It can be tough being a dad, but it can be even tougher figuring out what dad wants on his special day. My pop always had two of everything he could use already, and he didn’t want much else. But, that said, there are a lot of new toys on the market this year that your father probably does not have-and probably would enjoy a bunch. Here are a few suggestions:
Gifts for Father’s Day
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Any angling dad would probably utter an expletive or two, hopefully those you can use in family company, if he unwrapped a G. Loomis GLX (www.gloomis.com) or a St. Croix Legend rod (www.stcroixrods.com). These upper-end rods are priced well over $200-over $400 in the case of the GLX-but they’re sort of life-time hand-me downs that are truly special gifts. Add a Shimano Chronarch or an Abu Garcia Revo reel to the package and you can be sure it will make a Father’s Day your pop won’t forget.
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One of the more useful gadgets devised for boating dads of late is the iBall trailer hitch camera-a tiny magnetic camera attaches to the tow-vehicle bumper just above the hitch ball and the video camera plugs into the cigarette lighter outlet. Now, you can see exactly where the ball is in relation to the trailer coupling on the boat or camper as you back up. It’s a simple, wireless, seemingly foolproof system-about $150 fromwww.iballhitchcam.com.
If Dad likes to take his electronics on the water or in the camper, Energizer power inverters feature multiple AC and USB ports and ultra-silent fans. The Energizer Cup Inverter ($44.99) is designed to rest in a cup holder and power multiple mobile devices in a car, boat or RV, via four USB ports and one AC outlet. The larger, Energizer 1100W Power Inverter ($119.99) features two USB ports and two AC outlets and is suited for larger devices like TVs, gaming consoles, power tools and small appliances.; www.energizer.com.
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If the dad in your family tends to break things like sunglasses, Costa del Mar’s Tuna Alley line might be the ticket. The hinges are integral, modled into the heavy, tough nylon frame. The glasses have broad ear pieces and curved lenses to cut glare and maximize vision though the surface of the water, and they’re available in either plastic-which is lighter-or glass, which is tougher and nearly scratch-proof. The lenses come in a wide variety of shades from amber to green to gray, and the frames are available in five colors including white. They’re at the top end in pricing at around $250, but the company makes many lower priced glasses if they’re a better fit for your budget. A full line of prescription sunglasses is also available; www.costadelmar.com.
T-Reign makes a whole line of tethering cases that will keep you from losing anything from keys to cameras and cell phones overboard. A 36-inch Kevlar tether, spring-loaded, automatically retracts the device if you ever drop it. They’re also impact resistant and allow one-hand release-price around $35. The same company also makes tethered fishing pliers and other goodies; www.t-reignoutdoor.com.
If your pop is a grill-master-and whose dad isn’t?-a Grill Daddy steam-cleaner for the grill is a nifty (and inexpensive) gift at $14.95. You fill the brush handle with water, apply it to a pre-heated grill and the water turns to steam as you brush away the crud with the replaceable stainless steel brushes-simple but clever concept;www.buygrilldaddy.com. In this same vein Grate Chef’s Non-Stick Grill Wipes are a nice “stocking stuffer” for Dad. The wipes come coated with a non-stick oil that both cleans and oils the grill grate, preventing meat from sticking and enhancing the grill marks on meat. You put one of the wipes on the hot grill, press down the bristles of your metal grill brush into it, and work it back and forth across the grate. Again, simple, fast and easy; it’s $8.99 for a three-pack, six wipes per pack, fromwww.gratechef.com.
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If your dad is a fan of “Swamp People”, an air-boater, a night snooker, or simply likes to hike the woods after sundown, the Pelican 2720 LED Headlight would probably be appreciated. Unique feature is you can turn it on with the wave of a hand in front of the lens-very useful when you need light in a hurry. It operates on three AAA batteries and a has a powerful LED main beam that can be set at varying levels to extend battery life. It also includes white/red flashing SOS lights for emergency highway use. It’s about $50; www.pelicanprogear.com.
Last but not least, if your Dad is an angler, be sure to give him a subscription to The Fishing Wire. He doesn’t have to know that it’s free.
Frank Sargeant
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