A Tech Dad's Guide to Father's Day Gifts

I am a Dad. I am a nerd. I am someone who loves toys and technology. Given that Father's Day is fast approaching (June 20 in the US), I wanted to share six of my favorite things, which I hope other geeky dads will enjoy! Yes, most of these are a little more expensive than their counterparts- but I think the quality makes it worthwhile.

(I think they all fall within the Danny Pudi definition of luxury!)

1. Magic Spoon- $9/box

I don't know how I could have gotten through the pandemic without Magic Spoon. This is an actual photo of what my monthly shipments look like- and I'm the only person in my house that eats them. Magic Spoon is a delicious, keto-friendly cereal sweetened with monk fruit/ allulose. With a bit of almond milk, I can eat like a kid without raising my blood sugar (and yes, I've actually tested that).

The best flavors are 1. Fruity 2. Jelly Donut and 3. Blueberry

2. Technogel pillow- $150

Funny story. My wife decided to splurge and replace our $8 Ikea pillows with these $150 monsters. "$150 for a pillow!" I thought it was crazy and made my disappointment known. But by the next morning, I apologized as I couldn't have been more wrong. These Technogel pillows are so amazing that I am now one of those weird people you see in the airport with a pillow in arm. They produce maximum coldness and are firm enough that you can sleep with your arm underneath without cutting off the circulation. With all the time you spend on your pillow, it is possibly the best $150 you could ever spend.

3. Ooler- $750 and up

Speaking of sleep, if you want to uplevel your sleep game for hot summer nights, there's the Ooler. Ooler is effectively a mattress pad with a little aqueduct system. The system pumps cool (or hot) water through it to make your bed the temperature you want all through the night. No more bed sweat, and you can even have different temps for you and your partner.

4. Formulate- $50

Until recently, I was a person who was more than happy to have a $1.50 Suave for my shampoo. Then quarantine happened, and haircuts stopped. I grew a lot more hair and started exploring some other haircare options. Formulate is a startup that makes custom shampoo and conditioner based on your "goals" and location. How much better is it? I can't tell you scientifically, but I do love the "Freshly Squeezed Tangerine" smell that I chose! Yes, I've learned Dads can appreciate a nice shampoo. (Full disclosure: I own stock in Formulate through a syndicate investment.)

5. Marvel Unlimited-?$70/year

One of my first childhood loves was comics. If you had told 10-year-old me that I could have 30,000 comic books for $70/year on a magical device, I would have never believed it. While I still read most books on paper, I actually prefer reading comics on a tablet as you get a full-screen experience for all the panels.

There are so many stories I want to read on Marvel Unlimited that I'll never get to all of them. I'm currently reading Silver Surfer by Dan Slott and Mike Allred. But if you want to start with something fun and geeky- try Unbeatable Squirrel Girl by Ryan North and Erica Henderson.

(Below is a bit of reverse poetry featuring Loki from Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #26, enjoy)

6. Monopoly Deal - $8

If you hate Monopoly (as I do), there's a good chance you'll love Monopoly Deal. It is fun, easy to play, and full of strategy. Two-person games are typically 10 minutes long, and my son and I can play for hours.

Happy Father's Day to you and yours!