24 Rewarding Hobbies for Older Men (Get More Out of Life Now)

Introduction

Being a little older needn’t mean you spend your days parked in front of a television in your favorite chair.

Yes, it can be hella fun, but it’s not always time well spent.

Getting more out of life is as easy as picking up the right hobby in which we’ll be happy to help with our handpicked favorite hobbies for older gents and dudes.

That doesn’t mean the ladies can’t try them either but we think these might tickle the fancy of most men — let’s take a look.

Older and Cooler: 24 Rewarding and Exciting Hobbies for Older Men

1. Drone Flying

What’s better than racing cars?

Well, it would have to be racing planes would it not?

Drones have quite literally taken off over the past few years and have managed to establish a foothold in competitive sporting tournaments all over the globe, including being hosted on the popular streaming platform, Twitch.

For the most part, drone flying has become extremely accessible, especially when you consider the fact that a beginner drone will only set you back one or two hundred dollars and can easily provide you with years of fun if you treat it with care.

For people who are a little more creative, you can even invest in drones with cameras that will be able to take sweeping landscape shots or take stunning pictures from above the city.

Basically, if you’re an older man with a little bit of cash to spare and want a hobby that’s totally different from anything else, drone flying is probably your best bet.

2. Surfing

Surfing has a rich history that is interwoven amongst youth culture, music, and television.

But against this youthful backdrop is a large number of older men who actively engage in surfing and have done for years – in fact, these guys are the real OG’s who made surfing what it is today.

Perhaps one of the reasons why it’s still popular amongst the older crowds is that it’s one of the most gentle sports in terms of joint impact; it doesn’t smash your already frail legs to bits unlike skateboarding or other ground-based sports.

Surfing is more about technique and being confident out on the water — we recommend giving some lessons a go first if you’re a beginner to get a better idea of what to expect and to allow you to surf without much trouble.

It might also be worth investing in a beginner surfboard so you can start practicing in your spare time.

3. Woodworking

Woodworking has long been associated with solitary craftsmen working away in a cozy workshop away from the chaos of the world and embracing a sort of catharsis in their work.

If you’re the strong and silent type, woodworking can be the perfect creative getaway for you to channel your energy.

However, in recent years, it’s become more popular as a hobby due to the strong social media presence it commands; people like to watch other people make stuff!

It’s extremely versatile as a hobby mainly because it can be used to make things or can be a way to make practical changes around the house.

If that sounds like fun, why not check out our comprehensive breakdown of what tools you’ll need to get started with your new craft?

4. Weightlifting

Weightlifting has long been heralded as the fountain of youth amongst many experts and enthusiasts who seek to give themselves and others a new lease on life.

If anything, weightlifting can help stave off muscle wasting as you get older and can also promote the strengthening of the bones to make them more resistant to damage or falls.

So even if you were just to take this pastime up purely for those reasons, that would definitely be well worth it.

In most cases, the easiest way to get started is to attend a gym, though, it’s actually cheaper to invest in a weight set for home when you consider the ongoing costs associated with gym memberships.

5. Home Brewing

If you’ve ever been interested in the idea of making your own ales, beers, or even wine, homebrewing can be the perfect hobby to get you started with it.

The methods used aren’t quite as intricate as having a fully dedicated brewery, though, they do draw on the basics of brewing and will help you gain knowledge and some appreciation for the craft.

It’ll also yield some tasty beverages for you and your mates to drink once the process is complete.

In most cases, you can simply use a premade homebrew kit to achieve the full beginning to end process.

6. Meat Smoking

Smoking meat is an old-time hobby that has come about out of ancestral necessity to preserve foods rather than to simply pass the time.

Though with that said, modern-day meat smoking has become a rather impassioned hobby for food and meat enthusiasts all over the world.

Smoking isn’t just about preserving the meat, it’s about imbuing a unique flavor and texture into the food.

You can smoke meat in a number of ways; some purists prefer the old-school method of smoking in open-air over wood, though, modern conveniences have allowed us to produce all-in-one meat smokers that’ll give you a full beginning to end experience.

7. Foraging

If you’ve ever fantasized about the idea of living off-grid or out in the wilderness then you may also have considered the prospect of feeding yourself.

Foraging is one of the most primitive ways of doing this whereby you can gather plants, herbs, berries, and mushrooms to keep yourself well-fed.

The concept is simple, though, we recommend treating it with an air of caution due to the fact that some foraged foods look strikingly similar to others but can end up being poisonous.

For this reason, we recommend trying to learn what’s safe to eat in the area you’re going to be foraging from and maybe trying to link up with an expert who can show you the ropes.

8. Camping

Camping outside in a tent gives us the ability to relive our ancestral history whereby we become part of the surroundings and nature itself.

There is something quite cathartic about simple processes such as staying warm, eating just enough food to stay alive, and listening to the sound of the weather around us.

If you’re an older man and you’re looking for something that can help you switch off from the day-to-day chaos then camping might just be your best bet.

If you’re a beginner, we recommend advising a friend or family member of where you’ll be and also taking food supplies along to keep you ticking over.

A good book to keep you entertained can’t hurt either!

9. Video Games

Video games are often perceived as being a hobby for the younger generations but this couldn’t be further from the truth.

As a modern hobby, video games are one of the most accessible pastimes on the planet and have come a long way since the days of early iterations like the NES.

This means, regardless of your age, there will be some type of gaming setup that rewards you with hours of entertainment regardless of your disposition or interests.

For the most part, a pre-built PC will allow you to play anything you want and can also work as an office station in case you need to do any document work or practical tasks, though, a games console can allow for an easier setup if you’re not hugely technical.

10. Blogging

As an older man, it’s quite likely you’ve got lots to talk about and plenty of wisdom to pass on to the youth of the world.

One of the best ways to get your voice heard is by starting a blog where you’ll be able to construct articles on a wide variety of topics.

If you’re an expert at a particular trade or skill then blogging can also become a lucrative pastime whereby you can monetize your information with targeted keywords; this is known as the process of search engine optimization (SEO for short).

Other than that, simply writing about different things can be a cathartic process that allows you to channel inner thoughts and feelings.

11. Bowls

Bowls is the quintessential old-dude sport, probably because it’s easy-going and doesn’t require too much sudden physical effort.

With that said, it still allows you to flex your competitive side, even in old age, and that’s why it’s managed to stake a foothold as the go-to for older gents and ladies everywhere.

And yes, that’s right; since bowls isn’t a physically demanding sport, you’ll be paired with and against women too.

In most cases, this makes bowls the perfect social sport as it’s easy to intermingle with a wide range of different folks, though, there are more competitive events for people who want to test their skills.

12. Collecting

Collecting is an extremely vast hobby whereby you can collect things from your favorite shows, comics, and favorite artists.

Heck, even rare coins exist that you can collect too.

Or, if you want to get really obscure then you can start a collection for all the different elements on planet earth.

In fact, collecting is starting to go digital through the minting of unique NFT’s and online tokens.

As a hobbyist, collecting is probably one of the most diverse and accessible pastimes that we know, mainly because it has very few limitations in light of a person’s physical or mental disposition.

For this reason, collecting is one of the best hobbies for older men as you’ll be able to channel your creative energy in a more paced manner.

13. Rock Tumbling

Rock tumbling is an excellent hobby, especially if you enjoy going for hikes in natural places.

That’s because the main material you’ll be using for your tumbling hobby is, of course, rocks, which can be collected out and about in the natural environment.

For those who don’t know, rock tumbling is the process of smoothing down rocks and them polishing them so they become decorative shiny stones.

You’ll need a rock tumbler to finalize this process which in most cases are fairly cheap for an entry-level model.

However, we recommend reading our full article on rock tumblers to get a better idea of which tumbler might suit your needs.

14. RC Cars

If you’re an enthusiast for motor vehicles or racing then RC cars can be the perfect conduit to channel those passionate energies.

That’s because, unlike full-sized vehicles, RC cars are way cheaper but still involve similar feats of engineering that’ll scratch your petrolhead itch.

You can find a wide range of RC cars, many of which are electric, though, some can also be bought to be run on petrol or diesel fuel.

We recommend going for the electric kind of RC car, purely because it’s better for the environment and usually more convenient to run.

If you’re still not sold on the idea then why not check out our comprehensive article on why we love RC cars as a hobby?

15. Learn an instrument

Playing an instrument can be an excellent way to express yourself, especially if you’re not a man of many words — sometimes thoughts can’t be expressed through language; it’s convoluted and doesn’t always get the message across.

For this reason, learning the piano or trying your hand at the guitar can be a good stepping stone into a world of musical creativity and artisticness.

Even more novel instruments such as the xylophone or percussion-type instruments can also be a great conduit for those creative energies.

Plus, the internet is chock full of good information and video guides that will help you get started without any type of monetary investment.

16. City Cleanup Projects

Cleaning up the planet starts with cleaning up your backyard, or, your home town to be more precise.

Many initiatives now exist to allow you to do this without much issue — in fact, it’s quite likely that your local government’s office has a website set up to advertise such projects that’ll allow you to sign up.

On the day of the cleanup, it’s likely you’ll meet other volunteers who are just as conscientious as yourself about maintaining a healthy ecosystem for animals, plants, and ultimately ourselves to live in harmony.

In fact, as a hobby, cleaning up your local area doesn’t require much skill but it does allow you to give back to society in a meaningful way which means even the oldest or slowest person can make all the difference.

17. Miniature Painting

Miniature painting is one of those hobbies that never goes out of fashion; it’s existed for a very long time mainly thanks to how adaptable it is for different character universes such as Warhammer or Dungeons and Dragons.

Some of the more on-the-nose, generic miniatures include things like cars, tanks, boats, and warfare artillery that you can display as a model on a shelf or which can be added to a diorama for dramatic effect.

There’s no end to how creative you can be with a miniature — it’s a blank canvas for you to modify or color however you wish.

Better yet, it doesn’t require such a high degree of artistic skill, only the patience of a saint.

18. Trading Card Games

Trading card games have been around for the better part of this last century, though, it hasn’t been until the nineties that they really started to take off in popularity.

It’s not hard to understand why either, especially with the advent and popularization of the internet that has allowed us to share and connect with each other like never before.

This opened up a whole new marketplace for the trading and collecting of cards that were previously untapped or too spread apart.

The only drawback we can see is that some TCG are mistaken for children’s games, though, this couldn’t be further from the truth, especially if you’re collecting adult-themed cards such as Magic: The Gathering or Flesh and Blood.

Ultimately, collecting is just as satisfying for older men as it is for young children — nothing beats the excitement of opening a fresh pack of cards with the chance of getting a rare one.

19. Golf

Golf is a rather cliché hobby for older men, but in a way, this is just a testament to how well-suited it is for the lifestyle that most men want once they start to push into the better part of their forties.

Golf allows all the competition you appreciated as a younger man, just in a more happily paced format that even older folks can enjoy.

Getting out on the green on a sunny day with some good friends is a cathartic experience as much as it is a chance to show off your skills and share some banter.

If you’re not sure where to start then we recommend grabbing a set of golf clubs and speaking to a member of your local golf green to see what kind of membership you can purchase.

It’s also worth checking out a few beginner pointer videos on YouTube in case you’re not fully familiar with the practice just yet.

20. Restoring

Restoring is a type of hobby that involves cleaning, polishing, and ultimately, restoring a worn object back to almost perfect condition.

It’s a rather unique pastime and requires a multitude of different skills, and in some cases, even involves crossing over multiple hobbies such as metalworking, painting, and woodworking to bring about a fully restored state for the item.

It’s probably one of the most satisfying hobbies we know of and is easily one of the most accessible given enough time and patience.

If you have any trade skills or are a retiree of a particularly hands-on job in the past, then restoring might be something worth considering as a way to channel your old passions.

21. Meditation

Meditation is a skill that involves silencing the mind and overcoming repetitive negative thoughts.

Up until recently, meditation was considered a spiritual pastime or practice, though, recent science shows us that meditation actually has a beneficial impact on the brain and can be particularly helpful for those suffering from stress or anxiety.

If there was ever a hobby to be included amongst other pastimes then meditation would have to be it.

All you need is a quiet and relaxing place and a minimum of five to ten minutes a day to experience some of the benefits it can bring.

If you’re not sure how to start then we recommend checking out this ten-minute guided meditation video to help give you an idea of what to expect.

22. Calligraphy

Calligraphy is the practice of artistic, stylized writing and is literally translated from the Greek words kallos and graphein, meaning beautiful writing.

With such an on-the-nose name, it’s not hard to imagine what you’ll be doing – making your lettering and writing look amazing.

Some men may dismiss this as too fancy for them, though, in reality, calligraphy is the practice of kings of men who dedicated most of their childhood to producing some of the most legible lettering known to history.

In a way, calligraphy is actually a sign of positive masculine traits such as emotional fortitude, discipline, and the willpower to pursue betterment.

It’ll also absolutely blow the socks off your wife/partner when they receive such a beautiful hand-written note for their birthday or for a special occasion.

To get started, we recommend grabbing a calligraphy kit as it’ll include everything you need to start practicing.

23. Mountaineering

Mountaineering is the perfect hobby for an older man who is looking to accomplish something grand in their latter years.

It’s incredibly physical, though, does allow for some level of pacing meaning you needn’t rush the process in most cases — safety is paramount over anything else.

It also involves teaming up with others as you’ll need to work as a unit to get around potential obstacles that you’ll find littered up and down the mountain.

Overall, this can be a costly pastime and it isn’t for the faint of heart either.

It’ll require serious commitment and a willingness to accept that deadly mistakes can happen that may claim the lives of your teammates or even your own.

24. Hydroponics Gardening

If you find gardening a little old school then you may find that hydroponics gardening provides a nice little twist on the pastime and is a little more up-to-speed with current living circumstances for most people.

And in case you didn’t know, the clues in the name; hydroponics gardening involves growing and submerging your plant roots in a type of inorganic growing medium with nutrient-rich water.

This can be much more efficient especially if you don’t have a garden to use and it’s far less messy than using conventional soil.

Plus, you can simply buy a hydroponics growing system to get started and they’re relatively cheap compared to funding a full garden space.

For older men, this type of gardening can be done at home, in a small lodging or space, and can easily be transported around

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