60 of the Best Hobbies for Men

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Find a new way to have fun and improve yourself

Co-authored by Eric McClure Reviewed by Seth Hall

Last Updated: August 29, 2025 Fact Checked

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Intellectual

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Hands-On

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Physical

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Games

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Creative

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Culinary

Hobbies are an incredible way for men to improve themselves, discover new passions, and make new friends. And like friends, one can never have too many hobbies. If you’re a guy looking for something new to do, we’ve compiled a list of the most interesting, attractive, productive, and fun options around. There’s something here for everyone, so check it out!

The Best Hobbies for Men

Intellectual hobbies: Reading, coding, journaling, language learning, Rubik’s cubes
Hands-on hobbies: Woodworking, gardening, lockpicking, candlemaking, metalworking
Physical hobbies: Kayaking/canoeing, martial arts, cycling, hiking, parkour
Game-based hobbies: Puzzles, geocaching, billiards, bowling, Pokémon Go!

Section 1 of 6:

Intellectual Betterment

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Reading There’s nothing people are more attracted to in a man than a voracious reading habit and an extensive library. Even if you haven’t read a book in years, just swing by the bookstore or library and pick out something interesting!
- Pro tip: don’t force yourself to finish a book you’re not enjoying. It’s totally okay to pick a book up and abandon it if it doesn’t speak to you.
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Coding Coding is a super useful skill, and it’s one of those things that basically everyone can learn how to do. There are also so many free resources out there if you want to learn, so if you’re interested in coding, there’s basically no excuse to not learn how to do it!
- Check out Code.org for the same coding resources that public schools use.
- Free Code Camp is a 100% free online course that will teach you how to program.
- Code Academy is another popular platform for free coding tutorials and skills.
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Free college courses If you aren’t sure what kind of hobby you want to pick up but you know you’re interested in learning something, take a free college class. The class won’t count for anything, but you’ll be learning the same thing that students at the best universities are learning!
- MIT has an entire directory of free courses and class materials.
- You have to parse through the playlist page, but Harvard has dozens of free classes recorded on YouTube. We’re especially fond of Professor Paul Bloom’s Psychology 110 class.
- Coursera offers tons of free courses online that are designed to give you the foundations you need to succeed in a university course.
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Sporcle If an entire college course sounds like a little more work than you’re looking for, try something like Sporcle. The site is full of academic quizzes, games, and contests that will challenge you intellectually.
- Challenge yourself to complete at least one in-depth Sporcle quiz a day!
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Journaling If you want something intellectually, spiritually, and emotionally rewarding, start keeping a daily journal. Every day, write down what you did with your day, how you feel about it, and what you’re looking forward to. You can also start by including something you’re thankful for every day to start practicing gratitude and improve your overall happiness.^{[1]
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Greater Good Magazine
Journal published by UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center, which uses scientific research to promote happier living

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Language learning If you want to improve yourself as a man, it’s hard to beat learning a new language. Pick a language that you’ve always wanted to learn and either sign up for a local course, learn online by yourself, or sign up for something like Duolingo to get some guided help.
- Stick with it! It takes time to begin picking up a new language, and it’s always going to feel a little overwhelming at first. Don’t give up after a week or two!
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Sudoku Sudokus are a really fun way to give your mind a workout. They’re number games that are easy to learn but difficult to master. They’re also super customizable—you can choose a very easy puzzle for a lighter challenge, or get really hardcore with it.
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Wordle Wordle is a free daily puzzle released by the New York Times. You have 6 chances to guess a 5-letter word, and each guess provides you with new information. It’s surprisingly complex and nuanced, and since there’s a new puzzle every day, it’s very easy to turn this into a regular habit.
- This is also one of those hobbies that requires very little time. A lot of people are into Wordle as well, which makes this a great hobby if you want another way to connect with strangers or make small talk.
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Rubik’s cubes The Rubik’s cube is sort of like the original fidget spinner. On the one hand, it’s fun to just twist and rotate one of these things in your hand. On the other hand, learning how to solve a Rubik’s cube can be a hobby that lasts a lifetime!
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Studying Just pick a subject you’re really interested in and get to work! Become an expert in a field you’ve always been interested in. Pick up books on the topic, read online articles, and practice any actionable skills associated with the discipline (if applicable). You could become an expert in:
- A specific period of history.
- A philosophical discipline, like existentialism or stoicism.
- Astronomy, space exploration, or planetary science.
- Linguistics, semiotics, or literature.
- Gender studies, feminist theory, critical theory, etc.

Section 2 of 6:

Hands-On Hobbies

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It’s hard to think of a more traditionally masculine hobby than. Channel your inner Ron Swanson and learn how to turn wood into something beautiful!
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Gardening On the other end of the “traditionally masculine hobby” spectrum, there’s gardening. Sure, maybe it’s not as “manly” as woodworking, but there’s nothing chicks dig more than a guy who knows how to grow his own herb garden. Plus, you can start growing your own veggies and fruits, which will help you eat healthier, too!
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Lockpicking There’s actually a really huge subculture of people who are into lockpicking. It’s fun to try and turn a lock over in your hand as you try to find the optimal method for unlocking it. It can also be one of those skills that comes in handy if you ever lock yourself out of your car or home!
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Candlemaking Candlemaking is a very hands-on process that involves a lot of fun steps. You get to melt, pour, and mold wax by hand, and you also get to create custom scents. It’s not traditionally a “man’s” hobby, but that’s kind of what makes it so cool if you’re a dude looking for new things to do.^{[2]
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- If you’re interested in how potential romances go in the future, trust us when we say that there’s nothing sexier than going to a guy’s home for the first time and smelling fresh, homemade candles!
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Metalworking You’re probably picturing welding masks and giant, sharp beams, but metalworking doesn’t have to be nearly that intense. Take a look at our and see if something speaks to you. You can always work your way up to the welding mask if you want to keep working with metal.
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Whittling Whittling is a very simple, meditative hobby. If you’ve got a sharp carving knife and a chunk of wood, congrats—you can whittle! Simply carve away little strips of wood until you make something you’re happy with.
- It’s kind of therapeutic to carve little arrows out of branches, even if you don’t have much use for them.
- You don’t have to actually make anything. It’s totally okay to just whittle at a chunk of wood and then leave it where you found it.
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Model building Whether it’s Legos and K’nex or full-blown architectural models, building comprehensive models can be a great way to spend your time. The projects can be as long or short as you want, and you’ll have a great collection going after your first few models.
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Car restoration In the age of YouTube and Google, anybody can be a mechanic. You can look up guides on everything from changing spark plugs to rebuilding engines, so all you really need is a few tools and a car to work on. If you’ve got the space for a scrap car and you always wanted a long-term project, this could be the perfect time to start!^{[3]
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Beekeeping It may not sound traditionally masculine, but it does involve managing hundreds of creatures with giant needles sticking out of their bodies, which is pretty hardcore. Beekeeping is also super good for the environment (bees are important for the ecosystem) and you get basically unlimited honey as a byproduct!
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Leathercraft is surprisingly easy and requires very few supplies, which is usually unexpected by people who are getting into the hobby. If you really want to take it to the next level, you can make your own leather at home!

Section 3 of 6:

Physical Activities

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If you live near a lake or river, you can probably find a local boat launch to get out there and start paddling. Not only are canoeing and kayaking really good for your physical health, but the fresh air and time on the water can also help you reconnect with nature and give you a fresh sense of purpose.
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Martial arts Ever wanted to be really good at defending yourself in a physical fight? If so, you’ve got a lot in common with men everywhere! Pick a martial art that seems really cool to you and sign up at your local dojo to take a class. The most popular options are:
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Cycling Biking is super good for you and a great way to get your cardio in, but it’s also a great way to get around. If you feel like you’ve been spending way too much time in a car or you need an excuse to get out more, buy a bike and start cycling!
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Hiking Work up a sweat and go see some incredible sights! Hiking is a very simple and easy way to improve your health, get out into the open air, and find an excuse to visit iconic sites. It requires almost zero equipment, and it’s almost always going to be free.
- You could make this a travel hobby, too. There are national parks all over the place, and you could start trying to make little trips out to new locations for each hike.
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Parkour Parkour is the art of turning travel into poetry. You pick two points and try to find the most creative, interesting way of getting from one point to the other. Parkour enthusiasts also tend to be very tight-knit and friendly with fellow parkourers, so this is a great hobby if you’re looking to meet new people and make friends.
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Sports Baseball, golfing, wrestling, football, whatever sport you’re interested in, it will 100% have a local league. Even if it’s just going to the local basketball court to play some pickup games, get out there and play!
- Don’t sweat it if you aren’t a traditionally “good” player. Most adult and youth leagues are designed so that beginners and non-experts are able to play.
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Historical martial arts Typically described just as HEMA, historical martial arts are basically karate for historical weapons. It’s sort of like a combination of fencing, history class, and just hitting people with swords and clubs. It’s an absolute blast if you’ve got even a little bit of interest in swordfighting and/or Game of Thrones. If this sounds like you, you’ll have the time of your life!^{[4]
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- You can find a HEMA meetup near you by parsing the HEMA Alliance’s club finder. Don’t be shy, they’re exceptionally friendly and welcoming folks.
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Ballroom dancing Ballroom dancing is really the original masculine art. Before Tinder and Hinge, ballroom dancing was how a gentleman might impress a lady on a social night out. Bring the tradition back by learning how to waltz, foxtrot, and tango your way across the dancefloor, and you’ll be the coolest dude in the room.
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Climbing/bouldering The really cool thing about climbing and bouldering is that you can basically customize the activity based on what you’re looking for. If you just want a workout, check out a climbing gym. If you’re looking to go out in nature, there are tons of natural climbing spots. You can also pick and choose your spots to be as difficult or easy as you’d like!
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Disc golf If you enjoy frisbees and walking through nature, you’ll love disc golf. It’s a great way to get outside and do something physical, but it’s not so demanding that you’ll tire yourself out or struggle to survive the activity.
- Ultimate Frisbee is the team-based/sport version of disc golf if you’re looking for something more social.

Section 4 of 6:

Games

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Puzzles Hit up your local game store or buy a puzzle online and get to work! Puzzling is a calming, relaxing, and meditative hobby that offers a great way to unwind while doing something both mindless and intellectual. It’s a great sort of “background” hobby you can do while watching TV or listening to music, too.
- Puzzling can also be a social activity. If you have roommates, a partner, or family you live with, you can always enlist them to join you!
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Geocaching Geocaching is a really unique hobby. Basically, you take a GPS tracker and you go out looking for local geocaches. It’s sort of like treasure hunting in real life, except you don’t actually get to keep the treasure. Instead, you sign the logbook you find with your name and date and then leave it for someone else to find!
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Billiards The game of pool is one of those “easy to learn, hard to master” games that can absolutely hook you. It’s also maybe one of the most masculine hobbies on the list. It’s hard to look cooler than you will when you bend over a pool table and bank an 8 ball in for a slick win.
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Bowling Bowling is also an easy game to learn, but you can spend a lifetime trying to master it. It’s also a bit more social than pool, since you can easily join a team to play with if you sign up for a local league.
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Pokémon Go! Pokémon Go! is a free app that allows you to find (and capture) pokémon everywhere you go. You’ll grow your collection, meet other trainers, trade with them, and find an excellent excuse to walk around outdoors and take the fresh air in.
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Dungeons and Dragons DnD is the perfect hobby if you’ve ever wanted to explore what life would be like as a fantasy hero. You and a few friends will team up to battle goblins, mind flayers, dragons, and all other kinds of creepy crawlies. It’s also extremely addictive and fun!
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GeoGuessr If you’re interested in traveling the world but you aren’t all that fond of going outside, GeoGuessr is the game for you. You’re dropped off in a random Google Streetview spot, and then you have to guess where you are based on context clues.^{[5]
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- There are new GeoGuessr challenges every day. There are also online leagues you can sign up for that play competitively, if that’s more your speed.
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Magic: The Gathering The game hasn’t been around since the early 1990s for no reason. Magic is an incredibly elaborate and interactive game that’s kind of like a combination of poker, chess, and Pokémon. Plus, the cards are just super fun to collect!
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Chess Chess has been a popular game for centuries now. The rules are very easy to learn, but the strategy and gameplay are never identical from game to game. It’s also been proven to help make you smarter, so if you really want a game that’s going to make you a better man, chess is the best choice.^{[6]
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LARPing Live action roleplaying (aka LARPing) is sort of like real-life Dungeons and Dragons. All you have to do is find a local LARPing group to join and ask them to teach you how to play. LARPing communities tend to be very inclusive, so don’t worry about reaching out to your local LARPing group to ask to join!

Section 5 of 6:

Creative Arts

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Pick up a pencil, some paper, and pull up a simple tutorial for beginners. Anybody can learn how to draw, and it’s a great way to express yourself. It’s also the rare hobby that basically requires zero equipment, which is awesome if you’re not trying to invest a lot of money into supplies you may not use.
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Painting If you want an artistic output but drawing isn’t particularly interesting to you, painting is a great alternative. It’s more tactile than drawing, and you can have a lot of fun just mixing colors and creating abstract work.^{[7]
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Sewing If you really want to throw people off, become a man who knows how to sew. In the world of hobbies, this is one of the more useful options. You’ll be able to make all kinds of clothing and gifts for people!
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Photography There’s a big difference between simply taking photos and shooting photography. When you’re shooting photography, you’re looking for artistic compositions based on the subject, light, and other visual elements. It can be incredibly rewarding and insightful, and it’s a great way to force yourself to start looking at the world in a new way.
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Creative writing All you need is pen and paper. Or, a computer with a word processing program. From there, the world is your oyster! You could start writing poetry, fiction, nonfiction, a play, or even just let your mind wander and see what happens!
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Pottery/ceramics If you really love working with your hands, sign up for a local ceramics or pottery class. It’s easy to get started, and after a few simple vases or cups, you’ll know enough to start tackling more complicated projects.
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Calligraphy If you know how to do calligraphy, you’ll be able to make so many things—cool greeting cards, beautiful school projects, elaborate doodles, etc. It’s also the kind of rare hobby that will really make you stand out from the crowd if you want something unique.
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Acting Sign up for a local acting class, try out for the community theatre, or sign up for the school play. Acting can be a really fun and rewarding way to spend your time if you enjoy being in front of other people.
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Improv Improv is a fun way to meet new people, exercise your performance muscle, and learn a skill that will absolutely come in handy when it comes to job interviews, dates, and other social interactions.
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Stand-up comedy It can be really intimidating to get up on stage and tell jokes, but that’s what makes it such an exciting hobby. You spend so much time crafting your set, and then one day you get to see if it pays off! Then, it’s back to the drawing board to continue reworking, adding, and removing material until you’ve got a hilarious finished product.

Section 6 of 6:

Culinary Skills

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What’s more manly than cooking up some brisket or ribs? Learning how to barbecue will also give you something fun to do in the summer and on holidays. Plus, who isn’t impressed by an incredible grill master?
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Baking Pastries, cakes, and pies may not be the first thing you think of when brainstorming hobbies for men, but baking really isn’t different from any other form of cooking. Plus, at the end of it all, you have something delicious to eat!
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Brewing Brewing your own beer is surprisingly easy, and there are tons of different ways to customize the recipes out there to make them your own. On top of that, waiting for a batch to fully ferment will take a few months, which means you’ll have plenty of time to plan out what you want to do with your next batch.^{[8]
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- You do need a kit and some basic equipment to start brewing, but it shouldn’t cost more than $50-100.
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Mixology If you’re more of a cocktail drinker than a beer enjoyer, why not put a bar cart together and start teaching yourself how to mix cocktails? Once you’ve mastered the classics, you can start concocting your own unique drinks.
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Pickling Pickling is a great hobby if you like pickles, but you can actually pickle all kinds of stuff. Beets, peppers, red onions, corn, garlic, daikon, peaches, there’s really an endless list of different options. You can pickle chutneys, sauces, and more, too!
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Canning Canning food is stunningly easy so long as you’re very diligent and careful when it comes to sterilizing everything. Canning really opens the world when it comes to cooking for a few reasons. First, it means you can store leftovers and make larger batches of your favorite recipes. On top of that, you’ll have a much easier time avoiding food waste.
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Hot sauce making All you really need is a blender and some chiles. You don’t even necessarily need to grow your own, although for a lot of hot sauce hobbyists, that’s a large part of the fun.
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Foraging Foraging is the art of finding food in the wild. You look for mushrooms, garnishes, fruits, and vegetables that are native to where you live, and you cook them yourself! The thing is, you have ot be extremely careful about confirming everything you take is edible; a lot of wild mushrooms and plants are poisonous, and you have to be positive you’re consuming actual food. Still, it’s one of the coolest hobbies to have if you’re diligent about doing it safely!
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Wine tasting What’s cooler than being able to identify rosemary, sage, and daffodils in a glass of 98 chardonnay using only your nose? Absolutely nothing. Sign up for a wine tasting class or grab a bottle off the shelf and learn everything you can about that particular varietal. Practice a new wine each week. Eventually, you’ll be the go-to sommelier in your friend group.
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Mushroom growing Mushroom growing is a fun and easy way to ensure your favorite pizza topping or ramen ingredient is always on hand. All you need is a basic kit and a dark, moist place in your home. Since almost everyone has access to a basement, you should be good to go!