25 Best Gifts for College Guys
If you’ve ever attended a college drop-off day, the stark contrast between guys and girls is eye-opening. College girls come prepared for everything with their cars filled to the brim. Guys appear with a single duffle bag and an “I’ll figure it out” attitude. These 25 best gifts for college guys will give them a leg up when it comes to being prepared and may save them a bit of stress or a late-night trip to the closest store.
After sending my own young adult off to live in a college dorm, I learned a few great ideas for college student gifts. I’ve picked out the best and most popular items that college boys are going to love. From useful and convenient to fun and trendy, we’ve covered it all. Any college guy is going to love these gift ideas.
Whether you’re buying a Christmas gift, a birthday gift, or celebrating your son, grandson or friend heading off to college for the first time, you are going to love this list of the 25 best gifts for college guys.
Our List of the Best College Gifts for Guys
Gifts for Preparing for College
Heading off to college for the first time can be exciting and a little scary. These gift ideas for a college-bound student will help ease the transition from high school to college campuses and make for a comfortable trip whether they stay in-state or head across the country.
For many, the first year of college is their first time out on their own. Mom and dad are no longer around to direct your every move, and it's time to start making big decisions for yourself. The Freshman Survival Guide is a great book that speaks to college kids in a way they can relate to making those big decisions.
Even if he's not taking a ton of stuff, a large and durable duffel bag like this high quality Carhartt Duffel will be very much appreciated.
Perfect for packing for class or taking to the gym, this Yeti Rambler is stainless steel insulated and includes the chug cap to make drinking water easier. Holds 46 ounces of liquid, keeping hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold for hours.
This travel mug is a must-have for someone who is always on the go! Vacuum insulated with a stainless steel lining, the press-in lid keeps their drink at the perfect temperature for hours.
An extra-large laundry bag (this one holds up to 115 liters and is extra duty) and an invitation to come home for laundry day can be comforting. Make a whole college care package and include some laundry detergent and a roll or two of quarters if making it home isn't possible.
If we know anything about kids (even big ones), there's a good chance their backpack needs an upgrade! Get your favorite student a good backpack with a large capacity - enough room for a laptop and a few books is perfect for toting around to classes and the library. A good quality bag like this is likely to last through their senior year.
College can certainly bring you out of your comfort zone. You will likely see and experience things you never imagined -- both good and questionable. So if there's one perfect gift for a college student, it's this essential college life survival guide The Naked Roommate is a great gift designed to help them navigate some of the best and strangest college experiences.
For many college students, this will be the first time they have ever lived on their own. Being responsible for your cooking and cleaning isn't difficult, but it's a good idea to figure out how. Recipes Every College Student Should Know is a useful gift that includes a host of recipes that can be made with just an electric kettle or a microwave.
Dorm Room Gift Ideas for Guys
As my own college student can tell you, you can't always rely on your cell phone to wake you up - especially after late nights of studying (or house parties). Never be late for class or a test with a dual alarm clock with adjustable volume. This clock also doubles as a USB charger for your phone and other smart devices.
Traditional cooking isn't allowed in a dorm room, but young men can learn to do a lot with a little boiling water! An electric kettle heats the water quickly so you can make ramen noodles, mac and cheese, hot tea and a host of other foods and beverages without a microwave. Plus, it's small and portable, and this model has an electric shutoff and boil-dry protection.
This is definitely one of those college gift ideas they will keep (and use) for a long time.
Actual college students will tell you that this coffee maker is the perfect gift idea for this holiday season. Its compact size makes it perfect for dorm rooms or a small apartment where there isn't much space for bulky gadgets. Your college kid can brew the perfect cup of coffee every morning with a Keurig SMART coffee maker.
But let's be real - this will be more important when they are up late studying and coffee shops are all closed.
Be prepared for late-night study sessions with an adjustable LED lamp that's dimmable and has five lighting modes, plus USB ports for charging devices. The bright light illuminates their desk area perfectly, so they won't disturb their roommates.
This dual breakfast sandwich maker is the ideal gift for someone who wants a delicious bistro-style breakfast sandwich without having to leave home. Makes a complete, healthy breakfast in just five minutes.
This 3.2 cubic feet mini fridge with freezer is the perfect size for a bedroom or dorm room. Energy efficient and low noise means they can have the comforts of cold food and drinks without the annoyance of a rumbling appliance!
This bedside shelf with cupholder is the perfect gift for college students in a dorm, or anyone sleeping on the top of a bunk bed. The cup holder is wide enough to hold a soda can, and there's enough space on the tray to hold their essentials. Sturdy and built to last a lifetime!
College students never seem to have enough snacks! Load them up with essentials like popcorn, ramen noodles, and chips.
Study Essentials for College
Between scrolling social media and looking up important info online, a college student's cell phone charge doesn't last very long. And a dead phone battery is the worst. Stay connected no matter where you are with a portable charger that's lightweight and charges two devices in a hurry.
An Apple Watch is so helpful for today's fast-paced life that I honestly can't live without it! It's a great gift idea for almost anyone.
This smartwatch and fitness tracker can monitor heart rate, sleep, steps and keep them on time for appointments. It has a long battery life and can make calls or answer texts. Watches have definitely come a long way! This is one practical gift that is sure to be used daily.
Personal Care Gifts for College Guys
The DormDoc First Aid Kit includes basic medicine and supplies for wound care. Provide your child with a little TLC even when they are far away from home.
This 175-piece kit includes 6 essential over-the-counter medicines for headaches, colds and upset stomach plus bandages, creams, scissors and non-latex gloves. All are arranged in color-coded pockets for easy identification and dispensing.
Toiletries are essential but can be expensive. Start them off right with a toiletry kit that includes travel-size basics like shampoo, deodorant, razors and tooth care.
Every college student needs some gear to show their school pride. A college sweatshirt will keep them cozy and warm at football games and other school activities.
Fun Gifts for College Guys
Play the perfect study playlist whether you're in the dorm or studying in the park. A bluetooth speaker lets you take your tunes for a jog or when you are hanging out with the guys.
Spike ball is one of the most popular sports games amongst college students. This gift will get your favorite college guy outside with his friends. College is as much about fun and relationships as it is about studying.
We know your college-bound guy is going to love any of these gifts. If you still aren’t sure, you can never go wrong with gift cards. I can’t imagine a college guy who wouldn’t like getting a surprise gift card in the mail every now and then anyway!
Other Gift Ideas You May Like:
- Gifts for Adult Children They’ll Love
- Manly Gifts for Manly Men
- Awesome Gifts for Gamers
- Best Gifts for Brothers
Amanda
Amanda is a mom of four kids, two dogs, some chickens, and a few hundred composting worms. As a former teacher and fitness instructor, and the oldest of a houseful of kids, she has quite a bit of experience educating others – which she now does via writing! Gift giving isn’t her main love language, but she loves shopping for the perfect gifts for others.
You can find her on her main blog at amandaseghetti.com and on all social media @amandaseghetti <3
