For some, Father’s Day means a BBQ with the family and the exchange of some Hallmark greetings cards. For others it might mean buying Dad something he wouldn’t buy for himself. If your family is in the latter category, then Dad is in luck this year because there are some really great options out there. And of course it’s important to remember that Father’s Day isn’t just for the fathers and grandfathers. If you have an uncle (or teacher, neighbor or any other guy) who plays a role in your life, this is a great time of the year to show your appreciation with a nice gift as well.
 
I had a chance to review some pretty cool products this year that would make awesome gifts for those important men in your life. These might not be must-have items, but they’re fun and useful gifts nevertheless.
 
Now Hear This: Headphones
 
As everyone knows, our music sounds so much better when we listen with quality headphones. Unfortunately, all of the news about headphones lately has focused on Apple’s billion dollar purchase of Beats By Dre. Contrary to this, there are some really amazing headphones on the market that deserve some headlines. Here are a few that I have tried out and like:


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Monster DNA On-Ear Headphones $149.56 – These headphones, which were designed by the same sound engineers of Beats by Dr Dre, really allow you to hear every detail. These are serious headphones for the audiophile. If there’s a guy who really appreciates his music coming through at high sound quality, these will make a great Father’s Day gift.


Photo courtesy of Rabbi Jason Miller

AfterShokz Sportz 2 Headphones $46.67 – If you’re getting a Father’s Day gift for a guy who loves to listen to music while he exercises, do him a huge favor and get him these. I was sent a pair to demo a year ago and I haven’t stopped using them when I’m at the gym. What makes them so great? They’re not ear-buds so there’s no problem with them ever falling out because they don’t go inside your ear. This makes them safer too. They feature military special ops bone conduction technology, meaning they sit comfortably in front of the ear, keeping your ears open, while delivering stereophonic sound through the listener’s cheekbones to the inner ear, permitting users to hear ambient noises such as oncoming traffic, car horns, ambulances or other warning noises. These come with a microphone that actually works well and they recharge through USB.
 

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BeeWi BBH300 - Bluetooth Stereo Headphones with Hi-Fi Docking Station $143.77 (Amazon.com) – I loved these headphones. They’re comfortable to wear and the sound quality was just as good as any of the higher end headphones on the market (some of which were twice the price). This product was an honoree at Internation CES. The dock is wired to your phone through Bluetooth and will automatically ask if you want to download the app once connected.

Charge Me Up: Emergency Phone Charger


Photo courtesy of Rabbi Jason Miller

LIFESAVER II BY MIO $49.99 – There are a ton of mobile phone chargers on the market for that emergency when you can’t plug in and need to charge your phone or tablet. Most of these are very similar, however, I’ve found this one to be the best because it’s sleek (weighs less than any phone), has a nice ergonomic design, and it charges quicker than other brands. The Lifesaver II fully charges an iPhone in about 90 minutes and will charge most tablets to about 50% when left idle while charging. It comes with a USB cable with micro connector, and 2 adapters: a lightning connector (iPhone5, iPod 5th Gen, iPad 4 and higher) and a 30-pin connector (iPhone4S, iPad 3, iPod 4th Gen and lower).
 
Get a Grip: Amazing Golf Glove
 

Photo courtesy of Rabbi Jason Miller

SensoSlove $79.99 – There are thousands of gimmicky golf gifts for Father’s Day on the market, but the SensoGlove is really a useful gadget for the guy who loves to golf. It has built-in sensors that constantly read the pressure of the golfer’s grip so practicing with it will correct grip pressure for a smooth, consistent swing that delivers greater distance and enhanced precision… and possibly even lower golf scores. SensoGlove’s audio feedback warns at the moment the grip becomes too tight, allowing the golfer to maintain correct grip pressure at every point of the swing. I’ve been using it at the golf range for over a month now and my grip has definitely improved, which means losing less golf balls in the woods.

There are certainly other great Father’s Day gifts on the market, but you really can’t go wrong with these.
    
Jason Miller is a rabbi, entrepreneur and technologist. His most important job is Daddy to his three children. Follow him on Twitter at @RabbiJason and check out his new website www.rabbiforweddings.com.

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Published: June 3, 2014