Mine just got home from school and he hasn’t a clue. Add to that, he’s going to be working FT the next couple weeks where he worked this summer. (My Forehead on table right now).
I reminded him we don’t guess what they want anymore.
Same here. I have not heard much after multiple requests and I refuse to just hand them money.
Me, three. I’m likely to tell them a constant mantra from childhood: You get what you get and you don’t pitch a fit. Lol! One idea finally from 20 yr old son. Zero ideas from 26 year old. His girlfriend is getting a ton of stuff because- girl! I’m grasping at the old standbys - socks and wallets. Also may do cufflinks and frenchcuff dress shirts - something for a dressy occasion that they wouldn’t think to get themselves. Even their stockings are lacking. Luckily I finished everyone else!
Allbird wool sneakers.
Young adult son didn’t ask for anything. Since he now has enough money to buy any video game he wants, he hasn’t asked for anything in quite a while. But he still doesn’t know when he needs good articles of clothing etc. In the past, I’ve got him dress shirts, suits and blazers. This year, when the nice winter stuff was on sale, I got him a couple of coats. For Christmas, I got him a higher end electric shaver.
26 year old son. He’s been on his own employed as a teacher for five years. (all our kids still make lists and we appreciate and encourage that)
His list included:
Favorite work pants that are more expensive than his budget
Jeans
Puma suede shoes
Books from his favorite author
Playstation 12 month subscription thingy (I bought it - it was the only really extra, fun thing on his list!)
Running gear
Stuff like that. Most of it IMO was really practical! But needed.
I just realized that the 23-year-old son’s gaming computer doesn’t have a disk drive, so he can’t watch DVDs. I bought him an external DVD drive for Christmas. Still looking for more ideas, beyond clothing.
Warm winter coat. This after years of not wearing much warm clothing (and we live where it does get quite cold) he has finally decided that a warm coat might be a good idea after all. Now the challenge is that I’m not finding many in the stores here since they have been selling them for the past 3 months so the selection is pretty slim right now. Sigh.
He asks for almost nothing, so I was excited when he actually did ask for something!
Special controller for nintendo . A specific memory card. Got numbers and sku’s. Where to buy it and the going price LOL. Nothing expensive. It’s so nice to have at least one person not making you guess! It’s like a present in itself!
." But he still doesn’t know when he needs good articles of clothing etc."
So good ties, socks, coats all work and are appreciated.
"he has finally decided that a warm coat might be a good idea after all. Now the challenge is that I’m not finding many in the stores here since they have been selling them for the past 3 months "
I’ve taken to announcing that RIGHT NOW is the time to decide that you need something. Don’t wait until all the sales are over and the stock is gone.
On top of Christmas, my oldest DS’ birthday is in two days! He doesn’t ask for much either, mostly gift cards to his favorite online guitar/music store. He wears shorts and a company shirt for work, so no dress clothes needed. He is extremely picky about his shoes, so I ain’t goin’ there! 
For his birthday, we got him a nice set of patio furniture; he and two roomies just moved to a big house with two decks on the back. He and his roomies loved the patio set. Still need another gift or two to wrap, but I’m not inspired by anything so far.
Having trouble with younger DS, age 17, as well. I guess I should be happy that I have two sons who don’t whine about wanting everything under the sun.
My kids haven’t asked for anything…we don’t really do lists and we don’t buy a whole lot. I try to put much thought into every gift and don’t buy anything I am not sure they will really like. Son is getting the WS Red Sox hat, a duffle to match his Tommy Bahama suitcase I got him last year, a Dicks Gift card for golf stuff, an UnderArmor golf windbreaker?, small cologne and a BBQ smoking cookbook with a couple small packets of rub.
D is getting Tommy Girl perfume, mid-calf rainboots, sunbeam light for Seattle LOL, movie pack of 4tickets w/gift card for snacks, blouse, makeup/facial mask stuff.
Done.
I’m having the same trouble with my 22 and 26 yo sons. So hard to buy for. The girls give me lists, and they are reasonable. All one asked for was dress white shirts (BORING!) and money, plus See’s candy as a treat. I f8nally gave up finding anything fun for him. The other’s gf indicated desks and/or chairs would be a good idea. (inexpensive, not high quality).
@bookreader, consider REI for winter coats. I got my non coat wearing son a Patagonia puffer type of coat from there this year, and he’s actually wearing it. (This kid went to school near Albany for 4 years and didn’t wear a coat).
The young 20 something men I shop for are pretty easy - books, concert tickets, clothing/footwear, trendy restaurant gift cards, tickets to sporting events, ski and camping gear, they all enjoy cooking and eating so gourmet foods, nice kitchenware and appliances, barware, etc.
Do they have hobbies, pursuits outside of jobs/college?
I ordered S several coats from Macy’s on sale on line one holiday season. They were very attractive but none fit him properly so they all went back to neighborhood Macy’s.
Did find D a lovely wool coat at Bloomingdale’s online the other year—fit her perfectly and she says she loves it. Of course if had to be mailed to us but was on sale. She uses it in LA—very elegant & warm wool.
Money for travel.
Mine are 26 and 29, haven’t asked for anything. We bought them gargoyles. 
My son hasn’t asked me for anything since he was 8 years old and asked for a fire breathing dragon.
He’s really difficult to buy for, he’s 24, lives on his own and is very minimalist. I’m gifting him a dog walker, doggie daycare, butcher box, and then some small things he desperately needs to function in his kitchen. His claim to fame - a few years ago he told me he doesn’t give me ideas because I’m so good at buying things for him.
@HouseChatte – I’d love to know where to get the best gargoyles.
My S was the only kid who didn’t give me a list. Hs wife told me he wanted a Nest thermostat. We gave it to him for Chanukah. He likes it but I don’t think it was a fun gift. He loves shoes and used to put expensive basketball shoes on his list. He has a good paying job and I think he now buys his own. Plus he works for a footwear company so now gets a lot of his shoes for a discount. Sporting event tickets are nice. Also gift cards to nicer restaurants.
I gave future SIL a hydro flask water bottle and grilling spices.
I bought son Bambas holiday socks and PJs. I throught I was thru, but fiancé said he also needs black pants and a white sweater. In the past, I’ve gotten him coffee machines, a 3 month gift certificate to a company that delivers coffee, AWAY luggage, and boots (which he picked out). He needed a winter coat, but they bought that at REI, I think. As a couple, they like cooking classes.
I’m sure my son could use shoes. I offered the boots last year when I saw he was wearing his sneaks in a snowstorm. I have no idea what young men like.