12 Gift Ideas For The Minimalist
Have you ever tried getting a gift for the guy who has not everything—but everything that he thinks he needs? This is the real challenge of shopping for gifts for a minimalist. Because if you get them just anything, it may end up feeling like more clutter rather than a thoughtful gift.
Instead, look towards getting these people gifts that do one of two things: Significantly upgrade the quality of something they already own, or combine multiple functions into a single item. Our 12 gift ideas for the minimalist will make it easy for you to find one or both.
Larq Self Sanitizing Water Bottle
It doesn’t get much more minimalist than a water bottle that cleans itself, taking away the necessity of soaping up your favorite bottle at the end of every day. Larq’s Self Sanitizing Water Bottle does just that, through the power of a UV-C LED light that cleans 99.999% of bacteria.
It’s powered by a waterproof USB charging system too, which allows the bottle to automatically purify your water six times per day (or at the press of a button). Better yet, it’s built with a double-walled insulated material, keeping your cold liquids cold and hot liquids hot.
The James Brand Elko Knife
No everyday carry setup is complete without a pocket knife. But to get the absolute most out of your blade, why not combine it with a minimalist selection of tools as well? That’s exactly what The James Brand’s Elko Knife is built for, complete with a multi-purpose scraper and bottle opener in a compact package.
It’s keychain-friendly as well, so you can be assured of always having the tools you need when you need them. And for just under 60 dollars, it’s well within most gifting budgets.
Forty Five Supima Crew Tee
The plain black t-shirt may as well be an official part of the minimalist’s uniform. Paired with jeans, a hoodie, and a pair of white leather sneakers, it’s a picture perfect look for the man who wants serious simplicity in his wardrobe.
Forty Five’s Supima Crew Tee is a significant step up from your average tee, made from 100 percent USA-grown supima cotton (the really nice stuff), and garment dyed and pre-shrunk for minimal break-in time. The length is perfectly dialed in for wearing it tucked or untucked—and if you’re feeling adventurous, it’s available in almost two dozen colors, too.
Barton Perreira 007 Joe Sunglasses
Short of Steve Jobs, James Bond is about as close as we’ll get to a minimalist style icon—and he’s a heck of a lot cooler than the man behind Apple’s most amazing innovations (sorry Steve). The Bond style can teach you a lot about looking great while maintaining a minimalist aesthetic, too.
By focusing on the details of even the simplest items in your wardrobe, you can elevate an otherwise bland outfit to an eye-catching and intriguing combination. Barton Perreira’s 007 Joe Sunglasses are a fine addition to this type of aesthetic, handmade in Japan from a futuristic material called Zylonite and given a dark and mysterious tint on the lenses.
Ensso Minimalist Fountain Pen
Before the laptop and its word processors and before the typewriter, there was no substitute for a fine fountain pen. And for anyone looking to get back to their minimalist roots, the simple act of putting pen to paper can be a revelatory experience. But even if you’re just using it to take notes throughout your workday, the Ensso Minimalist Fountain Pen is guaranteed to impress.
Its matte black coloring, ultra smooth contours, and lightweight aluminum construction all contribute to a remarkable aesthetic that matches well with any minimalist wardrobe or everyday carry setup.
Flint and Tinder 10-Year Full-Zip Hoodie
No piece of clothing is quite as essential to the minimalist’s wardrobe as a really great hoodie. It’s the one outfit piece that you can wear almost anywhere without a second thought. Chilling on the couch at home? Hoodie. Headed out to the cafe to get some work done? Hoodie again. Going out for a walk? You guessed it, hoodie. And Flint and Tinder’s 10-Year Full-Zip Hoodie is, in our opinion, the king of its category.
Made from a heavy duty 23 ounce cotton fleece, it’s double reinforced in all the places you need it—and backed up by a real guarantee that covers rips, tears, and any abuses you could put it through.
Tile Pro Bluetooth Tracker
In any minimalist everyday carry loadout, every single piece of gear is essential. This is the way of the minimalist: Having everything you need, but nothing more. So the sting of losing even a single piece of gear can be absolutely crushing for the dedicated minimalist.
Well no more—because with Tile’s Pro Bluetooth Tracker, every minimalist can have a dedicated backup system to find their most precious items within a 400 foot range. It’s a lovely way to ensure peace of mind, and is well within the price range for a generous stocking stuffer.
Hamilton PSR Digital Watch
Want to combine the best in retro chic with minimalist form and function? Then check out the Hamilton PSR Digital Watch. Originally released in 1972, it’s a veritable time capsule; and as the first watch to use an LED display, it has sealed its place in the history of timepieces. In this newly revised iteration, Hamilton is using a combination LCD and OLED display for even greater clarity and illumination—and it’s now water resistant to 100 meters, to boot.
Shinola Post Bag
Shinola’s particular brand of American-made style is almost instantly recognizable; not for its flashy looks, but for its classic and minimalist appeal. This is particularly evident in their Post Bag, a beautiful leather messenger bag that has just the right blend of vintage form and modern function.
Hand-sewn in the USA with leathers from Seidel Tannery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, it’s designed to mimic the style of an old school postal worker’s bag—but with the addition of a back laptop pocket, spacious main pocket, and two smaller interior pockets for your phone, wallet, and keys.
The James Brand Hardin Carabiner
Borrowed from the world of mountain climbing, the carabiner has become an EDC staple—especially for guys who appreciate a minimalist look and feel in their gear.
The James Brand’s Hardin Carabiner takes the traditional climbing tool one step further, with an anodized aluminum construction that’s both lightweight and durable as well as a two-compartment design. That way, you don’t have to unclip the entire carabiner from your belt loop or bag to take your keys off. Plus, it’s available in six bold colors to personalize your everyday carry kit with.
The Ridge Wallet
Bifolds and trifolds have their place in the wallet world. But when it comes to minimalist carry, a wallet like The Ridge Wallet is a must. As one of the first truly compact wallets to make it into the public eye, The Ridge Wallet is still a force to be reckoned with.
Made from a scratch-resistant aircraft grade aluminum, it’s designed to hold up to 12 cards and a few bills worth of cash—and nothing more. Choose from six different colors and a money clip or cash strap, and you can customize it to your exact needs.
Less: A Visual Guide to Minimalism
And for inspiration in living an even more gratifying minimalist life, be sure to check out Less: A Visual Guide to Minimalism by Rachel Aust. It covers minimalism in every major area of your life, from how you organize your home to digital detoxing, meal prepping, journaling and more. Filled with helpful flowcharts and decision trees, it’s a hands-on guide to making the minimalist life of your dreams.
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