Men will enjoy these creative gifts
ChristmasFor ease, presents can be bought online

BY RICK ROGERS

Published: November 23, 2008

Tired of receiving holiday-themed ties and tins of stale popcorn? No need to worry. Here are some gift items that any guy would like to unwrap on Christmas morning. And the best part is the price tag: each retails for less than $50.

When you receive an invitation that reads "black-tie optional,” do you assume a sports team tie is suitable? Do you avoid picking up the dinner tab because you don’t know the correct amount to tip? Consider the "Esquire Big Black Book 2008: The Style for Successful Men,” a how-to guide that covers appearance, etiquette and clothing issues. Go online to www.esquire.com.

Need help selecting new recordings for your home listening library? Try "1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die: A Listener’s Life List.” You’ll discover many of your current favorites and find suggestions about new artists and sounds. Go online to www.1000recordings.com.

Looking for a personalized gift? Customize your own 12-pack of Jones Sodas with personal photos and messages. Log onto www.myJones.com, submit a photo and text, and pick your favorite flavor. Personalized bottles will arrive in time for Christmas.

"America at Home,” a hardcover book of photos that captures families at work, at play and with friends and relatives, can be personalized with any photograph you wish to upload. You can even see what the cover of "your” book will look like. Go online to www.MyAmericaAtHome.com.

Love to listen to music while you jog but have trouble keeping the tiny ear buds in place? BudFits can help you out. Go online to www.BudFits.com. The ear buds snap into these devices that can be molded to the shape of your ear.

Tired of spilling your coffee or having it turn cold on your morning commute? Check out JOEmo XL, a 16-ounce mug that keeps drinks hot for up to six hours. The mug has a leak-proof top and comes with a travel bag. Go online to www.highwave.com

Like to read in bed but the light keeps everyone awake? Try the Periscope LED Book Light in a Book Cover. Slip your book into the cover (available for paperbacks and hardcover books), pull up the retractable light and start reading. The light is adjustable and is powered by three AA batteries. Go online to www.periscopelight.com.

Are you a radio junkie? Aluratek’s USB Internet Radio Jukebox provides access to 13,000 internet radio stations in 150 countries. The unit plugs into your computer’s USB port. You can search for music by continent, country, state or more than 50 genres. Go online to www.aluratek.com for more information about this plug-and-play device.

Joggers often complain about finding a suitable place for their iPod while they run. Try nekFIT, a behind-the-neck system that holds your iPod out of the way. Lighter than a pair of sunglasses, nekFIT is fully adjustable and keeps dangling wires out of your way. Go online to www.nekfit.com.

You’ve heard the story about using the right tool for the right job. Go online to www.channellock.com, a company that manufactures hand tools. Channellock tools are designed for durability, a better grip and longer lasting cutting edges.

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