A shopping blog of cool gift ideas

The Original Buff is a must-have summer accessory. So what’s The Original Buff? The Buff is very functional headwear that complements tons of outdoor activities. The Buff is a tubular, seamless sleeve made out of moisture-wicking Coolmax (and has been treated with Polygiene for active odor control). 

Because of the Buff’s stretchy fabric, it can be configured and worn in a ton of different ways to suit your outdoor activity needs. Need sun protection on your neck? Wear it like a scarf and let it block 95% of the UV radiation. Wear it like a wristband, headband to keep sweat at bay. Or just wear it like a skullcap or pirate-style to look cool!

But what makes it the must-have summer time accessory is you can get a Buff that has Insect Shield. So aside from blocking the sun, keeping you cool and looking great, the Buff with Insect Shield has been proven to safely fend off all of summer’s uninvited guests such as mosquitoes, ticks, chiggers and annoying no-see-ums. I’ve been wearing my Buff mostly as a skullcap on twilight runs- a perfect time to be eaten alive. My Buff has kept me cool and bug bite free for a few weeks now. Almost needless to say, I’m a big fan. I love the Buff for outdoor lovers who crave functional accessories.

The Original Buff Insect Shield UV Headwear starting at $27.00. 

If you or your family have a vacation coming up, whether it's a weekend getaway or a trip overseas, the first thing you need is travel bag that works for you. Nobody want to pay an extra fee for excess luggage, so a great carry-on accessory is really going to be the lifesaver. Check out our picks for some stress-free summer travel. 

Tumi has been the leader in long-lasting travel gear since the seventies. This compact Boarding Bag is small enough for overhead storage and features tons of pockets and a telescoping handle. 

For the backpackers and student wanderers, this rustic canvas pack is perfect for overseas wanderlust or a weekend hiking trip. 

For the eco-conscious traveler, this slick laptop backpack keeps your hands free, your computer safe and is made out of recycled materials. 

For the chic traveler, these colorful nylon totes from Longchamp hold up to wear and tear and can fit all of your travel accessories and then some. 

Raise your hand if you’ve nursed a mosquito bite (bites) already this summer. Yeah, me too. So how do you combat all the flying (and crawling) nuisances that come with the territory during the summer? Well, you could coat yourself in bug spray whenever you go out, or you could consider picking up some gear with Insect Shield. Insect Shield is a safe (EPA-registered) bug replant coating that is bonded to fabrics used in apparel (like pants, hats, and bandannas) and outdoor products. Insect Shield is proven to repel the summer’s pests such as mosquitoes, ticks, midges, chiggers, and flys. 

I’ve been wearing a few Insect Shield garments for a few weeks now. So far so good- no bites for me and I love that you don’t have to apply (and re-apply) or spray anything on you to get protection. It doesn’t sting. It’s odorless. It’s safe for infants, kids and women who are pregnant nursing. Here’s an Insect Shield video which probably does a better job of explaining how it works.

My choice of Insect Shield gear is the Ex Officio Baja Long Sleeve Shirt. Long Sleeves in the summer? Fear not. The Baja is a very lightweight and breathable top which has UPF +30 so it will keep you safe from the sun. An extremely comfy shirt, no bugs and no sunburn, what’s not to like. It's perfect for outdoor lovers who don't want anything getting in the way of their summer.

Ex Officio Men's Insect Shield Baja Long Sleeve Shirt starting at $69.99. 

For the past couple weeks, our team of Gurus have broken down the 5 'G's of Father's Day gifting, the essentials so to speak. But there's one "G" I'd like to add, Globe Trotting. Even if he's not jet setting around the world, but just commuting for work, Travel can be a hassle and a pleasure for your professional pop. That's why this 3-piece Energy Essentials Kit has everything for the guy on the go.

From Anthony Logistics, this kit contains shower gel, shave cream and body spray all in one convenient travel bag. Plus it's fresh scent will help energize him for the rest of the day. And the best part is, a portion of each sale goes to research for prostate cancer. Certainly something to get energized about! Check out the rest of our travel picks and hurry because Father's Day is this Sunday. 

Bath & Body Works 3-piece Body Essentials Energy Kit starting at $40.00.

A “Gift of Experience” in a lot of ways is the perfect gift for dad. So instead of the golf shirt, gadget, or the latest grill accessory (just some of the 5G gifts for dad for Father’s Day), an experiential gift allows dad to partake in an exciting and/or interesting activity. 

For example, a while back, I went to Pocono International Speedway and did the “Drive a Stock Car” experience. So you go to the track, and after some instruction (think “Stock Car Driving 101”) you get to go behind the wheel and drive faster than you ever have in your entire life (over 160 mph). Exciting?  You better believe it. A gift dad (or any guy) will love and remember forever? You bet.

But the stock car driving experience is just one of many types of experiences available. Gifts of experience come in many forms such as fishing, driving, Harley-riding, cooking, helicopter rides, even Ninja classes! Wanna see the full list? Click here to find experience gifts for dads that are available near where he lives and send him on his way to a day we won’t soon forget.

Drive a NASCAR starting at $229.00. 

The perfect soundtrack is essential whether they’re chilling at the beach, the backyard or a foreign country for Spring Break this year. Let them listen to their tunes in style with these sweet headphones from Wesc and their week off just got exponentially cooler.

Say bon voyage to those disposable ear buds, and enjoy quality sound. The unisex print makes it ideal for any guy or girl and the leather ear cups block out any outside sound, so they can enjoy their vacation without any interruption. Check out the other cool styles from WeSc to match their style.

WeSc Unisex 's The Stash Bongo Headphones starting at $95.00.

Case Logic’s “Security Friendly” line was a very “giftable” CES find. The “Security Friendly” feature refers to the fact that this line has been TSA approved, so laptops don’t have to be removed from these cases to go through security at the airport.

These bags can be unzipped and laid flat on the belt, so that’s one less thing you have to worry about while trying to catch a flight. These cases are very well padded but certainly not bulky. “Security Friendly” gear is a must for that frequent traveler.

Case Logic Security Friendly Laptop Case starting at $49.99. 

For the past month, we've all been traveling a lot. And more out of obligation than for pleasure. Don't get me wrong, the visits to family and friends have been great, but now is the time to think about taking a fun getaway—be it near or far! Regardless of your own travel plans, there's a gadget out there that will either make it easier to get there or make it better once you've arrived. Like this Waterproof Digital Camcorder for getting wet and wild in the water. Or the must-have Digital Tactility Gloves for jamming to your iPod while braving the cold.

Whether you're hitting the slopes, lounging on the beach, going abroad or just "stay-cationing" nearby with the fam, be sure to check out our favorite Getaway Gadgets.

For those of you not in the know, today is the Black Friday of the Internet world, often referred to as Cyber Monday or Green Monday (alluding to cash not eco). So what exactly does that mean? Well, after a long weekend of eating leftover turkey, watching countless football games and avoiding another fight with a family member, it's time to get back to the grind. And what better way to celebrate your peace and quiet than to get started on your holiday shopping list in the comfort of your home or office?

Getting trampled for the last hot item on Black Friday is sooo last millennium. There are tremendous deals to be had on the Internet today, and we are here to make finding them a little easier. Check out our Steals and Deals page for some great offers from some of our top merchants. For that person who has everything, try the Wine of the Month club, and get 3 months of free shipping. And don’t worry about catching up on your work today—there will be plenty of time for that tomorrow.

Wine of the Month Club starting at $107.85 with 3 months of free shipping.