40th Birthday Gift Ideas
21 Perfect Birthday Gifts For Any Man Hitting The Big 4-0
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Hitting the 4-0 mark is a pretty huge. It’s a point in time that serves as a representation of achievement, discovery, and most importantly, living life. Men are more in tune with who they are and look to accentuate their virtues as they continue the aging process. And most times, all it takes is the right birthday present to build on that foundation when entering the fourth decade of existence.
Generational theorem encourages men (and women) to believe forty is now the new thirty. They’re mature enough to embrace grooming trends from electric shaving to manscaping, while adapting to modern movements such as cord-cutting. Cool enough to celebrate the upcoming 10-year iPhone anniversary, yet not too old to get their “Bad and Boujee” on at wedding receptions. Stylish enough to maintain a fashion sense on a budget via subscription services and surprisingly condition their bodies to bask in the benefits of CrossFit. Their fingers remain on the pulse of pop culture. Which makes gifting them both challenging and exciting.
Exactly what does one get the dude who more than likely has everything? Remember this: all men are cut from a different cloth. You might want to start be familiarizing yourself with their personal taste. Maybe hawking their Instagram page will provide some insight. Consider these categories for good measure:
- Entertainment: iTunes, Netflix, or the latest Nintendo system, there are tons of devices to fill his media-consuming appetite.
- Fitness and health: Exercising is key to living a longer, more vigorous life.
- Gear: Be it EDC kits or the latest smartphone, the category warrants all types of big-boy toys to play with.
- Novelty: Think personal items that are an extension of their character.
- Style: No one is ever too old to upgrade their wardrobe.
Effort speaks in loud volume. You’ll want to think gift ideas that are conducive to their lifestyle, draw mass appeal, provide serviceability, and won’t trigger any “senior-citizen” insecurities. Don’t break your neck crawling the Web for suggestions, for we got you covered. Bookmark these gift ideas for the next 40th birthday party you attend.
Fitbit Flex 2
Best for: Workout buffs
Developing a middle-age fitness plan will prevent frailty, heart conditions, and other health issues. Granted any of Fitbit’s activity trackers help the cause, we’ve found its latest budget-friendly model to be worth every penny with a comfortable design, numerous tracking capabilities, and SmartTrack technology to automatically recognize workouts and record them on the accompanying app. The swim-proof shell even lets you wear it in the shower or when diving into the pool for a few laps.
$98.95 at Amazon.com
Bespoke Post
Best for: Urbanites
Guys living an active lifestyle have little time to do their own shopping. Hence why subscriptions boxes like Bespoke Post are viewed as godsends. The company puts together monthly themed packages curated with a selective batch of products from luxury brands across the globe. We’re talking everything from the coolest camping, cooking, and personal gadgets to all the grooming goods the modern gent desires.
$45 at Bespokepost.com
Roku Premiere+
Best for: Media fanatics
The centerpiece to any living room isn’t the flat panel anymore. It’s the media-streaming box. There’s no better way to enjoy Game of Thrones or live sports events for that matter than on this current Roku model, placing more than 3,000 streaming channels in the palm of your hand with instant accessibility to favs like Netflix, Hulu, and Sling directly on the remote, plus 4K Ultra HD with four times more resolution than 1080p HD.
$99 at Amazon.com
Nomad Slim Leather Wallet
Best for: Minimalists
This gorgeous leather wallet combines two of life’s common practicalities, currency storage and mobile power, for one of the most discretely conventional items ever conceived. Besides carrying your cash and cards, the Nomad eliminates the need of lugging around an external battery as owners can open the bi-fold to expose the built-in Lightning cable and charge their iPhone on the spot. Horween leather keeps the wallet looking even better as it ages. How fitting.
$83.98 at Huckberry.com
Box Brew "The Taster" Kit
Best for: Beer snobs
Forget loading the cooler with booze. Learn to make it from scratch. This homemade brew kit transforms any suds hound into the wannabe-bootleger of the crowd, containing all the necessities to blend up to 10 bottles of tasty beer. The recipe book comes stacked with 25 different recipes for making the perfect batch.
$79 at Amazon.com
Philips Norelco Beard Trimmer 7200
Best for: Facial hair conformists
For the burly man who favors grooming maintenance comes this dynamic beard trimmer with 20 built-in length settings and vacuum system that sucks up close to 90% of cut hairs. The self-sharpening steel blades sheer through threads with precision to limit skin irritation. Trim the crumb snatcher down to any form or shape and worry less about leaving a mess on the bathroom counter top.
$54.95 at Amazon.com
Appetites: A Cookbook by Anthony Bourdain
Best for: Top Chef aspirers
Networks like the Cooking Channel continue to inspire a community of culinary artists. And if you just happen to know one in his 40s, pass on Anthony’s Bourdain’s latest reading. Appetites is the first book in more than 10 years from the professional-cooking globetrotter with an incredibly curated list of recipes from places all over the world that even the most amateur cook can put together in the kitchen. Korean fried chicken or Sunday gravy with sausage and rigatoni sound good?
$22.50 at Amazon.com
Amazon Echo
Best for: Internet-of-Things adopters
This is an interconnected society we live in, one where a new era of machines and technology make living much easier. Take the Amazon Echo for example. This hands-free speaker keeps users linked to all their favorite smart products and services through nothing more than voice commands. Ask it questions, call an Uber ride, control lighting, order takeout, and stream music by simply asking it. Those with a more advanced sound system can settle for the speaker-stripped Echo Dot ($49.99), which still performs the majority of tasks as its bigger sibling.
$179.99 at Amazon.com
Herschel Novel Duffel Bag
Best for: Frequent travelers
A weekender bag is the perfect companion for short getaways and other small excursions. Herschel’s award-winning duffels remain an industry standard for their attractive minimalism, impeccable craftsmanship, and unique versatility. There’s more than enough storage to pack a few hot outfits with two small side pockets for grooming items and a shoe compartment to carry one’s finest pair of oxfords. Choose from over 24 different colors and styles.
$79.99 at Amazon.com
Leatherman Wave Multitool
Best for: Jack of all trades
Certain situations call for the right tools. So whether it’s popping open a Bud or tuning up a screwy mountain bike, it pays to keep a Leatherman in pocket. This variation comes stocked with a myriad of tools including several types of knives, pliers, wire-cutters, bit drivers, and other EDC musts like a bottle opener and lanyard attachment.
$89.94 at Amazon.com
Whiskey Peaks Rocks Glasses Set
Best for: Whiskey connoisseurs
A whiskey is only as refined as the glass it’s served in. Tumblers are the traditional glassware for any brown liquor serving and make for a satisfying sipping experience when settling down with a nice single malt. Each glass in this set features a unique impression of one of America’s greatest mountain peaks, adding a touch of finesse to any bar or liquor cabinet.
$69.98 at Huckberry.com
BeatsX Wireless In-Ear Headphones
Best for: Commuting audiophiles
Even at 40, life comes at you fast. And for daily treks – be it going to the gym, local market, or office – we all need a soundtrack to keep us moving. Feed your adrenaline for sound with Beats new wireless earphones engineered for comfortability and practicality. Secure fitting buds paired with crisp sound and optimized noise isolation create balanced performance. Apple’s low-power Bluetooth W1 chip earns you more efficient battery life with a Fast Fuel feature that warrants 2 hours of playback on a 15-minute charge.
$149.95 at Amazon.com
Stealth EDC Kit
Best for: Everyday carriers
EDC kits are this generation’s keychains. This multi-tool set comes in a sleek design that goes undetected when paired with all-black attire, while hosting customary items most of us rely on day in, day out. Key organizer. Bottle opener. Carabiner. Lightning USB charger. Screw keys. Basically, the works.
$69.98 at Huckberry.com
Ursa Major Traveler's Skin Care Kit
Best for: Traveling groomists
Following a good beauty regimen will ensure skin feels and looks good. And for the business exec struggling to fit the dopp kit in their luggage, this portable all-natural skincare system packs all the essentials from gentle cleansers to refreshing face wipes, each loaded with organic ingredients to achieve a nourished and glowing complexion.
$41.00 at Amazon.com
Neolite Trek Camping Hammock
Best for: Outdoorsmen
Be it the adventurist looking to be at one with nature or the homebody seeking serenity in his back yard, every man deserves to own one of these comfortable slings. The right hammock is portable, super strong, and supports the right amount of weight (minimum 400 lbs.). All attributes owned by this woven nylon sack.
$44.99 at Amazon.com
Mophie Power Capsule
Best for: Forgetful types
Like our attention space, our memory decreases as we grow old. Mophie relieves us of such sufferings with a charge case that not only juices up all our micro-USB gadgets (headphones, fitness trackers, etc.), but also stores trivial belongings. It’s pretty spacious inside and can hold a variety of things from cash to condoms, all while powering our wireless earbuds. The 1,400mAh battery housed underneath generates enough charge cycles to free owners of their power cords for weeks on end.
$39.95 at Amazon.com
The Tie Bar Style Box
Best for: Formal wearers
Best way to compliment any business suit is with the right accessories. The Tie Bar has men covered with a variety of dress socks, pocket squares, and ties to take any outfit to the next level. Nordstrom offers a few exclusive boxes with special designs best fit for the classic man.
$99 at Nordstrom.com
Menu Winebreather Carafe
Best for: Wine lovers
If drinking is one’s vice, then developing a taste for vino is one of the best things any 40-year-old can do. Red wine alone offers a variety of anti-aging benefits and reduces multiple cancer risks when drank in moderation. Moderation, fellers! Storing a well-aged Cabernet in this gorgeous carafe can give a touch of class to any bachelor pad, even inspiring drinkers to feel younger when taking in a glass from time to time.
$49.95 at Amazon.com
Apollo Household 143-Piece Tool Kit
Best for: Mr. Fix-its
Home repair becomes a common hobby for most homeowners. And since the man of the crib bears ‘Tool Time’ responsibility, they’ll need the right repair tool kit to keep their humble abode standing. Apollo Tools affords a huge box of mechanical instruments including a cordless drill, drill bits, pliers, screw drivers, utility knife, and much more. Let him channel his inner Tim “The Toolman” from time to time.
$149.99 at Amazon.com
Amazon Prime Membership
Best for: Everything
Suffice to say, Amazon’s created an ecosystem that caters to the pillars of modern society. An annual membership to the biggest online marketplace on the block provides subscribers with a plethora of services including unlimited access to Prime Music, Photos, Video, and Kindle titles, along with free same-day delivery on purchases and way more. All that for the asking price of a Benjamin.
$99 at Amazon.com
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