The Surfers Gift Guide - 2023 Edition

Every surfer needs wax, and there are a few other accessories that some use, like a plain old but colorful Wax Comb for getting the most out of your surf wax. Or, snag a mighty but small Wax Fresh Scraper. Made from recycled plastic, this nifty doodad is the real deal. These are all awesome stocking stuffers that are guaranteed to be used. Just make sure you get the right wax for their water temperature, and they'll be stoked!

Not everyone may know how to use this stuff, but it is great for patching up an old leaky wetsuit. If you want to get the most out of a suit, this can delay buying a new suit by months, and it's a fraction of the cost. Even if you could send your suit in for warranty, sometimes it's not worth the wait. If you have wetsuit glue on hand, you'll be back in the water the next day and won't have to pay to send the suit in for repair.

For the do-it-yourself types out there, this is a great gift. When you get a ding in your board, and it's taking on water, you don't want to wait a week for the local guy to repair it. Fix it up yourself, and you'll be back in the water the next day. More time surfing makes for a happier surfer.

Note: These repair kits come in Epoxy or Polyester, so double-check the board's construction before using

This one is a no-brainer, or at least you would think. Most surfers are so stoked about getting out in the water that they forget the sunscreen. Maybe they're going on a trip, and they will need it. Either way, every surfer could use some quality sunscreen.

Sun Bum sunscreen comes in many shapes and sizes. Check out their Lip Balm! It smells amazing.

For surfers who use a wetsuit, this is a handy way to extend the suit's life and keep it smelling nice. Simply mix with water in a large bucket or container, dunk your wetsuit in, and give it a rinse. You'll find your suit feels softer and smells nicer, which is better for everyone. This is also great for treating wetsuits if you use them in chlorine, as it will cleanse the neoprene, keeping it from deteriorating.

A shop favorite, these air fresheners instantly transform your car, room, or wherever into a tropical atmosphere. Over the years, Sex Wax has made a few different flavors, but take our word for it when we say that Coconut is the best one by far.

Marcus Paladino’s first photo book, a 320-page love letter to surf photography from Canada’s west coast. Dedicated to capturing high-performance surfing at its best and finding split-second action and beauty in lost moments of time, combine to help craft a portfolio of energetic and meditative photography like few others. With a keen eye for the unique and the almost forgotten, Cold Comfort is an amazing collection of imagery that skillfully communicates the photographer’s deep love and respect for this western Canadian coastal landscape.

Check out our curated selection of drinkware. We have something for everyone, from a bottle opener to shot and pint glasses. Grab a mug for that special someone with the mug collection or the surfer on the go!

Tenacious Tape is an ideal wetsuit repair tool for those fixes that require a little more than wetsuit cement. This item is a warm, flexible, and durable piece of neoprene that can be ironed onto any wetsuit, booties, gloves, hood, or fishing waders. It works well for areas that have been stretched thin or larger rips and tears that need a lot of coverage—a good addition to the tool chest of any surfer.

Are you tired of struggling with damp, smelly wetsuits, boots, and gloves after a long day in the surf? Say goodbye to the hassle and hello to your new friend - the C-Monsta Wetsuit Hanger V2. With a wider mouth to cradle your wetsuit, more accessory hooks for your gear, and a stiffer top hook for stability – this hanger is a surfer's dream come true. The C-Monsta Wetsuit Hanger V2 isn't just for surfers; whether you're a sailor, swimmer, paddleboarder, windsurfer, or water skier, this hanger promises to take care of your gear for the long haul.

Taking care of your wetsuit is important, and when getting in and out of your suit, it's easy to accelerate the inevitable process of wear and tear. Using a changing mat, you can protect the soft neoprene of a wetsuit from the pavement, gravel, and other rough surfaces. As a bonus, once you're out of your wetsuit, you can cinch it up, and it becomes a water-resistant bag.

Every surfer needs a leash or two. At least one for each board is the minimum. What a lot of surfers don't have is a backup leash. If the surf is good, and the surf shop is closed, your leash can break, and you'll find yourself scrambling to search for an old leash or a buddy to borrow one from. Get them a new leash as a backup, and they'll be stoked. From Channel Islands, FCS, and Hotline, we have an assortment of surf leashes for every surfer.

Carrying a 10-foot longboard can be tiresome. That's where Board Buddy comes in. If you have a surfer complaining about their board being too heavy or too hard to reach their arm around, this is the gift for them. Just be careful. Get this for a veteran surfer, and they might take offense as many people don't mind carrying a large board, and it may bruise their ego. On the other hand, it could be a great gag gift!

The water isn't always cold enough to need booties, but if it is, they are a priceless piece of surf gear. Your feet are in the water more than any other part of your body, so they get the coldest. Even if you don't mind the icy chill and slow oncoming numbness, the session's over when you can't feel your feet. It's like surfing on stilts. Check out our 7 Best Surf Boots for 2023 for a quick overview of our best-selling surf boots.

The fin removal tool is a no-brainer for the surfer on the go who needs to be ready for changing conditions. Specifically designed for use with the FCS II system, this handy little tool allows you to change out your fins quickly. Even better, it's available in three colors to fit your surfing personality.

Surfers have a lot of gear (much of it listed on this page) and need somewhere to put it. Especially if they use a wetsuit. For those that like to surf the more remote locations, sometimes you have to hike in, and carrying a wet wetsuit to and from the beach is not fun for anyone. By the time you get up the hill, you're soaking wet, cold, and tired. Our online shop has an assortment of bags from FCS, Dakine, Channel Islands, Oakley, Patagonia, NRS, and more. Be sure to check out our review of the 7 Best Surf Backpacks of 2023 for further recommendations.

A changing poncho is a handy piece of gear as it makes changing in and out of a wetsuit a little more discrete and a lot warmer than a towel. These are becoming increasingly popular as they're affordable and really comfortable to wear. They're also multi-purpose; a changing poncho easily doubles as a bathrobe or as part of a wizard costume next Halloween. We really dig the Slowtide Ponchos with their cozy hand pockets and stylish colorways. This is one gift that pretty much any surfer would use and appreciate.

These are essential if you have a car, van, or SUV. Easy-to-use padded cinch straps that will hold your precious surfboards down tight. These straps also work great for securing many other things, so when you aren't using them for your surfboards, you can use them to move your friend's couch. Super durable, all-weather, long-lasting, and affordable. Every surfer with a vehicle needs a set of these.

Protect your roof, and protect your boards with these rugged all-weather pads. Great for surfboards but will work for just about anything you want to throw on your roof. These come in a set of two, so you have one for the front rack and one for the back. If you put a lot of boards on your car, you may want to get two sets. Take a look at our Rack, Pads, and Straps Guide for more guidance on what's best for your surfer.

A must-have for cold water surfing, a hood is every surfer's best defense against an ice cream headache. The head is more sensitive to temperature than any other part of your body, making a hood worth its weight in gold on cold winter mornings. We've got everything from a basic skull cap to a frigid water-ready 3mm full hood, and our 8 Best Surf Hoods of 2023 has even more recommendations.

If you know someone with a surfboard, they could probably use one of these. Surfboards are not exactly bulletproof, and surfers aren't known for taking the best care of their gear. Get a padded board bag, and your surfboard will be easier to transport, won't turn yellow from sun damage, and will be extra safe when throwing the board in the back of your car or stacking it on a roof rack.

Everyone needs something to wear, and what is better than supporting a local surf shop? Sure, the big brands are great too, but everyone has that gear already. Cleanline Surf has a rad selection of quality apparel built to last and designed by local Northwest artists. From trucker hats to zip hoodies, we've got you covered.

Be it FCS, Futures, Kelly Slater's Endorfins, or Captain, you can't have too many surfboard fins. For a surfer, it's nice to have a few sets to experiment with, and some will work better in certain conditions. Depending on your stocking size, these can often fit in a stocking.

You can never have too many pairs of board shorts, and we have a wide variety of styles from top brands. Board shorts are an essential surf item, perfect for surfing, the pool, or just hanging out. As long as you know the waist size of the surfer you're shopping for, you can't go wrong with a new pair of board shorts.

The go-to footwear for the beach and a great gift that will see a lot of use. We have various styles and sizes for men, women, and kids, from Reef, Olukai, Billabong, Roxy, and Sanuk. Sandals are also the perfect size for a stocking stuffer!

Every surfer or beachgoer needs a towel or blanket, and you’d be hard-pressed to find one better suited than Slowtide’s series of towels. These are perfect for any day at the beach and come in a bunch of cool and ultra-comfortable styles. We really like how large most of these towels are, making them perfect for changing in/out of a wetsuit or packing a travel bag. They look like a blanket at a distance, with interesting designs and sometimes fringed ends, but Slowtide towels are the real deal and designed with surfers in mind.