looking up gift guides for men tells you a whole lot about who we think counts as a "typical" american man. 

the men in my life that i buy gifts for are not "stereotypical" men. my husband, dad, and brothers-in-law don't care about sports or tech-y gadgets and half of them don't drink booze. yet in just about every single gift guide i've come across, that's what we're being told that men want.

well the men in my life beg to differ! 

so i decided to make my own list of unique gift ideas for the kinds of mindful modern men that i shop for.

they're the kinds of men who care about taking good care of themselves, being present partners and fathers, making mindful consumption choices and avoiding plastic as much as they can, and spending time outside to enjoy all that nature has to offer.

these unique gift ideas for mindful modern men offer a little bit of self-care, some inspiration to get outside, a few clothing options for dudes who are allergic to khakis and polos, and practical items that offer a touch of luxury to the everyday. 

whenever possible, this list prioritizes small + ethical businesses and it does not include any links to amazon, walmart, or target.

if you don't like this slider format, you can view the full gift guide for mindful men here.

unique themes & gift ideas for mindful men

a full skincare routine for men

a few months ago my husband asked if i could help him put together his first proper skincare routine. he'd never graduated from washing his face with soap and had only rarely ever used a moisturizer. i was thrilled that he asked and i have a hunch that many more men would be excited to receive the gift of a carefully curated beginner-friendly skincare set for men!

stylish yet comfortable clothing for dads + dudes

around that same time, my husband mentioned that he wanted to upgrade his wardrobe a bit. he was tired of the "dad look" that's so commonplace: you know that uniform of pants + basic t-shirt + maybe an open button-up over top? i hadn't realized how ubiquitous that look is until i started looking for something different. and boy did i have to hunt! i finally found some options he loved by searching for meditation clothes for men, a keyword i never would've thought my search history would include :) we found the brand buddha stones and while i was a little bit nervous about the quality, he loves everything he's gotten and i am THRILLED with his new style! i also included 2 beanie options that are both 100% wool because we avoid plastic fibers as much as we can and it's surprisingly hard to find knitted accessories that aren't made of acrylic.

outdoorsy upgrades

i tried to be careful not to get too caught up in specific hobbies in this list because there are so many different interest areas! so even though my husband is a musician with lots of pedals + gear he'd love to receive, i chose not to include them. but i figured that "enjoying time outside" is broad enough to be fair game and i snuck in a few paddling guides for kayakers because we've gotten a ton of use out of them (there are options for other regions outside the Northeast, but they all appear to be on backorder).

a touch of luxury (because men deserve self-care too!)

who doesn't want a plush robe and a matching pair of slippers or a luxuriously soft throw? 

but my very favorite idea on the list is the instax camera! we bought one for our wedding 10 years ago and it has been the BEST investment. we bring it on all of our adventures and we've captured so many memories. we also love taking it to parties and leaving one of the polaroid-style photos as a host gift because it's so special to get a candid picture of yourself at an event. while the film is pricy, we've found it to be a very worthwhile investment.