The BEST 5 Gifts REAL Men Want in 2025! (A Gift Guide That Doesn’t Disappoint)

The BEST 5 Gifts REAL Men Want in 2025! (A Gift Guide That Doesn’t Disappoint)

Written by: Mary Clementi

|

Published on

|

Time to read 8 min

Table of contents

Best Gifts for Men in 2025: 5 Tools Guys Actually Want (Stu and Chip’s Picks)

If you’ve been searching “best gift for men” or “best gifts for dads,” you’ve probably noticed a pattern. A lot of the lists feel random, filled with stuff that looks good in a photo but ends up in a drawer. Most of those gift ideas probably suck.

Stu and Chip from Main Street Mower (aka “Manland”) took a different approach. They each wrote down their top five gifts for the men in your life, then compared notes. Their lists almost perfectly matched, which says a lot when two guys who work with tools all day land on the same picks.

This guide covers those five categories, with the exact models they called out, typical prices mentioned in the video, and why each one makes sense for real life (Christmas, birthdays, and the bigger milestone moments too).

Why typical gifts fall flat, and what men actually want

A useful gift does two things at once.

It feels fun to open, and it gets used. The theme behind all five picks is simple: most guys like to feel prepared. It’s the same reason people loved Boy Scouts, pocket knives, and having a “junk drawer” of tools. Being the person who can fix the thing, trim the branch, air up the tire, or handle the yard feels good.

Stu and Chip built their list around gifts for:

  • Christmas
  • Birthdays

They also call out a few “big occasion” items later on, the kind of gift you buy once and remember for years.

Quick note on where these tools come from: Main Street Mower is a real mower shop in Central Florida, and they also ship nationwide (everywhere in the US except Hawaii). If you want to see the exact products they mention, Main Street Mower’s online store has them, and purchases there support their channel.

#1: Hand tools that every guy will use

Hand tools hit the sweet spot because they’re personal without being risky. If someone has hands and ever steps outside, they can use these.

Stu and Chip keep it simple. Buy quality once, then stop re-buying junk every year.

Why hand tools top the list

This category covers a few staples that work for homeowners, hunters, landscapers, and anyone with shrubs or trees:

  • Pruners: quick cuts on small branches and plants
  • Shears: clean, satisfying trimming on hedges and detailed work
  • Loppers: bigger cuts when hand pruners aren’t enough

Top pick: STIHL PP80 hand pruners (and how to pick the right size)

If you only buy one item from this whole list, they’d steer you toward a great pair of hand pruners.

The pick: STIHL PP80 Hand Pruner.

What they like about it:

  • Aluminum construction that feels solid in your hand
  • Smooth squeeze action, with a quick lock and unlock
  • A big blade for clean cuts
  • A lifetime warranty (called out in the video)
  • Multiple sizes so it fits the person, not the other way around

They mention three sizes: PP60 (small), PP70 (medium), and PP80 (large). The point is simple: match the tool to the guy. Big hands get the bigger model.

Stu even shares a real use case from turkey hunting. A guy quietly trimmed a small shooting area with pruners, no loud saws, no drama. Hunters like them for that reason, and homeowners like them because you can step outside and fix an annoying branch in seconds.

Price mentioned: around $69. And yes, you can buy cheap pruners. Chip’s warning is what most people learn the hard way: the spring pops out, they get sloppy fast, and you end up buying another pair.

Upgrade option: STIHL precision hedge shears

If the guy you’re buying for likes detail work, or just enjoys that clean “snip” sound, the upgrade pick is the STIHL Precision Hedge Shear.

They describe these as:

  • Super light
  • Super sharp
  • A big step up from common big-box options (they name Fiskars and Corona as comparisons)

Price mentioned: $133. They also point out a fun angle: this isn’t only for yard work. Someone who builds things, crafts, or works with their hands can enjoy a tool like this too.

#2: Two “be prepared” power tools at $199

This category is about practical gear that makes a guy feel ready for anything. Both picks are called out at the same price in the video: $199.

STIHL GTA 26 mini chainsaw

Chip’s pick is the STIHL GTA 26 battery-powered garden pruner.

Think of it like a mini chainsaw for real work. It’s small, but they describe it as heavy-duty enough that commercial guys use it too.

Why it makes such a good gift:

  • Quick branch cleanup without dragging out a full saw
  • Easy yard “patrol” tool, spot a problem, cut it, move on
  • Great for trimming and clearing when you want speed

They also mention a bigger option exists (the GTA 40) if you want more power and have more budget.

STIHL KOA 20 battery-powered air compressor inflator

Stu’s pick is the STIHL KOA 20 battery-powered air compressor, and he owns one.

The reason it wins is simple: it solves annoying problems fast. He describes screwing it onto a truck tire, hitting play, and letting it inflate to the set pressure. He also mentions his kids use it to air up truck tires, which tells you how simple it is to operate.

Everyday uses they call out:

  • Truck and car tires
  • Sports balls
  • Mountain bike tires
  • Air mattresses
  • Paddle boards

It’s the kind of tool that gets used all year, not just once.

#3: Pole tools for high reach trimming (no ladder required)

When Stu and Chip compared lists, both had a “tool on a pole” pick. That happens for a reason. Yard work doesn’t stop at shoulder height, and lots of people hate ladders.

They also make a point that’s worth repeating: some gifts feel like chores to one person, but feel like a win to someone else. A yard tool isn’t a “vacuum gift” situation for guys who like being outside and keeping their place looking right.

STIHL PP 101 long reach pruner (8-foot reach)

If someone complains that their mango tree, apple tree, or shrubs are getting too tall, this is a clean solution.

The pick: STIHL PP 101 Long Reach Pruner.

What it is:

  • A pruner like the handheld version, mounted on an 8-foot pole
  • Made for controlled, precise cuts from the ground

They mention people use tools like this on plants such as bougainvillea, and they like that you can prune without a ladder.

Price mentioned: $139. One note from the shop side is that it can be harder to ship, but they stock them in-store.

Silky 20-foot Nobasu telescoping pole saw (serious reach, serious price)

Chip’s pick is the bigger, higher-end option: Silky 20’ Nobasu telescoping aluminum pole saw.

He’s clear that not all pole saws are the same. This one uses hardened Japanese steel, and he says it stays razor sharp for years. He also describes using it nearly every weekend on pine trees and oak trees.

Why it’s such a “dad gift”:

  • It raises tree canopies and keeps branches off the ground
  • It can change how the whole yard looks over time
  • It feels like doing “tree service” work yourself, one tree at a time

Price mentioned: $480, and they call it “spicy.” This is the kind of gift you might split with a sibling, or buy for someone who would never spend that much on themselves.

They also highlight the reach: fully extended, it goes over 21 feet. Chip compares it to the height you picture with a standard telephone pole.

#4: The chainsaw everyone agrees on, STIHL MS 250

They didn’t just agree that “a chainsaw” belongs on the list. They agreed on the exact model.

Their shared pick: STIHL MS 250 gas-powered chainsaw (18 in).

Why the MS 250 is their favorite

They describe the MS 250 as a classic. It’s the old-school version people still love, the one that feels like “they don’t make them like they used to,” except they still do.

They compare it to a square-body Chevy, which tells you the vibe: straightforward, trusted, and loved for a reason.

A few points they call out:

  • This is a “can’t mess it up” purchase, because it’s widely loved across the country
  • It has the power, strength, and features they care about
  • At the time of filming, it was $50 off, and they joke it’s a great time to buy two

They also make a funny, honest point about chainsaws as gifts. You buy your dad the saw, then when a tree comes down in your yard, you’re suddenly borrowing it. Everybody wins.

If the MS 250 is out of budget

They mention they’ve made a separate video on STIHL chainsaws under $300, where they test three models by cutting down a tree with each. If you want that route, start with MUST WATCH Before Buying a Chainsaw in 2025!.

To make the choice easier, here’s a quick scan of how these picks differ based on what they said in the video:

Gift pick What it’s best for Price mentioned
STIHL MS 250 A classic, all-around gas saw that people love $50 off at time of filming (full price not stated)
“Under $300” STIHL options Getting the job done on a tighter budget Under $300 (varies by model)

#5: The big gift upgrade, Toro TimeMaster 30-inch push mower

This last one is the “doozy,” their words. It’s not a stocking stuffer. It’s a graduation gift, new house gift, retirement gift, or a serious splurge for someone who takes pride in their yard.

Their pick: Toro TimeMaster 30 in Personal Pace Spin-Stop mower.

Why they call it the number one push mower

Stu and Chip describe the TimeMaster as a 30-inch mower with two blades, and they love the cut quality and the self-propel system.

The real pitch is time. They say you can give someone an hour of their life back by upgrading them to a wider mower. If a guy already likes mowing, but doesn’t like losing a whole weekend to it, this hits hard.

They paint a simple picture: football fans who also like a clean lawn. With a 30-inch mower, you can knock out the yard during halftime and get back inside.

Chip sums it up with a comparison that fits. This mower is the La-Z-Boy of push mowers, built to upgrade someone’s life for the full lifespan of the machine. They also mention a practical bonus: you can sell the old mower, or move it to your garage.

Who this gift is perfect for

This mower makes the most sense for someone who already cuts their own grass and wants an upgrade. It’s luxury that gets used weekly.

Where to buy these gifts (and follow Main Street Mower)

If you want the exact models Stu and Chip showed, you can shop them through Main Street Mower’s online store. They ship across the United States, except Alaska & Hawaii.

Conclusion

If you’re tired of buying “guy gifts” that get ignored, stick to tools that feel good to use and solve real problems. A great pair of pruners, a $199 helper tool, a high-reach pole saw, a trusted chainsaw, or a faster mower all hit that mark. Pick the option that matches his yard, his habits, and how big the occasion is. When the gift makes him feel prepared, it won’t sit on a shelf.