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Not everyone is born with the so-called “handy” gene, though fortunately the ones that are, also often possess the kindness and generosity to share their skills with the less mechanically and maintenance inclined. With the holiday season fast approaching, now is your chance to show the handyman in your life some love, and thank them for the last year of oil-changes, Ikea furniture assemblies, and other household tasks.
It can, however, be difficult to shop for those that are into working with their own two hands, especially if you don’t fall into that category yourself. For this reason, we’ve searched far and wide, par-oozing our local hardware stores and scouring months worth of gear and tool catalogs, to compile a list of this year’s best gifts for the mechanic, carpenter, or fabricator. No matter your budget or their area of interest or expertise, this guide is sure to boast a few items that will resonate with your favorite handyman.
Leatherman FREE T4
Available in five colors or bare metal and backed by a generous 25-year warranty, Leatherman’s American-made FREE T4 multi-tool manages to cram a full dozen useful tools—including a locking 2.2” 420HC knife—into an ultra-compact 4.3oz, 3.6”, stainless steel package.
Duke Cannon Bloody Knuckles Hand Repair Balm
Those who work with their hands day-in-and-day-out know what an absolute godsend knuckle repair cream can be, and Duke Cannon’s Bloody Knuckles Balm gets the job done and then some with a therapeutic, grease-free, lanolin-laden formula.
Mechanix Wear Box Cutter Gloves
The latest work gloves from Mechanix Wear, the Box Cutter is highly-resistant to slashing and cuts while still offering immense dexterity and features the brand’s proprietary breathable TrekDry material and touchscreen-friendly Padlock silicone grip pattern.
Toyo Camber Top Tool Box
It really is hard to go wrong with a classic toolbox, and this heavy-duty stainless steel item from Toyo sports a minimalistic design, comes in four color options, and is made in Osaka, Japan.
Wiha Cordura Electricians Belt Pouch
Made from insanely-rugged Cordura nylon, this belt pouch packs half-a-dozen pockets, a pair of side sleeves, a tool loop, and a tape measure loop, and is compatible with standard 2” belt loops.
WESN Micro Blade Pocket Knife
A decidedly top-shelf take on the classic pocket knife, this heirloom-quality, pint-sized knife features a 1.5” AUS8 heat-treated steel blade mated to grade 5 titanium handles and is protected by a full lifetime warranty.
Wrapties GearTies + Gripper Set
An incredibly simple yet clever design characterized by its tremendous range of versatility, this tie-down combo set is comprised of high tension industrial-grade elasticized webbing secured via an easy-to-use hook and loop system.
Peak LED Solutions El Capitan Flashlight
Every handyman can use a quality flashlight, and this compact yet potent made-in-America item features a Cree XPG emitter and a stainless steel body construction supplemented via an indestructible polycarbonate window and shock and water-resistant epoxy-sealed heads.
Earnest Squire Apron
Another bonafide handyman and mechanic staple, this workshop apron is made from a proprietary aramid fiber and Kevlar blend and also boasts a stain-repellent waxed-cotton liner and a dedicated, padded smartphone pocket.
Celia & Perah DIY Bluetooth Classic Radio
Whether wrenching under the hood or repainting the kitchen, everyone loves working to their favorite tunes, and this portable Bluetooth stereo offers wireless connectivity, a 5.5-hour battery, and an unmistakably retro-inspired aesthetic design.
Filson x Estwing Fireside Friend Splitting Tool
This limited-edition collaboration between Filson and Estwing Hammers is equipped with a one-piece steel construction, a custom Filson-branded grip and color scheme, is weighted for ideal leverage, and is sold with an included nylon sheath.
Fuel Tool Roll First Aid Kit
Made by hand in Barcelona by the craftsmen at noted custom motorcycle outfit, Fuel, this first aid kit and tool roll combo is made from heavy-duty aramid-infused denim and features metal rivets and leather strap closures.
Julbo Explorer2 Sunglasses
A wildly-durable pair of sunglasses, Julbo’s Explorer Mountain consists of a composite frame housing a pair of mirrored, anti-fog-coated, photo-chromatic lenses made from the same type of polycarbonate used in helicopter windshield constructions.
Rexford Rut V4
Despite weighing less than an ounce and measuring just 3.5” in length, this heat-anodized titanium pocket tool contains a myriad of practical integrated tools, including a pry-bar, flat-head, and a replaceable black Tajima V-Rex tempered steel utility blade.
Tactile Turn Standard Side Click Pen Zirconium
Jotting down plans, labeling bolt bags, or taking measurements all require a trusty writing instrument, and this ultra-hardwearing, American-made EDC pen packs a unique side-click retracting action, full Zirconium construction, and is protected by a lifetime warranty.
Jason Momoa x Nash Motorcycle The Polished Nuts Knuckle Hammer
Inspired by post-depression-era Harley Knucklehead engines, this handsome, handmade hammer from Jason Momoa and the Nash Motorcycle Co features a 1.5lb cast bronze head fixed to a Tennessee hickory handle. Only 100 units were built in total, too.
White’s Foreman Steel Toe
White’s Boots’ Foreman Steel Toe is a heritage-quality work boot designed to be worn for a lifetime. The boot features a 6” full-grain leather upper and leather midsole and shank built atop a Vibram Cristy Crepe sole.
RIGID 8-Piece Cordless 18V Combo Kit
Comprised of an electric hammer drill, a three-speed impact driver, a reciprocating saw, circular saw, orbital sander, JobMax multi-tool, angle grinder, a 100-lumen LED work light, and multiple Lithium-ion batteries to power them, and a bag to carry everything, this tool combo set allows for an enormous range of jobs and repairs.
El Solitario Bonneville Coveralls
El Solitario’s Bonneville coveralls put a premium-spin on the classic one-piece garment, replacing the standard cotton or canvas construction with a Dyneema denim, adding ESMC branding, and a host of top-shelf touches like matte zinc buttons, brass buckles, a tab collar, and button-fly closure.
Dremel DigiLab 3D45 3D Printer
This award-winning 3D printer from Dremel is a fantastic model for learning the ropes of at-home additive manufacturing, with a simple user interface, intuitive software, and an unparalleled lifetime customer support program.
