Every single year, the same lazy lists show up everywhere. Socks. Another hat when there's already three sitting in a drawer. And every single year, the same polite smile when the box gets opened from your guy friend. These aren’t gifts — they’re panic purchases disguised as thoughtfulness. And deep down, everyone knows it.
The real strategy is different: stop shopping based on hobbies and start thinking about gaps. Where is he trying to go? What is he trying to improve? What would actually move him forward?
With that in mind, here are the only four types of gifts that actually matter in 2025 — with examples that fit each one.
1. The Upgrade Gift
Everybody has something they use constantly but never bother to replace. A wallet that's falling apart. A phone charger that barely works. Sneakers that are "fine" but look rough.
Replacing these is subtle, but it says: you deserve better than the bare minimum.
Examples that hit:
A higher quality colonge he was sampling last time you went to the mall.
Quality white sneakers or a pair of elevated loafers to replace his worn out vans he refuses to give up.
New Webcam and mic setup so he doesn't look like he’s taking discord calls in 2010.
2. The Permission Gift
Some guys know exactly what they want — they’ve researched it to death — but they never pull the trigger. They read reviews, compare specs, add things to wishlists. And then they never buy any of it. Too indulgent. Not essential. "Maybe later."
The Permission Gift removes that friction. It says, "You're allowed to have this. Stop waiting."”
Pay attention to what gets browsed but never purchased. What gets mentioned but immediately dismissed. That's the target. That's what they actually want but won't let themselves have.
Examples:
Subscription to a skill platform (MasterClass, Skillshare, Duolingo)
A compact standing desk or vertical mouse for better joint health.
LED skincare mask he’s curious about but embarrassed to admit.
3. The Experience Gift
Consider a gift that goes beyond individual enjoyment. Something that’s designed for shared experiences with friends or family. Who doesn’t love the welcoming feeling of being the host and bringing the group together?
Perfect for guys who value connection more than things or for friends who already have everything.
Examples that create moments instead of clutter:
A whiskey tasting set for four (guaranteed to turn his place into the go-to HQ)
Tickets to an event he’d never splurge on himself
A reservation at the spot he keeps mentioning
A game night package: custom poker chips, strategy card games, high-quality playing cards
UFC Fight Pass for months of Saturday hangouts
Experiences build relationship equity — the kind of memories you talk about years later.
4. The Daily Level Up Gift
Most men won't admit it, but a better hair routine or grooming setup hits harder than almost anything else. It improves confidence, first impressions, and how he feels walking into every room.
And since it's Black Friday season, this is the one time of year you can level up your friends without wrecking your budget.
Right now, Forte is running 25 percent off sitewide, including two bundles that work insanely well for gifting — because each bundle has enough products to cover multiple friends.
The Essentials Collection (Best for Beginners)
A full starter system for the guy who's still using drugstore basics. Cleansing, conditioning, and styling products that instantly upgrade any routine.
Shop: https://forteseries.com/collections/all-products/products/the-essentials-collection
The Executive Collection (For the Guy Leveling Up)
Premium grooming and styling — perfect for the friend who’s entering his “put-together” era.
Packed with enough high-end products to create multiple gift sets or build one elite package for someone special.
Shop: https://forteseries.com/collections/all-products/products/the-executive-collection
If you want gifts that actually land — ones he’ll use, appreciate, and remember — this is the move. One bundle. Multiple friends upgraded. Zero guesswork.
There you go,
Forget the generic lists. Ditch the "safe" picks that feel easy. Think about who this person is becoming, what gaps they're trying to close, and what would make them feel like someone genuinely has their back.