Ds has a group of seven (including himself) guy friends who will all be graduating this spring. I have met all of them on our couple of trips to campus. I have spent varying amounts of time with them but not a lot of time with any of them. When I send ds a care package, this is the group with whom he shares. When ds was abroad, I sent a care package to them even though ds wasn’t there. I would like to get them each something for graduation. I’d like it to to be something meaningful, useful, and cohesive among the group that they would want to keep for a long time. Guys are so incredibly difficult to buy for! I don’t want pens or money clips or all the other similar gifts that guys never use and wonder why people buy them such things. They hope to all travel abroad together after graduation, but I’m not sure it will work out for all of them to go. Does anyone have any ideas??? I’d like to keep it around $50 each.
I saw these travel wallets that would be cool.
https://www.rei.com/product/100105/hydro-flask-wide-mouth-vacuum-water-bottle-32-fl-oz
Perhaps personalized with their names?
Framed pictures of the seven of them? Gift certificates to a restaurant they can meet up at? Baseball/concert/movie/other tickets they could go to together?
Guys are so very hard to buy for, my DS is a grade below yours, and I really can’t imagine any useful gift other than cash. Regardless of what you decide, it is a very sweet gesture.
I was thinking an experience they could enjoy together before they all disperse. An outdoor experience, a dining experience, etc.? Here or when they travel abroad?
The only other thing that comes to mind…never know who might use it but…is a leather bound journal. Something not too large that could have multiple purposes as they move on. Maybe something refillable. My 25 year old son is a fan of something like this. You can find lots of examples at a place like Barnes and Noble.
pocket knives
There are many brands, Swiss Army, etc. but here’s a classic and can be engraved.
https://www.opinel-usa.com/opinel-knives/engraving
Kids don’t want stuff unless they buy it.
I agree with a shared experience for the group to have together this semester.
@abasket my almost 30 something just got a refillable photo album…engraved with her name. She didn’t quite know how to react. I would not get anything that’s even close to this for these guys?
For $50 each…or less…a good Swiss Army knife might be good…the Victorinox ones…not a knock off. They will need to be reminded NOT to carry them in their persons during plane travel.
Since you have taken them out…is there some place that the would like…that they could go to…on you dime…that might be a little more pricey than they might want to spend?
I didn’t recommend a photo album - it was a journal - write in it, keep lists in it, doodle in it…
How about a group experience like this one?
https://www.k1speed.com/santa-clara-location.html
I know some folks who had corporate teambuilding outings there and liked it! 
Ok…after some more thought. I think it’s very nice you are getting this group of friends a gift. Get something you think they will enjoy.
I will say…when my kid graduated from college, he and his friends were all embarking on different paths…and they would each have enjoyed a crisp $50 bill…and a nice note.
A shared experience would be my choice but that may be difficult to arrange. The guys in my family all have a swiss army knife but honestly, I have no idea what they use them for!
I like the Yeti ramblers- they can be customized. Nice idea- hope you find something!
Thanks for the ideas! For a “thing” I like the water bottle idea. I had actually thought about yeti cups. Pocket knives are good, too. To me, a journal or travel folder are too personal as to what different people like/don’t like in those.
However, the idea of an experience together is really good, I’ll have to ponder how to best coordinate that. If I do that I also thought maybe I could tell Ds to send me a pic of the group at the experience and THEN print up and frame thst pic for each of them. Printed pics are so rare for young folks these days. Might be nice to have as they scatter after graduation.
When our one kid graduated from undergrad, he had a group of four good friends…and they were spreading all over the country. At graduation, I took a nice picture of all four of them together…and got frames. Then after graduation! I sent each of them the framed picture…along out something different for each of them
Examples.
Kid one got the framed pic…and a couple of cooking for one and two easy cookbooks…and a small gift card to the local to where he lived grocery store.
Kid two got the framed pic and a gift card to Starbucks.
Kid three got a framed picture and a gift card to Target.
I think the Leatherman multi-tools are more useful than a swiss army knife. This one is engravable.
I like the idea of a shared experience.
I have a Leatherman that I never use. It’s a guy thing, we just really need to have a Swiss army knife type of thing even if we never use it.
Actually mine sits in my car’s glove compartment so I’m prepared for my fantasy of McGyvering my way through being attacked by Russian agents while on my way to stop the zombie apocalypse, or maybe saving a kitten trapped in a storm sewer where only a knife, screwdriver, mini-saw, and pliers could save the day. Never know, could happen.
^^lol
I have daughters but my D had a picture of her group of 8 friends and I had it framed. We ordered them online and had them engraved with the name of her school and the year she graduated. Each girl was given one at a party we had with the 8 and their families during graduation weekend.
I have a Swiss Army knife I keep in my purse (except when traveling by plane). It has come in handy many times. They can be engraved as well.
I don’t think there is a “wrong gift” as it’s the thought that counts.
Escape rooms are popular and have read they can be rented for parties—escape and then you have your party. Both my kids enjoyed participating in them separately.
A framed photo of them might be a nice thing. I’m a multi-tool fan myself. My kids and H like them too.
I’ll also put my vote in for a framed photo of the group (maybe even order frames from the college with the school name/logo). Kids don’t print out and frame actual photos in today’s digital world so it would be a meaningful keepsake. (FWIW I did that for my D and her friends and my D said she has seen the picture displayed in her friend’s apartments when she visited).