Gifts for a male friend

It holds 473 mL (16 oz) and keeps drinks hot for up to 11 hours, or cold for 24, by Contigo’s figures. One hand holds, sips and locks it. A hook inside the lid keeps a tea bag’s string tidy, the lid goes on the dishwasher’s top rack, and the steel body is washed by hand.

• Hot up to 11 hours
• Push-button lid that locks
• Tea-bag hook in the lid

What owners say: Coffee stays hot for a long time and nothing leaks or spills, owners say, and they like the lock button; it travels well and cleans easily.

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It brews about four mugs at a time. The filter has three layers of steel mesh, and two spare screens come in the box: stack one on for a cleaner cup when the grind is on the fine side. The handle and knob stay cool, and every part, filter included, goes in the dishwasher.

• Double-walled steel, 1 litre
• 3-layer filter, 2 spare screens
• Won’t crack like glass

What owners say: Owners say it keeps coffee hot well after pressing, looks smart on the counter and is easy to clean, and they find it sturdy.

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The 750 mL (25 oz) martini shaker has a strainer in its lid, and a separate Hawthorne strainer, a 15/30 mL (½/1 oz) double jigger, ice tongs, a corkscrew, three pourers and two steel straws with a cleaning brush complete the 15 pieces, with a recipe guide. KITESSENSU suggests washing the tools by hand in warm water.

• Martini shaker on a stand
• 15/30 mL (½/1 oz) jigger
• Muddler for mint

What owners say: Its shine and good looks win praise, and owners find the kit has all a cocktail needs and is reliable and well made; no complaint recurs.

It’s 14.6 cm (5.7 in) long, weighs 0.43 kg (0.95 lb) and runs quietly, with a 7 mm stroke and five heads; save the softer ones for tender spots. A 15 W USB-C phone charger fills it in about two hours, it switches itself off after 10 minutes, and a case comes with it.

• Weighs 0.43 kg (0.95 lb)
• 7 mm stroke
• Fits in a gym bag

What owners say: Owners are struck by how much power it has for its size, use it most on calves and thighs, and find a charge lasts a long time; no recurring complaint comes up.

A stash pocket inside the sewn-on sack keeps a phone and keys handy while you lie in it, and the sack turns inside out to pack the hammock away. Opened out, it’s 2.9 by 1.9 m (114 by 76 in), holds up to 181 kg (400 lb) and weighs 538 g (19 oz), with aluminum carabiners at each end.

• Holds 181 kg (400 lb)
• 1.9 m (76 in) wide
• Folds into its own sack

What owners say: People who own one praise the comfort, the sturdy build, the easy setup, the light fabric and the colour choices, though some find it pricey.

Heads up: Tree straps aren’t in the box, only the carabiners, so add a set of hammock straps (ENO sells its own Atlas straps) before the first hang.

The base and sides are foam-lined, so it keeps its shape when only half full, and two slip pockets take water bottles. When the top handle is enough, the padded shoulder strap comes off and tucks into a side pocket. Under Armour began in 1996 in a basement in Washington, DC, when a college football player tired of sweat-soaked T-shirts.

• Holds 40 litres
• Water-repellent finish
• Foam-lined base and sides

What owners say: The big main compartment wins owners over, along with a shoe pocket that takes a pair of men’s shoes, and they say it’s tough. Not everyone thinks the price is fair.

Coriander joins the lemon at first, with violet leaf and rosemary in the heart, and after a while the violet leaf and amber take over and give it a warmer, softer finish. Spray onto skin rather than clothes so the scent develops as it should: one at the neck and one at the chest is plenty for a working day. It’s made in France, in a 125 mL bottle.

• Woody amber scent
• Lemon, violet leaf, amber notes
• Fist-shaped glass bottle

What owners say: Owners like the scent from the first spray and plan to buy it again, and the big bottle’s price goes down well with them; how long it lasts on the skin is where they part company.

Featured in Grooming gifts for him →

It reads generic and maker-specific engine codes, pending ones included, and shows live sensor data and the freeze frame. The two-line screen is backlit with adjustable contrast for a dark dashboard, and it reads out the VIN and calibration IDs, a useful check that the engine computer matches the car when buying used. Menus come in eight languages, French among them, and it lives happily in the glove box.

• Shows what each code means
• 8 languages, including French
• Shows VIN for used-car checks

What owners say: It handles everything owners needed and more, and plugging it in is about all it takes: it tells them the code and finds it quickly. Several are surprised how much it does for a small reader.

The trimmer has a zero-gapped T-blade for necklines, beards and nose hair, and the quiet mode runs at 70 dB. A fade comb, 2 mm at its base and 6 mm at the top, blends two lengths. The blade head lifts off for a thorough clean, and the display shows when the blade wants oil.

• Up to 240 min cordless
• Separate 3-in-1 T-blade trimmer
• Fade lever for blending

What owners say: Owners find it well made and sharp, with a battery that holds its charge and a case full of useful pieces. Its weight divides them: heavy in the hand to some, light to others.

Featured in Grooming gifts for him →

Anker’s 24 hours is measured at half volume with BassUp and the lights off, so a loud party drains it sooner. The handle makes it an easy carry from the car to the beach, it’s IPX7 waterproof and floats, and Auracast links it with other Auracast speakers to spread the sound further. It runs on Bluetooth 6.0 and charges over USB-C.

• Up to 24 hours playtime
• 80W with bass boost on
• Dedicated subwoofer

What owners say: Owners like the volume and the battery, which lasts and lasts, and call it a little boom box that’s solidly built for its size. Connecting it is where experiences are mixed.