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Whether they’re rockin’ a Baby Björn at the brewery or rocking a toddler to sleep in a hammock at a backcountry campsite, Colorado dads are simply more badass than their counterparts in the rest of the country. So for Father’s Day (June 17) this year, skip the tired standbys in favor of local gifts that are just as hip as your old man.
1) Screwdriver set from Neighbor Supply
These birch wood and steel beauties, manufactured in Michigan and handpainted by Neighbor Supply founder Michael Dix in his RiNo workshop, just might inspire Dad to conquer that lengthy to-do list. The high-quality two-packs come with canvas pouches created by Denver’s Winter Session (as if you’ll ever want to put them away). $116 for a set of two painted screwdrivers
2) Monthly Crowler deliveries from Craft Alley
Even in the kid-friendly Mile High City, parenthood can severely reduce your taproom time. The Beer Drop service from Platt Park’s Craft Alley can help. Sign Dad up to get four Crowlers—32-ounce aluminum containers—filled with rotating selections from eight craft beermakers delivered to his door. A preview email lets him swap out any he doesn’t want. $40 per delivery
3) Otero Menswear’s Confident polo shirt
If the dad in your life is five-foot-nine or shorter, he probably has trouble finding clothing, since the fashion industry generally designs for dudes five-foot-10 to six-foot-one. Luckily, Boulder’s Otero Menswear launched a line of shirts and accessories—including this stylish polo, which comes in four colors—that are tailored for a shorter man’s proportions. Starting at $129
4) Artist Katherine Homes’ Flatirons baseball hat
In Denver, Dad’s more likely to get funny looks for donning a suit than a ball cap—especially if it’s this wearable work of art, which began as one of Katherine Homes’ watercolor paintings. The Longmont creative donates 20 percent of proceeds to environmental nonprofits that protect the creatures and landscapes depicted on her hipster-chic apparel. $35
5) A leather valet tray by Rasay Adventure Design
Wildly popular with neat freaks, valet trays are perfect for corralling all the stuff fathers routinely empty from their pockets. Denverite Chris Rasay’s vegetable-tanned leather version earns style kudos for its hand-stitching and functionality points for its water-resistant beeswax coating. You can even get it personalized with up to 10 characters. $52
6) Fishpond’s Thunderhead submersible backpack
Local fly-fishing manufacturer Fishpond probably had rushing rivers, not squirting juice boxes, in mind when it released a line of fully submersible bags to guard against the elements. But we love that this versatile backpack—featuring waterproof closures and Fishpond’s recycled nylon material—holds up just as well on family picnics as it does on the water. $300