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Whether it’s your boss, coworker, dad, or husband — whoever that man is in your life that’s retiring, it’s time to acknowledge them. But finding the perfect retirement gift is easier said than done. How do you find a gift that’s both appropriate (especially for a man who’s not a family member) and that suitably acknowledges all the years of hard work that said man has put into his career?
To help you find the perfect gift for the man in your life, here’s our gift guide with our 22 favorite retirement gifts for men.
Best Retirement Gifts for the Tech-Savvy Man
Let’s face it. Not every man of a certain age is all that tech-savvy. However, if your guy is in the know on all things Apple, iPhone, WiFi and smart homes, he can probably handle one of these tech-savvy retirement gifts and gadgets.
1. Smart Pen and Notebook Set
Just because the man in your life is retiring, that doesn’t mean he’ll be letting all those smarts go to waste. Help him jot out his next big idea and then send it straight to his favorite piece of tech with this Bluetooth-enabled smart pen and notebook set. He gets to make notes wherever and whenever, and then all those notes are transcribed into a digital format.
2. Smart Mug
Now that he’s not rushing around from this meeting or that meeting, your favorite retiree has a little more leisure time to enjoy his coffee. But that could also mean that his coffee grows a little cold. Keep his favorite morning beverage piping hot with a temperature-controlled smart mug from Ember.
3. Audio Sunglasses
Now this is one seriously smart piece of tech that you may not have seen before. From Bose, these sunglasses are outfitted with discrete, built-in speakers. So, your guy can take his tunes with him no matter where he goes, whether he’s out on the golf course or lounging on the back deck or cooking up something delicious on the grill.
4. Fit Bit
For the boss or loved one who plans on getting into shape during their retirement, opt for a Fit Bit to help them keep track of all their movement and health data. They can send info straight to their smartphone for greater ease of access and even receive reminders to get up out of that recliner and move every once in a while.
5. Kindle
But if your retiree plans on spending all his extra time reading versus getting into shape, you can make the process a little bit easier with a Kindle Paperwhite. This e-reader is a favorite among book lovers everywhere, allowing the user easy access to thousands of titles, all at one’s fingertips. Just download and start reading, no matter where you are. Plus, this version of the Kindle is waterproof and lightweight, so your retiree can take it anywhere, from vacation to his next camping trip.
Related: The 10 Best E-Readers [For Your Eyes And Your Wallet]
6. Nikon D3500 DSLR Camera
Whether you anticipate that he’ll pick up photography as a new hobby or you just think he needs a way to record all of his new retirement adventures, make the process easy with this Nikon DSLR camera. It’s easy enough to learn to use for any tech-savvy man, and the photo quality is remarkable. Additionally, this kit comes with everything he’ll need, from a carrying case to memory cards, multiple lenses to a tripod to a lens cleaning cloth. It’s a bit of a splurge, but if you’re really trying to recognize his 40-plus years in the industry, it’s worth it.
7. Miniature Film Projector
If your retiree is a film buff, make the film-watching experience even more unique with this WiFi-powered film projector that comes with a 100-inch screen. He can throw it up in the basement, out on the back deck at night, anywhere the mood strikes. Then, he can simply stream his favorite movies and shows right to the projector for easy watching on the go.
Retirement Gift Ideas for the Super-Stylish Man
The man in your life is finally free! And not just from that 9-to-5 office gig. He’s also free from all of the suits, ties and dress shoes that go along with it. Treat him to something new to wear that he’s going to love and that he can wear every day, no dress code required.
8. Personalized Wooden Watch
These personalized wooden watches come in a variety of colors, from blackwood to redwood to walnut, and can be engraved with the message of your choice. They’re high-quality and handcrafted and are all the rage as far as recently fashionable men’s watches go.
9. Luxury Shave Kit
And while he’s changing up his wardrobe post-office life, he might just be changing up his facial hair, too. Help him out with a luxury shaving gift set that’s worlds away from those cheap disposable razors that he’s been using for years.
10. Luxury Travel Bag
Now that your man’s retired, he can use all those frequent flyer miles that he’s accumulated over the decades, zipping from business trip to business trip. Send him on the road in style with a luxurious travel bag like this leather bag from Parker Clay. Rugged and masculine, he’ll proudly bring along this duffle on his next first-class flight.
Retirement Gift Ideas for Men with Lots of Hobbies
One of the greatest things about retirement? All the extra time to spend on favorite hobbies! If that sounds like your guy, check out one of these retirement gifts that will either help him further cultivate an existing hobby or discover a new one.
11. Decanter Set
Who said drinking wasn’t a hobby? And now your favorite retiree can enjoy an adult beverage any time of day, no judgment (well, maybe a little judgment — but he’s retired, so who’s keeping score?). If you know your man loves a great glass of whiskey or wine, treat him to a personalized wine or whiskey decanter set with whiskey glasses/wine glasses. You could even go for a bottle opener or bottle of wine— all of them sporting the engraving of your choosing.
And if you want to make this a fantastic retirement gift, maybe add in a few Cuban cigars for them to enjoy so they can really toast to their retirement.
Related: How To Make A Charcuterie Board [A Step-By-Step Guide With 78 Yummy Ideas]
12. Waffle Maker
Does your retiree prefer to cook and eat the food versus grow it himself? Then go with this awesome stuffed waffle maker. It totally transforms his breakfasts — now that he actually has time to make breakfast for himself and his family. Plus, this is no flimsy waffle maker like you’d pick up at the big-box store. It’s made from rugged cast iron for durability that’ll last for years.
13. Custom Fishing Lures
If you know your retiree is going to spend more of his free time out on the water than in the kitchen or on the golf course, give him a set of keepsake custom fishing lures engraved with the date of his retirement. These cute options from Etsy even say “O’Fish’Ally Retired,” which any pun-loving boss or dad is sure to appreciate.
14. Personalized Grill Tools
On that note, if you want to go with a personalized retirement gift, but you know that your recipient’s primary domain is the grill, go with this set of personalized bbq tools. The set comes with tongs, a spatula and a grill fork—all packed away into a high-quality, wood-carrying case engraved with the message of your choosing.
15. Portable Barbecue Grill
Along those lines, help him take his grill on the go, with a portable barbecue grill that comes in a sleek carrying case that looks, ironically, like a briefcase. Still, even with the small, portable size, the grill can make enough food for three or four people and works off charcoal. It’s just the thing for camping trips, fishing or tailgating.
16. Mr. Beer Complete Beer Making 2 Gallon Starter Kit
With the extra time on their hands, maybe they want to get into making their own beer. The Mr. Beer Complete Beer Making 2 Gallon Starter Kit is perfect for beginners. It has a step-by-step guide that can brew beer in as little as 30 minutes!
The best part about this kit is everything is included. This retired man won’t have to buy anything else, they just have to sit back, relax and enjoy his golden years for a few weeks until the beer is ready to drink.
This gift is the perfect setup for giving a personalized beer glass for Father’s Day or Christmas the following year.
Great Retirement Gifts for the Man Who Just Needs to Relax
All those years of hard work, grinding away at all hours — they can really take a toll on the body and mind. If you think what your retired guy could really use is a little relaxation in this new chapter of his life, opt for one of these gifts to make his retirement plan extra relaxing.
17. Neck And Back Massager
Encourage your retiree to kick back and enjoy a little massage. This massager deep kneads those tired and achy muscles for an experience that any stressed-out individual would enjoy. And once they’ve rubbed all that job-related stress away, it can come in handy when they’re working out the muscle kinks and soreness they’ve acquired from spending too many hours on the golf course.
18. Some Comfy Slippers
Now that he’s not wearing dress shoes every day, your retiree can get cozy — with these fleece-lined slippers that come in a range of colors to fit his personal style. He can wear them around the house, to grab the newspaper or even out and about. He deserves a casual day, after all.
The legend has retired, and this is the perfect way for him to relax in style in his man cave.
Retirement Gifts on the Cheap
Don’t have a lot of cash to drop on a retirement gift? No worries. You can find retirement gifts that are affordable (or free!) that say “Happy Retirement” just as much as any high-priced item. These gifts are all under $30.
19. New Coffee Mug
If your retiree has owned his favorite office coffee mug for far too long, encourage him to swap it out for a new and improved retirement mug. We like this stainless steel, vacuum-insulated travel-style tumbler mug. It features a cork bottom, metal handle and extra-durable build. As a bonus, it also comes with a gift box and in multiple colors.
20. Audible Subscription
Give the awesome gift of reading… or, well, listening to other people read. A subscription to Audible is the perfect gift for the retiree who wants to get into multiple hobbies and can’t quite choose one. With Audible, he can listen to books on a wide range of subjects, both fiction and non-fiction, all while he enjoys some of the other hobbies on his list, from hiking to fishing, cooking to golfing. Plus, a one-month subscription to Audible is just $15.
21. TaylorMade Rocketballz Speed Golf Balls
A great gift for a golfer would be some TaylorMade Rocketballz Speed Golf Balls. They come in packs of 12, 24 or 36 from Amazon, which makes them fit into any budget. The new retiree will have plenty of time to hit the links, but you can never have enough golf balls.
If you are looking for a unique gift idea, you could opt for getting some of their favorite balls engraved.
22. Kindness Jar
Surprise your boss or loved one with a jar of kindness. If you’re putting together a thoughtful retirement gift for your boss, have everyone in the office write down a few things that they admire or respect about the individual, and then transcribe the messages onto pieces of colorful paper, which you then stow away in a decorative jar. If you’re putting together a retirement gift for a loved one, do the same with messages from friends and family.
It’s a free gift that you can put together with items you likely already have (a jar, stationery, etcetera), but one that may mean more to your retiree than any physical gift. It’s also the perfect thing to present at the office retirement party. And, if you don’t want to do all that writing yourself, there’s a business that’ll do it for you.
Picking the Perfect Retirement Gift
Picking the perfect retirement gift for your favorite guy or coworker can be a bit intimidating, especially when you’re shopping for the boss. But think of it as an opportunity to show that individual everything you appreciate about them — even if it’s just the fact that they’ve been signing your paycheck for years.
From thoughtful gifts to unique retirement gifts, there is something on this list for everyone to enjoy. And remember, the best gifts are ones that actually get used!
You might also be interested in: The 23 Most Practical Gifts For Men [For Any And All Ages]
Best Retirement Gifts For Men:
- Smart Pen and Notebook Set
- Smart Mug
- Audio Sunglasses
- Fit Bit
- Kindle
- Nikon D3500 DSLR Camera
- Miniature Film Projector
- Personalized Wooden Watch
- Luxury Shave Kit
- Luxury Travel Bag
- Decanter Set
- Waffle Maker
- Custom Fishing Lures
- Personalized Grill Tools
- Portable Barbecue Grill
- Mr. Beer Complete Beer Making 2 Gallon Starter Kit
- Neck And Back Massager
- Some Comfy Slippers
- New Coffee Mug
- Audible Subscription
- TaylorMade Rocketballz Speed Golf Balls
- Kindness Jar