Our Ultimate Father's Day Gift Guide

Though it only became an official holiday in 1972, the annual celebration of Father's Day in the U.S.—which takes place on the third Sunday in June—was born in Spokane, Washington, long before that. In 1910, to be exact, when Sonora Smart Dodd, one of six children raised by a widower, set out to establish an official equivalent to Mother's Day for male parents.

Around the world, Father's Day festivities occur throughout the year, like the second Sunday of August in Brazil, where St. Joachim, the father of Mary, is said to be the inspiration for the holiday. In Thailand, it's celebrated on the December birthday of the widely admired King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Everyone wears yellow to commemorate the day. And in Germany, on Ascension Day, a tradition is honored celebrating fathers by organizing hikes and other gatherings—and supplying the men with a hefty stock of food and alcohol.

And though American Father's Day customs center on showering Dad with gifts, that wasn't always a welcomed tradition. In fact, pushback against the custom of gift-giving is one of the primary reasons why Father's Day wasn't declared a national holiday until Richard Nixon signed it into being.

Times have changed—at least as far as Father's Day is concerned—and there's no better time to butter up your favorite guy with something a little more substantial than pancakes. He'll flip for a shiny new copper grill, hand-crafted gin, and a cozy alpaca throw for lazy Sundays. Read on for more of our gift ideas for the father figures in your life.

Martha Stewart's roomy embossed croco-leather Sharkey tote gets better with age, just like a certain someone.

Martha Stewart Croco Embossed Leather Tote in Dark Chocolate, $235, qvc.com

.

Bring home a piece of Shinola's sleek hotel; these American-knit alpaca blankets are in every room.

Shinola Hotel Alpaca Throw Blanket, $295, shinola.com

.

This deck of cards features nature images by illustrator Travis Pietsch and comes in a travel-friendly wooden case.

Terrain Great Outdoors Playing Cards, $16, shopterrain.com

.

Group-gift the glowy copper Weber Genesis 
II E-315, which has tapered burners to nix hot spots and smart grates that stop flare-ups.

Weber Genesis II E-315 Gas Grill, $1,008, weber.com

.

Best Made Co.'s indigo-dyed cotton bandanna has a hand-printed celestial design, and will look both rugged and refined around your cowboy's neck.

Best Made Company "Camp Is Home" Bandana, $38, bestmadeco.com

.

Sweet, spicy Basbaas Somali tamarind-date sauce will enliven anything he throws on the grill.

Basbaas Tamarind Date Sauce, $10 for 8 oz., basbaassauce.com

.

The lightweight Helinox sunset chair packs up tight (just 18.5 inches long), so he can take it to a concert, soccer pitch, beach, and beyond.

Helinox Sunset Chair Home, in Steel Grey, $200, helinox.com

.

Distilled with juniper, lavender, and lingonberries, Monkey 47 gin makes a crisp, botanical cocktail.

Schwarzwald Dry Gin, $42 for 375 ml, reservebar.com

.

Paravel's featherweight duffel zips into a flat pouch he can stash in his suitcase for far-flung finds.  

Paravel Fold-Up Bag, $65, tourparavel.com

.

Pruning is easy on the hands with Martha Stewart secateurs, which stow safely in a leather holster. 

Martha Stewart Easy Grip Secateurs with Protective Sheath in Slate, $45, qvc.com

.

Crafted from soft Vachetta leather, this oxblood-toned case will (stylishly) keep eyewear protected on the wildest adventures.

Graphic Image Eyeglass Case, $66, borsheims.com

.

Lakrids by Bülow calls these salted caramel-covered licorice bites "feisty and gentle at the same time," just like dad.

Lakrids by Bülow D: Salt & Caramel Coated Licorice, from $9.90, lakridsbybulow.com

The raw brass finish on this pen will develop a unique patina over time. Until then, use it to write upside down, under water, and in extreme temperatures from -30 to +250 degrees F thanks to its patented pressurized ink chamber.

Fisher Raw Brass Bullet Space Pen, $26, spacepen.com

.

Lazy days are made of these: A blend of cotton and bamboo, and a spa-like waffle weave design.

Matouk "Kiran Robe" in Anthracite, $99, bloomingdales.com

.