There are so many new gadgets out this year that older and retired Dads and Grandpas
would love. They cover the gamut from low tech to high tech, while all
being user-intuitive. In looking for the best gift ideas out there for
older dads and grandpas, I searched for gadgets that are not the usual
boring ideas. My picks are for some of the most effective and best rated gadgets
on the market. Perfect for Father’s Day, Christmas or any other time you need a thoughtful and useful gift.
1. For Achy Dad Or Grandpa Gift: Pain Relief Electronic Pulse Massager
Long used by physical therapists and
chiropractors to stimulate blood flow to muscles, portable TENS machines
are now available for home use. TruMedic TENS Handheld Electronic Pulse Massager
is a top-rated low-priced massager that has both preset programs and
ones that can be set yourself. With its four electrode pads, the TruMedic
TENS massages sore spots and, because the user decides at what speed and
pressure it will do that, he can maximize whatever results are
derived from the machine. For dads and grandpas that suffer from chronic soreness, stiffness, or pain, this massager may provide much needed relief.
TruMedic TENS Handheld Electronic Pulse Massager Unit
3. TV Loving Dad or Grandpa Gift: Sennheiser On Ear Wireless RF Headphones With Charging Cradle
These
are my favorite TV and music stereo headphones. These headphones bring
high-quality, pretty-much distortion-free 926 MHz sound throughout the
house, so if Dad likes to ‘watch’ TV or listen to music while doing
chores, he
won’t miss a beat and he’ll get good quality sound with the Sennheisers.
These are also great for listening to the
tv or stereo without bothering anyone else in the house. For anyone who
is a hard of hearing, the headphones can be cranked up loud enough to hear
clearly. They are great and highly
recommended!
Sennheiser Wireless RF Headphones
4. For The Dads That Sits Too Much: The Portable Gel Cushion
Any
sitting around at all on an uncomfortable seat or bench can make even
the strongest and cheerful person miserable. If your dad or grandpa has
some trouble sitting on hard surfaces for a long period of time or he
attends games or shows where he needs to sit in one place without the
benefit of a really comfortable seat, think of getting him a Gelco Portable Gel Seat Cushion. It comes in a variety of sizes and thicknesses, including the Ultra GSeat which is thicker and the GSeat Lite which is thinner and smaller.
If
your dad suffers from any type of back problem or has issues with his
prostrate, this seat is especially designed to keep pressure off of
sensitive spots and relieve pressure on the spine. It is light and small
and easy to carry around with a built in handle and works wonderfully
in providing a great layer of super soft cushioning wherever he needs
it. Unlike pillows or foam seats, gel seats disperses pressure so that
sitting is simply more comfortable that with any pillow or foam seat.
My dad relies on it for long plane rides and car rides and he just
leaves it in his car to just add more comfort to his car seat.
5. TV or Music Loving Dad or Grandpa Gift: Serene Innovations Portable Wireless Soundbox
This
small device is something you can take from room to room to amplify the
volume from the television or stereo anywhere you want. Just take your
handy Soundbox,
place it in right next to you when you are on your couch or bed or
anywhere you are in the house (up to 100 feet away) and it amplifies
the stereo or tv without subjecting everyone else in the house to the
loud volume. The volume control for the Soundbox is separate from your
main device so you can control the noise and direct it where you want
it. The sound quality is not amazing but it is a terrific and convenient
product and I highly recommend it.
Soundbox Portable Amplifier
6. For Data Loving Dad or Grandpa: Fitbit Charge
Fitbit Charge
The
is an activity monitor that works really well. It’s packed with
features and tools that are really useful in monitoring your Dad’s
overall fitness. It provides all-day stats like steps taken, distance traveled, calories burned, stairs climbed, and active minutes and can sync automatically to his smartphone. The Charge also has a special feature that is great for older Dads and Grandpas, it
monitors sleep automatically. Sleep monitoring is a terrific tool for
older folks who don’t sleep fully throughout the night and want to work
on improving their sleep. With the Fitbit app, you along with your Dad
can check in on almost every aspect of his fitness and activity.If your Dad is into gadgets,
this will be a cool toy he will really enjoy playing with. You can find
out more on the Charge here. It’s a bit less feature packed cool features than the superwatch the Surge, but it seems to work better and reviews are generally raves.
7. Golf Loving Dad or Grandpa Gift: Bushnell Neo Xs Gps Watch
Golf Gadget Watch For Dads
The Bushnell Neo Xs Gps Watch is
an amazing gift idea for golf loving dads. If you don’t want to give him
more golf balls, think of giving him a better golf game. The Bushnell
does not need any set up. It comes ready to us right out of your gift
box and requires no membership or download fees to use it. The watch
comes already installed with more than 33,000 golf courses in over 30
countries. It even has automatic golf course recognition and automatic
hole advance. The watch is super easy-to-read with front/center/back
distances and hazard/layup distances (up to 4 per hole). It even has an
odometer feature so that he can keep track of his steps. It gets terrific reviews and you can see some of them here.
8. For Dads That Love Massages: Zyllion Shiatsu Heated Massager
If your dad has an aching back at the end of the day or feels some stiffness, the Zyllion Shiatsu Heated Massager
will be a very welcome gift. It is light and portable and can be used almost anywhere. It can be
positioned where you need massage relief and hs a nice deep rotating motion that switches
direction every 3 minutes or so. It also heats up nicely. It’s not
packed with some of the extra features that more premium back massagers offer but what you get is great targeted smoothing relief almost instantly
for tight muscles and cramping backs for a very cheap price. I bought this for my dad last year and he says it is his favorite gift ever. He likes that it is so light and simple to use and since he is feeling the cold more, he loves the heat feature. This year, I am thinking of adding a much more cushioned HoMedics Shiatsu Plus Pillow to the mix so he can minimize possible soreness and not rely only on the Zyllion.
9. No-Room-For-Exercise Boomer Dad or Grandpa Gift: The Whole Body Pedaler
The low impact and super compact exercise machine helps give dad a complete cardio
workout at home. Combining a
bike-like workout for the legs with an upper-body ergometer, the
Whole Body Pedaler helps Dad maintain overall cardiovascular health and maintain or build muscle
tone without strain on joints.
Whole Body Pedaler
10. The Outdoor Dad or Grandpa: Therapik Mosquito Bite Reliever
The Therapik Mosquito Bite Reliever
is a gadget that provides instant relief for 20,000 types of insect
bites and sea creatures. Using patented technology, the Therapik
delivers heat in the perfect range to neutralize venom. In as little as
30 seconds, pain and itching from bites are gone. If your dad has sweet
blood that attracts mosquitoes, this device is a miracle tool.
11. The Hates To Get Off The Couch Dad or Grandpa Gift: Etekcity ZAP Auto-Programmable Wireless Remote Control Outlet Light Switch
These plug and use light switch devices
are terrific. It can make any plug into one where you can turn things
on and off with a simple click of a remote rather than having to get up when Dad or Grandpa is feeling a bit lazy or creaky. It comes with several remote
buttons so Dad can control almost all the devices he needs from the bed
or sofa. They are also great in helping save money as things can be turned off and on and programmed with just a click of the remote.
Remote Control Light Switch Outlets
12. The Phone Loving Dad : Instant Battery Phone Case Charger
If your dad is always on his mobile smartphone and running through his battery, think about giving him a Battery Phone Case Charger. It’s a case or cover for his phone that doubles battery life while protecting the phone. They are super thin and work really well. If he has the iPhone, we recommend the battery charger for iPhone by 1byone. We did a review here and thought a good battery charger case as a terrific ways to boost battery power for your smartphone without any hassle or fuss.
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13. Cool Design Loving Dad or Grandpa Gift: The Bladeless Fan
Some dads love gadgets and some love technology; there’s a difference. For the dad who wants the newest technology in everything, the Bladeless Fan will impress him as well as provide an impressive breeze in the summertime. A winner of one of Time’s 2009 Best Invention awards, the Bladeless Fan uses jet engine technology to create smooth, unobtrusive air. (It also comes in a combination heater and fan that folks seem to rave about as being terrific.)
Bladeless Fan
14. High Blood Pressure Dad or Grandpa Gift:RESPeRATE Ultra Blood Pressure Lowering Device
Dads can love to do a lot of things – work, sports, exercise, gardening… but if they’re not healthy, they’re not going to enjoy doing those things as much as they can. Because moderating blood pressure is fundamental to avoiding many serious health conditions, give them the gift of learning how to control their own. The RESPeRATE Ultra Blood Pressure Lowering Device is the only FDA approved device to lower blood pressure. It provides immediate and ongoing feedback to the user, while he learns to control his blood pressure through breathing exercise. Monitor, breathing belt, headphones, and instructions are included. While there are excellent blood pressure monitors available like the Omron, they don’t provide the full computerized feedback proven to actually help reduce blood pressure like the RESPeRATE..
RESPeRATE Blood Pressure Lowering Device
15. Gardening Loving Boomer Dad or Grandpa Gift: The Folding Wheelbarrow Yard Cart
What a great gift for gardening dads! This Folding Wheelbarrow
Yard Cart is a soft sided canvas wheel cart that makes gardening easy.
The yard cart lays flat on the ground and when it is full, it can easily
be moved around. No more lifting needed! The whole thing weighs only
15 pounds, but has a 150 pound capacity.
Folding Wheelbarrow
I hope you have many happy times with your older dad or grandpa and that these gift ideas inspire you.
Keeping you posted…
(UPDATE: If any of the items listed in this article are no longer available or you need more ideas, we suggest you look for other great gift ideas for Dads and Grandpas at Hammacher.)
SEE ALSO:
10 Cool Gadgets For Those With Arthritis Or Hand Pain
8 Handy Gadgets For Those With Hearing Loss
10 Cool Inexpensive Gift Ideas For Those With Back Pain
Originally published Jun 2012. Most recently updated January 2016.
