What to buy for my dad’s 60th birthday?

Posted by Lunar_Sparkle_842@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 27 comments

What do you buy a dad who often buys nice things for himself, that I wouldn’t be able to afford? I’ve done food and drink hampers before but he’s really cut down on things like that. I usually end up getting him a shirt, wine or toiletries/aftershave, so I want to avoid those.
He’s going on a 6 week trip round South east Asia with his best friend later in the year, so any ideas of something I can get for his trip? It will be mostly hostels, hiking and public transport, so maybe there’s something nice and unique, but useful, someone knows about?
Alternatively, I’m fairly creative and can possibly make something but I have no idea what I could make that he would want to keep!

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martinmjgh@reddit

Do you know his itinerary for his trip? If so, since he is hostelling how about a night in a nice hotel for him and his friend? You could either pay for both rooms or go in with the friend. Might be nice for them to have a comfortable room at some point? Good hotels in SE Asia can be cheapish.

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FlatTyres@reddit

I've been buying my parents Lego plants recently. There are some really nice plant sets that are available for under £30. Something nice to do and display without being too expensive. There are cheaper ones under £20 too - flowers on stems.

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Clouds1Space@reddit

I think he just wants to see you. Spend the day with him. Go for a walk together. Maybe a long one like Pen y Fan. Buy him tea in a restaurant. He wants your time that's all.

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r1Rqc1vPeF@reddit

Don’t know where you/he are based. One of my kids got me a knife making experience at a forge in wales.

Had an excellent day making the blade and I bought the stuff to make the handle which I finished at home.

It took me back to my days as an apprentice.

Enjoyed it so much I’ve been back a couple of times.

You don’t have to make a knife there are all kinds of experiences. Can be a solo experience or a group.

I can provide a link if you want.

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Winston_Carbuncle@reddit

A good pair of headphones. South east Asian trains are LOUD

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Lunar_Sparkle_842@reddit (OP)

This is a good idea, I’ll have to check what he has already though :)

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GabberZZ@reddit

Sound cancelling earbuds ftw. Headphones are a bit bulky if he's planning to travel a lot.

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aforandi@reddit

Fields of Fire by James Webb

The best book of the Vietnam war. Once again, like Yeates' Winged Victory for the Great War, or The Cauldron by Zeno for the Second, the best is novelised autobiography.

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Reddit__user_@reddit

Does he listen to music ?

Does he like a drink or a smoke ?

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ASpookyBitch@reddit

When someone has everything at that age, I’d gift experiences. Do something with him together if you can. A little day trip cider tasting or visiting something. My partner is taking his dad to Tankfest in a few weeks lol. Just looking at tanks and watching them drive round.

But good things for travel;

Power bank - bonus points for solar charging option (so he can always charge his phone no matter the situation)

A really good quality sleep mask - I hear good things about Manta (light blocking built in headphones/noise muffling.

A decent neck pillow, planes and trains can take a while so being comfy is a must.

A “cooling towel” Asia can be really hot so having a small personal towel that’s really good at soaking up sweat or wetting to cool you off would be handy. Most have a little pouch and will just clip onto a bag with a carabiner I have one cause I’m always too hot and I have a nephew so it’s pretty handy to wipe down wet swings at the park lol.

In this same vein, if he hasn’t got them already, some quality compression socks. Travel and walking can make your feet swell up in no time and that makes everything more uncomfortable.

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ksophj@reddit

I have a manta sleep mask, it's amazing! Completely blocks the light out because it's got cups instead of just moulded, and actually stays on my head through the night.

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Lunar_Sparkle_842@reddit (OP)

Thanks so much! These are such good suggestions! I hadn’t even thought about a good sleep mask, that’s definitely worth looking at 👍🏼

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anonymous_girl_99@reddit

Nearly two years ago when my dad turned 60, my brother and I got him a personalised mug, with photos of him and us at different life stages. We included three photos: him and us when we were babies, him and us when we were children, and now. He absolutely loved it

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DaffyDuckOdil@reddit

A nice journal or a disposable camera for his trip so you can catch up afterwards and hear about it?

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waveform06@reddit

Im a 62 year old bloke who likes to travel, what I would never do is journal or want to carry around yet another portable object. Something to make my trip easier would be more appreciated.

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VioletDime@reddit

I like to opt for experiences. Can you go to a show, concert or an event with dinner and drinks?

We're all older in our family and love our random days out together thrasher rhsn 'things' the memories are precious.

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Boat_Original@reddit

I just came here to say that some of you guys' responses are heartwarming, wholesome and adorable...

100% spending time is key...

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Timely_Egg_6827@reddit

I'd offer a pre-paid credit card so he can have a nice meal out in South Africa at your expense. At that age, they are usually decluttering so experiences better than possessions.

A really decent torch though is always a godsend when travelling rough. Maglite do some nice ones.

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junu-munu00@reddit

1-premium packable travel pillow
2-top-tier filtered water bottle like a Grayl
3-premium universal travel adapter with GaN fast charging
4-high-quality Anker magnetic power bank
5-Peak Design packing cubes

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talon1580@reddit

If he's 60, you're almost certainly an adult.

What he'll value is time with you. Don't get him a gift, get him an experience you can do together.

If he's open to it, you could even join him in SE Asia for a week

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Lunar_Sparkle_842@reddit (OP)

This would be a great idea, but he already does this sort of thing with my brother occasionally! They share an old Camaro though so I could find something to do with that

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