40th Birthday Idea

Hi guys,

My partner is turning 40 and I am trying to find a gift idea but somehow I can't find anything that I am happy with.
The problems are:
- He is not in general into high quality clothing and he is trying to lose weight so has asked me not to buy him clothes since he hopes to change sizes in the future
- He does not wear a watch or jewelery
- We will be abroad during his birthday for a wedding and have travel plans for the summer so a weekend gateway would have to be in a few month which would lose the relation to the date
- He is not big into electronics or gadgets

- and I would hope it is something that will be long lasting

Any idea would help, thanks

bespoke shoes

Geez, you're not leaving us with a lot of options! How about one of these:

• a nice wallet
  
• a portrait or piece of art
  
• something that reminds him of a happy childhood memory
  
• a video game he's been eyeing
  
• a piece of furniture
  
• shoes

I have no idea what he'd like...I'm just throwing things out there.

Does he have any hobbies or interests? You could get him something that compliments these.

Another alternative might be to plan a weekend gettaway, or something similar. Doesn't necessarily have to be a physical gift...

An idea, something that's not body specific... Eg a weekender/carry bag (instead of a briefcase or a messenger bag)

Eg, see http://www.askmen.com/fashion/trends...shion_men.html

The totes and duffels on this site look really nice - http://www.flotoimports.com/

The first one... - http://www.styleforum.net/showthread...der#post981897

Some more searching will show you other bags, these are just some ideas of something I was also looking for...

You didn't give a budget--that would help. But I like the idea of a wallet. Every guy needs one, whether or not they're into clothing, and size won't be an issue. I'd consider a travel-size one that can fit a passport and tickets since it sounds like you guys travel a fair bit.

Not much to go on but travel. I'm not sure on your budget, but with that theme, off the top of my head:

1) Inflatable travel pillow $5
2) Motion alarm for luggage $20
3) Portable binoculars for sports, wildlife, opera, $30-$50 (Olympus)
4) Noise cancelling headset $100 (Audio Technica)
5) iPod $100-$300
6) Internet home security video surveillance (view your home while you're away - Panansonic) $100-300
7) Digital camera (smaller is better, Casio or Canon) $300
8) Travel bag (many types, very much personal preference) $100-$2000
9) Travel luggage (due to travel restrictions, go light: Rimowa, poly or aluminum) $300-$1200
10) Convertible, the automotive travel solution to all midlife problems $4000 - $100000+ (used Miata to new Porsche, the time-honored midlife solution). Then you can talk about bespoke luggage for the trunk.

--ortolan

my wife got me, 10 years ago (as an engagment present) a tiffany belt buckle. I have in with me prety much most days (unless I am wearing braces). not very much money, a little bit of luxury, and easy to use every day. I highly recomend it.

oh, yeah, and engravable.

Originally Posted by Teacher

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• a nice wallet

-10 on wallet. Most men already carries one.

IMO, things to avoid - ties, wallets, belts, watches, key chains and cufflinks; unless they are collecting the said items, they probably won't need one extra wallet to put their bills in.

I like the bespoke shoes recommendation though but it seems like he wont wear it at all.

Thanks guy, I know it's a tough one.
He doesn't have any hobbys per say, and I would like to keep it bellow $1,000 as he would get pissed if it were too expensive.

Originally Posted by moosy

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Thanks guy, I know it's a tough one. He doesn't have any hobbys per say, and I would like to keep it bellow $1,000 as he would get pissed if it were too expensive.
Hello, my birthday was last week. I ignored it. He is my suggestion: A hiking stick: http://www.austrostock.at/img/wander...esterreich.jpg This present is unique and tells a story: Your live will change and the best you will get is some hiking!!! The present is not expensive and can easly stored!

Originally Posted by Golf_Nerd

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Hello,

my birthday was last week. I ignored it.

He is my suggestion:

A hiking stick:

http://www.austrostock.at/img/wander...esterreich.jpg

This present is unique and tells a story: Your live will change and the best you will get is some hiking!!!

The present is not expensive and can easly stored!

Happy Birthday!

A beautiful hiking stick you have, enjoy in health! It is a good idea for an active person.

On the point of hiking sticks, I find many of the classic wooden ones look a bit old for general strolling (and someone turning 40 doesn't need to be reminded of turning old), and aren't ideal for hiking.

My preference for hiking sticks are the collapsible ones; easy for travel, but not as rigid as the fixed stick, great for long distance hiking. An aluminum or carbon fiber pair with low swing weight is good, perhaps a bit of antishock spring. You can strap it to your backpack when not in use or when bouldering; for example I had to strap mine to my pack during the final cable climb on Half Dome. I've used both the Komperdell and the Leki extensively and had trouble with the Komperdell locking mechanism, so I don't recommend that brand.

There are many hiking gifts, but it is not clear this guy is the sort of type to appreciate it. One thing that comes to mind - a GPS unit. For a bit over 300, you can get a Garmin Nuvi with US and Europe maps. I like the Nuvi. Can save the rental cost of GPS in Europe. Auto nav and hiking GPS units are slightly different though, so buy what you need.

--ortolan

Originally Posted by globetrotter

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my wife got me, 10 years ago (as an engagment present) a tiffany belt buckle. I have in with me prety much most days (unless I am wearing braces). not very much money, a little bit of luxury, and easy to use every day. I highly recomend it.

oh, yeah, and engravable.

The belt buckle sounds nice, and with a bespoke leather belt, you may only need to punch one hole.

I had looked at tiffany silver belt buckles around the same time as you... all they had as I recall was a thin model and a thick model which had the tiffany logo on the front. I ended up getting the thin silver buckle, thinking to match it with an thin elegant belt. Never got around to it.

So if you get the belt buckle, be prepared to get a matching belt for the lucky recipient (in thickness, buckle width, and length) quickly, otherwise it may end up oxidizing in a little blue pouch in a little blue box.... like mine. Sigh.

--ortolan

Originally Posted by Golf_Nerd

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Hello,

my birthday was last week. I ignored it.


Are you actually German or just living in Germany? Because I studied for a while in Stuttgart, and I have to tell you that is one of the most German sentiments I've heard in many years! (I'm going to bring this up with some German friends of mine from the university...they'll have a laugh.)

Originally Posted by ortolan

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I ended up getting the thin silver buckle, thinking to match it with an thin elegant belt. Never got around to it.

So if you get the belt buckle, be prepared to get a matching belt for the lucky recipient (in thickness, buckle width, and length) quickly, otherwise it may end up oxidizing in a little blue pouch in a little blue box.... like mine. Sigh.

--ortolan


I got the thin one, too. that meant that I have had to have my belts custom made, the buckle is very thin for off the shelf belts. I had my pant loops made to fit, too. so the buckle has dictated a lot of other stuff.