The Best Last-Minute Father’s Day Gifts

Father’s Day is this Sunday, June 15, which means that this is the week to either put the finishing touches on your 30th “coupon book for free hugs,” or make this the year that you actually order a smokeless fire pit on time to help his s’mores fantasies come to life.

Dads are surprising creatures. I can comfortably call my own a man of habit, which certainly works in my favor when I’m trying to buy him a present; he likes listening to the blues, chopping firewood, and hammering out chicken schnitzel, in that order. Every once in a while, however, he will put down the meat tenderizer and say something like, “I sure would love to order bees for the yard” that reminds me that people can always surprise us (and those people can take Cornell’s virtual beekeeping classes).

If your food-loving dad or dad-like figure is anything like mine, he probably loves kits, gadgets, accessories, and tools that improve accuracy, comfort, and general flair. In layman’s terms: Send him a pastrami sandwich kit from Langer’s Deli, and a UV50+-proof hat to rock while barbecuing this summer. Every dad is different, but it feels fair to say that so many could benefit from a thick kneeling pad for tending to their garden, or owning a kaleidoscopic margarita machine — by none other than Jimmy Buffet’s (pour one out) Margaritaville brand — to show off with their buds.

Don’t freak out if you have procrastinated on your Father’s Day shopping until now (you probably learned procrastination from him, anyway). Instead, sip some Sleepytime Tea and check out this curation of dad-worthy, food-obsessed gifts that ship in time for the big day, or require zero shipping at all — these will get to Pops in time, if you move fast.

The best last-minute Father’s Day gifts with super-fast shipping

If you hit the holy procrastinator-shopping trifecta of Amazon, Wayfair, or Goldbelly, there’s still time to ship a Stanley flask, smokeless fire pit, or a flight of doughnuts that spells “Best Dad Ever” to your pops. Amazon is hiding some surprisingly chic gifts from the likes of Field Company (think, lightweight cast-iron skillet sets); Wayfair offers 2-day shipping and is also having an outdoor sale with savings of up to 50 percent off; and Goldbelly has an entire Father’s Day collection with chicken and waffles, Philly cheesesteaks, and desserts that can ship overnight.

He’s a proud Parrothead

Stanley makes flasks, too

Impress the cast-iron snob with this heirloom-worthy set

He’s the wizard of soft-serve

A comfy kneeling pad for tending his herb garden

Make his home bar cart fantasy a reality

Solo Stove’s smokeless mini fire pit

… He’s more of a tea man

This marigold Moccamaster

The best last-minute digital gifts (no shipping required)

What’s that? It’s the eve of Papa’s Day, and you haven’t had time to whittle him that soup spoon? Luckily for all of us, there are so many cool digital gifts for food-loving dads that require little to no shipping whatsoever; MasterClass is offering 50 percent off memberships for Father’s Day, and is brimming with all kinds of food- and drink-centric classes from Thomas Keller, Alice Waters, and so many other James Beard-nominated chefs; Uncommon Goods, aka the slingers of cast-iron garlic roasters and hot sauce tossed peanuts also offers video-based, interactive live classes or “experiences,” all of which ship supplemental goodies, such as spices, to the recipient. Finally, when in doubt, there’s beauty in getting your dad to God’s country (Williams Sonoma and/or REI) with a digital gift card.