Gifts for Surfers, for the Parking Lot, the Lineup and Flat Days

By the Gift DeskUpdated October 8, 202618 hand-picked ideas

The ideas at a glance

Hooded Surf Changing Poncho Towel~$40
Wetsuit Changing Mat Bucket~$30
Wetsuit Hanger and Drying Rack~$18
Roll-Top Waterproof Dry Bag 20L~$15
Surfboard Ding Repair Kit~$20
Combination Car Key Lockbox~$65

A surfer’s life happens in three places: the water, the parking lot and home, waiting for the next swell. The water is where all the expensive, personal gear lives. Boards, wetsuits and fins are chosen with care and a lot of opinions, and they’re very hard to buy for someone else. The parking lot and the house are where you can actually help.

Think about the bits of surfing that are a hassle: changing out of a cold wetsuit with a towel wrapped around the waist, figuring out where to hide the car keys, patching a ding before it soaks up water, losing sunscreen in the sand. This guide starts there, then covers sun and ear care, explains why boards and wetsuits are best left to the surfer, offers a few ideas for beginners and kids, and finishes with gifts for the days when the ocean is flat.

If they’re also on the water in other ways, gifts for boaters and paddlers has more ideas. For a surfer who loves road trips up the coast, see gifts for car lovers.

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For the cold change in the parking lot

Ask any surfer about the worst part of a winter session and many will say getting changed afterward. These make it quicker, warmer and less sandy.

1
Hooded Surf Changing Poncho Towel
A hooded towel poncho for changing under, without the waist-towel shuffle. It keeps them warm while they warm up, and every surfer seems to want one.
On Amazonabout $40
2
Wetsuit Changing Mat Bucket
A mat to stand on while changing, which then pulls up into a bucket for the wet wetsuit. Keeps sand off feet and neoprene off car seats.
On Amazonabout $30
3
Wetsuit Hanger and Drying Rack
Ho Stevie! Wetsuit Hanger
A wide hanger that keeps a wetsuit’s shoulders from stretching while it dries. Wetsuits are expensive, and this helps them last.
On Amazonabout $18
4
Roll-Top Waterproof Dry Bag 20L
Sea to Summit Sling Lightweight Dry Bag 20L
A roll-top bag for dry clothes, a phone and a wallet. Inexpensive and handy for any beach day or boat trip.
On Amazonabout $15

Know exactly who it’s for?

Board care and getting to the break

Getting a board to the beach in one piece, keeping the car safe while they’re out, and fixing the little dings that come with every season: these are the logistics surfers deal with constantly. None of these gifts need to match a particular board.

5
Surfboard Ding Repair Kit
Solarez UV Cure Polyester Ding Repair Resin
A small kit with UV-curing resin and sandpaper for patching dings and cracks. Every board picks them up, and fixing small ones quickly keeps water out of the foam core. It’s cheap, useful and something many surfers put off buying until it’s too late.
On Amazonabout $20
6
Combination Car Key Lockbox
FCS KeyLock Weather-Protected Combination Lock
A small combination box that clips to a tow hitch, door handle or roof rack to hold car keys during a session. It solves the oldest surfer problem: where to put the keys. Modern key fobs can be bulky, so check the inside dimensions against theirs before buying.
On Amazonabout $65
7
Surfboard Roof Rack Pads
Padded straps that let them carry a board on the roof of almost any car. It’s a real help for someone who’s been sliding boards into the back seat. Wide boards and longboards need longer straps, so check the length if they ride something big.
On Amazonabout $65
8
Surfboard Day Bag with Padding
Ocean and Earth Compact Day Shortboard Bag
A padded bag that protects a board from dings in the car and from sun damage on the beach. Board bags are sized by length, so you’ll need to know how long their board is; this one fits around a 6-foot shortboard. If you don’t know, choose something else on this page.
On Amazonabout $80

Sun, salt and ears

Surfers spend hours in sun, wind and cold water. These small, practical gifts help them look after themselves while they do it.

9.
Reef-Safe Mineral Sunscreen Face Stick
Project Reef SPF 50 Mineral Sunstick
A zinc stick that stays on in the water and goes on without greasy hands. Surfers go through these quickly.
On Amazonabout $20
10.
Surfer Ear Plugs
Creatures of Leisure Surf Ears 4.0 Earplugs
Vented plugs that keep cold water out while letting sound in. Cold-water surfers use them to help prevent surfer’s ear.
On Amazonabout $70
11.
Surfboard Wax 4-Pack
Degree 33 Surf Wax 4-Pack
Wax is a constant need. It’s made for different water temperatures, so pick the one that matches where they surf.
On Amazonabout $12
12.
UPF 50 Long Sleeve Rash Guard
A quick-dry rash guard with sun protection, for warm-water days. Sizing is forgiving, but a slightly snug fit works best in the water.
On Amazonabout $28

Boards, wetsuits, fins and leashes

These are the gifts most likely to come to mind, and the hardest to get right. A surfboard depends on the surfer’s weight, skill, the waves they ride and what they’re trying to improve, and most surfers will want to choose one in person or with their shaper. Wetsuits need the right thickness for their water temperature and a close fit; a loose suit is cold and a tight one is miserable. Fins come in different box systems that have to match the board. Leashes are sized to the board’s length.

If they want one of these, a gift card to their local surf shop is the way to go. Surf shops are often the heart of a local surf community, so supporting one feels good too. Surf lessons, a coaching session or a contribution to a surf trip are also excellent gifts for any level.

For a beginner, or a surfer’s kids

There’s one exception to the rule about boards. For someone brand new to surfing who has already taken a lesson or two and is hooked, a soft-top foam board is the classic first board, and it’s hard to get very wrong. The same goes for kids who want to join a surfing parent in the whitewater.

13
Soft-Top Foam Surfboard for Beginners
A forgiving foam board with a leash and fins, the type most surf schools use. It’s stable, easy to paddle and softer when it bumps into someone. For a beginner who’s caught the bug after a few lessons, it’s a big, exciting gift. Make sure they have somewhere to store it and a way to carry it.
On Amazonabout $280
14
Kids Bodyboard with Wrist Leash
Wham-O 37-Inch Boogie Board
A light bodyboard with a wrist leash, so younger kids can catch whitewater waves alongside a surfing parent. It’s an easy way to get children comfortable in the ocean. Always keep young kids close and supervised in the surf.
On Amazonabout $35
15
Quick-Dry Board Shorts
Billabong Fluid Pro Performance Boardshorts
Stretchy board shorts with a secure waistband that stays put when a wave hits. A good, simple gift for a teen or adult beginner who’s been surfing in regular swim trunks. Waist size is all you need.
On Amazonabout $30

For flat days at home

Every surfer spends more time waiting for waves than riding them. These gifts keep the ocean close when there’s nothing to ride.

Our favorite16
Surf Tide Watch
NIXON Base Tide Pro
A water-resistant watch with tide data for coastal spots and a session timer. Many breaks only work at certain tides, so surfers check them constantly, and having the information on the wrist is genuinely useful. It’s practical enough to wear every day, in and out of the water. Make sure it covers the coast they surf before buying.
On Amazonabout $90
17
Surfing Photography Coffee Table Book
Waves: Pro Surfers and Their World by Thom Gilbert
A large book of surf photography from coastlines around the world. It’s the kind of thing a surfer might not buy for themselves but will flip through on every flat day. A good gift for someone who dreams about surf trips.
On Amazonabout $35
18
Surfboard Wall Rack for Home Display
StoreYourBoard Minimalist Surfboard Wall Mount
A padded wall rack that turns a favorite board into decor and gets it off the floor. Good for a surfer with a board they love, retired or not, and a living room that needs a little personality.
On Amazonabout $20

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What to know before buying

Stick to gifts that don’t need to match their board or body. Changing gear, sun care and car logistics are all safe.
Find out the water temperature where they surf. It affects which wax, wetsuit and earplugs make sense.
Leave boards, wetsuits, fins and leashes to the surfer unless they’ve told you exactly what they want.
Lessons, coaching or a contribution to a surf trip make great gifts at any level.
Surf shop staff know their regulars and what they ride. Ask at their local shop, or try our gift finder with a sentence about them.

Questions people ask

What’s a good gift for a surfer?

A hooded changing poncho, a ding repair kit, a car key lockbox or a changing mat bucket are all useful no matter what board they ride. For a bigger budget, a surf tide watch is practical and fun.

Can I buy a surfboard as a gift?

For experienced surfers, it’s usually best not to. Boards depend on size, skill and wave type. The exception is a beginner who’s already taken lessons; a soft-top foam board is a safe first board.

Is a wetsuit a good gift for a surfer?

Only if you know their exact size, preferred brand and the thickness they need for their local water. Wetsuits that don’t fit well let in cold water or restrict paddling, and sizes vary between brands. A surf shop gift card lets them try on a few, which is what most surfers prefer.

What’s a cheap gift for a surfer?

Wax, reef-safe sunscreen, earplugs, a dry bag, a wetsuit hanger or a ding repair kit all cost around $20 or less.

What do you get a surfer who has everything?

An experience or a flat-day gift: a surf coaching session, a coffee table book of surf photography, or a wall rack to display a favorite board. A trip contribution is always welcome.

One more thing surfers value that costs nothing: patience. If they slip out of a family gathering because the swell turned on, or check the forecast through dinner, that’s just how it works. A gift that says you get it, even a card that reads "go surf, I’ll cover for you," will be remembered.

Gifts for Car Lovers Gifts for Watch Lovers Gifts for Boaters & Paddlers

For the cold change in the parking lot

Know exactly who it’s for?

Board care and getting to the break

Sun, salt and ears

Boards, wetsuits, fins and leashes

For a beginner, or a surfer’s kids

For flat days at home

Shop this guide by price

Under $25

$25–$50

$50–$100

$100+

What to know before buying

Questions people ask

Related gift guides

For the cold change in the parking lot

Know exactly who it’s for?

Board care and getting to the break

Sun, salt and ears

Boards, wetsuits, fins and leashes

For a beginner, or a surfer’s kids

For flat days at home

Shop this guide by price

Under $25

$25–$50

$50–$100

$100+