Dads are notoriously hard to shop for. Ask them what they want and you might get the Humble Shrug. You tell them, "Dad, I'm serious." And they might say, "Hi, Serious. Nice to meet you." After that you just roll your eyes right out of your head, walk away, and forget about Father's Day until it's too late. That's where we come in. 

We've compiled 15 Portland-centric Father's Day gift ideas based on some personality traits, which are hopefully applicable to just about anyone because, yeah, gender is a construct, and playing with knives and having a beard doesn't make you a man. But making bad jokes does, indeed, make you a dad. 

For the Foodie

Bitterman Salts

Help Dad step up the cooking game with sustainably sourced, handmade salts by Bitterman Salt Co, sold at The Meadow. Get anything from Bloody Mary salt to Blue Lavender, popcorn, chile lime, or classic sea salt. Dad gets to cook with new, tasty salts, and then you get to reap the benefits. It’s a win-win. Price varies

Everyone’s Table: Global Recipes for Modern Health

Portland chef Gregory Gourdet’s new cookbook, Everyone’s Table, emphasizes his love of global flavors and paleo foods. But it’s not a diet book, as our food critic Karen Brooks explains in our Summer 2021 issue. It’s “a diet for a changing planet," she writes. “It’s an edible road map for how we can eat now, together.” Pick up a copy for Pops and share a new meal together. $37.50

Steelport 8-Inch Chef Knife

The bladesmiths at the recently launched Steelport promise American-forged carbon steel cutlery handcrafted right here in Portland. The flagship 8-inch chef knife (with optional maple sheath), released in March, features a forged full tang, carbon steel, hand-polished edges, and an Oregon big-leaf maple handle. That's some big dad energy right there. $400–445 

For the Mixologist

The Cocktail Canteen

This could just as easily go in the "The Traveler" section, but let's stay away from encouraging drinking and traveling. To be clear: park yourself at a campfire or at the beach and then use this Cocktail Canteen, sold at Ecovibe, an environmental- and community-focused Black-owned business. The canteen kit includes a combo peeler/zester, a collapsible jigger/shot glass, a bar spoon, a mini funnel, and a TSA-compliant dropper bottle. "But where's the cocktail shaker?" you ask. You're looking at it, bud. $40

American Oak Baby Barrels

Wouldn't your dad like a cocktail but, like, better? Try one of these itty-bitty aging barrels made with American oak from Baby Barrels. With sizes ranging from one liter to five gallons, these charred-interior barrels are great for aging distilled spirits or cocktails—just add the ingredients, let the oak infuse its flavor and aroma, and wait. We promise it'll be worth it. $45–275

Straightaway Drinks for Two 

Share a drink (or a few) with Pops on Father's Day with Straightaway's Drinks for Two. The Portland-based distillery, with a tasting room on SE Hawthorne, offers classic and lesser-known premixed cocktails. Choose from one of Straightaways six cocktails—such as the Oregon Old Fashioned, Margarita, Lintik, and more—and pair it with two NUDE Club Ice whiskey glasses. $79.95

For the Traveler

Trail Butter x Earthwell 16 oz Insulated Bottle

Known for their deliciously portable, calorie dense, and high-protein spreadable bars, Trail Butter also sells gear for all your outdoor adventures—its nifty Roaster bottle being one of them. Built for urban commutes and trail pursuits, keep your coffee piping hot or ice cold with its double-wall vacuum insulation. (Or put beer in it, we won’t tell.) $29.95

Nutcase Vio Helmets

Feel a bit better when Dad (or anyone, really) goes out for a night ride with one of these brain protectors from Portland-based Nutcase. Light up the night with its 360 LED lighting that can be seen from over 500 feet away and has a three-hour run time. With seven different colors, each built with double-layer brain protection, Dad is sure to like one of these. He'd better. $149.99

Danner x Filson Trail 2650 Mid GTX

Get Dad out of those dirty old white New Balances and into a pair of Danner x Filson Trail 2650 Mid GTXs. These waterproof, lightweight, and comfortable limited-edition collabs are perfect for hiking, traveling, and everyday wear. $190

For the Sports Fanatic

Portland Trail Blazers Fanatics Pack Summer-Themed Gift Box

This mouthful of a gift offers a handful of items for your superfan Dad—just don’t talk about the playoffs. This summer-themed gift box comes with a beach towel, a two-side garden flag, three decals, a stainless-steel bottle opener, and four beer koozies. Just, seriously, don’t talk about the playoffs right now. $49.99 

Buckets Book

Over the course of three years, photographer Grant Lemons and designer Phillip Nguyen have documented more than 350 hoops in Portland. The end result is a beautifully designed coffee table book that captures their undying love of basketball—from chain-linked nets to rusted-over hoops, all telling a story—in 232 stunning pages. $55

Flag Man Scorebook Bifold Wallet

We might not have an MLB team just yet, but Baseballism’s Flag Man Scorebook Bifold wallet is the perfect gift for dads who want to keep the spirit of the game close to their butts—or wherever they keep their wallets. The wallet features an embossed scorebook pocket flap, 11 card holder pockets, and genuine infield brown baseball glove leather. Better break out the old glove oil. $65 

For the Dad Who Has Everything

Hori Hori

This hori hori (literally translates to “diggy diggy”), a Japanese garden tool designed by Cord, is vital and versatile tool. Originally designed for Japanese botanist specialists, this multifaceted tool allows you to dig, scoop, cut, prune, mark, and measure. Plus, it comes with a synthetic leather sheath. No more rusty shears. $32

100 Questions for Families

Connect with Dad—and the family—with Beam & Anchor’s card game designed to help families engage in lively discussions and meaningful conversations. With topics like careers, school and education, technology, friendship, and more, these cards could be used as a tool to learn more about that dude who raised you. $35 

Classic Orox Belt

So your dad has it all? Anything he needs, he just gets. No discussion. Full stop. Well, have you looked at his waist recently? It’s quite likely he hasn’t thought very much about that old Mitch Hedberg paradox—a belt. At Orox, belts are the hallmark of this Mexican American–owned company. Handcrafted using high-quality leather, this is the last belt Dad will ever need. $72