18 Best Christmas Gifts for Your Father-in-Law

A heated vest is the gift a father-in-law will not buy for himself and then wears constantly once he has one. It warms his back and chest on cold mornings shoveling the driveway, at a December football game or in a chilly workshop, and it is slim enough to wear under his usual coat.

Good wool socks are an upgrade nearly every man appreciates and almost nobody buys for himself. This three-pack is warm enough for winter but not bulky in dress shoes, and the classic cable knit looks smart enough to wear to Christmas dinner.

A sherpa-lined flannel is the jacket he will grab for raking leaves, walking the dog or sitting by a fire pit. The classic plaid suits most fathers-in-law, and the big and tall sizing helps if you are not sure exactly what he wears. Check with your spouse on size first.

For a father-in-law who drinks his coffee slowly, a YETI mug keeps it hot through the whole morning paper. The ceramic lining means no metallic taste, and the YETI name signals a quality gift without feeling extravagant.

If your father-in-law always leaves half a cup of coffee to go cold, this is the splurge that solves it. Set the temperature once and every sip stays exactly as he likes it, and this model goes in the dishwasher and works without a phone.

A 750 ml decanter with two matching glasses, laser-engraved with a name, initials or a family date from 16 designs. For a father-in-law who enjoys a pour of bourbon after dinner, engraving the family surname makes it feel like something that belongs in his house, not just a bottle accessory.

Gourmet caramel corn, chocolate-covered pretzels and almonds, and peanut brittle on one tray. It is the easy, crowd-pleasing choice if you are still getting to know your father-in-law, and it tends to get opened and passed around the living room on Christmas afternoon.

This whiskey set looks generous under the tree thanks to the wooden crate, and everything inside gets used. Granite stones chill his bourbon without diluting it, and with two glasses included it quietly invites you to share a drink with him on Christmas evening.

Summer sausage and cheese is a holiday tradition in many families, and this box is an easy stocking-sized way to give it. It works as a small extra alongside a bigger gift or on its own if you are drawing names and keeping it modest.

A tackle box loaded with crankbaits, spinnerbaits, soft plastics, hooks and weights for bass and other freshwater fish. For a father-in-law who fishes casually, it restocks his box before spring, and it is a natural opening for an invitation to go out on the water together.

A 20-ounce stainless tumbler with a golf design made specifically as a father-in-law gift. It keeps coffee hot on an early tee time or water cold on the back nine, and it is a light, friendly gift from a newer son- or daughter-in-law.

For the father-in-law who is in charge of the turkey, ham or brisket, a wireless thermometer takes the guesswork and the hovering out of holiday cooking. The base shows the temperature without needing an app, which matters if he is not a big phone user.

A 20-ounce insulated stainless mug printed with a light-hearted father-in-law message, with a sliding lid, straw and gift box. It is a sweet, low-key way to tell him he is family, and it is practical enough that he will actually use it on his drive.

Two engraved fishing lures, one reading "I Hooked The Best Father-in-Law" and one thanking him for raising your spouse. It is ideal for your first Christmas after the wedding, and for a fisherman father-in-law it is the kind of keepsake that ends up pinned to his hat or displayed in the garage.

A leather valet tray on his dresser is a quiet, grown-up gift that he will use every single day. It gives his keys, wallet and watch a home, and the USA-made full-grain leather feels like something chosen with care rather than grabbed at the last minute.

A slim tracker with 24/7 heart rate, sleep tracking and a long battery life, plus small and large bands. It suits a father-in-law who has started walking every morning or whose doctor has mentioned staying active, without the complexity or price of a full smartwatch.

If your father-in-law is a reader, a Kindle is a gift he will use every night. He can make the text bigger, read in bed without a lamp and carry hundreds of books on vacation. It is a bigger gift, so consider going in on it with your spouse.

Ticket to Ride is easy enough for grandkids and strategic enough for him, which makes it perfect for the slow days after Christmas when the whole family is in one house. It is also a gift that brings you together around the table.