Gifts Dad Will Love — And Use
Father's Day is just a little more than two weeks away. That's plenty of time to find the perfect gift for dear old Dad.
And you don't have to start from scratch, because BestStuff.com Senior Editor David Gregg made some great suggestions on The Early Show Wednesday.
Some are hi-tech through-and-through, while others add hi-tech twists to more traditional items.
The suggestions, with descriptions provided in part by their manufacturers, include:
BROOKSTONE DIGITAL PHOTO KEYCHAIN
Wish you could keep favorite photos close at hand, but don't want to carry around a photo album? Now, you can view and share digital photos wherever you go with this new digital photo keychain. Download pictures from your PC onto the keychain with the included software, and display them anytime. The keychain includes a built-in, rechargeable lithium battery. Browse through your photos as you would any digital photo album. A 1-inch-square, backlit screen displays clear images, whatever the lighting condition. 512KM of internal flash memory holds up to 56 images, making it a mini-digital photo album. The keychain automatically resizes your photos to fit the screen.
$50; brookstone.com
HOT SHOTS PHOTO KEYCHAIN
Royal's Hot Shots keychain carries up to 56 digital photos viewed on a 1.1-inch LCD. This offers a convenient way to free up some of dad's wallet space. Simply load the digital camera photos into your computer and download the pictures you want on Hot Shots using software included in the purchase. At 1.2 ounces, the Hot Shots keychain is small enough to go anywhere, and take the family with you.
$39.99; available at Target and on Amazon.
FLASHLIGHT GRILL TONGS
Grilling is a finely-tuned balancing act. It takes a virtual juggler to maneuver marinades, tools, plates and the requisite beer, and still get the meat done just right. And it only gets more difficult after dark. Now, you can increase your barbecue guru's after-hours efficiency by taking the flashlight out of his mouth and putting it right where it's needed: where he's grilling. The extra-long stainless-steel tongs feature a built-in LED flashlight. A press of the button frees up hands to check doneness and flip with ease. Requires two AAA batteries, available separately, and measures 2 inches by 2.25 inches and 15.5 inches long.
$50; RedEnvelope.com
TWEEZERMAN GROOMING KIT
If dad's eyebrows are beginning to resemble a bushy uni-brow, Tweezerman has the perfect gift for your pop. This convenient personal grooming kit includes four high quality Tweezerman personal care tools that deliver the precision and reliability necessary for men's grooming needs. All four tools come conveniently packaged in a sturdy storage case. The kit contains: a stainless steel nail clipper, pocket nail file, facial nose hair scissors, and stainless steel point tweezerette.
$20; Tweezerman.com
For more gift ideas, go to Page 2.GARMIN GPS
Garmin GPS i Series is the world's most compact GPS for driving (3" W x 2.74" H x 2.15" D). The StreetPilot i2 is the monochrome version in the i-series StreetPilots, a new line of small, inexpensive automotive GPS navigators that make driving fun. No larger than a baseball and priced affordably, the StreetPilot i-series is designed for those who are looking to experience the ease and enjoyment of GPS satellite navigation for the first time. Don't let the size fool you: The StreetPilot i-series has many of the same powerful capabilities as Garmin's other full-size automotive GPS navigators. The i-series features a unique and convenient click-to-enter scroll wheel and a "back" button that makes it easy to select a destination from the unit's menu-driven interface. The i2 and i3 provide voice-prompted, turn-by-turn directions through a built-in speaker, and the unit easily moves from vehicle to vehicle with an integrated suction cup mount. The i-series will also automatically put drivers back on course if they miss a turn.
The StreetPilot i2 and i3 come with a MapSource City Select North America NT DVD, which contains mapping detail of the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, featuring nearly 6 million points of interest including hotels, restaurants, gas stations, ATMs and attractions. Users load the City Select data onto an included 128MB Transflash data card via a fast USB connection.
The i3 and i5 feature a 32K-color, sunlight readable TFT display with backlight, while the i2 features a high-contrast backlit monochrome display. Motorists can choose from either a three-dimensional mapping perspective, or overhead "bird's-eye" view. For added convenience, drivers can power the unit with either two AA batteries (six hours, typical use) or the included 12-volt adapter cable.
Starts at $321.42; Garmin.com
RADARGOLF
The RadarGolf Ball Positioning System (BPS) enables communication between the RadarGolf Handheld device and a tiny microchip implanted in the core of a RadarGolf Ball. A pulsed beeping indicates when you are getting closer to your lost RadarGolf Ball; an LCD gives you visual indicators, too. The United States Golf Association-conforming RadarGolf Ball is a pro-level golf ball that outperforms many premium brands. The BPS system includes the RadarGolf Handheld (with protective case); a dozen RadarGolf Balls, and two specially lined Shield-It pouches that keep spare RadarGolf Balls from affecting your search. Exclusive to The Sharper Image.
$249.95; sharperimage.com
CRUZIN COOLER
Cruzin Cooler combines two basic necessities of life: the ability to have cold food or a beverage handy, along with the means to get somewhere without walking. The Cruzin Cooler is light-weight and comes in various sizes, and is available in gas and electric models, with a 10-mile range on electric models and 30 miles on the gas models. The cooler is light enough to be driven to a location and then picked up and carried. The cooler can be used for hunting, sporting events, races, camping, golf or even a trip to the grocery store to keep your food cold all the way home. Marine use will be popular for the new cooler, enabling you to take your fish/drinks/food/ice to and from your boat with powered assistance and braking. Simply ride or power your way up and down ramps. There are virtually hundreds of uses for the new coolers, with thoughts of racing coolers not far behind!
Prices start at $349 for electric, $449 for gas; cruzincooler.com
BLACK & DECKER ALLIGATOR LOPPER
From clearing spring storm debris and pruning to removing menacing vines and bushes cluttering your yard, check out the innovative Alligator Lopper from Black and Decker. It makes outdoor chores a snap. This 4.5 amp electric-powered hybrid chain saw/pruner literally chops your outdoor chores in half. Features include clamping jaws to grab and cut in one easy motion, guard jaws to cover chain when not cutting (to prevent accidental cuts), a heavy duty cutting chain to deliver fast cutting of thick branches and logs, and a 4-inch cut capacity for cutting heavy branches too big for manual pruners and loppers.
$99; blackanddecker.com
SOLIO PORTABLE SOLAR CHARGER
The Solio Portable Solar iCharger is a new solar battery charger designed to solar charge your Apple iPod or cell phones. Accessory adapter tips are also available for cell phones and PDAs. This charger's high-efficiency solar panels fold out like a flower; just set it in the sun to charge it up. It also charges with the included 115V AC adapter. Incredibly easy to use, simply fill up in the sun or with the AC adapter, connect to your device, push a button, and you're charging. The built-in lithium ion battery holds the energy until you want to charge your device. LED indicator lets you know how much energy is stored in your Solio and tells you it's charging. Its compact design enables it to fit comfortably in your pocket or handbag. Weighs just under half-a-pound. Each petal measures approximately five-inches long, two-and-a-half-inches wide and half-an-inch thick. The total weight is just six ounces. Available in black, silver, white and pink.
$79.95; solio.com