Sporty or sentimental: Father’s Day gifts for all under $50

Buying for Dad can be a chore around Father’s Day. For one thing, even more than Mom on Mother’s Day (who might offer a few hints), his reply to “What would you like most?” is nearly always, “Nothing.”

This is usually followed by a great deal of sputtering about the fact that a card company must have come up with such a bogus holiday. And yet, you know he’d be a bit hurt if it wasn’t acknowledged at all.

So when shopping for Dad (or husband, or grandfather), the savvy shopper should consider the man’s interests. For the sake of brevity, we’ll place the man of honor in two camps: The sporty, and the sentimental.

We’ll start with the sporty, and a few wise words from Mary Rose MacKinnon, L.L. Bean public relations manager. ‘When shopping for dads who love the outdoors, you don’t have to spend a lot for the perfect gift,” she says. “Look for top quality at a great value, products that are built to last and are backed by a great guarantee.”

And for the sentimental Dad? Things Remembered is a great place to shop for those looking for gifts under $50 – a goal many of us hope to meet. Personalized gifts are the specialty of this store, which has offers everything from frames to beer mugs (and what says “sentimental” like a beer mug?)

A few we liked:

How about an enormous beer mug that has a pewter emblem on the front large enough to let you get a bit wordy about your thoughts about Dad. As in “We love you Dad, because you’re wise, witty and warm.” And after 34 ounces of beer, he might get a bit maudlin, himself. Engraved 34 ounce Moby Beer Mug, $19.99 on sale (plus 3% Cash Back), thingsremembered.com

For the Dad who would chose to be outside any day of the week, rather than cooped up indoors, find a perfect pack for him to store everything from water to granola bars. Stowaway Day Pack, $39.95 (plus 3% Cash Back), llbean.com

Sporty or sentimental, no Dad will be able to resist photos of his favorite moments with his kids. Try personalizing it with a frame clearly marked “Dad,” along with room for a sentiment and four photos.  Dad Shadowbox Frame, $29.99 on sale (plus Cash Back), thingsremembered.com

How about a great family activity? The classic picnic. But it’s not much good when the ground is wet. Try a blanket that repels the water. Waterproof Outdoor Blanket, $45 (plus 3% Cash Back), llbean.com

Finally, we suggest to offer a bit of light to lead the way. Back to the sporty dad, a good lantern is worth its weight in gold on a camping trip. Lighthouse 30-Day Camp Lantern, $49.95 (plus 3% Cash Back), llbean.com