A special holiday edition of weekly product review column for Bluffton Today
Run Date: Sunday, June 8, 2008
Dads are our go-to guys for all sorts of stuff - getting things off high shelves, dispatching icky bugs, carrying all the heavy stuff when we leave the house.
They don't ask for much, which makes shopping for Father's Day a challenge. Here are a few suggestions for the special guy in your life (BT staff families take note, there are a few direct requests here). If you haven't started shopping yet, retailers are happy to keep your secret by offering expedited shipping that include two-day and overnight options. Remember that the gift of time costs nothing, and don't forget to include lots of hugs and kisses, no matter your choice.
ROBOMOW: www.friendlyrobotics.com
At some point, every dad wants to direct a robot army to do his bidding. He may not be able to take over the world with the Robomow, but the yard will look great while he sits back and works on more important stuff, like how to direct a robot army to do his bidding. The price tag is a little steep ($1,400 on Amazon.com) but if you're next in line to take over lawn duty, it may be worth the investment.
DIGITAL PHOTO KEYCHAIN: Various retailers/manufacturers
Dads love pictures of their special folks, but giant wallets can be a literal pain in the butt. Digital picture frames are all the rage right now (and we recommended them for Mother's Day) but what about the dad on the go? Shrink the photo frame down and add a keychain, that's what. Gadgetorium Brookstone offers this model for $39.95, and you can order as late as June 12 for on-time delivery.
ALL-ETT: www.all-ett.com (800)642-2226
If "wallet butt" is indeed a problem for your dad, get him an All-Ett, the world's thinnest wallet. Made from fine grain leather or completely waterproof ripstop nylon, the All-Ett is one of those "seeing is believing" items. The ripstop nylon version keeps dad cool even during a Lowcountry summer.
WATERROWER: www.waterrower.com (800)852-2210
If the heat of a Lowcountry summer is keeping dad indoors when he'd rather be getting fit outside, get him a little bit of the river life right in the living room. Rowing is one of the best exercises around, and the WaterRower is one of the best ways to do it (except, of course, being on the actual water). The WaterRower's one-of-a-kind design uses the natural resistance of water without all the getting wet. Compact, stylish and made from renewable resources right here in the USA, the WaterRower is as good looking as your dad and good for him to boot. Rentals are available for as little as $10 per week, and free online instruction at watercoach.com
IPHONE: www.apple.com
The smartest smartphone around is getting ready to release a new version. This means you can either score a current iPhone at a discount or get the next-gen hip as soon as it comes out. Just make sure dad stomps a few good summer movies for you to watch ('Finding Nemo' and 'Chicken Little' are both good dad stories.)
TICKETS TO SOMETHING COOL: Various venues/performers
www.ticketmaster.com, www.stubhub.com
Bands from many dads' hey-days are on tour this summer, from the Eagles to Bon Jovi to Journey (complete with their new YouTube-discovered lead singer). There's a cool new amphitheatre in Alphretta, Ga., playing host to monsters of rock all summer long. Take dad to a cool show, or send him with a bunch of his buddies. As a very small bonus, each ticket bought on Ticketmaster gets you a free download on iTunes. For the time crunched, you can get printable tickets immediately.
RICHARD PETTY DRIVING EXPERIENCE: www.1800bepetty.com (800)237-3889 (800-BEPETTY)
Does your dad dream of NASCAR? Give him the chance to take the wheel himself. With drive-yourself or ride-along options, he can feel the need for speed on a real NASCAR track of his choice; nearby options include Darlington, Atlanta and Orlando.
YOU
Dad really likes you. Spend some time with him and do something he really likes. Movies? Fishing? Gardening? Bike riding? Odds are you'll have fun, too.
Stuff Dads Need