30 Sustainable Gift Ideas for the Straight Man in Your Life
Every year, without a doubt, we girls, gays, and theys find ourselves scraping the bottom of the metaphorical barrel brainstorming gift ideas for all the straight men in our lives. Doesn’t matter if it's for dad, your brother, your grandpa, your boss, or your partner – finding gifts for straight men is just impossible. Trying to guess what a straight man wants for the holidays is almost as hard as trying to guess what he’s thinking or feeling. Even the Himbos, the men who are just happy to have a sliver of your time, somehow go radio silent when you start interrogating them for a wishlist. This year, instead of reaching for the same pack of socks you always choose, we are here to help with a very in-depth gift list for every archetype of straight man in your life. The holidays aren’t just for the susty baddies; we want to include the susty daddies too…
Refuses to Call the Landlord for Help
1. The Basic Tool Kit - Asian-owned brand, Yuns, is a great one-stop shop for that one “I-like-to-get-my-hands-dirty” man in your life. Even if he is secretly watching YouTube tutorials, at least he will have his very own set of susty tools to satisfy his ego.
2. Recycled cart from Kartell - this is a great gift for storing all his manly tools and other items the rest of us are too pretty to know about.
3. Penco Utility Knife - This knife will come in handy when you need someone to help you open all those Depop packages that you ordered for yourself.
Started Dating Him for His Dog
4. Biodegradable Dog Toy - these adorable dog toys are perfect for any man who walks his dog three times a day. It's just simple math: he has a dog + his dog needs toys = great susty gift idea.
5. Puppy Advent Calendar - Okay, we’ll be honest, we just wanted to find a way to include this in a gift list. I mean are you kidding me…an advent calendar for (straight) man’s best friend? Sign us up.
6. Mary Jane Fleece Puppy Onesie - If he won’t dress his animal bestie in this warm and cozy fleece onesie, then what are you doing queen? Get outta there.
7. Spice Trio - If he learned anything while watching The Bear, it's that being creative in the kitchen is always worth the risk, so treat him to a susty spice kit to level up his cooking standard beyond preground pepper and table salt.
8. Bento Box - now that he’s obsessed with cooking, maybe it's time he starts packing his own lunch too. Get him a shiny new bento box to bring his kitchen experiments to the office in susty style.
9. Upcycled Apron - who doesn't love a man in uniform? I mean, let’s be honest…we watched The Bear too. If he’s cooking for you, you deserve a little eye candy, right?
10. Action Bronson’s Foodie Devotional - For the guy who can tell you about where to find the best mom-and-pop pizza shop, but is clueless about the right temperature to cook the vegan cauliflower roast.
“You wouldn’t Like This, It’s an IPA”
12. If the man in your life is this particular about his beer, chances are he’s pretty particular about most of his hobbies – especially his herbal ones. Treat him to a super susty and unique smoking setup from Seth Rogan’s brand, House Plant.
13. What’s better than a pretentious beer? A pretentious beer poured expertly into a funky glass like this one from Yowie.
Weirdly Obsessed with His Skin Care Routine
14. Shaving Puck Beard Care - Whether he has a beard or has always wanted one, this low-waste gift is perfect for a beard care novice or a beard care expert.
15. All Over Soap - We all know straight men love a classic all-in-1 soap situation, so gift him a susty, zero-waste All Over soap that he can use without any directions.
16. Guarana & Coffee Energizing Cleanser - The Body Shop is making it easier for all of us, and labeling this cleanser specifically For Men(™). Now you don’t have to worry about accidentally gifting him a product for women, phew!
Reads You his Poetry Without Your Consent
17. A Poetry Book - Many of us have a literary man in our life, so for the one in yours, gift him one of the hottest new books on poetry. Bookshop.org has tons of great selections, including lots of E-book and audiobook options too to reduce waste.
18. Recycled Notebook - For the man who joins you for evening journaling time, or is starting his introspective meditation journey, a recycled journal is the perfect place to store all his musings.
19. Be! Work Pants - If he likes poetry so much, maybe he should just wear it! These unique pants from All Caps studio, a small slow fashion brand based in Philly, are perfect for any man who is getting in touch with his sensitive side (and looking hot while doing it).
More Loyal to his College Football Team than to You
20. Quirky Cooler - For the go-getter in your life, who isn’t just going to the tailgate, but is organizing it too. Support his hard work with a very susty and fun cooler to store all his sustainably-brewed beers and selection of vegan & non-vegan hot dogs alike.
21. Eco Sports Footballs - If he’s the guy who somehow has a football on him at all times, then this is the year to surprise him with his very own recycled leather football, soccer ball, or other susty sports ball of choice.
22. Vintage Fan Gear - For the guy who goes for an emotional-release run after his team loses, or maybe asks for a tender hug when his quarterback gets an injury. Gift him a very unique piece of vintage gear for his favorite team.
23. Susty Beach Game Set - For the man who likes to play literal games (not emotional ones): gift him this susty beach bat and ball set so he can challenge you to a match at any time.
Practically Lives in his Tent
24. Braiding Sweetgrass - The man in your life who’s deepest loyalty lies with his favorite hiking spot always needs something to read on the trail. This year, surprise him with one of our favorite books on climate action and indigenous justice.
25. Bite and Burn Spray - We all know a few straight men who get a little woozy at the sight of a bit of blood or a gnarly bug bite. This all-in-one bite and burn spray from Fat and the Moon is a low-waste and very hiker-friendly product for anyone who tends to get a little roughed up when out in the woods.
26. National Park Incense - This national park incense collection is perfect for that one man that misses the woods the moment he leaves them.
27. National Park Playing Cards - if he’s a solo hiker (or likes to drag you along with him), a pack of unique playing cards will certainly bring some enjoyment on the trail, at camp, or around the fire at home.
“Oh you like Tame Impala? Name one song”
28. Recycled Wool Beanie You know this guy is wearing a tiny beanie, so you might as well get him a sustainable tiny beanie made from 50% recycled wool and 50% recycled polyester. Even if he won’t cover his ears, it will still keep him slightly warmer.
29. Concert Tickets - Maybe this one is too obvious, but an experiential gift is always a susty gift option. This year, buy the musical boy in your life tickets to his favorite band or artist – but only if you also promise to go with him!
30. Shower Speaker - We all know a straight man who doesn’t seem to exist without at least one earbud in at all times. Give that guy a gift to help support his listening addiction: a shower speaker. Now, he literally has no reason to turn his sound off (or to avoid a shower).