Tag Archives: fathers day gift ideas

The Ultimate Father’s Day Upgrade from Nomad: Pen, Stratos Band, and Stand One Max

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Father’s Day is coming up, and if you’re looking to trade out the generic ties and “World’s Best Dad” mugs for gear that actually makes a difference in the daily grind, Nomad has been hitting it out of the park lately.

I’ve been putting three of their latest releases through their paces to see if they’re worth adding to your setup, or gifting to the dad who appreciates clean lines and solid build quality. From my desk to my wrist, here is my breakdown of the Nomad Aluminum Pen, the Stratos Band in Ultra Orange, and the Stand One Max.

The Nomad Pen

I love a good pen. There’s just something about a writing instrument that has some actual weight to it, and Nomad’s Aluminum Pen delivers exactly that. Machined from a solid block of premium aluminum, it feels incredibly intentional the second I pick it up.

I do have to call out one minor hiccup: mine arrived with a ink cartridge that was a bit on the dry side out of the box, so I had to grab a fresh refill right away to get it flowing smoothly. Once I swapped it out, though? Absolute butter. It takes a Schmidt EasyFlow 9000 ballpoint cartridge that glides across paper without any of that annoying skipping you get from cheap disposables.

The click mechanism is incredibly crisp and satisfying—fair warning, you will fidget with it during long Zoom calls. The anodized finish resists fingerprints and scratches, making it a sleek, permanent fixture for my office desk or pocket. If you appreciate everyday carry (EDC) gear that’s built like a tank but looks like a piece of art, this is a home run.

Stratos Apple Watch Band

If you’re rocking an Apple Watch—especially the Ultra—the Stratos Band in Ultra Orange is an absolute showstopper. This isn’t your average silicone strap. It’s built from a high-grade FKM fluoroelastomer, which means it’s completely waterproof, sweatproof, and designed to take a beating whether I’m working out, working on the house, or out on the trail.

What sets the Stratos apart is its micro-textured finish and custom aluminum hardware that matches the watch perfectly. The Ultra Orange colorway is bold, sharp, and gives off a high-end, athletic aesthetic that completely transforms the look of the watch. It’s incredibly comfortable for all-day wear because the underside is designed to let your skin breathe. For the active dad who wants a mix of durability and style, this band is a massive upgrade from stock straps.

Stand One Max (with 40W Charging Brick)

Cheap plastic charging docks are a dime a dozen, but the Stand One Max is in an entirely different league. The first thing I noticed when taking it out of the box is the weight. Solid metal and glass construction mean this thing weighs a ton—in the best way possible. When I lift my phone off the MagSafe charger, the stand stays firmly planted on my nightstand. No lifting, no sliding.

The Stand One Max is a 3-in-1 powerhouse, letting me juice up my iPhone (with full 15W MagSafe fast charging), my Apple Watch, and my AirPods all at once. Because I opted for the version that includes the 40W charging brick, I get maximum power right out of the box without having to hunt for an extra adapter. The upright angle is perfect for Apple’s StandBy mode, turning my phone into a sleek bedside clock while it charges. It clears up cable clutter instantly and looks like a premium sculpture on my nightstand.

Up until today, my daily charger was the Nomad Base One Max (comparison photo above), and the Stand One has proven an upgrade in speed, functionality and design. It even has a smaller footprint.

The Verdict

What I love about Nomad gear is that they don’t cut corners. Everything feels substantial, works flawlessly, and looks sharp. Whether you’re looking to treat yourself this Father’s Day or drop some serious hints to the family, you can’t go wrong here. The Pen elevates the daily scratchpad, the Stratos Band brings a rugged style to the wrist, and the Stand One Max completely organizes the charging routine.

Head over to NomadGoods.com to check them out.

Father’s Day Gift Ideas 2019

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fathers day gifts

Depending on your dad, Father’s Day gift-giving can be a lot of fun or a chore. For me, some tasty whiskey and cigars is about my favorite way to celebrate. If you are still looking for ideas, though, I have a few that might earn you the “favorite kid” title this year. Try these gifts out!

Door58 Decanter Set. $79.99

Packaged in a handsome wooden gift box, this decanter set is 100% crystal, not cheapie glass (note there are no seams in the tumblers or decanter). Styled in a sharp art-deco-inspired design, the decanter will hold a whole bottle of whiskey, and the wide, hefty tumblers feel great in the hand. Door58 has generously offered a discount for our readers (until June 15, 2019) of 20% off this set! Just follow the link about and enter the code 20DADBLOG at checkout.

Powers Three Swallow Irish Whiskey. $40

For those of you who haven’t experienced much Irish whiskey, you’re missing out. The sweet notes of bourbon and the richness of Scotch make Irish a taste all of its own. This is a fairly new expression of Powers that’s only been available in the US for a few months, so if you see some, pick up a bottle for dad.

Speyburn 10 (gift set). $30

To me, Speyburn is one of the best buys in single malt scotch. Often $30 and sometimes as low as $20, it’s an easy brand to keep around. In this case, my bottle of Speyburn came boxed with a bottle of “Source” – Scottish water designed to accompany Highland whiskys like this one. You serve your Speyburn neat, and give it a small dash of Source. A fun idea and perfectly affordable.

Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva Rum. $45

If dad wants to venture out into aged rums, then a nice one like Diplomatico is the way to go. With both tropical and woody notes, aged rums sometimes match the terrior of cigars, for instance, or even coffee. If dad like stogies or adds a splash of whiskey to his coffee, have him try Diplomatico.

 

Enjoy your Father’s Day this year! Cheers!

Father’s Day Gift Guide, presented by Holt’s Cigar

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father's day gifts

Every year, I like to go on the hunt for awesome and unique Father’s Day gift ideas for readers. This year, Holt’s Cigar is presenting an awesome collection of really cool stuff for readers of both Simple Guy Stuff and our sister site Simple Cocktails. I’m excited to present this year’s list:

new mexico books

Local literature: $20-50. I have been a New Mexico native most of my life and my state pride has grown gradually. This year, I got my hands on 2 newer books published here that and distinctly New Mexican. Look into My Eyes: Nuevomexicanos por Vida, ’81-’83 (buy at Amazon) is a photo book from a very specific snapshot of time in New Mexico’s history: 1981 to 1983 and it’s an amazing mashup of hispanic and 1980s culture. ¡Órale! Lowrider: Custom Made in New Mexico (buy at Amazon) is another one of those precious snapshots of our local culture in beautiful color with great historical context of the significance of “dropping” your Chevy Impala.

fidget spinners

Fidget spinners: $20-70. Clearly this is a fad on one saw coming, but you can now find plastic 3-pointed spinners in just about every gas station or roadside stand in this country. I wanted to illustrate what a more “fatherly” spinner looks like, so I got some spinners from UltraSpinners and Syner-EDC. UltraSpinners have a variety of spinners ranging from $20 to $150, but I stuck with their Ergo line, which has 3 options in materials and weight. The Ergo Aluminum is $20 and a lightweight but “grown-up” alternative to plastic spinners. Ergo Omega and Alpha are both brass, for $55 and $60 respectively, and only differ in weight and thickness. I also picked up a Triple Mini Spinner from Syner-EDC (pictured bottom) for $40, which offers customizable bearing caps is various materials.

monowear apple watch band

Apple Watch Band: $85. Monowear makes a new and apparently very-popular Apple Watch band out of perforated leather that’s classy. They match the hardware to the watch color (a must in my book) and the band’s available in chestnut, black and grey (I got grey). As a daily Apple Watch wearer, I always love having more options to accessorize and match my tech with my clothes for the day.

bicycle cocktail and beer cards

Playing Cards: $5 a deck. I picked up Cocktail Party, Craft Beer, and Craft Brewers decks from Bicycle – it’s a fun way to jazz up your poker games with some “fatherly” knowledge of cocktail recipes and craft beer. Plus they cost next-to-nothing!

balvenie caribberan cask 14

Scotch Whisky: $85. Scotch is particularly suited for gifts because if often comes in a gift-worthy sleeve. For this Father’s Day, I picked up The Balvenie 14-year-old Caribbean Cask, a spicy, vanilla-forward sipper that pairs beautifully with the next gift idea…..

cigars - holt's

Cigars: $5 and up. From Holt’s Cigar Company, our sponsor for this Gift Guide, we’ve got a great selection of smokes in our humidor (stay tuned for upcoming pairings at Simple Guy Stuff). For Father’s Day, Holt’s recommends the Royal Flush Super Sampler, one of many great options in their Father’s Day Cigar Deals category. Special thanks to Holt’s for their sponsorship of Simple Cocktails and Simple Guy Stuff!