10 Gifts for Men Who Live in Vancouver

It turns out that “gifts for men” is one of the most-searched terms around this time of year—“gifts for boyfriend” and “gifts for dad” is up there, too. Haven’t we given men enough?

I’m kidding! Come on. My father’s a man! In fact, I myself have been buying gifts for men for years. Unfortunately, most gift guides geared towards men are lacklustre at best, and most men don’t really want or need another tie or mug or wallet. Men in Vancouver don’t need wallets, anyway—all their money goes to the mortgage.

So, here is your non-basic, non-wallet, no-brainer gift guide for the men in your life. It’s full of Vancouver retailers, so you can shop locally and thoughtfully.

10 Gifts for Vancouver Men

Bed Linens from Wilet

If you happen to share a bed with the man you’re shopping for (permanently or casually), buying new linens is a mastermind choice… it’s a functional, cozy, personal gift, and it’s also kind of like getting a present to yourself. Also, no matter what he says, he should have more than one set of sheets. Spoil him with a luxurious linen cotton sheet set ($280) from Vancouver brand Wilet.

Pants from Lululemon

Are you stressing over buying a unique gift for your new boyfriend? Here’s my advice: don’t overthink it. You don’t need to get him something outside-the-box and extraordinary, you have to get him something hyper functional and very ordinary… something he will use every day and think of you. Lululemon’s ABC trousers ($138) are comfy, dressy and incredibly versatile. They’ll be a staple in his life (and so will you).

Packing Cubes from Monos

Here’s another functional one, perfect for the man in your life who likes to be at the airport eight hours early. Cheap packing cubes will end up being more trouble than they’re worth (there’s nothing like a faulty zipper holding your toothbrush hostage after a red-eye) so go for a high-quality pick, like these compressible cubes ($115) from Monos.

Moisturizer from MASC

A lot of skincare is marketed towards women, which feels ridiculous to me. Imagine if toothpaste brands only focused on women. We all have skin, and skincare is self-care. But, the men in your life may need a little encouragement (read: instructions) to keep themselves moisturized and unbothered. The West End’s MASC store has a ton of products made for men, like this daily essential moisturizer (from $26).

A Backpack Rain Cover from MEC

Local cyclists of all genders should have a rain cover, so this one isn’t for men, specifically. You know what? None of the things on this list are for men, specifically, but the nature of a gift guide is strategic categorization. Much like the nature of biking in Vancouver is strategic rain gear. This backpack rain cover  ($20) from MEC makes an excellent gift for your lycra-obsessed uncle or that one cousin that never got his drivers’ licence.

A Shop Jacket from Herschel

Utilitarian style feels universal, even if most of the men on your list haven’t set foot in a “shop” since ninth-grade woodworking class. Herschel’s shop jacket ($112) has casual-cool written all over it. It’s “inspired by classic workwear” and can make just about anyone look like they can use a bandsaw.

A Lego Set from Heritage Bricks

Can you really outgrow Lego? There’s plenty of adult-friendly sets on the big brand’s website, but I encourage you to shop local and get a bit more sentimental with a building kit from Vancouver-based Heritage Bricks. The image above is the New Town Bakery set ($65)… and now I’m craving a steamed pork bun.

These Specific Waterproof Shoes from Vessi

Part of giving a gift is preventing your giftee from purchasing the item for themselves, right? If he doesn’t already have a pair of Vessi shoes, he’s probably thinking about buying some. And (I cannot stress this enough) not all Vessi’s are equal when it comes to style and versatility. Do not let him buy his own Vessi’s. Get the Courtside Classic ($160) or risk him making his own choices and ending up with a shoe that looks an awful lot like a sock.