Well, here comes the average guy’s standard procedure on how to handle the issue:

You postpone the dragful visit to the local department store until the very last day and then buy him something that has been bought for you — if you’re clever.  Or — if you’re desperate — you buy the same item you have bought for somebody else in the past in the vague hope that both parties will never find out about their identical gift.

7 Great Gift Ideas For Men

Never more so, I say. Here come 5 great gift ideas for men that can be applied universally to all age groups and occasions. Learn them by heart, rotate them them every year and hasting into crowded shops in the very last minute and with no idea on what to get to go will be a permanent thing of the past. Safe your yourself time and avoid the usual hassle that comes with buying gifts by taking these gift ideas into your personal gift-portfolio.

All items come with information on:

Their creativity factor
Their price
Where they can be bought

— Ready for 7 great alternatives to the usual socks & ties?

As if the idea of buying a voucher could ever go out of style.

This one is just a little more specific while at the same time provides for a really great experience. It may be not the most apt idea for your boss, business partner or anybody you do not know that well, but is a great gift idea for any man that you are a bit closer with.

Be sure get a voucher for one of the better massage salons in the city as it will increase the wow-effect immensly: the better the massage the more lasting will be the impression your gift made. Anybody working from an office chair will freely vouch for that.

There are people trying to tell you that the way of getting the time these days is to reach into your pocket for your phone.

Hogwash, I proudly say. The classic way for any man to get the time is by a slight turn of his wrist.

The Irony series by Swiss manufacturer Swatch is the perfect approach to high quality and professional looks without a fortune on a Rolex, Breitling etc. Models come in all types and designs with the Swatch Irony Chrono Brown (YVS400) clearly sticking out.

The last voucher recommendation, I promise.

Luck has it that Europe is facing a massive revival of a traditional part of male culture, namely that of the Barbershop. Originating in times when drinking at the local dive bar was not an every day option for the working class the Barbershop served as a great alternative to socializing among men.

These days Barbershops are a unique blend of the best the 1950s had to offer and high-revenue venues: Their prices can be somewhat demanding. 87€ for a full-featured shaving treatment at a well-known Barbershop in Copenhagen might be owed to the overall high price-level in Denmark, but even in lower priced environments like Warsaw can a visit to the barbershop be spendy.

Mandatory for anyone riding a motorcycle leather gloves are a classy man-gift for the non-biker as well.

Wearing pair of gloves that has a decent linen or cashmere filling will prevent frozen hands in winter.

Plus they come with a certainsocial feature: A quality pair of gloves allow you to somwhat create a professional distance between you and people. In a very mild and subtle way that will not come across as bold or pompous.

Smartphones are not for men. Fiddling around on a minuature computer screen or even “swiping” away – preferably with your pinky spread out – has an eyebrow-raising touch to it.

Apart from that every ever-so-fancy smartphone or blackberry loses by landslide against a quick reach into your jacket’s pocket for pencil and your Molkesine.

As an essential travel packing tip for men the Moleskine (“Mo-leh-skee-neh”) should be part of any traveling man’s toolbox. It revives the almost forgotton culture of taking things seriosly by taking things down. Forget self-recorded voice memos and taking pictures, his own handwriting is what a man should trust the most.