Gift ideas for men that he would actually pick himself

Think about how he spent last Saturday. Out on the bike, on the couch with a controller, or wandering around town looking at jackets he didn't buy. That tells you more than any list someone else wrote, because it's his list and not the internet's.

When you can't narrow it down, two cards do the heavy lifting. The All-in-1 Choice Gift Card runs from €10 to €500 and lets him spread the amount: a bit on a new game, a bit on a pair of runners, a bit on dinner out with the lads. It's also the easy answer for the man who has everything, because he picks the shop as well as the thing.

The Fashion Gift Card is for when you know he buys clothes but you haven't a notion where. A new coat, a couple of shirts for work, a decent pair of jeans. He sorts out the size and the colour, and nobody spends the first week of January queuing to swap anything.

Before you buy anything for a gamer, have a look at what's plugged in under the telly. A PlayStation card is no good to someone on an Xbox, and the other way around, so this is the one area where a bit of quiet detective work pays off.

For a PlayStation owner, a PlayStation Gift Card tops up his account for a new game, an add-on or the online subscription he keeps forgetting to renew. For an Xbox player, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate gives him a whole library to work through rather than one title he's finished by St Stephen's Day. They work precisely because he chooses the game, and you don't have to pretend you read the reviews.

Not a gamer? Think about what broke this year. The headphones that only work in one ear, the laptop charger held together with tape, the kettle that takes ten minutes to boil. A Currys Gift Card comes in €10, €25, €50 and €100, so he can replace the thing himself. It's a handy one at Christmas too, easy to sort even in the last week.

Runners wear out, gym gear goes missing and the bike always needs something. That's good news for you, because there's always a gap to fill.

If he runs, plays five-a-side or simply lives in trainers, a Foot Locker Gift Card lets him pick the pair himself, along with a training top or a sports bag that doesn't smell of last season. The Adidas Gift Card suits the fella who's loyal to the three stripes, from football boots to a tracksuit to a rain jacket for the walk to work. Size, colour and fit are his call, and that's how it should be.

For the bike and the car, the Halfords Gift Card covers the less glamorous stuff: a new set of lights, a decent lock, a pump, wiper blades before the winter. It sounds like an odd present, until you remember what he said the last time the wipers gave up in the rain.

None of these are gift cards for men only. A card for the bike suits anyone who cycles to work, so buy for the hobby rather than the person.

A 40th isn't just another birthday, and the present should feel like it. The novelty mug from his 30th is still at the back of the press, so this time aim for something he'll remember.

A night away. HotelCheque lets him book a hotel stay himself. The 40th is a good excuse for the weekend away he keeps talking about and never gets around to booking. He picks the place and the dates, which matters when his calendar is fuller than yours.

A night out. The Ticketmaster Gift Card goes on a gig, a match or a comedy night. Plenty of birthday presents are forgotten the week they're opened, but a ticket gives him a night to look forward to.

Something he's never done. The BucketlistGift Gift Card is for the man who's been saying "I'd love to try that some day" for years. He picks the experience himself, so you don't have to guess whether it's surfing or a cookery class that's been on his mind.

Going in on it with friends or family? Put everything on one card. One proper present beats five small ones, and it's a lot easier to hand over at the party.

Some names are on your list every single year: a brother, a boyfriend, a husband. The ideas tend to run dry somewhere around year three, which is exactly when the socks start creeping back in.

For December, the Merry Christmas Gift Card does the same job as the All-in-1 with a festive design, and it lands by email within minutes. Handy when it's the 23rd and you've only just remembered. At checkout you choose whether it comes to you or goes straight to him. Whoever it's for, take a minute over the message. It's the bit he'll read twice.

The same thinking works all year round. A birthday gift for your brother doesn't need to be clever. It needs to match what he's into this year, which might not be what he was into last year.

For the full range by interest, have a look through our gift cards for men and pick the one that suits him. Then you can get back to your own Christmas!