? For Men and Those Who Shop For Men

[intothewoods]

Can you help me think of a birthday present for Mister Man?

I don't want to spend a lot of money, and I know he doesn't want me to spend a lot of money. I am going to make him a special dinner with dishes that he likes, but I want to get him something. Last year I got him a nice bottle of scotch and two nice tumblers. He loved it, but promptly broke the tumblers. Love the man, but he will be the first to tell you that he's a bit of a klutz with glassware.

So, he is a geek. Likes football. Reads a lot, mostly nonfiction, some scifi stuff, but he has a Kindle, so books are sort of out. Doesn't care about clothes. He has mentioned wanting a messenger bag, so maybe I'll get him that.

I'm really stumped otherwise, and I'm wondering if any of you have ideas.

 

[SpecialKay62]

Hmmm....

they are hard to shop for, aren't they? Any hobbies? Something hobby related. How about a starter hobby kit? I got my husband an inexpensive beer brewing set once. That was fun. Also, remote control things...like cars, boats, or planes (I know what you were thinking....so that's an option also.) A nice belt, or cufflinks...think of something that says "you" when he sees it. Good luck!

 

[unregistered]

 

[wicked woman]

Can you help me think of a birthday present for Mister Man?

I don't want to spend a lot of money, and I know he doesn't want me to spend a lot of money. I am going to make him a special dinner with dishes that he likes, but I want to get him something. Last year I got him a nice bottle of scotch and two nice tumblers. He loved it, but promptly broke the tumblers. Love the man, but he will be the first to tell you that he's a bit of a klutz with glassware.

So, he is a geek. Likes football. Reads a lot, mostly nonfiction, some scifi stuff, but he has a Kindle, so books are sort of out. Doesn't care about clothes. He has mentioned wanting a messenger bag, so maybe I'll get him that.

I'm really stumped otherwise, and I'm wondering if any of you have ideas.

just because he's got a Kindle doesn't mean no books. An ebook or gift certificate to Amazon for ebooks would be my choice.

 

[insert____here]

i'm working on a photography project / gift for D.

i've set my digital camera to black and white and every time i see something that evokes a response, i snap it.

ok, so i'm not the worlds greatest photographer, but......

there's a pretty cool company that makes actual books out of photos, so that will be the last step, but you could always turn them into a canvas print or something instead.


or you could just gift wrap yourself naked except for a giant bow.... you'll definately a smile at least.

 

[JMohegan]

Can you help me think of a birthday present for Mister Man?

I don't want to spend a lot of money, and I know he doesn't want me to spend a lot of money. I am going to make him a special dinner with dishes that he likes, but I want to get him something. Last year I got him a nice bottle of scotch and two nice tumblers. He loved it, but promptly broke the tumblers. Love the man, but he will be the first to tell you that he's a bit of a klutz with glassware.

So, he is a geek. Likes football. Reads a lot, mostly nonfiction, some scifi stuff, but he has a Kindle, so books are sort of out. Doesn't care about clothes. He has mentioned wanting a messenger bag, so maybe I'll get him that.

I'm really stumped otherwise, and I'm wondering if any of you have ideas.

Tickets to a pro game should be easy to come by, in your neck of the woods. If there's a particular player from another team, or team itself, that he admires, then try to get tickets when that team's visiting.

If he's still a fan of the team from his alma mater, you could call the alumni office and ask how to reserve or purchase tickets for one of their big games.

 

[BiBunny]

Do the messenger bag thing and then stick something nice inside it. That's something my mother does for our family at Christmastime and sometimes on birthdays. Buy them a purse (or something else for the men) and stick money or something small enough to fit inside that the person will really like. Bonus points if he has to turn the bag inside out to find it!

 

[callinectes2]

Is he a gadget guy? Would he like add ons for his Smartphone or something of that sort?

 

[~Haze~]

they are hard to shop for, aren't they?

Not really. Men are pretty easy to shop for and usually pretty open about what they like, want and will use.

Generally speaking, start off like you're trying to shop for a 15 year old kid and you'll do well.

Toys. Specifically electronic toys. This best gift I got this year was a rc helicopter. It's like 24" big and very cool. I think she found it for less than $50 and it was perfect.

I'd suggest you go for toys, techie, geeky, electronics. It will be a big hit.

Try... Brookstone and Frontgate. Those should be two sites/stores that have cool things and should, at the very least, give you a few ideas. Men love cool things that no one else has yet and both of these stores will get you going in that direction.

 

[zarngash]

You say messenger bag! How about The Bag of Holding Messenger Bag http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/bags/aaa5/

Anything from thinkgeek would be groovy

 

[intothewoods]

Oooh - some good ideas! Thank you!!!!

<snip>

I like the beer brewing kit idea! I might check that out.

<snip>

These are some good ideas. He has some old games. Maybe I could ask his gamer buddies for something that's a classic. Err, Miss Pacman? I'm so not up on these things!

<snip>

I might actually get him an ebook - though we have the same account, so I have to figure out how to swing that.

<snip>

Ohhhh, aha that's it!!!! He actually has a few old photos that he would love to have blown up. Problem is they aren't digital. I guess they can be scanned though. Poop, I wonder if I can get that done in time. That would totally rock!!!!

<snip>

You know, I wanted to get him tickets a while back, and he told me he didn't want to see a game there again. Traffic issues and I guess it's tough to see anything. I dunno - I love going to baseball games, so I was shocked to hear him say that - but maybe it's not a great stadium?

<snip>

That's a good idea - something sentimental in the bag.

<snip>

Yes, although he has a zillion apps already. That's part of the problem with the geek stuff. He has a lot already.

<snip>

Thanks for the links! I think I'm going to go with blowing up an old photo if I can swing it (he has actually mentioned doing this, I can't believe I forgot!), but I may throw in some geek stuff too (if I don't do the bag), so thanks for the links!


Thank you again!!! That was so helpful!

 

[intothewoods]

You say messenger bag! How about The Bag of Holding Messenger Bag http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/bags/aaa5/

Anything from thinkgeek would be groovy

That is an awesome site actually. I'm going to start a folder on my computer so I can remember this stuff. I'll have to label it something else so he doesn't look!

 

[MasterPhoenix]

ITW,

You said he liked football... if he is a Raider fan, I have some high quality unique images, I would be willing to email you and you could have them printed for him.

If you are interested, contact me in PM and I will give you an idea of what I have...

Good luck on your search...

 

[Abraxas Winterlight]

Geek messenger bag
http://us.blizzard.com/store/_images/product?productId=1100000645&type=3&loc=en-US

 

[DeepGreenEyes]

I like this bag and use it constantly. I feel like I'm delivering a message to British Army Intelligence in WWl instead of carrying a manpurse. Good luck!

http://image.dhgate.com/upload/20087/72/ff80808114121c4001141226d2fd0b03/productimg1216797066886.jpg

http://image1.dhgate.com/upload/20087/72/ff80808114121c4001141226d2fd0b03/productimg1216796629778.jpg

 

[CurlyKat]

Talking messenger bags, these are kind of cool. I'd go with the larger one for a man, since the smaller one looks more like a purse (I have the smaller).

 

[JMohegan]

Question for the men, and those who know the men, who carry messenger bags but are not actual messengers -

What do men carry inside them?

 

[00Syd]

If you are looking for a messenger bag (or anything else), but want something unique, maybe search on etsy.com?

I'm quickly falling in love with etsy. So many wonderful things!

 

[Netzach]

Question for the men, and those who know the men, who carry messenger bags but are not actual messengers -

What do men carry inside them?

Wallet, papers, receipts, phone/PDA, mp3 player, spare juice and food item - all the crap that blows out your coat pockets eventually. The trend of man purses is not nearly as alarming to me as what the hell guys did before them?

 

[DeepGreenEyes]

Question for the men, and those who know the men, who carry messenger bags but are not actual messengers -

What do men carry inside them?

Sunglasses, water bottle, an apple or orange, iPod, phone, laptop, planner and whatever I'm reading at the moment. I want an iPad, which would consolidate the iPod, laptop, planner and reading material. But not the apple, ironically.

 

[JMohegan]

Wallet, papers, receipts, phone/PDA, mp3 player, spare juice and food item - all the crap that blows out your coat pockets eventually. The trend of man purses is not nearly as alarming to me as what the hell guys did before them?

This is the root of my question. Are they being swapped for briefcase or backpack, or are they being used by guys during times when they used to carry nothing?

To answer your question - wallet, keys, phone. If I'm not meeting with a client or hiking, that's generally all I've got with me. I don't see anything wrong with man purses, but I don't carry a lot of stuff around and don't have a need for one.

Sunglasses, water bottle, an apple or orange, iPod, phone, laptop, planner and whatever I'm reading at the moment. I want an iPad, which would consolidate the iPod, laptop, planner and reading material. But not the apple, ironically.

Ha. Sounds like you're hopping on a commuter train to work. Do you also carry the bag for non-business purposes?

 

[DeepGreenEyes]

This is the root of my question. Are they being swapped for briefcase or backpack, or are they being used by guys during times when they used to carry nothing?

To answer your question - wallet, keys, phone. If I'm not meeting with a client or hiking, that's generally all I've got with me. I don't see anything wrong with man purses, but I don't carry a lot of stuff around and don't have a need for one.

Ha. Sounds like you're hopping on a commuter train to work. Do you also carry the bag for non-business purposes?

Pretty much work or day trips. For the gym, parties, dinner, whatever, no. I'm like you: wallet, keys, phone. Although my wallet's gotten bulky with assorted crap and my phone is thicker than I'd like. The pain is the sunglasses: they won't fit in the pockets and I sometimes just end up carrying the case around like a big TV remote. Click! Hmmm...maybe I'll have a thigh hollowed out or something. That might work.

I think these things did replace briefcases, but there are also more gadgets to carry around in non-work life than there were. And the blurring of work and non-work makes the laptop and PDA/phone essential in a way they didn't use to be.

 

[JMohegan]

Pretty much work or day trips. For the gym, parties, dinner, whatever, no. I'm like you: wallet, keys, phone. Although my wallet's gotten bulky with assorted crap and my phone is thicker than I'd like. The pain is the sunglasses: they won't fit in the pockets and I sometimes just end up carrying the case around like a big TV remote. Click! Hmmm...maybe I'll have a thigh hollowed out or something. That might work.

I think these things did replace briefcases, but there are also more gadgets to carry around in non-work life than there were. And the blurring of work and non-work makes the laptop and PDA/phone essential in a way they didn't use to be.

That all makes sense.

And yeah, sunglasses can be a pain to deal with. I've got one pair that I keep in the glove compartment of my car, and another that I wear when I'm heading out to walk, bike or run.

 

[intothewoods]

If you are looking for a messenger bag (or anything else), but want something unique, maybe search on etsy.com?

I'm quickly falling in love with etsy. So many wonderful things!

Omg - step away now! That site is awesome, but we're in hardcore save mode right now.

This is the root of my question. Are they being swapped for briefcase or backpack, or are they being used by guys during times when they used to carry nothing?

To answer your question - wallet, keys, phone. If I'm not meeting with a client or hiking, that's generally all I've got with me. I don't see anything wrong with man purses, but I don't carry a lot of stuff around and don't have a need for one.


Ha. Sounds like you're hopping on a commuter train to work. Do you also carry the bag for non-business purposes?

In Mister Man's case, they're being swapped for a briefcase. He actually has a briefcase, but it's too dressy for everyday. His job is more casual. Actually, I think they're a more professional version of a backpack.

He carries his wallet, phone, sometimes umbrella, and often reading material for the commute. If he has to stop and get something on his way home, he throws it in the bag.

 

[intothewoods]

ITW,

You said he liked football... if he is a Raider fan, I have some high quality unique images, I would be willing to email you and you could have them printed for him.

If you are interested, contact me in PM and I will give you an idea of what I have...

Good luck on your search...

Oh, thanks MP, but he's not a Raider fan.