Father's Day is on Sunday, and right about now you're probably wondering what color of tie Dad might like this year. Or maybe you're not -- after all, Anchorage was honored as one of the worst-dressed cities in America, according to a recent poll.
Since Carhartt doesn't yet make oil-resistant neckware, we put together a list of items we think dads might enjoy just a little bit more than the standard Father's Day gifts. These Alaskan-friendly gift ideas will get you started as you spend Saturday searching for the perfect last-minute-gift.
Alaska is both a high-tech haven for iPhone, iPad and Android enthusiasts as well as a place to get away from it all. Here's our list of items that will serve Dad well no matter what his interests are.
1. Deeper Smart Fishfinder - $149 - Find fish and show them off to your friends on Twitter and Facebook at the same time. What's not to like about that? No more unbelievable fish tales, and the big one won't get away with this digital tool.
2. iGrill Digital Thermometer - $79.99 - This wireless thermometer for your iPhone will let you know how your barbecue is progressing from up to 200 feet away, so you can show off gifts from Father's Days past and still get perfectly grilled meat.
3. Jackbacks, Real Wood iPhone Accessories - $79 - If Dad is prone to dropping his iPhone, these real-wood iPhone backs will keep the phone safe and provide a manly wooden grip that gets nicer with age as it soaks up the natural oils in his hand.
4. XTRATUF 6' Neoprene Boots (AKA Sunday Shoes) - $110.99 - One of my favorite Kenai Peninsula fishing guides told me these short boots are what he wears to church on Sunday. Seems Alaska's favorite footwear is suitable for any occaision. Great for lounging around on Sunday after a long day at the river -- oops, church.
5. Cabela's Ultralight 2 Lug Wading Boots - $49 - If you don't know that it's now illegal to wear felt-sole wading boots on Alaska rivers, there's a chance that Dad will need a new pair of wading boots soon. A gift like this will have him filling your freezer full of salmon in no time.
6. Man Candles - $27.99 - If Dad spends winter breathing exhaust fumes from snow machines and summer inhaling sea salt and fish, chances are he might appreciate a man candle; available scents include "Riding Mower."
7. Heated Socks - $27.04 - While socks should be relegated to the least-desirable Father's Day gift list with ties, a pair of heated socks just might work for the dad who has everything else.
8. Alaskan Sampler from Indian Valley Meats - $50.95 - Not every Alaskan dad is a hunter or fisherman, but just about every Alaskan dad would love a little taste of the wild game that makes Alaska what it is.
9. Book: How to Rent a Public Cabin in South Central Alaska - from $10.50 - If Dad doesn't have a cabin on a lake or river in Alaska yet, chances are he dreams of it at night. Buy him this book so he can utilize the state's amazing public cabin resources until he's saved up enough money to build his own Alaskan cabin.
10. Garmin RINO 110 - $194.27 - GPS units, being what they are today, are finicky in Alaska. The road-warrior GPS systems don't work as well in the backcountry, and the backcountry GPS don't always have all the Alaska maps. The Garmin RINO comes highly recommended by various Alaska search and rescue groups for its radio communication ability and available Alaska maps.
While this isn't an exhaustive list, it should get you started with a few ideas that will impress Dad way more than that tie with a huge salmon on it.
Do you have your own suggestions for Alaska-friendly Father's Day gifts? Go to our Channel 2 Facebook page and tell us what your dad likes.
Email Tim Akimoff
