2025-2026 Gift Guide

This year, we’re taking a different path. We’ve done a Gift Guide a couple of times now and we normally try to keep it close to our specialty—SFAS prep. But we noticed a trend this year in our DMs. We are getting more and more requests from family members about what to get their guys. At least two a week. Wives for husbands, parents for kids, girlfriends for boyfriends. They’re looking for retirement, graduation, or just motivational gifts. So we keep steering into the lifestyle stuff that goes beyond the prep stuff. I’ll admit that this is intriguing. I like being a voice of reason when it comes to preparing for Selection. It feels very satisfying knowing that I’m helping a generation of guys earn their berets. I spent half a lifetime learning the intricacies of the process, so I’m well qualified. But I’ve spent an entire lifetime learning the refined lifestyle of a gentleman of adventure. So why can’t I also prepare these lads for this important lifestyle attribute?

A word of caution here, though. I’m not a frivolous gift kind of guy. I like practical gifts. Stuff that I’m actually going to use. Stuff that I already use, but the upgraded version. You don’t need a set of titanium gaming dice because you’re not a pimp and you don’t need an executive fidget set because you’re not that kind of autistic. You should be giving and receiving gifts that make what you do better, not junk that makes you do stuff just because you have the junk.

So here goes — the 2025-2026 TFVooDoo Lifestyle Gift Guide.

Everyday Carry

“A man should always carry a knife, cash, and a kerchief.” — 21st Century Philosopher and Raconteur Dr. David Walton 

Yes, I quoted myself. That’s incredibly pompous, but it doesn’t make the point any less poignant. Everyday Carry, or EDC, has become a whole subculture and cottage industry. I was an EDC enthusiast for decades before this all came about. For me, it was and remains all about curating what I carried and balancing it with being prepared. Some guys take this waaaay too far. They gild the lily to within an inch of its life. Boba Fett pouches on their belts, ankle holsters for tourniquets, and heaven help us…fanny packs. That’s not me. I’m a minimalist in this regard so my philosophy and recommendations reflect this. I hate to carry shit in my pockets. If it looks like you have a bunch a shit in your pockets, then you have too much shit in your pockets. A fanny pack should only be worn if you are dynamically responding to an active shooter. But I hate not having something I need. So I’m a careful curator. Less is more, so it’s got to be the right stuff. Let’s start with a knife.

Knife

First, the best knife I’ve ever owned is a Spyderco Military. I carried a Military across the globe, and it is an absolute workhorse of a knife. Strong and big enough to handle combat duties but refined enough to not get in the way too much. I’ve spent more than the knife is worth in shipping costs when I got to TSA and forgot to stick it in my checked bags. I’m very attached to my Military. The massive thumb hole and liner lock makes opening and closing it, even with gloves on, a snap. My wife gifted me the titanium version as a retirement gift and it’s the most solid knife you could imagine. But what makes the Military so good is also its biggest downfall. It’s big. I need a big durable knife for deployment, but not necessarily every day. For everyday carry I need to open letters, dispatch Amazon packaging, trim strings, and small tasks. So, I found something better.

This little no-name carbon fiber scalpel knife is a task master. It’s very streamlined so you barely notice it in your pocket, it’s always razor sharp (because the blades are disposable scalpel blades), and it’s unbelievably convenient. At less than $30 bucks it’s almost zero risk if you don’t like it. But I’ve learned to love this knife. The finger stud opening mechanism took just a few days to master and it’s so compact that it disappears clipped to your pocket. I always cringe when I see guys wearing suits with big combat folders in the pocket. Easy there Jason Bourne, no need to be so hard. And I like that if I forget to download it before entering a secure area (like an airport) all I have to do is slip the blade out, toss it, and the knife body is 100% TSA compliant. I keep a supply of replacement blades in my luggage so I can reload the handle at my convenience. And it’s always razor sharp. Fifty replacement blades cost about twenty bucks.

I also have a little OTF version that takes smaller blades, but the easy one-hand deployment (and fidget element) makes this one even more fun. This one is less than 20 bucks and is surprisingly durable. I’ve been carrying it for about 9 months and it shows virtually no signs of wear. I probably use it five or six times a day, at minimum. 100 replacement blades are 14 bucks. These are cheap enough that you could gift one to every bro you’ve got and be an instant hero, or stash them all around your house, car, kit, or workshop and level up your own game.

But, I’ve been traveling a lot this year including all over Europe. Europe has some very restrictive knife laws and I’m not anxious to test my counter-unlawful detention training. So I’ve picked up some variations of the classic Opinel wooden handled pocketknife. Opinel makes about 50 different knives so it’s tough not to be able to find something that fits you. I like the #7 stainless steel model, but these Colorama variations are pretty cool. This #6 in Sage is nice but the “safety ring” that locks the blade open or closed might get you hemmed up. Either way, these classic Opinels are a nice addition to the rotation.

Cash

I carry a custom wallet that was a one of kind, only-version-to-ever-exist, personal gift that I’m desperately trying to recreate. In the meantime, you should check out fellow Green Beret maker G-Chief Leather. His wallets are the cleanest in the game. I’ve got one of the FTX 3-Pocket Cardholders that I’m working into my rotation until I can convince him to recreate my custom one. It’s just big enough for 5-6 cards and a little WAM (Walk  Around Money). It’s small enough to easily fit in your front pocket too. His Field Notes cover is super clean for your to do list if you’re journaling (and you should be…).

Since we’re talking journaling, this is probably a good spot to tell you about my journal. I’ve long extolled the virtues of journaling – actually physically writing stuff down – as a secret performance hack. Shut Up and Ruck is predicated on journaling. The recently released SUAR Field Annex is similarly designed to take advantage of this. But what if you aren’t prepping and you just want a decent way to track general performance, organize your thoughts, and stay on top of tasks? I get lots of questions about what format or particular journal that I use. I used to just print out a format that I created for myself, but it was kind of a pain and it wasn’t very aesthetic. So, I created one for myself and uploaded it to Amazon as a book. It’s actually cheaper to “simply” make a book than it is to print it yourself. Here it is, a simple everyday journal format that you can use. And I just take it to a local print shop and have it spiral bound then put it in my Panther Leather Co book cover. These are the same covers that Pat makes for Shut Up and Ruck and they are unbelievably nice. I feel like it actually elevates the experience. For an extra couple of bucks, you can even customize the cover with your initials. And his gun belts are the finest belts I’ve ever owned.

Kerchief

Lots of guys turn their nose up at a kerchief (no pun intended). But I think my kerchief may be one of my most used EDC items. Whether it’s to clean my glasses or to stand in for a napkin, they’re endlessly useful and versatile. I got an approving nod from an older gentleman when I whipped one out it at Mass to dry off a bottle of overflowed holy water the other day. It felt very Jason Bourne-like in a non-killing spree kind of way. This leads me to conclude that always having one handy is the right choice.  I’ll admit that this one is a moving target. I haven’t found my perfect fit and I’m afraid I might have to just make my own. My current ADHD obsession is French linen napkins that I cut down to the perfect size and hem myself. “Make your own kerchiefs?1?” , you scoff. Well, we’re 1,500 words deep into the gift guide and you’re still reading, so don’t act like you’re normal either!

Linen seems to be the way to go, but I’ve carried these cotton bandannas for years. My wife got me some cool monogrammed linen ones from Ireland…but they’re too small at about 10 x 10. I’m testing these Japanese cotton ones right now, but I really like linen. So if you have a good recommendation shoot it my way. They should be just the right size (~14-16 inches?), the right material (linen, wool, or cotton), decent design (options), and fairly priced (I’m not spending 60 bucks to keep my glasses clean!).

By the way, this is a great project for travel gifts. It’s nice to pick up something uniquely local when you travel. Some people do magnets, others do jewelry, others local art. I like kerchiefs. They are surprisingly unique around different cultures, and you can get cool designs at good prices. I’m certain to disappoint my kids with a useless kerchief inheritance upon my passing, but it’s still fun for me.

So that’s the cutlery, cash, and kerchief but my EDC includes some seasonal items and some other non-pocket stuff, too. Of course, I have a phone and I’m pretty rough with mine. I’ve gone through so many cases that I’ve lost track. I don’t want some massive armored case, so minimal is the goal. These Nomad cases, both the leather and the polymer ones, are the absolute best that I’ve found. It barely feels like a case at all and I’ve yet to even so much as scratch my phone.

In the wintertime, when the short days and extra layers permit it, I also carry a flashlight. In the summer I just don’t find that I need it that often, but I keep them stashed around. If I’m carrying one in my pocket, then I always go with a RovyVon A3. I actually still have my first Gen A1s and they show no signs of failing. These things are amazing. They’re so small you barely notice them, but they are bright. With three modes and a simple pushbutton interface, you can get 650 lumens or step down to near moonlight mode. The charge lasts seemingly forever; I keep a scheduled rotation in my journal of when to periodically charge them about every 90 days. I’ve never had one run out on me. To be clear, these aren’t weapon lights, but they are a must have. And at 20 bucks a pop, you can have them stashed all over.

I have several Surefire Backups as they are great little “self-defense” lights, but I also really like my Firstlight Tomahawks. The Tomahawks are expensive, but they are the finest handheld lights I’ve ever owned. I keep the RovyVons in my pockets, I keep the Surefires on my weapons and gun safes, and I keep the Tomahawks at every door and in my vehicles. Regardless of what light I use I keep my batteries in these little caddies. The slimline enclosed cases are nice as well, but you have to monitor the closed cases to make sure they don’t retain moisture. The advantage of the cradles is they don’t retain moisture; the disadvantage is that they don’t keep any moisture out. I have these caddies stashed all over the place. Essentially, every place that I maintain a battery powered device (night stand, gun safe, mud room, car, ruck, plate carrier) I also have a battery caddy.

So that takes care of the EDC stuff. You will note that I don’t promote of bunch of pocket nonsense like pry bars, or extra pouches, key bars, fidget spinners, or any of the EDC cottage industry detritus. Carry what you need, but only what you need. Do I need a lock pick set? Yes, I can pick locks. But no, I don’t carry a lock pick set around. I’m not some prowling international jewel thief. But I do keep a SERE handcuff key taped to the inside of every single belt that I own.

Recovery

I’m old. I’m broken. I hurt. I have a laundry list of aches and pains, from creaky knees to a shattered back. But I still ruck, run, and lift because I refuse to let excuses dictate my health. But I’m much more in tune with the way I recover now. A case in point is my recovery protocol for post-Muster, where I will typically ruck about 20-25 miles, all while actively teaching the whole way. So, I’m pretty smoked the next day. Not to mention my normal workout schedule. I’ve finely tuned exactly what I need to do to maximize recovery. I have six products that I’ve come to rely on and while one or two might be unorthodox, I can confirm that they absolutely work. Let’s start with the feet.

Rucking can put a pounding on the feet. Oddly, my feet are more sore from a day of cross-country than they are on a pavement day. Something about the uneven terrain just makes them dogs bark. And if you follow any non-traditional eastern medicine, you likely have a passing understanding of reflexology where specific spots on the feet correlate to specific body parts. I’m not a devotee, per se, but I recognize that a foot massage often makes the whole body feel better. So I went through some low-cost foot massagers and settled on the Medcursor model that has heat, pressure, rolling, and kneading. Just stick your feet in and hit the button, 20 minutes later you’re all set.

Then I hit the lower legs with some compression sleeves. I’ve used the high-end Physical Therapist version of these, which are great when someone else is paying for them, but these low-cost Fit King alternatives give me the exact same results. I was leery when I got them as they were so cheap compared to the “professional” models, but the outcome was identical. With variable modes and pressure intensities, they do exactly what they are designed to do.

With my legs and feet all sorted, I then focus on my hands. Hands, from rucking? Yes. Just the same way that the feet are correlated to the body, so too are the hands. I couldn’t believe how much relief I could get from a simple hand massage. I was so impressed with the Fit King compression sleeves that I tested this Fit King hand massager. With variable, modes, intensity, and heat levels it ticks all of the boxes. You can use it plugged in or on the go with its on board battery, I was amazed at what a simple had massage could produce. Its sounds cooky and new-agey, but a little hand and foot massage has yielded some pretty shocking recovery results for me. They are virtually no effort with a massive return on investment.

A massage gun seems almost ubiquitous now. The professional Theraguns models are great, but I find that an inexpensive little off-brand one works just fine. Someone once told me that the off-brand ones are powerful enough to achieve myofascial release so they should be avoided. That sounds like a reasonable position, but I completely ignored it because I didn’t like his tone. I’ve never looked back, and I get the exact therapeutic effect from my cheaper version, and the $400 savings are even more therapeutic. Is it as effective? No idea, but it’s effective enough for me.

My last two recommendations are a little bit bigger commitments. You definitely need the room, but a sauna and a cold plunge are pretty standard recovery tools. Everyone loves a cold plunge and that seems to get the most press, but a simple sauna is my favorite. I know the literature and the temperature recommendations and the value of IR over steam, but I’m not dropping $2K just yet. I picked up a simple steam sauna and I love it. This portable sauna is essentially an insulted pop up tent and rice cooker. They are all the same basic idea…a steam generator and an enclosure to hold the steam. I wouldn’t drop the big money until I spent some time with an entry model to make sure I would use it enough to make the investment worth it. I love mine and I actually prefer the steam version because for some reason I have this heuristic than unless I’m sweating heavily then I’m not really getting any effect. With a steam sauna, you will sweat. I can get mine up to 160 degrees without much effort and I use my heart rate as a gauge for when it’s working. When my heart rate spikes, I’ve reached my limit. I usually get there in about 20 to 25 minutes.

I hate being cold and I think that a cold plunge is probably my least favorite thing in the world, which is exactly why I do them. The literature is less robust in support of cold plunging as the effects are fleeting and inconsistent, but it’s robust enough to still do them. In the wintertime I just jump in my outdoor pool. It’s already treated and at the right temp (you only need to get sub 50 F for therapeutic effects) but in the summer I use a tub. Many of the steam saunas will come with a tub bundled in the deal. They are all the same thing with a cheap little vinyl tub with a PVC frame (https://a.co/d/bjdXHVo). They’re fine, but they don’t give you much confidence in the quality of the build. I built a DIY tub out of a big 75 gallon storage tote. I plumbed a drainage valve in the bottom and I use these freezer bags as my cooling source. I fill them with water and freeze them in my chest freezer, then drop them in as re-usable ice. I drain the water every 2 weeks or so and if you drop in the frozen bags before a ruck, the temp gets down while you’re out. When you get ready to plunge just remove the bags and get in. I’m testing this chiller/filter combo and it’s pretty promising, but I’m not ready to recommend it just yet.

So, for complete recovery, I do a little stretching/yoga/mobility session for about 20 minutes then transition to the foot, leg, and hand massagers, then hit a sauna or cold plunge depending on what ails me. I follow this with another stretching session and I’m right as rain. I use the massage gun on the trouble spots. With a good night’s sleep and lots of clean food and hydration I’m fully recovered by the next day. Remarkable considering how many miles I have on the combat chassis. A younger me would have really benefited from this accumulated wisdom, so I give this knowledge to you for your gift giving needs.

Travel

I mentioned earlier that I’ve been traveling a lot lately. My day job has me on the road and my Son is stationed overseas, so I’ve been logging serious miles recently. This is a problem for me because I’m a creature of habit. I have my routines, and my OCD is only sated by years of refined processes and procedures. But, it’s also been an opportunity. There is a whole world of accessories and products that cater to weirdos like me, and I’ve been eking out every ounce of efficiency, comfort, and convenience from every little thing that I can. And if you’re a serving commando then you know that travel is just a part of the job. So getting your travel kit sorted out is an operational necessity.

Let’s start where we ended the last section with recovery. Staying active is a necessity and it doesn’t end on the road. I usually shift my focus on less strength and more mobility stuff when I’m traveling because a well-stocked gym isn’t guaranteed abroad.  I found these little micro high density foam roller and massage ball that are perfect to toss in your luggage. They’re small enough to easily fit in your carry on, but I’m begging you not to be that weirdo who does a full yoga session in the airport. That’s just attention seeking grab-assery and you look like a clown. We get it, you’re fit. You can touch your toes. But I’m trying to get to my gate and you’re mid-set in the jetway. Knock it off.

I also bring a simple loop of tubular nylon for stretching. You should get a roll of tubular nylon for general purpose usage. A hank stuffed in your car for recovery, a hank in your bag for cordage, and a hank in your luggage for stretching. I complement this with a set of resistance bands for lots of exercise options. These weigh about a pound and give you tons of options for in-room workouts. With the roller, ball, webbing, and bands you can run the full gambit of strength, recovery, flexibility, and mobility from just about anywhere.

This next item is my number one life upgrade in the past 5 years. It’s that consequential. It is so simple, yet so incredibly effective. It’s not necessarily a travel hack, but it reveals its genius most poignantly when travelling. Magnetic charging cables. That’s it. But trust me, once you take the plunge you will never look back. There are a bunch of options, but I like these generic ones. Not all of the brands are interchangeable so you might shop around a bit before you commit to a style, but I’ve been using these forever without issue. How it works is the kit comes with charging port adapters for micro-USB, USB-C, and Lightening which covers everything except for those proprietary plugs that terrorists use (looking at you Garmin!!!). You simply plug the adapter into your device and leave it there. Then you use the universal magnetic power cords from the kit. Any cord connects with any adapter, so as soon as you get an adapter into your devices, you can charge it with the same cord. You never have to search for the right cord, because the cords fit all of the adapters. This has the added benefit of protecting your power port as you aren’t getting any wear and tear or debris in the port. No more need for multiple cords for multiple devices. Put a single cord at all of your likely landing spots and it always charges whatever device you have.

This has simplified my travel packing as I always have the right cord. I keep a small reserve of extra adapters in my travel kit and just a few cords and I have all of my bases covered. I throw in a multi-port plug and I’m prepared to charge whatever, whenever, wherever. The cords have the added benefit of not transmitting data so you can plug the USB adapter into public ports without fear of data skimming, aka juice jacking. I keep my travel power kits in these killer Klein Tool bags. I use the orange one for my carry on as it’s easy to see in my bag and hard to miss when I get off the flight and I like the large grey one for my in-room kit. I keep an adapter for rental cars and one for random ports ( here and here) in my carry on and little bit of friction tape to cover lights, peepholes, and suspicious spots in room. Just run a couple of turns around the multiport adapter and you’ll have plenty for odds and ends. The friction tape is also nice to hold the adapter in a loose plug, which seems to be every airport plug I’ve ever found.

I throw one of the magnetic power adapters on my travel sound machine. Some guys say to just use an app on your phone, but I don’t want to risk a conflict with my alarm, and some apps override any other functions, so a separate sound machine is the way to go. With the tape covering any random LEDs, some clips to hold the curtains closed, and a sound machine and I have sound sleep sorted. For extra security I carry one of these Wedge-Its. These are great because they can also be wedged into an open door to keep it open. It’s just a simple multi-functional tool that I always store in my in-room Klein tool bag.

My second to last travel item is one of the smartest and dumbest things that I have. Gone are the days of my full-size Bose noise cancelling headsets. They have been replaced by my Apple earbuds. But I had a crazy losing streak about a year ago where I lost a single earbud on two consecutive trips.  Pop them in, fall asleep on the flight, and wake up with one missing. Gone. Never to be seen again. I swore I was getting pranked. So after dropping 300 bucks on new air pods, I finally got these little silicone tethers. Is it stupid? Yes. The whole reason for the pods is the small form factor and sleek cordless design. And here I go slapping a leash on them and ruining the aesthetic. But if it’s stupid and it works, then it’s not stupid. And this leash works. I slip the leash out of my little tool bag when I sit down, and I never have to worry about losing my buds. By the way, if you lose one ear bud, you can order a single replacement from Apple for $29 ($89 if you don’t have Apple care) or $40 from The Right One. Great service.

And finally, the AirFly Bluetooth adapter. Let’s face it, unless you’re sitting in first class, the airline issued headsets suck. I can’t stand tinny cheap sound, and if I’m putting so much effort into keeping my AirPods then I might as well go the next step. This adapter plugs into any standard 3.5mm audio jack and transmits to your ear buds via Bluetooth. It just synchs with your existing buds and lets you stream audio from in-flight entertainment or gaming devices. I stash this in my carry-on electronics kit.

Odds and Ends

My last few recommendations don’t really fit into a category, but they’ve been super nice additions. This is going to sound a bit pretentious, but I’ve already quoted myself, so how much dignity remains at this point? A coffee frother. Yes, a coffee frother. I’m not a high maintenance coffee drinker. I used to have a whole DIY bullet-proof coffee routine with grassfed butter or coconut oil, a pinch of sea salt, a dash of fiber powder, agave syrup, cinnamon…you get the picture. It was a lot. It was too much frankly. Now, I just have a good coffee, cream, and sugar. We recently upgraded to a Nespresso machine, and I was skeptical at first, but it really is superior to a Keurig. We have the Nespresso Vertuo Lattissima Coffee and Espresso Maker by De'Longhi. It’s more expensive and the coffee pods are harder to find, but it’s really good coffee. Again, I’m not a high maintenance coffee guy and I only drink one cup a day, but I want that cup to be just right. A cup of coffee (the master orgins stuff is the best) , two cubes of Demerara sugar, and a splash of heavy whipping cream. Froth it up with the frothing wand and it’s the perfect cup of joe. I have an extra wand that goes in my travel kit.

I’m partial to stuff that smells good, and I’m revolted by stuff that stinks. I can’t understand how people live in spaces that are funky. I keep incense going when I’m writing just for the vibes and I discovered a great way to keep my car smelling awesome. I’m a little fed up with subscription services for everything, but this is one where it’s worth it (you can do single purchase as well). Every month I get two wooden air fresheners delivered. They come with a metal visor clip, and the wooden puck just sticks via magnet to the clip. I change them out every two weeks and you can rotate through different scents and featured picks. Cabana and Grove are my top picks. It sounds like a silly frivolous thing, but I love getting into a clean smelling car and everyone who rides with me always asks what smells so good. If I had a referral code, I’d get free stuff for years. Pair this up with a car wash subscription (I just have the lowest tier unlimited washes package) and my car always looks and smells great. You spend time in your car every day, why not make it as pleasant as possible?

And last on the list is a decent pair of sunglasses. The cheap plastic wraparounds (even cheap ones are expensive) are fine when you’re running and gunning, but when you’re not you deserve to look like a normal human being. I joked in the Always Look Cool section of Ruck Up or Shut Up about how you could pick out SF guys in civilian clothes because they all wear the same stuff, including wraparound black sunglasses. Don’t be that guy. I like a pair of classic aviators. Ray Ban is my all-time favorite, but you can’t go wrong with American Optical. Made in US and issued to the US Army Air Corps, NASA, and JFK (a patron saint of Green Berets) the classic bayonet style temple tips and nylon lenses just scream classic good looks and design. AO has a ton of great looking models including the very cool tortoise shell Saratoga, Hadley, and Adams frames that look orders of magnitude better than wraparound black plastic.  

So that’s it. That’s the list. A couple dozen very practical yet refined gifts that any guy should appreciate. Whether you’re buying for buying for a commando, an aspiring commando, the office gift swap, or even for yourself these are sure to be a hit. If you want super practical takes on everyday items, then check out our Packing List Manifesto. But while I might appreciate good socks, foot powder, and sewing kits you might be better off sticking with this gift guide for the holidays season.

Always Look Cool!