Suck UK Keyring Bottle Opener (£7.00)	Pigeon Lamp' by Ed Carpenter (£55.00)	Drinking glasses made from recycled beerbottles (£9.99)

Buying surprise gifts for men can be notoriously hard especially when your budget isn’t big enough to stretch to a wide screen TV or Xbox 360 – and let’s face it they’re usually the main present requests most women receive. So when it comes to brothers, dads or significant others where do you find an affordable gift that will be a genuine hit - yet isn’t the obligatory CD or DVD that they probably already have?

Usually the best way to find present clues is by thinking about their interests and hobbies, maybe they’re into: sport, computers, travel, films, art, music or photography. With a little research on the Internet you can find out more about the chosen subject, locate related products and even read online reviews to uncover what’s hot and what’s not. Online forums are also a good place to contact fellow fanatics who may be willing to offer useful suggestions on present ideas. If you’re still none the wiser, ask their best friend (but not their mum as she will undoubtedly be as confused as you!). This step usually never fails to generate a wealth of inspiration so long as they promise not to let slip after a few pints down the local.

A fairly accurate generalisation is that most men will appreciate anything that involves hours of inane pleasure and complex switches (please note: the Playstation 3 is currently available on pre-order). With that in mind gadgetry is a great avenue to explore. For younger men, retro games such as rubix cubes, space hoppers or Scalextric Formula One may well win you points and can be stored conventionally out of view in the garage or basement. Dads on the other hand are likely prefer practical gadgets such as compasses, pedometers and hiking poles for weekend rambles. Also not to be overlooked are traditional options such as ties, socks and beer – you should never underestimate the welcome a four pack of lager will receive on Christmas day, or similarly the birthday excitement which can be caused on opening a brand new electric tool (which looks not too dissimilar to the one in the shed gathering dust).

Above all, avoid choosing something you would like - a set of aromatherapy bath bombs or Jamie Oliver recipe book may be your idea of a great gift but for many men could cause great disappointment. So with that in mind, pampering products and gourmet grub are usually left well alone, unless the recipient is a known fan or else of a more refined nature. In this event, you can find some marvellously well put together kitchen hampers online, as well as wine crates which can be delivered direct to the door.

Travel Journal with memento pockets (£10.99)	Lomography Action Sampler 4-Lens Camera Kit (£21.99)	'Ceramic Half Pint' designed by Tim Parsons (£9.75))

All pictured gifts are available from online lifestyle store: Source Collective www.source-collective.co.uk