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We’ve got Valentine’s Day sorted with our tried and tested men’s gift guide
If you’re searching for the best Valentine’s Day gifts for men, you’ve come to the right place, because we have gathered some brilliant options across a range of categories, so you are sure to find that perfect present for your boyfriend, husband or bestie.
Whether the man in your life is a reader, loves a tipple, is a fashionisto, wants to get into cooking or just needs some new pyjamas, get some inspiration for romantic presents, with our curated selection of the best.
Give him something he’ll love to open and, more importantly, actually use. We have included gifts that he would wear, cook with and display, and we can guarantee all have been tested for their quality and value for money.
We have selected gifts from a wide range of categories – including jewellery, alcohol gifts, fashion, homeware, grooming and more – to make sure we’ve got something for everyone. We will be updating this constantly to make sure we’ve got the best gifts a man can get.
The solution to every book lover’s problems: the kindle. No more eating cereal while trying to turn pages with one hand. No more elbowing the person next to you in the stomach on the tube with book in one hand and your work bag in the other. No more switching sides every time you turn the page while reading a book in bed. You get the picture.
Our tester found Kindle to be lighter than a book so it’s perfect for travelling or putting in his bag for commuting to the office and it actually encouraged him to read more than usual. The screen lights up so it’s perfect for reading at night as well as no glare so you can read outside during the warmer months. The battery lasts a very long time too. This is the perfect gift for a man who likes reading or is interested in getting into reading.
Amp up the breakfast table with a colourful French press from iconic kitchenware brand Le Creuset. Available in a slew of different colours, this is the coolest way to have your morning coffee. We love the azure colour - it’s definitely not a gift to stow away in a cupboard.
The one-litre capacity means it’s great for sharing, or to enjoy three to four cups alone (no judgement). Made from substantial and heavy stoneware, and because of this the coffee stays hot for a long time.
One for the dry-handed minimalist in your life, the Nécessaire hand cream has the perfect formula that’s not too thick and sticky but not too watery. It cares for dry hands with just the right amount of moisture while also being hypoallergenic. This is also completely fragrance free so it has universal appeal.
The packaging is sleek and, at 65ml in volume, lasts for ages. The more you use, the more the tube crinkles giving it some extra character. The price point makes it luxe enough for a great gift while not breaking the bank.
This is a heady scent from the luxury Parisian fragrance brand Diptyque. Tempo is an ode to patchouli, which rose to popularity in the Sixties, when Diptyque was founded, and is a complex scent that won “best new men’s fragrance” at the Fragrance Foundation Awards. Other notes include clary sage and maté which our reviewer describes as incense-like with a subtle lingering floral note of violet. This is different from a lot of men’s scents that can be overpowering and our tester had compliments from his barber who also swore he’d buy a bottle.
The film buff in your life will really thank you for this one. SCRT is creating some of the coolest referential apparel pieces with collections inspired by films such as American Psycho, Twin Peaks, Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation, cult Japanese slasher Battle Royale, and many more.
We love this cap for keeping the sun out of our eyes and adding a pop of colour to a basic outfit while showing everyone that we are Kubrick stans.
It’s not often you find a pre-packaged cocktail that actually tastes as good as if it was mixed in front of you in a bar, but Moth has a range of delicious canned cocktails that are perfect for sipping at a picnic or poured over ice at a dinner party. For the man who likes his cocktails like a film star from the 1950s, send him one of these boxes which start from £26 for eight, but is also available in a 12- and 24-can box. The drinks are truly delicious with stand outs being the margarita, the aperitivo spritz and the French 75.
The Backbone One is a handheld gaming console that attaches to your iPhone or Anrdoid phone and thereby transforming it into a handheld games console. Our reviewer has tested the Backbone One Playstation edition but it is also compatible with Xbox, Steam and other gaming platforms.
You will need to have a subscription to an exisiting PlayStation service to be able to play PlayStation games on your phone but there are plenty of free games and app games that are compatible. You can search the full list on the website but our reviewer loved playing Fortnite for free using the handheld console. We found this to be even better than playing the same game on a Nintendo Switch device. If you have a man in your life who loves a bit of casual gaming, this is a great gift.
This five-piece set of knives from ProCook is the perfect gift for a budding chef with an eye for design. The knives themselves are of a classic design and the convenient magnetic black block is slim enough to slip in next to the microwave or display proudly. The knives are razor sharp and the different sizes can slice and dice anything you want to cook from vegetables to meat, bread and fruit with ease. Your boyfriend, husband, friend, grandpa or son will be a professional in no time.
Created as a love letter to Africa by founder of the Swedish brand Ben Gorham, this scent is a sultry summery fragrance with rich floral notes of African marigold, bergamot and violet balanced with Moroccan cedarwood and vetiver and some smokiness and spiciness running through. Even though the fragrance lasts a good amount of time when spraying just in the morning, our reviewer couldn’t stop spritzing throughout the day when working from home because of the moreish sweet and spicy notes.
This candle in dark rum has a lovely balance of masculine and feminine elements with leather, rum and patchouli sweetened with vanilla and a creamy undertone. This candle burns evenly and “cleanly” due to the use of natural vegetable waxes and leaves the room with a delicious and spicy scent. The brand even suggests reusing the glass from the candle as a drinking glass when the candle has finished burning.
For the art loving man in your life, King & McGaw is one of the best places to shop for affordable pieces for any home. Vividly realised prints come in your choice of colour for frames or from £25 with no frame. There are real, one-off vintage prints alongside the extensive range of reprinted artworks from the world’s most recognised artists including Jean-Michel Basquiat, Edward Hopper, Henri Matisse and so many more.
Our testers received two prints, a framed Shadows I, 1979 print by Andy Warhol, £150 with frame, with a strong deep pink accent colour which was beautifully framed and adds the perfect pop of colour to a neutral space.
One of the freshest fragrances that we can’t get enough of is tea tonique from Miller Harris, which is available in hand and body wash. This is the perfect gift for the man who wants a polished bathroom down to the hand soap.
With notes of bitter orange oil, tea leaves and fresh greenery that encapsulates the feeling and smell of being ‘clean’, this can also be put in the shower for a spa-like experience. This is our tester’s go-to fragrance to feel revitalised before turning in for the night.
The Penguin range of clothbound classics make for beautiful gifts. Penguin is constantly updating its library of clothbound classics with patterns – designed by Coralie Bickford-Smith – symbolically nodding to the stories within. Whether your gift receiver is more of a Shelley fan or Dickens guy, there are plenty to choose from.
We love this version of Bram Stoker’s iconic gothic horror classic Dracula, with its eerie botanical illustrations set against a grey background reflecting the bleak Transylvanian landscape. The book is Jonathan Harker’s account of his visit to Count Dracula’s castle where he quickly discovers some very unsettling things.
The linen bedding brand Piglet in Bed has updated their sleepwear offering for men. Our tester normally doesn’t like the feeling of linen but these are so soft that there was no issues at bed-time. Available in a plain, gingham or striped pattern in tasteful colours, our tester loved the red gingham pieces which are available to buy as just tops or just bottoms so you can mix and match colours and patterns.
The original Hendricks is one of our tester’s all-time favourite gins. With its heavy, whimsical dark glass bottle, the gin itself makes the perfect gin and tonic. Rose and fresh cucumber notes pair with other botanicals for a beautifully balanced taste that suit plain or flavoured tonics.
We love adding pepper and cucumber for a spicy, refreshing summer cocktail, lemon tonic for a citrussy G&T, or blending with vermouth for a great gin martini.
Hailing from Cardiff in Wales, Heist Chocolate creates delicious bars using organic cocoa beans. With a small batch, bean to bar approach to chocolate making, Heist’s flavours change often. Gift tokens are available from £10 (Heistchocolate.com).
We tried an inspired take on white chocolate called cereal milk, with crunchy toasted cornflakes and sea salt (£6.95, Heistchocolate.com), the decadently rich 70 per cent cocoa hot chocolate (£13.95, Heistchocolate.com) and a bar of salted caramel and almond (£12, Heistchocolate.com).
The branding all features the adorable Tompkins in various outfits and poses and the Tompkins tote (£12, Heistchocolate.com) will make the perfect gift-bag for gifting all the treats.
Outdoor brand Gramicci specialises in clothing that has been designed with movement in mind. While all of its pieces will likely appeal to the man in your life, if you’re looking to upgrade his trouser collection, these are a great choice. Despite their baggy and comfortable silhouette, they’re versatile enough to be worn whatever the occasion and offer a cool and contemporary look. Made from a hard-wearing twill fabric, they will stand the test of time. Our tester found that they could style them with everything in their wardrobe and liked the number of colours to choose from.
If you’re looking for the perfect gift for a plant parent, this is something a little bit different. Seemingly suspended in water, the hydroponic clusia princess, otherwise called sia in glass, from Patch is a super easy care plant that looks great. Just keeping the water topped up and occasionally adding some plant food is all the care that this plant needs, alongside a spot near a window ideally.
The enchanting, aromatic scent of geranium is the core inspiration for this reed diffuser from British lifestyle brand Bamford. The dark green bottle, made from recycled glass, has minimalist branding that is sure to blend in nicely with your gift receiver’s interior style.
Our tester found the scent dispersed nicely in his home, with delightful citrussy, green and earthy notes reaching him each time he entered the room. The 200ml bottle has so far lasted very well, even after turning the reed sticks a few times. The brand also boasts that its diffusers have responsibly sourced reeds and environmentally friendly fragrances.
The Kiehl’s facial fuel range is formulated for men’s skin which is typically thicker than women’s. The energising duo is the perfect gift for a man who wants to take care of his skin but probably won’t be employing a 10-step skincare routine quite yet. The face wash has menthol that feels cooling and reviving, while the moisturiser – which is infused with vitamin C and E – absorbs really quickly so you’re ready to go in no time.
Simply one of the comfiest T-shirts you can buy, you’ll be stealing this one straight after gifting. Esteemed fashion designer Christophe Lemaire has collaborated with Uniqlo as artistic director for the collections which sees elevated twists to everyday basics like the plain T-shirt.
Our tester tried the white, black and purple colours and he loved the half sleeve and oversized, boxy fit of the shirt. The material feels substantial but allows air flow and feels super soft to the touch. This is a great piece as part of a man’s capsule wardrobe to throw on with jeans, smart trousers or shorts in the summertime. And they’re under £20 each.
This tiny projector is just the size of a can but it makes for brilliant movie nights. This is one to buy your partner that you can both benefit from. It’s super easy to set up so even a technology novice can get on board. The projector has inbuilt streaming apps including Netflix and YouTube and the projection size can be up to 100 inches across.
There is a handy wheel at the side that adjusts the focus and the display automatically adjusts for wherever you need to project. Whether you’re lying down in bed and want to project at an angle on the ceiling, or you even want to project onto the garden fence for outdoor summer movie nights.
The Marshall major IV wireless headphones are an affordable alternative to other over ear headphones on the market but the sound quality is still great. Working via bluetooth with your phone, the headphones have a huge 80+ hours of listening time from one charge. These will be your companion to the shops, on the commute or take them on holiday without worrying about the battery dying.
These are comfortable on the head and have a distinctly classic design and look great in the brown colourway that our reviewer has tested. They have the capability for wireless charging but the regular charging is super fast too. The size is easily adjustable and you can even take calls using the metal button that also acts as volume control and power.
We’ve found our new favourite bottle, and it is perfect for keeping drinks cold and hot for hours and hours. The rambler bottles come in five different sizes, from 530ml to 1.9l capacity, and feature a “chug cap”, which makes spill-free sipping a breeze. The chug cap is removable from the main bottle, for easy cleaning, and you can even replace it with a special teacup cap (sold separately).
All Yeti bottles are dishwasher-safe, but also easy to hand wash, so we weren’t worried about bacteria build-up. There is a range of colours and sizes, making them entirely customisable to your giftee. The smallest bottle starts from £30, too.
American brand Danner has been creating sturdy, high-quality leather boots since 1932. Made to withstand the great outdoors, they’ll make a pertinent gift for the outdoorsman in your life. The full-grain leather upper and fully waterproof Gore-Tex lining makes these boots perfect for hiking and getting outside. The shoes come with inserts that support the arch of the foot, too.
We found the boots to be supportive on uneven surfaces, and they’re ideal for walking the dog in the unpredictable British weather. The boots don’t look out of place as part of a casual outfit, either.
They come in dark brown with green laces or all black – the style preferred by Daniel Craig’s James Bond in Spectre. The boots took a bit of breaking in but will be a go-to for years to come.
For more than 10 years, this company has been creating limited-edition prints of popular photography spanning music, film and lifestyle. We selected this print of disco legend Donna Summer performing live, photographed by Waring Abbott in 1978. The vivid colours, the glow of glitter and the hazy effect all contribute to capturing the essence of the “queen of disco”, rendered wonderfully in this high-quality print.
The wooden frame is classic with a choice of black or white, and the sturdy metal wiring makes for easy hanging. Each design has a run of 495, with each print numbered on the back. There are so many prints to choose from but we think this one is a gorgeous statement piece and makes for an amazing gift for any music fan or design-lover. Prices start from £89 for a 35cm x 28cm framed print.
Hailing from sleepy Norfolk, Austin Austin is a family-owned body care and home fragrance brand with design-led packaging that you’ll want to display in your bathroom. This limited edition hand cream and hand soap set features whimsical illustrations by artist Christian Newby.
Aside from looking great, the formulas are naturally derived with vegan and organic ingredients. The hand soap cleanses gently and the cream leaves your hands nourished and moisturised, not greasy. They also smell great.
One of our favourite electric toothbrushes, this makes for a great gift for someone who cares about sustainability but still wants a toothbrush that delivers. Comprised of a recycled aluminium base that is repairable and plant-based, and recyclable heads, this toothbrush looks good, does good and is one of the best electric toothbrushes we’ve found for a really clean feeling.
Two modes allow for regular brushing or polishing for extra shine, and the charge lasts a whopping 40 days – even when we add an extra few minutes a week of polishing. The design is sleek and comes in four muted colours, which look good in any bathroom.
Creed’s viking parfum feels like a real treat. Not only is the sublime red-hued bottle with the brand’s signature crest motif worthy of a position on any dresser table, but the scent itself is a crowd-pleasing masculine aroma – notes of peppercorn and peppermint are balanced with sandalwood. This is a luxurious gift that they’ll spritz on special occasions. Prepare to earn yourself serious kudos.
Whether your giftee regularly works out or suffers from a few aches and pains owing to hunching over a laptop while WFH, Therabody’s massage gun will be a very welcome gift. The new and improved mini model is complete with three attachments (a dampener, standard ball and thumb) and fits conveniently in their bag so you can get relief wherever you are.
Unlike more bulkier massage guns, the ergonomic design sits comfortably in your hand and the Bluetooth-compatible Therabody app helps you treat specific pains with personalised routines.
What better gift for a Brit than an umbrella? American brand Weatherman has just launched in the UK and tests all its umbrellas in wind tunnels to ensure they stay put even in the strongest winds.
This is certainly the case as we found during some summer storms and high winds. The substantial umbrella, despite being compact enough to pop in any tote bag or backpack, is robust and has been holding its own very well. They come in a range of colours including a vibrant neon yellow but also more muted tones such as navy blue and an attractive soft white with dark trim.
Marrying style and comfort, Pangaia’s tracksuit sets are an investment gift they’ll wear time after time. The DNA track pants are cut into a barrel-leg silhouette and come in five colours (we loved the blackberry colour best). Crafted from a heavyweight cotton fabric, the pants have a brushed lining for extra comfort and warmth, while the elasticated waistband is adjustable. Plus, there are handy pockets at the sides and they’re genderless so you can borrow them to wear yourself. Complete the set with the matching DNA hoodie (£185, Pangaia.com).
Love for Barbour jackets is back in a big way this winter (see Dua Lipa and Alexa Chung). As for men’s styles, this design is a timeless addition to a man’s wardrobe. We love the contemporary slightly boxy fit and roomy design (this allows for plenty of layering). Similarly, the front pockets are large enough to hold essentials and keep hands warm on a particularly chilly day. Of course, it features the British brand’s signature contrasting cord collar, as well as a waterproof, waxed finish. In this style, it looks almost like leather thanks to the sleek matte black colourway. Practical for the dog walk but stylish enough for the pub, it’s an investment for their winter wardrobe that you’ll dig out year after year.
One of our favourite two-person camping tents in our guide, the Kelty far out 2 is spacious to comfortably sleep two people, but compact enough when packed up to carry on your travels - whether that’s on your back or on your bike.
Our tester loved that you can pitch the tent with half the fly rolled up for stargazing at nighttime and calls this the ‘perfect first adventure tent’. Gift this to the camping addict in your life and include a hint at being his camping plus one.
British leather accessory maker Ettinger was founded in 1934 and has launched a range of leather gaming accessories including playing cards, dominoes and capra poker dice enveloped in fine leather.
The pebbled leather case gives a luxurious touch, and can be personalised (for an extra £35) with a monogram of your choice up to five characters. We love the way these are presented in their box, making them a charming present that will see your giftee through the year.
Slow fashion label Batch crafts contemporary suits using luxury Italian fabrics. They’ll get their wear time and time again out of this modern and smart jacket. Plus, it’s blend of cotton and linen ensures its year-round wearability, making it crease-less, breathable and insulating. Made-to-order in London (wait time is between four-eight weeks, so plan ahead), this business model creates less waste and a more bespoke gift. The utilitarian-inspired jacket is characterised by functional, large pockets and subtle Batch sun and moon branding that nods to the pieces’s day-to-night versality. Whether they style it with a white shirt for smart occasions or dress down with jeans and a T-shirt, it’s a seriously hard working addition to their wardrobe.
Patrón makes the creme de la creme of tequila and the añejo, made especially for sipping straight, is aged in oak whisky barrels for 12 months, imbueing it with a rich and sweet flavour.
The taste is smooth with notes of vanilla, honey and sweet agave. Sip over ice, neat or craft your favourite Mexican cocktails.
When the grey marl trackies seem a bit tired, you know it’s time to give his loungewear an upgrade, and what could be better than this collaboration with Queens-based streetwear pioneer, Angelo Baque? Adorned with Latinx codex mini prints, these joggers are the sort of design you’re not likely to see copied and pasted on every other 20-30 something in your neighbourhood. Our tester found they washed well without turning stiff (in the way sweats are want to do) and enjoyed the addition of pockets for his wallet, keys etc.
We also gave the matching Champion x Angelo Baque hoodie (£145, Endclothing.com) a whirl and, while on the trousers the pockets made for a handy addition, it was in fact the lack of pockets that made the hoodie’s design so clean cut and desirable. Without the standard kangaroo pocket, it affords a more formal wearability that’s just as suited to its matching trackies as it is a pair of heavyweight barrel jeans. We found it both couch-potato comfy and an effortless layering addition for Friday nights down the pub – both pieces certainly get our seal of approval.
With a name like love bite, and the deep red colour, this is the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for your natural wine loving partner. New Theory focuses on creating wines with grapes harvested from old vines on sustainable vineyards in South Africa.
Love Bite is a red wine with complex red fruit flavours and a slight tang. We loved this wine chilled in the fridge first and will pair perfectly with your date night dinner.
With a nostalgic mountainscape design reminiscent of 80s and 90s vintage pieces, but with a contemporary boxy cut, this half zip fleece from Cotton On is just the ticket for cosy winter days.
Despite the busy design our tester has enjoyed pairing it with joggers on casual days or jeans for running errands. It kept us warm and isn’t itchy or uncomfortable against our skin. The label says to cold hand wash but we put it on a gentle cycle in the washming machine and it held up well with no bobbling or matting.
Choosing the perfect gift is a fine art but you are sure to be on to a winner with one of our special gifts. For us, the best pick that is sure to put a smile on any man’s face is the Amazon kindle. This is a great, affordable gift that is completely customisable to the recipient’s tastes. If they love thrillers, romances or heavy non-fiction, there’s sure to be a book for every reader.
Alternatively, we also loved the Kiehl’s facial fuel starter kit to kickstart a simple skincare routine. For the fashion conscious, we think the Cotton On teddy half zip fleece will be perfect for the stylish man in your life.
Want more present ideas? We’ve rounded up tonnes of gift guides for any occasion