Gift Ideas for Men

If you need gift ideas for the men on your list, here are some suggestions that are sure to score a home run.

Charging Station for Portable Devices

If he’s as tired as you are of all the intertwined cords needed to charge his cell phone, PDA, iPod, digital camera, and other portable devices, this is the perfect gift. Just plug the devices into the station to keep them charged up while concealing all the unsightly cords. There are many styles, colors, and price ranges available but most will offer compatibility with major brand name products and built-in connections to charge from four to twelve devices at one time. Available online and at electronics retailers starting at $39.

The 10,000 Star Planetarium

If your guy is a star-gazer, he’ll love this desktop planetarium that projects realistic images of the heavens on walls or ceilings. Two high-resolution image disks display either 10,000 stars or the sun, moon, and Earth illuminated by a bright built-in LED. The optical-quality adjustable-focus lens provides an true-to-life view of the visible band of the Milky Way galaxy while the quiet motor simulates the Earth’s turning motion. A CD containing ambient background music is included, as is an AC adaptor (it can also run on three AA batteries). Available at Hammacher Schlemmer for $149.95.

Garmin eTrex Venture HC Handheld GPS

This handheld GPS device is a must for any outdoor activity whether it’s hiking, hunting, cycling, or camping. The high-sensitivity receiver provides reception even in dense woods, narrow valleys, and cities. Features include a 256-color bright, sunlight-readable display; 24 megabytes of internal memory to load waypoints and routes from the included software; a pre-loaded detailed U.S. base map containing rivers and lakes, interstates, national and state highways, cities, railroads, and coastlines; a trip computer that displays speed, time, and distance. Available online and at electronics retailers for about $150.

L.L. Bean Weather Finder

The “meteorologist” in your house will really like this wireless weather station. He’ll be able to check indoor and outdoor temperatures as well as the forecast, and he’ll be the first to know if it’s going to snow, if there’ll be frost, or if strong winds are expected. The Weather Finder also includes functions for date, atomic time, and alarm with snooze setting. The wireless remote sensor has a 100-foot range and it’s both easy to use and easy to read. The 6 ½” H x 3 ½” W x 1 2/5” D unit runs on five AA batteries (included). Available at L.L. Bean for $29.99.