God… I know I’m asking for it but here goes.
Anyone got any suggestions for gifts for the groomsmen that has some practical use? In other words eliminate the pewter crap(flasks, mugs, etc.).
Ok, fire away.
When my sister got married, she gave a nice cologne set from ‘Roots’ to each of the ushers. It even came with a small leather wallet. It was actually really nice and they all liked it.
How about tickets to a concert or a sporting event? Maybe a gift certificate to a a sporting shop they go to or other type of store they are interested in? Just a couple of ideas.
How about the good ole swiss army knife?
I’m in the same quandary myself. Keep the suggestions coming!
Sporting event tickets are no good because of the geographical locations of the groomsmen. I personally won’t be giving away swiss army knives because the best man (my brother) already has a few of them lying around the house.
I was thinking of a framed 8x10 picture of the groom, but I don’t know if the ushers would really appreciate the present at its true value.
You must have much different friends than I do. In my circle, the flasks are the useful gifts. Not to mention nice pewter beer mugs.
How about a bottle of Jagermeister? That has a practical purpose…
I was a groomsman when my brother-in-law married my sister. he gave us all very nice brass change dishes, such as you’d empty your pockets (coins, keys, gum, etc.) into when you get home from work. My initials are engraved into the bottom. Very practical.
Two of my best friends married each other a couple of weeks ago, and I was a groomsman then too. We were all given the fancy vests we wore, and also each got a CD with all the wedding music on it (bride and groom’s picks). I’ll probably never wear the vest again, but the CD is great!
As someone who is gonna be a Best Man sometime soon, might I suggest heavy sacks of gold, or diamond rings?
If thats not a big hit, might I suggest wallets? Thats whats my brother used, wallets with the people’s initial embossed, I loved it. Used it for almost ten years, til it got replaced this December.
Oh, and don’t be a cheapskate like my brother, fill em with twenties and fifties.
pat
Attractive bridesmaids 
I don’t know how much you’re willing to spend, but this was in the latest issue of MAXIM.
I’m going to give it to my hubby for Father’s Day.
Hey, the prev. poster’s sainthood made me think of an idea: funky hawaiian shirts! Guys love campy, fun-filled partywear.
If they’re not wearing tuxes, you could buy them ties.
Or just think of something that YOU would love to have but would never buy for yourself - like a cheese wheel or a fancy bar shaker-strainer set.
When my brother married, he bought all the guys RayBan sunglasses. Very cool, as they are more than most people want to spend on sunglasses, but great quality. Also, there are some great shots of all the guys in their tuxes and glasses, looking like a gang of some sort 
Leatherman Tools.
In order to give a good answer, we need to know 2 things 1. Are you providing the Tuxes, or do they have to rent, or is it bring your own? If it is #2 (they gotta rent, at some hefty$$) you better come up with something nice.
And 2, taking in account #1, how much ya wanna spend?
If you have a reasonable budjet, and you hate the idea of rented tuxes (they are an abdomination), give the dudes-- TUXES, yep their own, nice, classy, fitted (but off the rack)penguin suits. I assume by your question that you have SOME class and are not going for any pastel colors.
Well, I’m inclined to be a smartass here since you said to can the flasks. I have a couple monogrammed flasks from weddings; I use 'em all the time when I’m camping or playing poker.
So here’s the smartass answer - Shotguns are always a nice gift.
Here’s a couple serious answers though - monogrammed money clips are nice. Or how about a pen, you can find some pretty nice ones for 20 to 30 bucks.
Leatherman tools are a great idea. They are very practical and very manly! Plus, not everyone has them.
We gave our guys ties (with matching sox) that they wore in the wedding. Not too elaborate, but they liked the ties–Tommy Hilfiger, of all things.!
What about giving them a trip that you can all do together. The whitewater rafting company I work for often hosts groups of people from weddings.
I second **Arnold’s ** suggestion of the Swiss Army knife. I got one a a good friend’s wedding 15 years ago and still carry it. I never would have bought one, but now couldn’t live without it. It’s the Victorinox Spartan–useful without being overly large or ridiculously “gadgety”.
I’ve also gotten a Cross pen that was pretty good, though lost now.
What are you kidding light blue with the ruffled shirt all the way!!!
Seriously though, were not going too big ticket here. While we are (cover your ears) renting tuxes, they aren’t god awful in price. While I do kind of like the idea of giving them tuxes, budget and practicality intervene. We are not really the coat and tails type of group. Well, one of the groomsmen is a lawyer, but we try to keep him grounded through the administration of copiuous amounts of liquor.
Anyway, we are probably talking in the $25-$30 dollar range. Leatherman tools are a distinct possibility.
Fishing and drinking would be the only real common traits of this group.
Keep the suggestions coming…You guys rock!!!
<<I heard that Sledman!!>>
I think 60 pound pumpkins would do the trick!! (sorry, inside joke).
Here’s a link to the Leatherman page at L.L.Bean. They’ll engrave them for you (I think it’s free). That’s what we got all our groomsmen, with their initials, and they loved them.
There are different models, so there’s some flexibility in price range.
http://www.llbean.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/CategoryDisplay?cgrfnbr=1101&cgmenbr=1&ecgrfnbr=3912&ecgmenbr=1&showimage=&sc1=SHOP&sc2=Sporting_Gear_Apparel&sc3=Camping_Hiking_Gear&sc4=Accessories_Electronics&sc5=Tools_Knives