Whether you just started dating or you’re practically engaged, shopping for the perfect Valentine's Day gift for your boyfriend can be a surprisingly tricky task. How much should you spend? Are you going for a big romantic gesture or keeping it simple? And what about the classic "we’re not doing gifts this year," but you still "surprise" each other with gifts anyway thing?

Seriously, though — what *is* that?

If you're stuck in a gift-giving rut, our best advice is to zero in on the items he uses daily and the topics he brings up whenever you hang out — these are easy jumping-off points for presents that'll make him feel seen. (Oh, he just mentioned in passing that his wallet's falling apart? Get him a really nice leather one that he'd never splurge on himself. Stuff like that shows you've been paying attention.)

Below, we've rounded up a list of Valentine's Day gift ideas for boyfriends that say "I love you and I get you" without being totally cliché. Spoiler alert: There will be no mention of whiskey stones or beard oil.

side by side images of a beagle wearing little beast's the love sweater (against a pink background) and the sweater laid out on a light yellow background

Credit: Little Beast / Mashable composite

The Love Sweater from Little Beast (opens in a new tab)

For the dog dad

This festive sweater from the trendy-on-TikTok dog clothing brand Little Beast is made from soft acrylic yarn and available in seven different sizes. (There are a dozen other patterns available if you don't want to stay on-theme.) A friendly PSA that there are matching socks for humans.

Buying Options

$65 from Little Beast

a white new balance 550 sneaker against a white background

Credit: New Balance

New Balance 550s (opens in a new tab)

For the sneakerhead

Inspired by basketball styles of the '80s and '90s, New Balance 550s are the latest must-have for anyone into sneakers — they're the epitome of "cool dad shoes." The all-white ones are classics, but you'll get brownie points if you grab your boyfriend a pair in a limited-edition colorway.

Buying Options

$109.99 from New Balance

various perfume bottles, twigs, and cinnamon sticks laid out on fabric in dramatic lighting

Credit: Scentbird

A Scentbird subscription (opens in a new tab)

For the guy in search of a signature scent

Cologne is a classic Valentine’s Day gift, but shopping for someone's just-right fragrance can be difficult. Sign your guy up for Scentbird and he'll get samples of scents from luxury brands like Givenchy, Tom Ford, and Bentley shipped to his doorstep every month.

Buying Options

$16.95 from Scentbird

side by side images of a Comme des Garçons wallet closed and open

Credit: Comme des Garçons / Mashable composite

A really nice leather wallet (opens in a new tab)

For the luxury fiend

Made from soft Spanish leather with no obnoxious branding, this Comme des Garçons zippered wallet is a versatile accessory that'll last him decades. Its contains four card slots, two slip pockets, an interior cash pocket, and a snappable coin pouch.

Buying Options

$289 from Nordstrom

side by side images of two men wearing Mejuri's Cable Chain Tag Necklace

Credit: Mejuri / Mashable composite

Mejuri's Cable Chain Tag Necklace (opens in a new tab)

For the style savant

Mejuri's handcrafted tag necklace is understated and ultra-wearable. You can add a personalized engraving of his or your initials for free and choose from three different finishes: sterling silver ($148), titanium ($250), or 14k yellow gold ($600).

Buying Options

See Details

red north face thermoball traction mules v

Credit: The North Face

The North Face Men’s ThermoBall Traction Mules V (opens in a new tab)

For the lounger

These cloud-like house slippers from the North Face are an accessible tie-in to the puffer fashion trend of the moment. They have a soft Oso-fleece lining, Thermoball Eco insulation made from recycled materials, and a durable, water-resistant ripstop upper that comes in 11 colors.

Buying Options

$59 from Amazon

a couple roasting marshmallows on a solo stove mesa sitting on a black table

Credit: Solo Stove

A Solo Stove Mesa (opens in a new tab)

For the outdoorsman

Available in six stainless steel finishes, Solo Stove's low-smoke tabletop fire pit is perfect for patio hangs and porch s'mores. It works with both pellets and regular wood and comes with its own stand (plus a nylon carrying bag for easy storage once it cools off).

Buying Options

$119.99 from Amazon

the white nintendo switch oled model on a wood surface

Credit: Nintendo

A Nintendo Switch (opens in a new tab)

For the gamer

Nintendo's OLED Switch is easily its best iteration yet, adding a gorgeous 7-inch OLED screen and 64GB of storage. If $349.99 is more than you'd like to spend, the portable Switch Lite ($199.99) is a great budget pick. If he already has a system, sign him up for a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership ($49.99/year).

Buying Options

See Details

three personalized golf balls next to their box

Credit: Titleist

Personalized golf balls (opens in a new tab)

For the golfer

Yes, there are different types of golf balls, and yes, they can have different impacts on your game. Titleist Pro V1s are some professional-quality golf balls that are highly regarded for their spin and control, and you can customize them with any name, initials, picture, or logo. He'll be careful not to lose 'em.

Buying Options

$74.99 from Amazon

a man in a checkered wearing a pair of Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones, bright red light is shining upon his face

Credit: Bose

Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones (opens in a new tab)

For the music maven

As far as nice headphones go, you really can't go wrong with anything Bose. The super comfy QuietComfort 45s feature best-in-class audio quality, Quiet and Aware modes for different levels of noise cancellation, and an all-day battery life (with a convenient 15-minute quick charge tool).

Buying Options

$329 from Amazon

Credit: Govee

Govee DreamView P1 Light Bars (opens in a new tab)

For the movie buff

Elevate your movie nights with these smart light bars, which create sick backlighting that syncs with your TV. Your boyfriend can mount them behind his display or just set them on his TV stand — they're super easy to install either way. Plus, they work with Amazon Alexa and Google Home for hands-free voice control.

Buying Options

$79.99 from Amazon

the lego infinity gauntlet on a wood table, a woman reading a book sits on a couch in the background

Credit: LEGO

The LEGO Infinity Gauntlet building kit (opens in a new tab)

For the Marvel fan

If your boyfriend can list the MCU movies in chronological order, knows a Stan Lee cameo when he sees one, and refuses to leave the theater before the credits have rolled, there's a 110 percent chance he'll geek out over this golden LEGO replica of the Infinity Gauntlet. It comes with a base so he can display the finished product on his desk or mantle.

Buying Options

$79.99 from Amazon

the cookbook "foodheim" laid out on a bright white surface next to a glass of red wine

Credit: Las Jaras Wines

'Foodheim: A Culinary Adventure' (opens in a new tab)

For the aspiring foodie

The taller half of comedy duo Tim & Eric is behind this New York Times bestselling cookbook, a mystical dive into one man's culinary infatuations. Its chapters cover everything from humble "grandma foods" (like handmade pasta) to luscious "juicy foods" (like Spicy Sichuan Rib-Ticklers) to small horses (no spoilers), which are accompanied by easy-to-follow recipes and stellar photography.

Buying Options

$35 from Amazon

a ninja creami full of pink ice cream next to several bowls and containers of ice cream in a white kitchen

Credit: Ninja

A Ninja Creami (opens in a new tab)

For the guy with a sweet tooth

Gifting chocolates for Valentine's Day is so overplayed — go with homemade ice cream instead. The Ninja Creami can churn up frozen treats like gelato, smoothie bowls, and milkshakes right on his countertop (with endless options for mix-ins), and all of its parts are dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup.

Buying Options

$229.99 from Amazon

a woman in a blue shirt and white shorts arranges a bouquet of flowers on a kitchen countertop next to a red sodastream terra

Credit: SodaStream

A SodaStream (opens in a new tab)

For the La Croix lover

Your boyfriend can make his own seltzers (or fizzy cocktails) at home with the bestselling SodaStream Terra, a sparkling water machine with a recently updated design and easy-to-use "Quick Connect" technology. The starter kit includes a CO2 cylinder, a one-liter plastic bottle, and lime bubly flavor drops.

Buying Options

$99.99 from Amazon

side by side images of two men wearing red and pink Nike Sportswear Club Fleece Joggers

Credit: Nike / Mashable composite

Nike Sportswear Club Fleece Joggers (opens in a new tab)

For the gym-goer

A virtually foolproof gift, Nike's bestselling joggers feature soft brushed-back fleece and a relaxed fit. The University Red/White and Pinksicle/White colors (pictured) are both very Valentine's Day-y, but if they're not his style, you have 14 others to pick from.

Buying Options

$55 from Nike

five potted houseplants on a wooden console in front of a picture frame

Credit: The Sill

A low-maintenance houseplant (opens in a new tab)

For the guy who doesn't want flowers

Not everyone is a "bouquet of red roses for Valentine's Day" kind of person, and that's OK. The Sill sells a bunch of easy-care houseplants that are nearly impossible to kill, from winding Philodendrons to stately Snake Plant Laurentii (starting at $38). If you want to get really cutesy, gift it with a planter you've decorated yourself.

Buying Options

See Details

a man and a woman hold a mysteryvibe tenuto 2 vibrator while sitting on a chair together

Credit: MysteryVibe

A wearable male vibrator (opens in a new tab)

For the pleasure-seeker

MysteryVibe's award-winning Teunto 2 is a wearable, waterproof vibrator that adapts to your guy's size for stronger, longer erections. Suitable for solo use or partner play, it's got a compatible smartphone app that lets you control the intensity and vibration patterns.

Buying Options

$279 from MysteryVibe