Best Father’s Day Gifts Under $50

Give the coffee lover a gift they can actually use (and enjoy using!), like a cup that’s perfect for savoring the dynamic flavor notes of their go-to brew. Glass mugs are usually a little more delicate and great for when you want to showcase the drink’s color and intensity, says Kaleena Teoh, co-founder of Coffee Project NY. Their ability to retain heat is another plus, more specifically with the double-walled kind, where the space between the two layers of glass acts as an insulator. This version from Chemex is equal parts elegant and functional.

For more options: Best Coffee Mugs for Keeping a Brew Warm

Coffee on the go just got easier. And no, we’re not talking about a Starbucks drive-thru. Espro’s portable coffee maker comes in a standard size and shape, which makes it simple and easy to pack. Take out the French press filters inside and it could double as a water bottle or a cup for hot brewed coffee. 

It comes with four parts (or three, if you don’t count the thermos cup itself), making it pretty easy to pack and go. Its double-filter feature sets it apart from other travel brewers and most French presses, too. Instead of a single mesh filter, or a mesh filter and fiddly paper filter, the Espro has two mesh filters that fit into each other. This makes for a cleaner, clearer cup without sacrificing body. It also means you don’t have to carry around paper filters. The company recommends cleaning inside and outside after each use, with a monthly deep clean using Espro’s cleaning solution. The press can also be washed on the top rack of a dishwasher.

Read more: Best Portable Coffee Makers

If Dad loves cold coffee but dislikes the flavor when ice waters it down, consider this a fix. Fill two of the HyperChiller’s three separate inner chambers with water, freeze, then pour hot coffee into the third for nonwatery cold coffee 60 seconds later.

Read our full review of the HyperChiller.

For the one who is always on the go, an insulated mug for coffee is a necessity. The Yeti Rambler earns a very good rating when it comes to keeping drinks hot (it managed to last 4½ hours in our tests) and a top score for ease of cleaning—no bottle brushes required, and it’s dishwasher-safe. Featuring a stainless steel interior and a powder-coated finish for a solid grip, the 20-ounce container is also cup-holder-friendly. It’s perfect for the casual coffee drinker and even better as a companion on the road. 

For more options: Best Insulated Travel Mugs

The Scrub Daddy has a lot going for it, including a thick plastic handle that resists bowing even under pressure. Its bristle-free design means you don’t need to worry about stray bristles flaking off onto your grates (and your food), and its firm handle is even equipped with a “helper” handle near the head, which you press down for deep cleaning.

The head itself is a removable and replaceable metal and foam scouring pad, which you soak in water before scrubbing. The pad generates steam as it hits warm grates, helping them get cleaner than they would when cool. Flip the brush over to use the built-in tool for cleaning between grates.

Overall, while this model may feel a little finicky for daily use, it’s a solid choice for deep cleaning your grill, including the interior parts that are tough to clean with a traditional brush. 

For more options: Best Grill Brushes

When Dad’s taking a break from grilling—be it at home or at the tailgate—a comfortable landing spot is a must. Take the Coleman out of its matching travel bag (which features a shoulder strap and feels lightweight when carrying it from the parking lot to the sand), unfold its accordion-like legs, give it a shake, and just like that, you have a sturdy outdoor chair with barely any effort. When you’re ready to leave, it collapses in seconds and slips back into the carrying bag with close to no effort.

The Coleman chair features two compartments—a double-zippered insulated pack that hangs down from the left armrest and holds four beverage cans, and a pouch with a mesh front on the right side of the chair, which is roomy enough to hold books. The right armrest has a built-in mesh cup holder that holds a Stanley cup, a Hydro Flask, or another bottle for water.

For more options: Best Beach Chairs

These heat-resistant silicone gloves are far from fashionable, but Dad won’t care. They make it a breeze to lift an entire hot brisket or pork shoulder with your hands, both of which are far too big to tackle with tongs. They provide an excellent grip and are heat-resistant to over 400° F, and you can put them in a dishwasher.

For more ideas: Grilling Equipment to Elevate Your BBQ Game

In an evaluation of the best extra virgin olive oils, our testers found Graza’s Sizzle to be prime for dipping and a good option for salad dressings as well as for spicy and bold-flavored foods. They found its flavor to be slightly bitter, with a big, grassy flavor and some fruitiness.

For many people, the Henckels Eversharp knives will likely hit the sweet spot. They’re budget-friendly and attractive, slender but sturdy, and razor-sharp, yet the edges are still gentle enough not to rip up a delicate cut. These lightweight knives are similar in size to a traditional butter or table knife. The blades are scalloped and micro-serrated, resulting in an edge that’s equal parts gentle and sharp. They also have a full-tang design, meaning the blade extends from its tip to the bottom of the handle, resulting in a knife that feels sturdy, albeit more prone to flexing under force than some other options. The handles themselves, which are plastic, have a slim profile that should fit easily in the hands of most adults.

For more options: Best Steak Knives

This neck fan is an excellent device to keep in Dad’s arsenal for hot days. For the price, you don’t get any bells and whistles like cooling or mist that you can find in pricier models. It simply blows air at three speeds. It’s also not adjustable, so you can’t aim the airflow, but the vents wrap all the way around the fan to cool your face and neck.

The Papillon Shiatsu Neck and Back Massager Pillow checks a lot of the boxes for being the perfect massager. It’s effective and lightweight. In fact, it’s the lightest of all the electric massagers we tried, according to our measurements. It’s also fairly inexpensive. You can use the massager on different body parts, such as your back, neck, shoulders, legs, and feet. It also offers a good amount of heat.

If Dad’s wallet can use a little tidying up, consider taking a slimmer approach. Think of the Vulkit VC-104 as a low-risk stepping stone toward minimalist wallets. Featuring an aluminum case with an elastic front pocket (that’s great for folded dollar bills or coins), the wallet is available in a wide range of colors, including two-tone.

For more options: Best Slim Wallets

Think of this as a little luxury that can go a long way. The Pzotruf Automatic Soap Dispenser is easy to use and fill, with a system that doesn’t drip or make a mess, and it has a 17-fluid-ounce reservoir—the largest capacity of all of the dispensers we evaluated—so you don’t have to fill it often. The Pzotruf runs on external batteries (not included), which may be ideal if you don’t want to rely on a charging cable or port. The dispenser has a button system that you can use to toggle through the five volume modes; this system works okay, but there’s no label, so you have to guess which setting you’re on. We found that we actually liked this setup because we had more control over the volume. 

Upgrade movie night with theater-worthy snacks Dad can make from the comfort of his home. This air-popping popcorn maker from Dash beat out the other models we evaluated, producing light, warm, and crunchy popcorn. It has a measuring cup for your kernels, which doubles as a butter melter, and it only takes about two minutes to pop a full serving.

It’s the year to spice things up! Miguel Leal is a big fan of Fly By Jing. The co-founder of Somos, a purveyor of ready-to-eat Mexican foods, recommends the Triple Threat gift set for home cooks who like to get creative in the kitchen. “It contains three products, one of which is the Sichuan Chili Crisp, which is a super-versatile sauce that I use on everything from eggs to dumplings and rice, and even on sushi,” Leal says. “It has a great level of spicy—but isn’t too spicy!—and I love the texture it adds to my food.”

After testing six pairs of kitchen shears, all three of CR’s evaluators said the iBayam shears felt nice in their hands, were easy to use, and didn’t require them to grip too hard. Plus, you get two pairs of shears for this price. Our testers suggested that you designate one for cutting meat and one for other kitchen tasks. The one downside is that the shears don’t come apart for cleaning, but the price and the comfort level make them CR’s top choice.

Read more: Best Kitchen Shears

Mandoline slicers count as one of those gadgets that chefs always have on hand, and for others who love to cook, having one is a no-brainer. The Müeller V-Pro mandolin comes with five blades: a standard slicer, a wavy slicer, two shredders, and a grater that comes in a storage case. Two julienne blades, which are easy to use, are attached to the mandoline and can be tucked underneath the platform when not in use. This mandoline can make thick cuts, beautiful thin slices, and even waffle cuts. 

For more options: Best Mandoline Slicers

A citrus squeezer can be a mainstay of the kitchen, whether it’s for preparing cocktails or dressing up a salad with a little spritz of lemon juice. The Chef’n FreshForce Citrus Juicer was impressive in our at-home evaluations, thanks to how easy it was to use and how efficiently (and neatly!) testers were able to extract juice from lemons and limes. Pair this one with a basket of fresh citrus and all the fixings for dad’s go-to drink or dish.

For more options: Best Citrus Squeezers

For the avid cook, there are few more valuable tools than a solid and dependable knife—and taking care of one is of utmost importance. This double-sided sharpening stone comes with a coarse and a fine side, which provides exceptional sharpening and an exceptionally sharp edge via the fine side. Paul Hope, a CR editor, found that the Sharp Pebble Whetstone put an edge on knives that none of the electric or manual sharpeners could match, making it a top choice for cooks who are serious about sharp blades.

For more options: Best Knife Sharpeners