In modern society, we understand that gender identity is complex and beautifully nuanced. While this blog is positioned as a “Gift Guide for Men,” we’ve aimed to include items that resonate with a variety of masc or masc-presenting individuals in your life. For inclusivity, we’ve also created a companion guide for all the femmes on your list. We’ve chosen to use gendered language in these guides to maximize their reach, making it easier for shoppers to find and support local businesses using familiar terms. We hope these guides help you find the perfect gifts for everyone you care about!
He is confident, kind-hearted, resilient and an out-of-the-box problem solver, and he deserves something this holiday that shows how well you know him. The Okanagan is practically a man’s paradise with adrenaline-pumping adventures, delicious local food, handcrafted drinks (and sober-friendly alternatives), and artisans who get what he needs.
With this locally sourced gift list from small businesses in Kamloops, Vernon, Kelowna, and beyond, we have something for every type of guy, whether he likes to tinker in the garage, throwdown with a home-hobby, or sip cocktails and brews with his bros.
So let’s get right to it—this is a gift for every type of guy, with ideas from 35+ Okanagan Small Businesses.
For The Handyman In Your Life
If you have a handyman on your list, he deserves something to make his tinkering in the garage a little easier. Get him a durable and practical hand-stitched leather tool belt from Enlight Designs. Their belts are designed for comfort and come with features like specialized compartments for a pencil holder, chisel area, square area, tape measure, nail puller, and ample pockets for nails and screws.
If the guy on your list likes to flex his stuff outside, Art Knapp has locations in Kamloops, Kelowna, Prince George and a bunch of other BC locations. They have everything you might need for the garden from tools to plans AND in winter, they transform their garden centers to holiday wonderland’s filled with ornaments and sparkly bobbles so we highly suggest a visit.
If he is a fan of the saying “they just don’t make things like they used to”, head on over to Gibsons Vintage Shop on Etsy, they’re located in Kelowna and sell vintage thrifted tools and trinkets which are a perfect option for those who are hard to buy for.
Finally if he’s a man who likes a specific brand of tools **cough*Milwaukee and my husband🤝** opt to support a local hardware store like BC Fasteners & Tools Ltd. who have stores in Kelowna, Vernon, Penticton, and Kamloops!
Because No One Wants To Raw Dog Life Without Good Caffeine
If the man on your list wakes up to brew himself a strong cup of coffee every morning, you can get him some locally hand-roasted beans from Anarchy Coffee in Kelowna, Shuswap Coffee in Salmon Arm, or Beaver Beans Coffee in Kamloops if you brew at home.
If you want to skip the dishes and do a little people watching, gift cards to Logjam Coffee, Milk Shed Coffee House, Black Sheep Coffee, Triumph Coffee or Ratio Coffee are always a welcome treat in a stocking. These are also great spots to pick up coffee-loving-people accessories.
Of course, what’s a good cup of coffee without a sturdy, rustic ceramic mug? You can find a selection from local potters at Funktional in Downtown Kelowna, Love Co Ceramics online, or obsess over purchasing the work of Drift Ceramics and join the 2024 Clay Club with Alix Parisotto Ceramics.
Yes, Chef!
If you have a man in your life who likes to cook, first of all, lucky! Secondly, the Okanagan makes it so easy to spoil him with top-grade ingredients, meat, and farms all across the valley.
If he’s always at the grill, you can get top-grade meats from Yankee Flats Meats in Vernon or Fresh Valley Farms in Armstrong.
He can prep that meat with small-batch rubs and spices from the Taste of the Okanagan or BBQ sauces from Denzel Sanberg or Country Cuisine. With these unique BBQ sauces and rubs crafted by local makers, he can add a bold touch to any cookout.
Want to add a little spice? Try the Salt Springs hot sauce collection. It has a variety of flavours, from mild to blazing hot. It is perfect for someone who loves experimenting with spice.
We love heading out to Horstings Farm Market for all our foodie-friendly gifts from local makers year round! They’re an amazing resource for shopping local!
Obviously, after all that work, he needs the proper presentation. Get him stunning teak cutting and charcuterie boards handcrafted in Kelowna and sold at T-Bones to give him a rugged, masculine aesthetic.
If He Likes A Good Drink
For the guy in your life who appreciates a good drink. These days, Okanagan is the place to be for craft beer. You can get him samplers from local breweries like Rustic Reel Brewing Company, Red Collar Brewing and Gin Lane Distilling Co., or Barley Station Brew Pub. They often feature fun and seasonal local flavours. Support a nearby brewery by gifting a sampler or growler fill voucher.
If he is enjoying his drinks at home, you can get him a set of upcycled beer glasses made by The Rogerie
If he likes to mix drinks, you can get him a gift set of his favourites from Okanagan Spirits. If you want to treat him leading up to Christmas, they also have 12-day advent calendars! While there, you can pick him up some extra bar accessories like a bottle opener or a set of Whiskey Stones made from granite or soapstone to keep drinks cold without dilution.
Don’t forget the locally crafted bitters, which add depth to drinks. Look for unique flavours like smoked cherry or orange spice. Our favourite spot to stock the accessories for the bar is Castles and Cottages, Fill – Vernon’s Refill Store, and Mocktail Mixery.
Mocktail is also the perfect option for those who are sober, or sober-curious but still want to partake in the cocktail fun.
If he is still new to making cocktails, get him a Signature Cocktail Kit from Born to Shake. It was created by some Okanagan locals who wanted to make mixing drinks more approachable. While you’re there, check out their locally made bitters and other mix necessities
For A Self Care King
Men deserve self-care. You can help him with all-natural beard oils and balms from Soapolallie Soap Works or Nomad Beard and Shave Care with natural scents like cedarwood, sandalwood, or tobacco, which are perfect for keeping beards soft and styled.
Or you can give your man the gift of looking fly with a shave and a haircut at Moonshine Baber located in the Collective Suites in Downtown Kelowna. They know how to make a man feel right at home.
If you want to spoil him, stop in at Crooked Crown, Our Footprints Eco Store, and Chickpeace Zero Waste Refillery who always have beard combs, pomades, and everything else he needs to look sharp.
Things On Every Sporty Outdoorsman’s List
The Okanagan is an outdoorsman’s paradise in all four seasons, but especially in winter. Passes and Gift Cards to our local ski resorts like Big White in Kelowna, SilverStar in Vernon or Sun Peaks in Kamloops are always a solid choice.
Plus you can book a cheeky weekend adventure for you and the whole family at the same time. There are too many world-class BC locations to mention for sledding, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
On that, if you’re looking to gift an outdoor adventure to someone on your list, consider a gift certificate to Prestige Resorts. They’re located throughout BC in all the best locations to be your adventure basecamp AND they’re running sales and offers throughout the winter season. Our favourite Prestige locations for the winter are Prince George, Rossland, and Radium.
He can outfit his car or truck with all the gear he needs to carry the board, skis, and sleds at Over the Top Racks and Hitches. For fun and warmth, he can get the rest of his gear at Play it Again Sports in Kamloops or Kelowna.
After all his adventures while sitting around the fire, he can record all his memories in a Parks Canada Journal—a perfect keepsake!
Outfit him with all the gear he needs (and wants) by shopping local and family-owned stores like True Outdoors, Monashee Outdoors, and A&C Sports.
If he is into fishing and hunting, a trip to Surplus Herby’s rarely disappoints. It’s truly one of those stores you can’t go into knowing what to expect. If you want to gift an experience that’s cheaper than a fishing weekend but still something that will make his friends jealous, check out the fly fishing and fly tying courses offered by Domenics Fly Shop. They also do gift registries if you have a fisherperson in your life with a big event coming up and you want to make it easy for everyone to get them something perfect.
For those who have embraced the Disc Golf life, Bigfoot Trading has discs and accessories that will help him dominate the courses across the Okanagan.
Nerdy Gifts That Will Impress Everyone
If you have a nerd on your list, you are in luck. Check out Okanagan Sports Cards and Comics and Dragon Cards and Games in Kelowna They have a huge collection of, you guessed it, comics and sports cards. Just don’t leave him alone in there. He’ll be lost forever. If you are closer to Vernon, check out Ebenezer’s Comics & Collectables and if you’re in Kamloops, The Game Hub for huge collections of all things nerdy. Ps. The Game Hub does game nights and D&D summer camps for all ages that we couldn’t recommend more.
If he is more of an anime nerd, go to Chibi’s Anime Goods and Collectibles in Kelowna. They have figurines, graphic novels, movies and more.
If the men on your list are Lego fans, your first stops should be Tumbleweed Toys, Vernon Teach and Learn, and Loadza Toyz for all the iconic kits and tools. These spots are also amazing options for your board game fanatics and nostalgic collectable gurus.
For Keeping Him Warm (And Stylish)
We know he won’t admit to being cold, but we can all see him shivering. So keep him cozy and warm with a handmade wool beanie or cap. If he wants to show his love for the valley, you can head to Republic West. They have everything from hoodies to beanies!
If he is a skater boy or skater at heart, you might find something more in his style at Okanagan Skate. They have everything from all the best skate brands.
If his style is iconic, there are a number of great family-owned and locally owned shops throughout the Okanagan that have great options to keep him looking sharp. Pop into Man Woman Home, Mainstreet Clothing Co., or, The Horse Barn if he is a buckaroo.
**Bonus** Stocking Stuffers
Of course, you must remember to stuff that stocking, but this year, you can skip the piles of candy!
Okay, sorry. He said you can’t, but you can add something a little more personal, like a personalized wallet from BC Leather Works. They have a ton of options, so you will find something that screams HIM.
And if you are sick of him asking to put that wallet, keys, and sunglasses in your purse, get him one of his own, but make it manly! Like one from Grey Hearts Denim. He will look so cool, and you will get your pockets back.
Last but not least, if he has been complaining that there is just not enough representation of his favourite sports team on the Christmas tree, you can get him a customized sport jersey ornament from Glow & Behold. And now you see him smile yearly as he hangs it on the tree.
If he enjoys wearing hats or fancy socks, you can not beat the selection at Rio Branner Milliner & Merchant.
If the men on your list like to work outside, Purity and Cyclepath both stock great stocking-sized items we guarantee he needs (like fleece-lined gloves for shoveling and fishing).
Now Let’s Get Shopping
We are so lucky to live in Okanagan, which has so many amazing artisans, crafters, makers, bakers, and small businesses that you can always find something for everyone on your list while supporting locals.
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