In all honesty, there are probably too many Father’s Day gift guides out there in the world. And no one does it better than Michael Williams of A Continuous Lean, whose recent guide was spot on; his passion for quality production and timeless products always resonates for me.
At the end of the day, all I really want is a nice day with my family, a good nap, some time to read alone, and a good meal with loved ones to close out the day. (And Erin, if you’re reading this: a vintage Rolex.)
But I’m a dad, and I love to share special discoveries, so I wanted to throw my hat in the ring. Below are a few items I own that I’m sure most dads would cherish:
FITNESS
I’m a cyclist - tight fitting kit and all, and this is the best bike pump I’ve encountered. It’s got two valves to allow you to fit both types of bikes, whether you ride a fancy road bike or a simple beach cruiser. Nothing is better than a nice bike ride, and if you’re a dad, you’ve likely got lots of bikes in your future, from the early stage balance bikes to your kids first big kid bike.
I love a bit of sport - running, cycling, swimming. This watch helps me keep track of my time, distance, and performance. I like it because it’s a little less common than the typical Garmin watch. I learned about it from a friend who lives in Paris and mentioned that this is what all the elite runners in Paris were wearing. Sold. I’ve had mine for 3 years and it works brilliantly, and recharges faster than any other watch I’ve tried. (My wife was so impressed with mine that she bought one.)
I refuse to wear Lululemon simply because everyone else is wearing it. I prefer the shorts from Outdoor Voices.
STYLE
OB is the best. The waistband is more like a classic pair of pants, with tabs on the side that allow you to tighten or loosen the fit to best suit your needs. These are a more elegant, European style of trunk, dispensing with the elastic waistband that is very common and rarely flattering. Not cheap, but built well - I’m still on the same pair I bought 7 or 8 years ago.
There are “finer” dress shirts, but I LOVE Sid’s shirts. I’ve yet to find a collar that is more flattering. He simply nailed it. These are exclusively what I wear for dressier functions, and I’ve yet to find another brand that hits all the notes quite as well as Sid does.
A man cycles through a number of sunglasses over the years. I can’t get on board with Costa or any of the other “fishing adjacent” options that are so popular in Charleston, mostly because they are so popular I immediately go the other way. Moscot is a proper old school New York company, and the quality to price ratio here is off the charts. Lots of different models to suit all kinds of faces, but I think the Lemtosh is a model that looks good on anyone and everyone.
These are the classic Arizona two-strap Birkenstocks, but made in EVA, which is basically rubber. I love having these things around the house for a quick jaunt to the yard, to go grab the paper, or for just lounging about. They are also wonderfully comfortable and make a great recovery shoe after a long run, if you know a dad that’s into that kind of thing.
FOOD & DRINK
It doesn’t get any better than a classic Le Creuset. You can use it for soups, to cook rice, poach vegetables, boil eggs, make porridge, or just weigh down other crap. It looks great on the stove top, and it will last forever. There are a lot of imitators out there, but this is the best, hands down.
We make a less expensive version via Jack Rudy, but this robust cocktail shaker is American made (from American steel) and will honestly last you forever. A man needs a proper shaker in his arsenal, and this is it.
I designed this mixing glass years ago, and we continue to produce these here in North Carolina where every glass is handblown. It’s the best mixing glass you can buy, and will round out any dad’s home cocktail game.
The best peanut butter in the world
If you’ve been reading my newsletter for a while, you know my devotion to Cream-Nut Peanut Butter. There is no better peanut butter, and I have tried them all. We buy this by the case, and if you know a dad who fancies himself a peanut butter lover, put him onto this and watch him melt.
HOME
My parent’s bought me this leaf blower as a house warming present, and I love it. Sometimes I don’t even have anything to blow off, and I’ll just roam around my backyard looking for an errant leaf, pebble, or even speck of dust. When the kids are around I will happily hit them with a big blast of air which is good for a few laughs. In a pinch you can load it up with toy cars and launch them across the yard - another big hit in our house.