FATHER’S DAY GIFTS FOR THE FIT DAD
Dads can do it all… even make a dad bod look good so let’s celebrate them! Father’s Day is a little later this month so you have plenty of time to grab the kids and plan the perfect gift. To help, I have put together this list for the fit dad in your life.
This mug is available at Lovebirds Boutique in Wayne, PA.
My good friend, Main Line resident, golf writer and an awesome dad himself, Tom Coyne, kicks off my list with his latest book, A Course Called America: Fifty States, Five Thousand Fairways, and the Search for the Great American Golf Course. Tom Coyne, a New York Times best selling author, documents his year of golf across the country “playing every course to host a US Open, along with more than 200 hidden gems and heavyweights, visiting all fifty states to find a better understanding of his home country and countrymen.” A Course Called America follows Tom’s two other bestsellers, A Course Called Ireland and A Course called Scotland , bringing his journey home. Any golf enthusiast will enjoy Tom’s travel tales and for that reason, Tom’s latest book is my number one Father’s Day Gift for 2021. All three of Tom’s books are in my Amazon Affiliate Shop to make your gift giving even easier this year. Huge congratulations to Tom for making the New York Times Weekly Bestseller Nonfiction list during the book’s first week!!
Me and my husband with Tom Coyne at The ACCA Launch party on May 24.
Next up — the Melin hat. Yes, $60 is A LOT for a hat, but not if it's the only hat the dad in your life ever wants to wear again! My husband discovered this brand a few months ago. At first, he felt pretty guilty dropping that much on yet another hat, but he quickly discovered what makes this hat so special ... and worth the high price tag. The A-Game Hydro Melin repels water, which equals no sweat stains. This hat is totally durable, holds its shape and looks like new after all of those sweaty rounds on the golf course, coaching little league baseball, or just chasing the kids around the yard. Best part, this hat has an antimicrobial sweatband so your guy isn't sitting in his own sweat filth. Because let's face it, most men aren't washing their hats unless one of us girls happens to look inside the hat 😝. Hats are so much more than an accessory for my husband. They are part of his overall look and he uses them for protection from the sun (good job, Eddie). He loves the fit of the Melin hat, but I think all hats look good on him (cue heart eye emoji). And after reading about these hats and learning that they are unisex, I may need to try one of these babies for myself. They do come in pink… wink, wink.
It really holds its shape and continues to look like new through the water or sweat.
Another favorite brand of my husband’s— he never seems to have enough— is Free Fly. I bought him a bunch of their fleeces for the holidays and he has since expanded his wardrobe each season. While this brand was created for the modern fisherman (which is not Eddie), these clothes are great for every part of his life— sports, working out, golf, hanging by the pool, lounging, work zoom calls... You name it. Even the underwear are really, really nice. This apparel line is different. It’s made from natural Bamboo and most pieces have UPF 20+ protection. Everything just feels really good on your body. The long-sleeve shirts keep you warm in the cooler temps but are totally light and airy for hot weather. The Men’s Bamboo Lightweight Hoody, the Men’s Bamboo Heritage Polo and the Men’s Breeze Short are favorites. But, you really can’t go wrong with any of their pieces so its a no-brainer-done-and-done kinda Father’s Day gift. And, I recommend everything this brand puts out! Check out the Dad Approved Gear section of the website for more ideas. This weekend only, save up to 25% using code DADVENTURE at check out. Or use this link.
At the start of every golf season, my husband orders new golf balls with our kids' names on them. I didn't even know he was doing this until I was out on the course with him two years ago and saw his ball. He believes his kids are his source of good luck. For practical purposes, it helps to distinguish his ball on the course. I just think it's the sweetest darn thing. He orders his golf balls from Callaway but most brands will personalize the balls and golfballs.com even puts pictures on them. I did this for my husband's 40th birthday party for the mini golf course we had in our basement.
I love to get the kids involved in creating a Father’s Day gift. Sure, a handmade paperweight or a pinch pot is "special". Don't get me wrong, I am all about the kids crafts (and if you follow my personal IG account, you can see all the crafts that we do in our house) but wouldn't it be better for everyone if the kids helped to create something that your husband actually could, and wanted to, wear. Both Vans and Nike have customizable sneaker programs. Let your kids run wild with their ideas and their father can walk around wearing their creation! If you are going to do this, be sure to allow at least 2-4 weeks (times vary depending on the creation). With Vans, the cost to design the perfect sneaker for dad is $75 and goes up from there with add ons. You can even download an image to put on the sneaker! With Nike, the price is a little more (ranging from $110 to $220, depending on the sneaker style). My oldest created slip on Vans with a tropical vibe for my husband 4 years ago and he still rocks them today!
So what is my husband getting for Father's Day this year? Eddie, if you are reading this, do not pass go!
His birthday and Father's Day are only a few weeks apart so he'll be getting two things from me this year and he can call them what he wants. First, I'm getting him the Whoop. The Whoop is a band that tracks your fitness, sleep and recovery levels so you can learn how to increase productivity. It is so much more than just a fitness tracker. It gives you a complete picture to help understand your body.
I think Eddie will absolutely love this. He is super into the latest and greatest technology (unlike his wife who fears technology and only recently ditched the paper calendar). My husband also has trouble sleeping and often feels sluggish during the day. Yes, our little kids aren't sleeping great lately, but I'm guessing the reason for his sleep deprivation is deeper. He could totally benefit from understanding what is necessary for him to increase his daily activity level. Whoop is all about building fitness gains by monitoring sleep performance, tracking recovery and readiness to perform, and monitoring your heart rate variability so to understand your workout better.
People cannot say enough about the science behind this product. My yoga instructor friend recommended it to me and swears that it's super easy to use and only takes a minute or two to complete the daily "journal" on the app each morning. You can also sync the band to your Peloton or any piece of exercise equipment with blue tooth technology. A standard black strap, clasp and hook comes with the subscription. You can customize other straps for additional costs. I am just going with the basic black for now. The strap collects metrics all day long. The battery lasts for 5 days and can quickly recharge when you shower or remove it for an hour. The subscription costs $30 a month, or less if you purchase an annual or 18-month membership. You can get your first month free when you join with this link. There are countless tools available on the app to help you achieve your fitness goals.
For my own selfish reasons, I am really curious about this band. Up until this week, I didn’t even have my Apple watch synced with my new phone so I don't want the pressure of another piece of technology. I want to see how my husband enjoys the Whoop and how it impacts his lifestyle based on the findings. Then, I may be sold.
This is the basis black strap with a custom white clasp.
Second, I am giving Eddie some golf training sessions with Rene Cammarata at IM Health. Rene is a TPI (formerly known as Titleist Performance Institute) Certified Level 3 Golf Fitness Professional, Level 2 Power Coach, Level 2 Junior Coach and Level 2 Golf Professional. He is also certified Level 2 in Golf Biomechanics by K-Motion. That’s a lot of heavy golf training certification! Bottom line, Rene understands the demands of the golf swing on the body and how to correct and train the physical factors that correlate to swing consistency, efficiency and power. For anyone serious about improving their golf game with targeted conditioning and training, Rene is your guy! Eddie used to train with Rene in Bryn Mawr and his mouth dropped to the floor when he learned that Rene was coaching me at IM Health! During golf season, my husband spends his time and energy on his golf game, so I know he will love a training program with a specific focus like this.
The gorgeous training facility at IM Health in Radnor.
Rene provides 60-minute sessions to practice golf swing related motor control and develop power and strength in the swing. To sign up, visit the IM Health website and register for a small group coaching membership.
Lastly, I couldn’t forget about these great Father’s Day cards that I found at The Paper Source in Paoli. The Paper Source is always my go-to for cute cards.
Happy Father’s Day to all of the awesome dads getting it done out there! Especially my dad, who has always supported me and been my biggest fan. I love you, Dad.
