5 Father's Day Gift Ideas for Techie Dads

If a dad in your life fancies himself a bit of a geek, why not compliment his geekdom with a fun, techie gift? We’ve got five great ideas for you no matter your budget -- they range in price from $10 all the way to $250. And they’ll all make your techie dad a very happy man this Father’s Day.

 
Robot measuring cups. Want to encourage dad to spend a little less time in at the computer and a little more time in the kitchen? Make cooking fun for the techie dad in your life with Robocup Robot Measuring Cups. When not in use, this fun kitchen accessory stacks together to create an eight inch tall robot. Disassemble the robot for four measuring cups - ¼, ?, ½, and 1 cup measurements.

Water-powered shower radio. Does your dad think he’s Frank Sinatra in the shower? If he loves to sing in the rain, consider awater-powered shower radio from H2O and Mango. Using no batteries, this radio uses water pressure and its internal turbine to create energy AND it’s able to store unused energy to continue playing even when you’re not showering. This is one of those Father’s Day presents that is fun for the whole family!

Contemporary, stylish business cards. Sometimes the geeks in our lives need a break from all their high-tech gadgets. Make the father in your life a decidedly low-tech gift with Moo’s stylish business cards. And forget about being all-business -- you can create cards to say anything you desire. How about cards that dad can hand out at little league games and block parties, or when meeting new neighbors just to introduce himself? Bring back the low-tech calling card and create a work-of-art that your dad will feel proud to hand out.

A more flexible, green job. If you know a father who is stuck in traffic every day, wasting precious time away from his family and polluting the environment, give him a hint with a FlexJobs gift certificate. FlexJobs specializes in telecommute job listings and other flexible work arrangements, and a gift certificate to the service gives dad access to over 10,000 pre-screened telecommuting and flexible jobs in over 50 professional categories. Give dad more freedom, flexibility, and time with his family by helping him find a telecommute (and therefore much greener!) job. 

Solar-charging messenger bag. If your dad has a lot of tech gadgets and is always on the go, consider this idea from The Daily Green: “For the man on the move, why not get him a backpack, messenger bag or beach tote that does more than just hold stuff? Designs from Reware and Voltaic include thin solar panels, which allow the wearer to charge up iPods, cell phones and other devices from the sun.”

Brie Weiler Reynolds is a freelance writer and the Manager of Content and Community Outreach at FlexJobs, the leading site for telecommuting and flexible job listings, where she blogs and manages social media. A college career advisor by trade, Brie writes about job search and career advice, workplace trends, personal finance, and lifestyle. She finds joy in discovering and creating useful information and resources which help others to bring order and purpose to their lives, and she is passionate about work-life balance and environmental sustainability. A native of upstate New York, Brie has lived in Boston, New Jersey, and Atlanta over the past ten years, and enjoys traveling at home and abroad.

Edited by Stefania Viscusi