Gift Gadgets for Dad

MANILA, Philippines - Dad always seems to know where to find the solution to life’s little problems, for everything from fixing the kitchen sink to answering questions like, “Why is the sky blue?” He always knows where to turn to for the answer. So it’s no wonder that, apart from family, few things come between a dad and his gadgets. So what to get for the dad who seems to already have all the right tools for the job? Here’s a few suggestions:

First up, for the handyman dad, here’s something different from the usual Swiss Knife. The world-renowned Kyocera ceramics company (global.kyocera.com) now makes special utility knives that are lighter but so much sharper than ordinary steel knives. Made from Zirconium Oxide, Kyocera’s utility knives are not just chemically inert and wear-resistant like stainless steel, they’re also extremely hard with a Mohs Scale hardness rating of 8.2 (compared to steel at 5-6 Mohs and diamond at 10 Mohs). The Kyocera Ceramic Utility Knife is available in Plain and Micro Serrated versions for upwards of P1,800 at the Cutlery section of The Landmark, Makati.

If dad is still of the traditional pocket tool persuasion, then you might consider getting him a Micro-Max 19-in-One Multi-tool from ThinkGeek.com. This little wonder has two hex wrenches, six screwdrivers (flat AND Phillips!), a ruler, pliers, and even a hand drill! Best of all, it folds up into a little stainless steel rectangle that fits in the palm of your hand.

Also on ThinkGeek are some way cool T-shirts that would make any gadget-loving dad proud, plus some well-deserved street cred. Anyone who’s had trouble lugging around a laptop will definitely appreciate the Wi-Fi Detector Shirt ($19.99), which features a design that glows cool blue when there’s a Wi-Fi signal nearby. If that’s too geeky for you, you can’t go more rock n’ roll than the Electronic Drum Kit Shirt ($19.99 and up, depending on size) that you can actually play like a real drum! Tapping on the design gives you seven different effects, from hi hat to snare drum.

And speaking of music, if you’ve got the dough to spare, there’s nothing like a Bose Wave Radio for dad’s listening pleasure. No portable music device can quite deliver the same experience as being able to kick back in your own living room and just lose yourself in a fully immersive sound experience. The Bose Wave Music System (P29,500 at any Bose store) does just that, and in a compact tabletop package. The Bose Wave was first introduced in the 1990’s, and Bose has been innovating on the system ever since. The latest model is more streamlined than ever before, with a slot-loading CD player and options to hook up an iPod or other external audio device.

Gifts don’t need to be expensive, of course. For a workaholic dad, this solar-rechargeable LED flashlight-keychain (just P100 at Park Square 1, Makati) might just be what he needs. Three bright white LEDs provide ample light, and the built-in solar cell tops up the internal rechargeable battery using any available light. He can just leave it on his desk all day, confident that it’ll be fully charged when it’s time to go home.

So there you have it, a few simple gift ideas for your gadget-loving dad! But of course, whatever you choose to give him this Father’s Day, don’t forget to also give him a hug and a kiss –probably the best gifts any dad could ask for.