Service members are brave and noble men, but their lifestyle requires many sacrifices. Military life can be stressful both for them and their families. They're often deployed in unknown or unsafe locations, which brings a lot of dangers for them and a great deal of worry at home from their spouse and children.
If you have a loved one in the military, I'm sure you're looking to make the most out of your next family reunion. Most military families have trouble picking out a holiday gift for a service member simply because they want to pick the absolute perfect one. While expensive cigars and whiskey are favourites among many people, there are more affordable and practical gifts that your loved one can really benefit from.
Military T-Shirts
What better way to show your love than by choosing a comfortable military t shirt as a gift? No one can have enough comfortable clothing, in fact, most of us focus on spending money elsewhere and we often undermine the need for a simple everyday tee.
To combine practicality and style – go for a t shirt with a military logo, like an army or a navy t shirt. This way you’re gifting them a piece of clothing that will provide comfort and let them show off their nobility and passion at the same time.
The logo is just as important as the size and material of the shirt. Be careful not to pick a skin-tight or an oversized model, but the one that’s just loose enough for a comfortable wear. Regarding the fabric – you can find military t shirts online in many different fabrics, including polyester, viscose, blends etc., but I recommend going for a 100% cotton tee which is superior in many ways.
What are the Benefits of 100% Cotton T-Shirts?
Cotton is a natural fabric that’s been a favourite for many generations, and is still widely used today, when we have an overwhelming number of fabrics to choose from. There are many reasons to favour a 100% cotton military t shirt over t shirts in other materials:
Cotton is hypoallergenic, so it doesn’t cause itchiness and irritation;
Cotton lets your skin breathe and it’s extremely moisture absorbent, making it the ideal material for workout clothes or hot summer days when we tend to sweat a lot;
It’s a sustainable material – while both natural and synthetic materials can be recycled, cotton is also biodegradable and it doesn’t require harsh chemicals in its production;
It doesn’t pill – pilling is the term we use for loose strands or balls of fibre that form on the fabric as a result of friction;
It’s soft to the skin;
It’s low maintenance – cotton clothing is easiest to iron and it’s wrinkle resistant;
It’s durable – cotton clothes can last you for years;
Military Book
A book gives you a magical connection with the world outside the four walls you’re confined in. It lets your mind escape your reality and explore others. For a service member that’s an avid reader or enjoys occasionally the comfort of a good book – they might find escaping reality useful sometimes. Deployment can sometimes be hard on the mind, causing both physical and mental difficulties.
A good military or history book can be a practical gift to lift up their mood as well as educate them on history. Although there are many options to choose from, here are some popular military books than any Australian military member would enjoy reading:
“Ghost Empire” by Richard Fiddler;
“Hack in a Flack Jacket” by Peter Stefanovic;
“Passchendaele” by Paul Ham;
“Holden: Our Car 1856-2017” by Will Hagon and Toby Hagon;
“1787: The Lost Chapters of Australia’s Beginnings” by Nick Brodie;
“Hamilton Hume” by Robert Macklin;
“Flagship” by Mike Carlton;
“The Silk Roads” by Peter Frankopan;
“Queen Bees” by Sian Evans.
Multi-Purpose Tool
When we talk about practical gifts, we can’t leave out the old reliable pocket multi-tool. This convenient device was always widely used in different forms, but it especially rose in popularity with the introduction of the ‘Swiss army knife’. The pocket-sized multi-tool soon became a common item carried by soldiers, outdoorsmen and artisans everywhere.
Why is a Pocket Multi-Tool Useful?
With the passage of time, designers and metalworkers continue to revisit the pocket multi-tool and add more functions to it. Today’s perfected version of the multi-tool gives you a large number of tools combined in a small device that you can fit in you pocket and carry it with you every day.
Multi-tools come in handy for a lot of everyday situations. Most models are equipped with pliers, knives, screwdrivers, a wire cutter, ruler, can and bottle opener and other tools. While they can’t be used for complex work, they can easily handle the more common small jobs, like loosening or tightening a screw, measuring, cutting something open, marking a surface etc. This saves you the trouble of searching for your toolbox anytime you need to do a simple task.
The designers of these tools take into consideration the technical problems we face in our daily lives and offer easy solutions. Multi-tools are so versatile that you can use them creatively to solve almost any everyday problem.
Durable Watch
Being on time is extremely important in the military, so a quality watch becomes an essential for any military member. On today’s market there are countless of expensive watches available, but not all of them are durable enough to be used in the field. This is why a quality shock, magnetic and water resistant watch is another ideal gift for a service member. One thing to keep in mind is that if they’re required to be in a classified area, they won’t be able to wear a watch that has GPS in it.
Conclusion
Picking a holiday gift for a military member can be quite the challenge, however, there are many gift ideas that can help you show them your love. Practical and durable gifts provide just as much value as those that focus on aesthetics. Options such as comfortable 100% cotton clothing with a military logo, a good book, a handy pocket tool or a durable watch are sure to improve their everyday lifestyle and lift their mood.
