Perfect Stocking Stuffers for Men

Buying a Christmas stocking stuffer for a guy can be a challenging and complicated experience. The gift needs to be thoughtful and (hopefully) useful but still needs to send the right message. A gift from a girlfriend may be different than a gift from a boss or co-worker so some careful consideration must be given. In this case, we'll look at some general gift ideas that can be catered to the occasion or the relationship.

Dangerous Book For Boys - hands down, this is the best gift that I ever received from a friend. This book is good for any male between the ages of 8 and 80 and will keep them entertained for hours. Mine was given to me by a good friend and co-worker who obviously knew what he was doing when he put that book into my hands. I in turn ran out and got one for each of my nephews that year for Christmas.

Pocket Knife - this is another great gift that can be given between to men. It holds an understanding and a bond of friendship but be sure that if you are the recipient that you give a coin to the giver so that the ties of the friendship aren't cut.

Pen - a great gift for co-workers, priests, teachers, your real estate agent or even your father-in-law. I stock up on these during the holiday season as it's a gift that serves almost any occasion.

Compass - I found a great deal on an old style World War II brass compass at www.cheaperthandirt.com and immediately bought one for myself. It soon became the envy of my hiking, fishing and camping friends and makes the perfect gift for any outdoorsman.

Flask - this is a great all around gift for a guy that can suit almost any occasion. There are a wide variety of flasks to choose from ranging from plain silver tone flasks found in any camping section of an outdoor store to fine grained leather clad and engraved flasks. Choose one that fits the occasion and the man.

Scarf and gloves - this is a pretty simple gift that comes with no underlying messages other than, "keep warm". If you know that man well enough, try to match his style but unless you know him really well, this one might not be the best choice. This also isn't the best of ideas if he lives in Florida.

Handkerchiefs - there are so many uses for a handkerchief or "hankie" that I couldn't even begin to list them. I started carrying one with me everywhere when my Marine Corps Battalion Commander told me during a uniform inspection that it was the single most important piece of gear that I could carry in my pocket (I think he was mad because he couldn't find any "gigs" on my uniform).

Watch - this gift ventures into the realm of personal so be sure that you're comfortable in your position with the guy before you buy him a $200.00 Seiko or a $900.00 Bulova. I've seen more than one guy run for the hills when an overzealous girlfriend bought their bow a watch for a gift.

Can of nuts and a pack of beer - what better way to show that you care by supplying him with some beverages and snacks for the upcoming Sunday afternoon game? Be a little creative and adventurous with this one and try some new imported beer or high priced can of nuts. If all else fails, you can go with the old standby of a six pack of bottled Budweiser and a can of Planters peanuts. Either way you go with this one, you can't go wrong - just make sure that his stocking is big enough to handle this gift.

The most important point to remember when giving a guy a gift is to consider him, his style and his tastes and keep in mind your current standing and what message you want to send with the gift. A good gift can be very meaningful, but a good gift given by the wrong person might spell disaster.