The scent of Christmas is already in the air, and you’re probably racking your brain over what to give your male loved one or partner. Sure, the holidays are weeks away by the time of this write-up, but thinking about the perfect gift might take as long. Worse, money is tight this year.
Lucky for you, luxury gifts for men don’t have to cost an arm and a leg. Look no further than the gift options on this list, which won’t make you spend more than USD$500.
- Superior Italian Leather Wash Bag – USD$295
Toiletries and other small essentials can be a pain to pack without their own bag in the luggage. But why settle for a regular wash bag when you can stow them in style?
“Superior Wash Bag from Von Baer”
If you’re looking for a luxurious and practical gift, then the Superior Leather Wash Bag from Von Baer is a great option. It’s made from full-grain Italian leather, handmade in Italy, and can be personalized with a laser engraving. Perfect for the man who loves to travel, a great luxury gift.
The bag costs USD$295, but consider spending an extra USD$50 for the premium leather cream to help preserve the material for a long time. You can also have it personalized with the recipient’s name or logo design through laser engraving.
- Bose 700 Noise Canceling Headphones – USD$299
While relatively old compared to some of its peers, the Bose 700 noise-canceling headphones remain an affordable yet well-designed option. Debuted in 2019, they offer crisp sound and a decent active noise-cancelation system for their discounted price.
Through the Bose Music app, the noise cancelation level can be adjusted to one of 11 settings. Despite the downside of increased power consumption, the headphones can last upwards of 20 hours on a full charge and with noise cancelation at maximum. Quick charging enables the unit to be charged fully in around 2.5 hours or 3.5 hours of playtime in a 15-minute charge.
Newer models like the QuietComfort 45 may be more feature-rich (and may cost less in a sale), but the Bose 700 stays a prominent choice because of its sound quality. Various independent reviews consistently rank its performance in bass, midrange, and highs above average. In other words, vibing to tunes will be an experience turned up to 11.
- Stylish Passport Wallet – USD$195
Whether paying via credit card or cash, a wallet is still necessary in this day and age. If not due to some shops and stores yet to embrace digital payments, people still need a nifty way to carry their cards and credentials around.
What if someone told you that there’s a wallet that can hold even your passport?
“Passport Wallet from Von Baer”
Continuing with the travel theme, smarten up their old-fashioned passport holder with the Travel Organizer Leather Passport Wallet. It’s made from full-grain Italian leather, has RFID security protection, and has a built-in passport holder — ideal for traveling through the airport and keeping everything on hand.
For an additional USD$50, the wallet can come with premium leather cream to keep the leather pristine over time. Then, for another USD$20, you can have up to six initials embossed in gold or through blind embossing.
- Calvin Klein Eternity For Men Perfume – USD$104
Calvin Klein’s Eternity For Men is the latest addition to the long Eternity line of perfumes that first graced perfume shelves in 1988. Marketed as ‘sensitive yet masculine, refined yet strong,’ this fragrance features strong but fresh tones ranging from bergamot to sandalwood.
Due to its refreshing blend of earthy and woody scents, Eternity For Men can be a great gift for males who savor the great outdoors. A few sprays will be enough for one to be reminded of the majesty of Mother Nature, even when living amid a concrete jungle.
- Luminox Navy SEAL Foundation Military Diving Watch – USD$300
Luxury watches are delicate machinery that often carry a hefty price tag. But as with Luminox’s line of military-inspired watches, anyone can wear one that features so much more while costing much less.
This model is one of several that the Swiss-based timepiece maker created in partnership with the Navy SEAL Foundation (NSF), a nonprofit that supports active and veteran Navy SEALs and their families. The watch puts the ‘navy’ in Navy SEALs by being designed to work in depths of up to 200 meters (660 feet), the minimum rating for diving watches.
Of course, the recipient doesn’t have to be a SEAL or in the Special Forces to enjoy this timepiece. As a diving watch, it’s ideal for men who often take to the water in their free time, be it on a boat or several feet underwater. It can retain its value for a long time, granted you do your homework before picking out one.
- LARQ Bottle PureVis Self-Cleaning Water Bottle – USD$99
You might think, ‘A water bottle? Really?” That said, you wouldn’t want to underestimate the importance of staying hydrated, especially among physically active males. On top of that, this water bottle from LARQ isn’t the typical kind.
Yes, this is the same self-cleaning water bottle pitched on Shark Tank that resulted in the largest valuation in the show’s 15-season history. Promoted as the world’s first self-cleaning water bottle, the PureVis features an ultraviolet light emitter under the cap that sterilizes the water inside, registering a 99.8% eradication rate against E. coli per 20-second cycle.
This water bottle comes in two sizes: 17 ounces (503 ml) for USD$99 and 25 ounces (739 ml) for USD$118. An uninsulated version is also available, starting at USD$89. It’s a great, not to mention lavish, way to remind your male friend or family member to drink enough water daily. As for whether or not it’s eight glasses a day, that’s a topic for another time.
- Ember Mug 2 – USD$105
Another luxury gift for men with a world-first distinction is the Ember Mug. Launched in 2017, this line of smart mugs revolutionized the way people drink drinks, particularly coffee. Heating apparatuses allow these containers to keep your warm drink warm for as long as their battery allows.
Following the success of its predecessor, the Ember Mug 2 is a slight improvement, featuring a longer battery life of 80 to 90 minutes, depending on the size. The Ember app lets you remotely regulate the beverage temperature between 120°F and 145°F (50°C and 62.5°C). It can also be cleaned like regular mugs thanks to its IPX7 rating.
- Hayabusa Marvel Hero Elite Boxing Gloves – USD$249
Whether taking up boxing as a hobby or being too eager to get one’s hands on official Marvel merch, these stylish boxing gloves by Hayabusa will surely pack a heroic punch. These are the only boxing gloves officially sanctioned by the comics brand to date.
As a prominent name among fight equipment manufacturers, Canada-based Hayabusa designs and tailors its boxing gloves to the highest standard. These gloves are no exception, even going as far as to nail the details of a Marvel superhero or villain in each pair. Styles include Captain Marvel, Black Panther, Deadpool, Wolverine, and Thanos (specifically his Infinity Gauntlet).
- Oura Ring Gen3 – USD$299
The jury’s still out as to whether women truly outlive men, but one thing everyone can be certain of is that everyone gets sick. And with the world having come out of the worst health crisis since the Spanish flu, it won’t be surprising if people want to monitor their health more closely now.
If you know someone like that, then the Oura Ring Gen3 may be the ideal gift for them. Housed within this 8-mm (0.3 inches) ring is an array of sensors designed to track health data from body temperatures to sleep trends. Coupled with the Oura app (which requires a monthly subscription), the system can deliver detailed health reports and provide sound advice.
Health experts have lauded the accuracy of the latest Oura Ring model, with one review saying that it’s more accurate at measuring sleep patterns than the gold standards experts use. This is priced at USD$299 for the classic style featuring a top plateau and USD$349 for a seamless one. It comes in various colors, some of which can add up to USD$200 to the total cost.
- Humanrace All-In Starter Skincare Set – USD$140
Humanrace started as a menswear brand by Pharrell Williams, better known for his 2014 hit song ‘Happy.’ With expert help from his personal dermatologist, it later expanded to provide skincare products. Whatever others are doing in the skincare business, he wants to make it better—and the name of his game is sustainability.
The All-In Starter Set is proof of that, consisting of the brand’s flagship skincare products, from its rice powder cleanser to charcoal and white clay body bars. These vegan-friendly and cruelty-free products are formulated by excluding around 1,300 ingredients flagged by European Union standards as unsafe. It also excludes ingredients that increase the risk of micro-tearing.
The set consists of two other sets, which cost USD$189 in total when you buy them separately. While still under USD$500, getting something for a bargain is always a good idea.
- J.Crew Limited Edition 1983 Heritage Barn Jacket – USD$178
Barn jackets are attributed to the countryside, where farmers and other agricultural workers wear one as a rugged utility coat. Beneath their sturdy canvas exterior is a cotton interior that makes them comfy to wear on any occasion and location.
These jackets may seem old-fashioned, but J.Crew’s legacy-inspired jacket proves they’re never out of fashion. A fresh take on its classic barn jacket first introduced in 1983, this piece is made for the consummate countryman or anyone with a penchant for rustic fashion. Its two huge outer pockets provide more storage space on the go.
- Nike Air Max 97 Shoes – USD$195
Twenty years is enough time for the most avid sneakerheads to miss a particular model. Despite being only on store shelves for roughly a year, the Air Max 97 has gained a sizeable following. In response, Nike reissued this classy pair in 2016—and they’re still selling it.
Like its cousins in the Air Max line, these shoes use Nike’s patented Air Max cushioning system featuring pressurized air between soles. These ‘airbags’ provide exceptional comfort while keeping the shoes lighter than those filled with foam or padding. At least, that’s how Nike puts it; nevertheless, they’re a must-collect among sneaker enthusiasts.
Adding to their functionality is a more streamlined design compared to their predecessors. That’s because the Air Max 97’s design takes inspiration from Japan’s bullet trains. Nike offers a dozen ways to color them to your liking and the option to embroider letters on the mudguard.
- Field Company No.8 Cast Iron Skillet – USD$145
If you think a skillet is a weird choice for a luxury gift, don’t. Among the world’s assortment of pots and pans, none can make a man feel manlier than a cast iron skillet. It’s simple, tough as nails, and, to top it all off, chemical-free.
Field Company’s No.8 skillet is no exception, featuring a lightweight build and pre-seasoning for immediate use. The seasoning is the pan’s nonstick layer, meaning there’s little worry about food morsels sticking. It’s also sustainable, being made out of recycled iron.
- Courant CATCH:3 Classics Wireless Charging Accessory Tray – USD$175
Keep belongings, including your phone, in one place with Courant’s latest model of accessory tray that supports Qi-certified fast wireless charging. The leftmost third of the tray has a trio of 10-watt charging coils, providing double the power of standard plug-in chargers. Meanwhile, a sunken space can hold things like glasses, wallets, and watches.
Most phone models today support wireless charging, so there’s no need to worry if this gift will be useful. You can check reputable online resources for compatible Android and iOS models. If the phone isn’t on their list but is a recent release, it’s most likely compatible.
Conclusion
The thought may count in gift-giving, but it won’t hurt to give someone a luxury they can enjoy. As this list proves, USD$500 is a reasonable budget for such a present, so much so that you can get more than one. Now, that would make for a memorable Christmas.
