we love it: Adjustable hood, reflective pattern, comfortable fit
What could be improved: Not waterproof
Here at The Sun, we had our resident runners test out running jackets, and this Adidas design was one of our favourites.
We loved how light it feels when on, how warm yet breathable it is and features like reflective stripes and handy pockets.
It’s not suited for super-heavy downpours of rain but if your partner is looking for something to keep him warm and protected on dry days, this jacket comes highly recommended by us.
Read our full guide to the best running jackets here.
Gymshark Sport Shorts
- Sport Shorts, £30 from Gymshark – buy here
Why we love it: Good value, can be worn for all types of exercise, comfy and flexible fit
What could be improved: No fitted pockets specially for phones etc, not the most technical design
For the complete running outfit, pair the jacket with Gymshark’s Sport Shorts.
We had both male and female testers try them out for running, with one person calling them “one of the best pairs of trail running shorts we tried out” – but they can be worn for all types of exercise.
We particularly like the breathable fabric, mid-thigh length and range of movement they gave.
Read more about these in our guide to the best trail running shorts.
Grind Coffee Pods
- Tin of 20 Nespresso-compatible coffee pods, from £9.95 from Grind – buy here
Why we love it: Tasty coffee, compatible with Nespresso machines, pods are compostable, tins look great
What could be improved: Nothing
Grind’s compostable coffee pods are perhaps the trendiest on the market, and if you’re wondering if they live up to the hype, our answer is: yes.
We gave them a thorough review, and couldn’t find anything bad to say about them.
We loved all the coffees we tried and loved how easy the pods are to recycle and how good the tins look on your kitchen counter.
We think the black tins in particular would make the perfect present for men who love their morning brews.
Read our full Grind Coffee review here
Mindful Chef Recipe Boxes
- Recipe boxes, from around £6.25 per portion – get 25% off your first two boxes from Mindful Chef – buy here
Why we love it: Delicious and interesting recipes, excellent quality ingredients, make large portions
What could be improved: Expensive compared to other recipe boxes
If you enjoy cooking together as a couple, signing up for a recipe box service could be one of the best gifts you could buy this year – and Mindful Chef’s are the best we’ve tried.
Our enthusiastic tester preferred Mindful Chef compared to other meal kits from Hello Fresh and Gousto, highly rating the recipes, quality of ingredients and the size of the portions.
Mindful Chef is more expensive than some alternatives, but in our minds, it is worth it.
Read our full Mindful Chef review here.
Ninja Woodfire Electric BBQ Grill, Smoker & Air Fryer
- Ninja Woodfire Electric BBQ Grill, Smoker & Air Fryer, £299.99 (Was £349.99) from Lakeland – buy here
Why we love it: Compact, easy to set up and clean, loved the smoker function
What could be improved: Could be bigger, and needs to be plugged into the mains
Barbecue season might seem like a while off, but we think now’s a great time to treat him to one of our favourite outdoor cooking devices.
Back when the weather was warmer, we gave the Ninja Woodfire BBQ Grill, Smoker and Air Fryer a thorough grilling (sorry), and were super impressed.
We loved the different cooking functions it performs and how easy it was to clean, saying that “if you love outdoor cooking but don’t have the space for a fully-fledged BBQ, this is the device for you”.
Any budding barbecue master will love to receive this smart machine.
Read our full Ninja Woodfire review here.
Antler Brixham
Why we love it: Good price, lots of room inside, five-year guarantee
What could be improved: Price
If you’re planning on whisking your beloved away for a romantic getaway make sure you travel with ease with our pick of the best lightweight suitcases.
Our reviewers liked how Antler suitcase was incredibly light at just 2.4kg, but still had enough space for a ten-day trip.
They liked the number of compartments and that the suitcase was easy to manoeuvre thanks to 360° wheels.
The Antler Brixham also has a TSA lock and comes with a lifetime warranty and its very own dust bag for storage, which we thought was a lovely touch.
The Sub Compact
- The Sub Compact, £125 from Beerwulf – buy here
Why we love it: Pours great pints, range of beers to choose from, looks good in the kitchen
What could be improved: A little noisy, more expensive than buying cans or bottles of beer
The Sub Compact from Beerwulf is another of our best at-home beer dispensers and is slightly cheaper than some other makes.
Our tester thought it was great for the price, looked good in the home and allowed them to try beers that they wouldn’t normally.
If you’re buying for a beer fan and want something cheaper than, say the PerfectDraft, The Sub is a great option.
Read our full Beerwulf The Sub review here.
Karcher WV
Karcher WV, £44.99
Pros: includes an extra suction nozzle (narrow) for smaller areas, 35-minute run time each charge, soaks up spills, easy to empty tank, no drips, good for cleaning condensation
Cons: Heavy, price
We know what you think, but everyone we know who has one of these has loved them.
This window vacuum is the ultimate at-home helper and is one of the most popular reviews on the market.
It’s great for windows, cars and showers, and leaves you with sparkling, clean windows and makes quick work of mopping up excess moisture.
And with a 35-minute run time, you won’t run out halfway through a job.
Our review said: “I love the versatility of it, and while it’s pricey at £51.18, it would be useful if you regularly clean windows and small spills as it significantly cuts down cleaning time”.
Read more in our round-up of the best window vacuums here.
What to buy the man who has everything?
Men can be tricky to buy for, but if you’re shopping for someone who seemingly already has everything don’t worry, you can still find lots of options he’ll love.
It’s a good idea to get him something that he probably wouldn’t buy himself. For example, a fun beer dispenser or some new aftershave.
Alternatively, why not buy something that you can enjoy together like a posh bottle of wine or an activity through Virgin Experience Days?
And if you’re looking for a small gift idea, socks are always useful, and you can find some cool and quirky designs in the shops nowadays.
What are good anniversary gifts for him?
The most thoughtful anniversary gifts are sentimental ones that are in some way related to you as a couple, perhaps a framed photo or a personalised item with the date you met.
Some like to follow tradition and buy something that fits with the theme of the wedding anniversary you’re celebrating. For example, the first anniversary is paper, the second is cotton, etc.
Simple gestures can show how much you care too, such as a bottle of his top tipple or booking a table at his favourite restaurant.
What to get a guy for his birthday?
What to buy a man for his birthday will depend on what he’s into.
If he’s keen on his fashion then something like these trendy Percival socks would go down well, or if he’s a sporty type then perhaps some new trainers, or one of the best massage guns for using after workouts.
Gifts that always go down well with the male members of The Sun’s Shopping team include fragrances, foodie treats or experiences.
Of course, everyday tech items such as headphones and appliances like a coffee machine are a good option too.
If you’re stumped, don’t be afraid to ask him for ideas. At least he’ll get something he wants (or needs)!
Remember, don’t blow the budget on a gift if you really can’t afford it, we’re sure he’d be happy to just spend quality time with you.
What is a good ‘just because’ gift for him?
There doesn’t always have to be an official occasion to buy someone a present, and getting him a gift ‘just because’ is a sweet way to let him know you appreciate him all year round.
Surprising him with his favourite sweet or savoury treat will always go down well, or perhaps a low-priced item of clothing that you know he’s had his eye on for a while.
Alternatively book an activity to do together that you don’t usually do, such as going to the cinema or going out for a nice meal.
‘Just because’ gifts don’t have to be expensive; even the smallest gesture will have a big impact.
What is the best gift for men in 2024?
What you consider to be the best gift for him will depend on several factors: what your recipient is into, what the occasion is and what your budget is.
Some may consider a luxury gift such as a high-tech fitness tracker as the perfect present, whereas others would be happy with a new hoodie or T-shirt.
Here at The Sun some of our failsafe gift ideas for men are fragrance, tech and clothing, and we’re always listing great shopping deals here.
You can also find more great festive-themed gift ideas for him in our guide.
Want to find more savings on your online shopping? Then head to Sun Vouchers where you can get discounts and voucher codes from hundreds of top retailers including B&Q, Boots, Iceland, Lookfantastic, Dunelm, Adidas, Marks & Spencer and more.