# Doper Manly Men...gift suggestions for milestone birthdays that are useful. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 12, 2006, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doper-manly-men-gift-suggestions-for-milestone-birthdays-that-are-useful/344090 "2006-02-12T06:40:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2006, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doper-manly-men-gift-suggestions-for-milestone-birthdays-that-are-useful/344090/1 "2006-02-12T06:40:11Z")
We have two milestone birthdays coming up. One rather rapidly: The first one is my husbands boss, and very good friend, who will be 50 this month. He is a musician ( guitarist) and very handy around the place. He also has a long commute and is recently remarried to a great non-physcotic woman. He also has two nearly out of the house daughters ( one in college, one senior) The second one is my husbands cousin who will be 40 in August. He is in Germany and I cannot get books and the like for him in English. He is very handy, likes beer ( well, duh) and loves U2. He drives a Smart Car for regular stuff and a work van for work. (Not married. No kids. No pets.) I’ve been perusing Ebay for a couple of days trying to come up with something manly and useful. I keep going back to **Leatherman tools.** I’m not sure what level of tooly goodness to even consider. If I get one with too many bells and whistles I fear it will fall by the way side, if I get one that is a basic, I/we will be viewed as cheap. Any input on these is very welcome. My husband has a Swiss Army Knife that I swear I use more than he does ( as it is in my truck rather than his car.) I luffs it. I am completely open to other suggestions, but the gift must be functional. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2006, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doper-manly-men-gift-suggestions-for-milestone-birthdays-that-are-useful/344090/2 "2006-02-12T06:48:12Z")
A fairly basic Leatherman with a nice case is indeed a great gift idea. Of course Power tools are always great too. Can’t have too many power tools. Really, I can’t. These days good cordless drill can be found in the same price range as a good Leatherman. Good Luck, Jim ---
**Author:** ![cj\_finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@cj\_finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cj_finn)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2006, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doper-manly-men-gift-suggestions-for-milestone-birthdays-that-are-useful/344090/3 "2006-02-12T06:57:45Z")
Just so you know, manly men don’t do birthdays. Waste of time with all the decorations and the frilly shit. For an easy gift for a manly man, look to the Lee Valley Tools catalog. They pretty much have it all and gift certificates always work. CJ ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2006, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doper-manly-men-gift-suggestions-for-milestone-birthdays-that-are-useful/344090/4 "2006-02-12T19:19:51Z")
I can tell you what **not** to get. Resist the temptation to get any of those gag gifts on the theme of “40/50 and over the hill.” No black balloons or wilted flowers. ---
**Author:** ![Dryfreeze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@Dryfreeze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dryfreeze)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2006, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doper-manly-men-gift-suggestions-for-milestone-birthdays-that-are-useful/344090/5 "2006-02-12T19:22:32Z")
I’ve taken to giving a really nice set of grill tools to those outdoor bbq lovers. I have done this a few times, and it really seems to be useful. . hrmph ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2006, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doper-manly-men-gift-suggestions-for-milestone-birthdays-that-are-useful/344090/6 "2006-02-12T19:45:02Z")
[Dremel Moto tools](http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=pd_sl_aw_tops-1_tools_4239992_1/102-6657755-1296900?search-alias=tools&keywords=dremel%20tool) If you’re going to do the Leatherman route consider a [Victorinox Multi-Tool](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0002T5YNW/sr=1-17/qid=1139773415/ref=sr_1_17/102-6657755-1296900?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance) I have \* lots\* of different multi-tools (lots of Leathermans), and the Victorinox is the best built and best finished by a noticable margin, and pricing is about the same. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2006, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doper-manly-men-gift-suggestions-for-milestone-birthdays-that-are-useful/344090/7 "2006-02-12T20:01:47Z")
Also those “meat of the month” type things are also great [Steak of the Month](http://1800steaks.com/stofmocl.html?gclid=CO_5--zmk4MCFVALGgodyjhVHw) ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doper-manly-men-gift-suggestions-for-milestone-birthdays-that-are-useful/344090/8 "2006-02-13T02:02:14Z")
Well, all I can say is that for my upcoming 40th birthday I would like a redhead who looks like a 22-year-old Ann Margaret. I asked for the same thing for my 25th b-day, and the girls at work bought me a redheaded blowup doll. This year I would prefer something a bit more … lively. ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doper-manly-men-gift-suggestions-for-milestone-birthdays-that-are-useful/344090/9 "2006-02-13T02:19:08Z")
In no particular order: 1. Guns 2. Anything that plugs into the wall and makes a whirring noise. We love that shit. 3. Some good boots. You never know when you’ll need a good pair of boots. 4. Something for the car that requires the use of tools to install. We love that shit. ---
**Author:** ![caligynephobia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7feea3/32.png) [@caligynephobia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caligynephobia)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doper-manly-men-gift-suggestions-for-milestone-birthdays-that-are-useful/344090/10 "2006-02-13T02:31:42Z")
For hubby’s boss - a smoker? A bit big to ship to Germany, but if HB is local, a smoker is a manly step up from a barbeque grill. They sell them for charcoal or gas. Search your local manly stuff outlet (Lowes, Home Depot, etc) for “smoker.” Smoked meats (STS) are very manly, and most dudes don’t have a smoker. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doper-manly-men-gift-suggestions-for-milestone-birthdays-that-are-useful/344090/11 "2006-02-13T15:05:47Z")
Knife sharpening kit Gun range gift certificate Subscription to Wine Conniseur or Road & Track or a DIY mag Reidel glasses (there’s some new stemless tumblers that are pretty cool) Nice, rough leather utility belt for tools, nails, etc. Nice shoulder strap for guitar Omaha Steaks ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doper-manly-men-gift-suggestions-for-milestone-birthdays-that-are-useful/344090/12 "2006-02-13T16:30:17Z")
I have to agree completely with the Over 40 black balloons crap. I hate that immensely. It is so wrong on so many levels. I like the Omaha steaks suggestion. I like them all, actually.