Stocking stuffers for men: small gear he'll carry all year
Written by the team at Everyman. We make most of what's on this list, so weigh our picks with that in mind. We say where each one falls short.
The short answer
The stocking stuffers that last are small things a man uses every day without thinking about them: the pen in his pocket, the tool on his keys. Our pick is a Grafton Mini pen. It's 125 mm long, 0.8 oz, machined from aluminum, and it rides in a jeans pocket. $54 in the standard finish, rated 4.8 from 222 reviews, or $64 in Super Matte.
- Under $10: Cable Key Rings, three for $9.
- Under $40: Porter Key Multi-Tool 2.0, $30. A bottle opener and a short edge, shaped like a key.
- For his keys: Cowan Carabiner, $35, in solid brass or black.
- If he writes with Pilot G2: Military Grafton, $51. Full size, and it takes his refill.
Filling more than one stocking? Three Graftons take 20% off at checkout through November 30.
Our pick for the stocking
Super Matte Grafton Mini Pen
$64
"Clean lines, smooth writing, perfectly balanced and super easy to carry." Mark, Grafton Mini owner
Shop the Super Matte Mini Standard finish, $54What makes a good stocking stuffer for a man
Most of what goes in a stocking is gone by New Year's. The candy gets eaten, the socks wear thin, the novelty gadget ends up in a drawer. The few things that stay are small, useful and on him every day.
So we hold every pick to three tests. It has to fit in a stocking. He has to use it at least once a week. And it has to be built well enough to still be around next December. Everything below passes all three, and nothing costs more than $64.
Every pick, side by side
| Pick | Price | Rating | Size | Weight | What it does | Our take |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grafton Mini | $54 | 4.8 (222) | 125 mm | 0.8 oz | Click pen, 0.7 mm gel | The best stocking pen. Lightest Grafton we make. |
| Super Matte Grafton Mini | $64 | 5.0 (2) | 125 mm | 0.8 oz | Click pen, 0.7 mm gel | Same pen with a velvety, non-shiny finish. |
| Grafton Mini Twist | $54 | 4.9 (265) | 130 mm | 1 oz | Twist pen, 0.7 mm gel | For the man who can't stand a clicking pen. |
| Super Matte Grafton Mini Twist | $64 | 5.0 (2) | 130 mm | 1 oz | Twist pen, 0.7 mm gel | The twist in the Super Matte finish. |
| Military Grafton | $51 | 4.9 (58) | 145 mm | ~1 oz | Full-size click pen, takes Pilot G2 | For the man who already has a favorite refill. |
| Porter Key Multi-Tool 2.0 | $30 | 4.8 (198) | 64.2 mm | 1 oz | Bottle opener and 30.6 mm edge | The best gift under $40 here. |
| Cowan Carabiner | $35 | 4.8 (120) | 61 mm | 1 oz | Holds his keys, locking wheel | Slim enough for a pocket, solid enough to keep. |
| Ballard Bottle Opener | $25 | 4.8 (80) | 62 mm | 1.4 oz | Opens bottles | One job, done well. |
| Cable Key Rings (3) | $9 | 4.8 (122) | 4 in cable | n/a | Stainless steel key rings | The easy add-on. |
Prices, specs and ratings come from each product page on everyman.co. Swipe the table sideways on a phone.
Grafton Mini: the pen he'll still carry next year
A pen is the one tool most men reach for every day and never think about buying. That's why a good one makes a better gift than it sounds. The Grafton Mini is 125 mm long and 0.8 oz, the smallest and lightest pen we make, so it goes in a jeans pocket, a shirt pocket or the back of a notebook and he forgets it's there until he needs it.
It's 11 mm across, the same as our full-size Grafton, with the same deep machined grooves where his fingers sit. He gives up length, not grip. One click and it's writing. It ships with a 0.7 mm black gel refill.
Two finishes. The standard anodized Mini is $54 in Black, Gunmetal, Silver, Crimson and Aegean. The Super Matte Mini is $64 in Amber, Midnight, Black, Military and OD Green, colors we only make in that velvety, non-reflective finish.
"Clean lines, smooth writing, perfectly balanced and super easy to carry. Fits in my shirt pocket, my cargo pants side pockets, even my zippered Lochby notebook. I'm sold on these pens."Mark, Grafton Mini owner
"The response was 'wow, this is so nice' when I gifted this pen."Grafton gift buyer
"I'll never have to buy another pen, just the refills."Grafton owner
Where it falls short. It costs more than most things that go in a stocking. Pilot G2 and Parker refills don't fit it; it takes our Mini Click Metal Gels, Fisher Space Pen and Rite in the Rain. It's built for the pocket, so for two hours of writing he'd be better off with a full-size pen. And the Super Matte Mini's page has two reviews so far, both five stars, which is less to go on than the standard Mini's 222.
Grafton Mini Twist: same idea, no click
Some men can't stand a clicking pen, and a click pen can open in a pocket. The Mini Twist fixes both. He twists the body to bring the tip out and twists it back to put it away. Nothing to press by accident, nothing to click in a meeting.
It's 130 mm and 1 oz, with a clip that sits flush with the body so it doesn't snag. The standard version is $54 in Black, Gunmetal, Crimson and Aegean, rated 4.9 from 265 reviews. The Super Matte Mini Twist is $64 in Black, Midnight, OD Green, Military and Amber.
"I love the mini twist pens so much that I bought additional 10 pens to give them as gifts to my colleagues..." Cher L., Super Matte Mini Twist owner
Where it falls short. Pilot G2 doesn't fit the Mini Twist; the barrel is narrower than the full size. It takes Parker Gel, Parker Ballpoint, Fisher Space Pen, Monteverde Ballpoint and our own Metal Gels. And if he likes a click, a twist will feel slow to him.
Military Grafton: for the man with a favorite refill
If he already writes with Pilot G2 and won't switch, skip the Minis and get him a full-size Grafton. The Military Grafton is 145 mm, khaki toned, with a heavy-duty clip held on by hex-head screws. It takes Pilot G2, Parker Gel, Parker Ballpoint, Fisher Space Pen and Monteverde, and it ships with our 0.7 mm black gel. It's $51 and rated 4.9 from 58 reviews.
"These pens fit that need and are also the best writing pens I have used. Many people have commented how well they write." Glenn D., Military Grafton owner
Where it falls short. At 5.7 inches it's a shirt-pocket pen more than a jeans-pocket pen. It still fits a stocking, but it's the longest thing on this list.
On his keys: Porter Key and Cowan Carabiner
Porter Key Multi-Tool 2.0, $30. It's shaped like a key, so it sits on his ring with the rest of them and doesn't look like a gadget. 3CR13 stainless steel, a bottle opener, a 30.6 mm edge for tape and boxes, 64.2 mm long and 1 oz. It comes with a stainless cable key ring. Stainless, Black or Brass. Rated 4.8 from 198 reviews.
Cowan Carabiner, $35. Stainless steel and solid brass, with a brass locking wheel that keeps his keys at the bottom of the carabiner where they belong. 61 mm and 1 oz. All Brass, Brass or Black. Rated 4.8 from 120 reviews.
The photo shows both in brass. Together they're $65.
"I love this carabiner. It is stylish and super handy. It is slimmer than most carabiners so it isn't too bulky to keep on your key ring." Jared D., Cowan owner
Where they fall short. The Porter Key's edge is 1.2 inches long. It opens packages; it doesn't replace a pocketknife. The Cowan is made for keys, not for climbing or hanging gear.
Shop the Porter Key, $30Cowan Carabiner, $35
Ballard Bottle Opener, $25
Small, 100% stainless steel, 62 mm long and 1.4 oz, with a stainless cable key ring included. It opens bottles and does nothing else. Rated 4.8 from 80 reviews. If he's getting a Porter Key, he already has a bottle opener, so pick one or the other.
Under $10: Cable Key Rings
Three 4-inch stainless steel cable rings for $9, or the same in black coated. They fit the Porter Key, the Ballard and the Cowan, so they're the easy thing to tuck in next to any of them. Rated 4.8 from 122 reviews.
Where they fall short. They're key rings. Nobody opens these and gasps. They just work.
How to choose
Set the budget per stocking first. Under $10, the Cable Key Rings. Under $40, the Porter Key, the Ballard or the Cowan. Between $50 and $64, a Grafton.
Does he write with Pilot G2? Get the Military Grafton. It's the only pick here that takes it.
Does a clicking pen drive him up the wall? The Mini Twist.
Filling several stockings? Put two Graftons in your cart and 15% comes off at checkout. Three take 20% off and five take 25% off through November 30. No code needed.
Want free shipping? US orders of $75 or more ship free. A Grafton Mini and a Porter Key together come to $84.
If your Grafton ever fails, we fix it or replace it. No expiry, no registration, for as long as you own it.
Orders placed before 2pm EST usually ship the same business day. Questions about which pen or refill to choose go to real people at info@everyman.co, Monday to Friday.
Frequently asked questions
What are good stocking stuffers for men?
Small, useful things he will carry every day: a compact pen, a key tool, a carabiner or a bottle opener for his keys. From Everyman, that means the Grafton Mini pen ($54, or $64 in Super Matte), the Porter Key Multi-Tool 2.0 ($30), the Cowan Carabiner ($35), the Ballard Bottle Opener ($25) and Cable Key Rings ($9 for three).
What is a good stocking stuffer for a man who has everything?
A better version of something he already uses every day. Most men carry a pen and a set of keys. A Grafton Mini replaces the pen he picked up for free, and a Porter Key puts a bottle opener and a small edge on the key ring he already carries.
Will a Grafton pen fit in a stocking?
Yes. The Grafton Mini is 4.9 inches (125 mm) long, the Grafton Mini Twist is 5.1 inches (130 mm), and the full-size Grafton, including the Military Grafton, is 5.7 inches (145 mm).
Do Grafton Mini pens take Pilot G2 refills?
No. The Grafton Mini takes Grafton Mini Click Metal Gels, Fisher Space Pen and Rite in the Rain refills. The Grafton Mini Twist takes Parker Gel, Parker Ballpoint, Fisher Space Pen, Monteverde Ballpoint and Everyman Metal Gels. If he uses Pilot G2, choose a full-size Grafton such as the Military Grafton.
Is there a discount for buying several Graftons?
Yes. Put two Graftons in your cart and 15% comes off at checkout. Three take 20% off and five take 25% off through November 30. The discount is applied automatically, with no code.
What happens if a Grafton breaks?
If your Grafton ever fails, tell us and we will fix it or replace it, for as long as you own it. There is no expiry and no registration. Write to info@everyman.co, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm EST.