When we say "it's the thought that counts," the "thought" implies more than just remembering to buy any gift at all. Let's admit that as much as we love our guys and say we'll value any gifts they get us, there's a little disappointment when the pretty package under the tree actually contains a scarf or gift card. Same goes for him, instead of a generic tie, lead buy example and buy a gift that actually suits him. We've done the dirty work for you: here are great finds for every type of guy, and for every budget. Here you'll find gifts for the tech guy, the sports guy , the artsy guy , the pop culture guy , the foodie guy and the rocker guy . The Tech Guy Bargain: He's got more gadgets than he knows what to do with, which means keeping them all charged is likely to crash a circuit. This streamlined charging station not only accounts for the dearth of outlets; it solves the problem of all those cords as well. A great decoration for his desk or dresser, it's form meets function with a cool look and all the charging he'll need, plus storage for all the gadgets that go with his gadgets. ( thinkgeek.com ) Mid-Range: Microsoft's LifeCam is so smart you'd never know it's the first HD webcam for home use. It's got acoustic noise cancellation for the clearest of sound, face-tracking software to ensure he never goes off-screen and specialized low-light adjustments for optimum taping even in less than optimal conditions (ahem). Whether he's chatting with you from the road or filming his very own YouTube masterpiece, this is the gadget he wants. ( microsoft.com ) Luxury: Let's be honest, the Rovio Mobile Webcam is a toy, but it's a toy that any grown geek guy will thrill to play with. It looks like some sort of futuristic robotic pet, but instead of fetching and barking it roams the house capturing video and audio that he can see and hear from his laptop, PDA or video game console. An LED headlight means even dark corners aren't off limits, and two way audio/video means he can use it for messaging as well as surveying his domain. Bizarre? Only to you... ( wowwee.com ) Sports Guy Bargain: Your guy lives and breathes sports anyway, so why not let him read it when he's not watching it? A year's subscription to ESPN The Magazine will get him 26 issues of sports central, plus free access to ESPN Insider. Insider status brings myriad privileges, from breaking news before it breaks to tools that'll help him in his fantasy leagues and much more. ( espn.go.com ) Mid-Range: Combine his two favorite things: beer and sports. These unique sports bottle openers are palladium plated with handles made from authentic materials salvaged from his favorite sport. Each handle tells where it comes from: from the court floor of Madison Square Garden, from a bat used in the majors, or from Plexiglass surrounding the Madison Square Garden hockey rink. Next time he's watching a game on TV, he can crack open a cold one and feel like he's there. ( neimanmarcus.com ) Luxury: If he's a true sports fan, there is no "next best thing to being there," so help him get there, with a gift certificate to StubHub , the sports fan's best source for game tickets. There's an option whatever your budget, but if you really want to go all out, get the max amount ($500), so when he's "there" he's actually in a spot where he can see. Yes, it's a gift certificate, but one that's definitely worthwhile. To trick him up, bury it inside a cap from his favorite team. ( stubhub.com ) Artsy Guy Bargain: Indulge his artistic sensibilities with a DVD of the month club. The folks at Film Movement scour Independent Film Festivals for the latest and greatest in independent and foreign films. Every month he'll receive a new independent film (his to keep), many of which are so small they won't even make it to theaters. ( filmmovement.com ) Mid-Range: With a name like Blackbird, Fly , how could this camera not be fantastic. Like the 1920s twin-lens camera after which it's modeled, the Blackbird offers the option of shooting from above, looking down at the lens, in addition to the conventional means. To add to the artistic options, there are three different masks that provide different formatting options. Add in cool design, fun, vibrant colors and endless photography possibilities and you've got yourself a no-fail gift, whether he's a pro with pictures or just getting started. ( popdeluxe.com ) Luxury: Art lovers love art for that quality which makes it a rarity, something ephemeral and yet everlasting. Get your art lover a piece of that feeling with one of only 525 existing facsimiles of Jackson Pollock sketchbooks, which date around 1937-1941 and contain some of the artist's earlier, experimental works, nudes, surreal works, and the only know self-portrait of Pollack himself. The set includes three chrome spiral bound notebooks and a booklet of essays and information, a gift he'll find priceless. ( metmuseum.org ) Pop Culture Guy Bargain: If there's a male equivalent to Sex and the City, Mad Men be it. The hit series about a 1960s advertising agency has all the makings of a guy's dream: sex, power, and a bottle of Scotch in every office. It's sexy , witty and enthralling, which means, womanizing story lines aside, you'll love watching it with him. ( target.com ) Mid-Range: Three words: Bond. James Bond. Get your pop culture junky a step closer to his martini-swigging, king-of-cool idol with these sterling silver 007 cuff links . ( artezn.com ) Luxury: It's a high-definition, Wi-Fi enabled gaming system with 80GB of storage for his music, movies, and photos. It's also a Blu-Ray player with pristine picture quality. The response to gifting a PlayStation 3 is likely to be somewhat baffling, so let us clarify for you: he will love it, and it will up your coolness factor in his eyes, no matter how much time he seems to be spending with it over you. ( playstation.com ) Foodie Guy Bargain: What self-respecting foodie (or man for that matter) doesn't love bacon? But the cooking of everyone's favorite breakfast food is tricky: it's a fine art to get it to just the right crispiness without losing most of the meat. This cast-iron bacon press flattens the meat quickly, which helps keep it from shriveling up. Because the joy of bacon should not be tainted with shrinkage anxiety. ( williams-sonoma.com ) Mid-Range: Here's a gift that truly keeps on giving: when you adopt an olive tree for him, he'll receive a certificate of adoption, but that's only the beginning. Come spring, he'll receive a shipment of light, buttery extra-virgin oil from his very own harvest and fall brings more deliciousness in the form of tangy, spicy flavored versions. Nudo walks you through the process and even allows you to pick the grove from which his tree comes. ( nudo-italia.com ) Luxury: It's no secret that men love meat. But for the real foodie guy, it's not just about the meat but about the authentic flavor, and about taking the time to draw that flavor out. The Char-Griller Smokin' Pro is grill and smoker in one, with heat-retaining cast-iron grates that ensure a more even cooking, a built in thermometer, prep shelves. He may never cook indoors again. ( target.com ) Rocker Guy Bargain: Not wind, nor cold, nor sleet can keep him from his tunes. 180s gloves see to that, with their brilliant Tec Touch pods that help him operate his music device without having to remove his gloves. No matter how low the temperature drops, these lightweight, moisture resistant gloves will keep him plugged in and comfortable. ( 180s.com ) Mid-Range: Give your wannabe DJ a chance to strut his stuff. This home DJ Mixer comes complete with all the effect he'll need to rock his next house party, from a cross-fader to scratch sound effects. ( 100milligrams.com ) Luxury: Yes, you're seeing correctly. The name of this season's music player does not begin with "i." Meet the Zune HD . The sleek all-in-one touch screen media player has high definition picture and sound, and grants him access to some fantastic local HD Radio stations. The wireless function makes for easy streaming and downloading of music, and, because you never know when he might be in the mood for that obscure song buried on his computer, he can wirelessly sync to his home network. But the best part is the Zune Pass, an all-you-can-eat buffet of music for just $14.99 a month. The real music nut will appreciate that even the iPod doesn't do all that. ( zunestore.net ) When we say "it's the thought that counts," the "thought" implies more than just remembering to buy any gift at all. Let's admit that as much as we love our guys and say we'll value any gifts they get us, there's a little disappointment when the pretty package under the tree actually contains a scarf or gift card. Same goes for him, instead of a generic tie, lead buy example and buy a gift that actually suits him. We've done the dirty work for you: here are great finds for every type of guy, and for every budget. Here you'll find gifts for the tech guy, the sports guy , the artsy guy , the pop culture guy , the foodie guy and the rocker guy .
