My Boyfriend Won’t Know I Shopped for His Valentine’s Gift on a $50 Budget Thanks to These Finds That Feel Luxe

Including editor-loved adjustable weights

I treat every Valentine’s Day as a personal challenge. How do I top last year’s present to my boyfriend? Previously, I’ve gifted him everything from a swanky golf-club fitting to a limited-edition print from his favorite artist. Since we’re traveling over this year's holiday, we’ve decided to have a more affordable approach to gifting. 

Still, a tighter budget isn’t going to stop me from impressing him. I took to the internet and found loads of luxe options, including comfy Lululemon joggers, breathable Hey Dude loafers, a smashed burger kit, and more. These $50-and-under gifts are sure to bring a smile to your man’s face — trust me, I’ve already given some of them myself. 

Best Overall Gifts for Men for $50 or Less

• Soft and Stretchy: Lululemon Soft Jersey Tapered Pant, $49 (orig. $98); Lululemon
• Lightweight and Quick-Drying: Vuori Pebble Short, $42 (orig. $84); Vuori
• 5 Hours of Cold Beer: Stanley Stay-Chill Beer Stein, $25; Amazon
• Peaceful Mornings: Reacher Sunrise Alarm Clock, $40 (orig. $50); Amazon
• Breathable Comfort: HeyDude Wally Slip-On Loafers, $45 (orig. $65); Amazon
• Charges All His Devices at Once: Longconn 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Station, $42 (orig. $49); Amazon
• For Achey Muscles: Toloco Massage Gun, $40 (orig. $60); Amazon
• For Gym-to-Office Days: X Ray Pebbled Faux-Leather Gym Duffel Bag, $34 (orig. $78); Target
• Waterproof: JBL Go 4 Portable Bluetooth Speaker, $40 (orig. $50); Amazon
• At-Home Massage: TheraFlow Foot Massager, $20 (orig. $30); Amazon

Related: I’m a Married Mom of Nearly 20 Years — These Are the Under-$50 Valentine’s Day Gifts That Make Me Feel Appreciated

Lululemon Soft Jersey Tapered Pant

$98 $49 at Lululemon

Among my favorite finds is this pair of soft jersey joggers from Lululemon. They’re lightweight enough for my boyfriend, who runs hot, cozy courtesy of the brushed interior, and stretchy without looking frumpy. I imagine him wearing these during snuggly evenings on the couch and long travel days. 

Fashion Gifts for Men

We’re not gifting packs of socks to our guys anymore. Hint, hint: Because we actually want them to be excited to unwrap their presents. But, I did recently buy my boyfriend this pair of sock-like slippers from Bombas, and he hasn’t taken them off since. I also recommend this best-selling pair of slip-on loafers from HeyDude, which one reviewer shared, “feel like you are not wearing shoes at all.”

• Bombas Gripper Slipper, $50; Bombas
• HeyDude Wally Slip-On Loafers, $45 (orig. $65); Amazon
• Sellout Risk: Vuori Pebble Short, $42 orig ($84); Vuori
• Lululemon Soft Jersey Tapered Pant, $49 (orig. $98); Lululemon
• Vuori Strato Tech T-Shirt, $46 (orig. $58); Vuori

Vuori Pebble Short

$84 $42 at vuoriclothing.com

These golf shorts tick all of the boxes: They’re lightweight, quick-drying, and stretchy. Plus, their inseam isn’t too short, which allows for even more comfortable movement. The material has UPF 30+, which provides extra sun protection during a balmy 18 holes.

Tech Gifts for Men

A gifting tip? Keep an eye out for a clever gadget that will improve your sweetie’s daily life. For example, my boyfriend’s hips and legs go through the wringer during golf season, so a powerful massage gun provides relief to his aching muscles. I also recommend this wireless charger that can be set up on a desk or bedside table to accommodate an iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch at the same time. For music lovers, check out this portable JBL speaker that’s completely waterproof. 

• Longconn 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Station, $42 (orig. $49); Amazon
• Toloco Massage Gun, $40 (orig. $60); Amazon
• Reacher Sunrise Alarm Clock, $40 (orig. $50); Amazon
• JBL Go 4 Portable Bluetooth Speaker, $40 (orig. $50); Amazon
• For Frequent Flyers: Mee Audio Connect Air In-Flight Bluetooth Audio Transmitter, $50; Nordstrom

Related: This $158 Barefoot Dreams Blanket Revolutionized My Winter Cat Naps, It's That Soft — and It's 55% Off Now

Reacher Sunrise Alarm Clock

$50 $40 at Amazon

Being awoken by gentle light and music sets the tone for the rest of his day. This calming alarm clock does just that, plus comes with 26 sleep sounds. A design aspect I’m impressed with? There’s a built-in battery that ensures timely wake-ups even if there’s a power outage. “It’s a more affordable alternative to the popular (but pricey) Hatch alarm clock,” shared one customer. 

Sports Gifts for Men

Whether your boo likes to watch sports or play them, the gifts below check all athletics-related boxes. I found a sleek gym bag that he won’t feel embarrassed bringing into the office, a hat with his favorite baseball team on it — I did my research, MLB season is on the horizon — and a camping chair that’s like a foldable love seat. Not to mention, my boyfriend is obsessed with practicing on his indoor putting green during winter. 

• Youczon Indoor Putting Green, $50 (orig. $68); Amazon
• Elevon Double Camping Chair, $47 (orig. $50); Amazon
• X Ray Pebbled Faux-Leather Gym Duffel Bag, $34 (orig. $78); Target
• New Era MLB Core Classic 9Twenty Baseball Cap, $28; Amazon
• Editor's Pick: Olixis Adjustable 4-in-1 Dumbbell Set, $29 (orig. $37); Amazon

Olixis Adjustable 4-in-1 Dumbbell Set

$37 $29 at Amazon

These adjustable weights are so clever that I want to buy them for my boyfriend just so I can use them. The customizable set can be used as lone dumbbell plates, hand weights, or bar bells. I know my boyfriend would appreciate this product’s adaptability in order to execute everything from hammer curls to sumo squats. Shopping editor Clint Davis has this exact set of weights and says they're durable and that changing the weights is super easy.

Kitchen Gifts for Men

In my world, cooking is a love language — some of my favorite quality-time is spent making dinner with my boyfriend. As such, I have my eye on this cast iron skillet that’s ideal for searing steaks and frying eggs, as well as this pasta maker that makes quick work of homemade dough. Plus, when the weather (eventually) warms, a smashed burger kit (that landed a spot on Oprah’s Favorite Things list) will make for fun evenings over the grill. 

• Sur La Table Smashed Burger Kit, $45; Amazon
• Stanley Stay-Chill 24-Ounce Beer Stein, $25; Amazon
• Comes Pre-Seasoned: Lodge 12-Inch Cast Iron Skillet, $40; Williams Sonoma
• Sailnovo Pasta Maker, $43 with coupon (orig. $60); Amazon
• Quince Stainless Steel French Press, $30; Quince

Quince Stainless Steel French Press

$30 at Quince

Truth be told, my boyfriend bought this for himself. But! That just goes to show that it’s something men want. Perks of this purchase: It looks sleek in our kitchen, brews enough coffee for the two of us, and is easy to use. I also really appreciate that the entire contraption is dishwasher safe.

Self-Care Gifts for Men

A good gift can also remind your honey to slow down and take care of themselves. Implementing new self-care practices is as easy as a foot massager that can be stowed furtively under a desk or a pack of de-puffing eye patches.

• TheraFlow Foot Massager, $20 (orig. $30); Amazon
• Easy to Use: Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask, $49; Amazon
• Sabre 4-Piece Surgical Steel Groom Kit, $30 (orig. $50); Nordstrom
• Abib Collagen Eye Patches, $22 (orig. $23); Amazon

Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask

$49 at Amazon

This fragrance-free face mask is the solution to dull, dry skin. Plus, it can be used as a moisturizer, 10-minute face mask, or overnight mask. Ingredients like hyaluronic acid hydrate and plump, while cucumber extract soothes. Reviewers agree it's a key part of their skincare routine throughout winter.

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