Gifts for surfers: ideas they'll actually use

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Buying a present for a surfer looks easy: anything to do with the sea will do. In practice, half of all "surf" gifts end up in a drawer. The wax was for tropical water and they surf in Cornwall in January, the wetsuit was the wrong size, the board bag was too short for their board. This guide is for getting it right for someone who surfs in Europe, with its cold water, van trips and 4/3 winters. It is organised by type of gift, and there is a summary by budget at the end.

We have picked things that surfers genuinely use and that wear out, get lost or break (good news for the gift giver: they always need more). Where it makes sense, we link to Amazon so you can compare models and prices. And where the best gift isn't on Amazon, like a board from a local shaper, we say so too.

Before you buy: five questions to get it right

You don't need to spoil the surprise. You can find out all five with a casual chat, a look at their gear, or a quick word with their usual surf buddy:

1. Where do they surf, and when? The Bay of Biscay in February (water at 12–13 °C) is nothing like the Algarve in September (19–21 °C) or the Mediterranean in summer. Water temperature decides the wax, the wetsuit thickness and whether they need boots, gloves and a hood.
2. What board do they ride, and how long is it? Board length decides the leash and the board bag. Look for the number written on the stringer or on the bottom, something like 6'2" or 9'0". If you can't find it, a photo of the board next to a door gives you a fair idea.
3. What level are they? Beginners appreciate things that help them progress (a balance board, a surfskate, a good technique book). Experienced surfers already have the basics and value quality, experiences or something personalised.
4. What size are they? For wetsuits, boots and gloves, size is everything. If you can't find out, give something else or make sure it can be exchanged easily.
5. Do they travel with their board? If they drive, take the van or fly with a board, anything to do with transport (bags, racks, straps) will get a lot of use.

Golden rule: a good-quality consumable (wax, sunscreen, leash) almost never misses. Something technical and expensive (wetsuit, board, watch) only works if you know exactly what they need.

The basics that always run out

These are the safest gifts. Every surfer uses them every week, they run out or get lost, and hardly anyone has too many.

Wax for their water temperature

Wax gives the feet grip on the board. It is sold by water temperature: the colder the water, the softer the wax. As a guide, most brands use ranges similar to these: cold (below 14–15 °C), cool (14–20 °C), warm (19–24 °C) and tropical (above 24 °C). For Europe's Atlantic coast, cold in winter and cool in summer are almost always right. In the Mediterranean, cool in winter and warm in summer.

A nice touch is a pack of several bars with a base coat (a harder wax applied first that lasts much longer) and a wax comb to scratch up and refresh the grip.

A leash of the right length

The leash connects the ankle to the board and wears out with sun, salt and wipeouts. An active surfer replaces it every season or two, and a spare in the car always helps. The rule is simple: the leash should be as long as the board, or a foot longer. Shortboards (5'6"–6'4") take a 6' leash; mid-lengths and funboards, 7'–8'; longboards, 9' or 10', often with a knee or calf cuff. Thin leashes (5–6 mm) are lighter (competition, small waves); 7 mm ones are tougher for powerful surf.

Ding repair kit

Dings are inevitable, and a board taking on water deteriorates quickly. A quick repair kit with sun-curing resin lets you fix a small ding on the beach in ten minutes. Important: epoxy resin works on both EPS and PU boards, but polyester resin is for PU only. If you don't know what their board is made of, go for an epoxy kit.

Earplugs

It may sound like an odd gift, but it is one of the most useful. Over the years, cold water and wind cause "surfer's ear" (exostosis): bone growth in the ear canal that can end in surgery. In Europe, with cold water for much of the year, it is very common. There are surf-specific earplugs that let sound through and stay in during wipeouts.

Water-resistant sun protection

Two- or three-hour sessions with the glare off the water are hard on the face. Zinc oxide creams and sticks stay on in the water far better than ordinary sunscreen, and mineral formulas without oxybenzone or octinoxate are kinder to the sea. A face and lip stick fits in a wetsuit pocket.

For Europe's cold Atlantic water

This is the big difference between surfing in Europe and surfing in Hawaii or Bali. From northern Portugal to Scotland, via Galicia, northern Spain, France, Ireland and England, the water is cold for much of the year. Anything that helps them stay warmer before, during and after the session is a sure hit.

Hooded towel poncho

Probably the most appreciated surf gift in Europe. It is a big towel shaped like a poncho that lets you change in the car park without putting on a show or freezing. Cotton terry ones are the classic; microfibre ones dry faster and pack smaller. For winter there are also waterproof, fleece-lined changing robes, hugely popular in the UK and Ireland, which are as warm as a coat.

Wetsuit boots, gloves and hood

In water below 14 °C, hands and feet are the first to go. 3 to 5 mm boots (split or round toe), 3 to 5 mm gloves and a hood extend the season by months. In northern Spain in winter, 3–5 mm boots are common; in Brittany, Ireland, Scotland or Scandinavia, the full 5 mm kit of boots, gloves and hood is practically compulsory.

Watch the size: boots that are too big fill with water and you lose feel; boots that are too small cut off circulation and feel even colder.

The wetsuit: only if you know the size

A good wetsuit is a fantastic present, but also the easiest to get wrong. As a thickness guide for Europe: 3/2 mm for summer on the Atlantic or spring and autumn in the Mediterranean; 4/3 mm for spring and autumn on the Atlantic and winter in southern Portugal and the Canaries; 5/4 mm or a hooded 5/4/3 for winter in northern Spain, France, the UK and Ireland; and 6/5 mm for Scotland, Norway or Iceland. Look at the zip too: chest-zip suits let in less water than back-zip ones.

If you want to give a wetsuit without spoiling the surprise, a gift card from a local surf shop, where they can try it on, is a good option.

Changing bucket or mat

A large flexible bucket, or a mat that closes up into a bag, lets you change standing on it without getting sandy and keeps the wet wetsuit from soaking the boot of the car. Cheap, unglamorous and used all the time.

Carrying and protecting the board

Boards get damaged far more in the car, on a plane or at home than in the water. That's why anything that protects them gets used all the time.

Board bag

There are two types. Board socks are made of stretchy fabric, light and cheap: they protect against sun and small knocks. Padded travel bags, with 5–10 mm of foam, protect against real impacts and are essential for flying. The bag should be a bit longer than the board: for a 6'2", a 6'4"–6'6" bag; for a 9'0" longboard, a 9'2"–9'6". Check the width too if the board is a fish or a wide mid-length.

Soft roof rack and straps

If they don't have roof bars, a soft rack (two padded tubes strapped through the inside of the car) lets them carry one or two boards on any car. If they already have bars, straps with covered buckles and foam pads are a cheap and useful gift. Always put the board fins up and pointing forward.

Key safe

The eternal question of where to leave the car keys while you surf. A small combination safe that hooks onto the tow bar or the window solves it. A gift that is appreciated from day one.

Fins

A new set of fins changes how a board feels, but it is only a good gift if you know which system they use (FCS II, classic FCS or Futures, which are not compatible with each other), which setup (thruster, quad, twin) and which size for their weight. If you don't, let them choose.

Training for flat days

Europe has plenty of flat weeks and plenty of unsurfable storms. Surfers use those days to train balance and technique, and these gifts are very popular, especially with people who are still learning.

Surfskate

A surfskate is a skateboard with a front truck that turns much more than a normal one, so you can "pump" for speed without pushing and practise turns similar to those in the water. It has become the most popular training tool of recent years. Sizes between 30" and 33" are the most versatile; shorter ones turn more, longer ones are more stable.

Balance board

A wooden board on a roller for practising balance at home. It builds stability and leg and core strength, and it is fun for the whole family. It takes up little space and can be used in front of the TV.

Fitness gear

Paddling is 80% of surfing. A set of resistance bands to work shoulders and back, or a Swiss ball for the core, are cheap gifts that genuinely improve performance in the water, especially for weekend surfers.

Tech: watches, cameras and waterproof cases

Tide watch

Knowing the tide without getting your phone out is very handy, because many European breaks only work on part of the tide. There are simple watches with tide tables and GPS sports watches that also log every wave: how many you caught, how fast and how far you rode. Sports watches with a surf mode from brands such as Garmin are the most complete, and also the most expensive.

Action camera

For filming from the board with a mount stuck to the deck or held in the mouth (yes, there is a bite mount), or for someone to film from the beach. Today's action cameras record 4K, are waterproof without a housing and stabilise very well. Add a floating hand grip so it doesn't get lost.

Waterproof phone pouch

For carrying a phone on the beach, in a kayak or on a trip without worrying about sand and water. Cheap and practical.

Surf books and films

A book doesn't depend on sizes or water temperatures, and surf culture has some great ones. A few we recommend:

• Barbarian Days (William Finnegan). The memoir of a New Yorker journalist who surfed half the world from the 1960s on. It won the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for biography and is probably the best book ever written about surfing. For any surfer, whatever their level. View on Amazon
• The Stormrider Guide Europe. The classic guide to Europe's surf spots, with maps, seasons and conditions for each break. Perfect for planning trips. View on Amazon
• The Surfboard: Art, Style, Stoke (Ben Marcus). An illustrated history of the surfboard, from solid Hawaiian wooden boards to modern designs. Ideal for the coffee table and for anyone who loves boards as objects. View on Amazon
• Surf Is Where You Find It (Gerry Lopez). Stories from the legendary Pipeline surfer and shaper, told with humour and plenty of philosophy. View on Amazon

And for an evening on the sofa, the classic films: The Endless Summer (1966), the documentary that defined the search for the perfect wave; Riding Giants (2004), on the history of big-wave surfing; and Morning of the Earth (1972), a gem from the shortboard revolution. See The Endless Summer on Amazon

If they want to understand boards better before buying the next one, our guides to surfboard types and choosing your first board are a good place to start.

For the home: racks, prints and towels

Wall rack for boards

A beautiful board deserves to be on show, and hanging on the wall it is far safer than leaning in a corner. There are horizontal wooden racks for one or several boards, and minimalist vertical ones. For a wooden board or a classic longboard, a wall rack turns the board into a piece of decor.

Prints, maps and surf photography

A print of their favourite wave, a nautical chart of their stretch of coast or a photo by a local surf photographer are very personal gifts. Many photographers on Europe's beaches sell prints; ask at the surf shop or on the social media of their local spot. For something simpler, tide chart posters and bathymetric maps look great.

Microfibre towels and dry bags

A large microfibre towel packs small and dries in no time, ideal for trips. A 20–30 litre dry bag backpack keeps wet and dry apart and is perfect for a day at the beach.

Experiences and a handmade board

The most memorable presents rarely come in a box.

A board made by a local shaper

The ultimate gift for any surfer. A custom board from a shaper who knows the local waves is an experience in itself: the first conversation, the decisions on dimensions and design, the visit to the workshop while it is being made. Because it is so personal, the best way to give it is with a gift voucher from the shaper, so they can design it together. Many European shapers will do this if you ask. The Shapers Europe directory lists over 200 workshops in 15 countries; filter by area and get in touch. A custom board usually costs between €500 and €900 (more for wood).

If you are after a board that lasts a lifetime and is more sustainable, some shapers specialise in eco and wooden boards.

A workshop to build their own board

For the curious or handy surfer, learning to build a board is an amazing experience. Some shapers run weekend or multi-day courses where you go home with your own board. Others, such as Shaper.fr in Seignosse (France), sell all the materials and offer training so you can build one at home. Search the directory for workshops near you and ask whether they run courses.

Lessons, coaching and trips

For beginners, a pack of lessons at a surf school. For those who already surf, a video coaching session (you get filmed and your technique analysed afterwards) is one of the gifts that helps people improve the most. And for the big occasions, a trip: a week at a surf camp in Portugal, the Canaries or France, or a wave hunt in Morocco. Have a look at our surf forecast and the events calendar to pick dates.

More sustainable gifts

Surfers spend a lot of time in the sea, and most of them care about looking after it. Some ideas for gifts with a lighter footprint:

• Eco wax, made with beeswax, soy wax or natural resins instead of petroleum by-products. View on Amazon
• Mineral sunscreen without oxybenzone or octinoxate, which harm coral and marine life.
• Natural rubber or recycled wetsuits, which several brands now make as an alternative to petroleum-based neoprene.
• Organic cotton or recycled clothing from small European surf brands.
• A wooden board, or EPS with bio resin, made by a local shaper: less shipping, longer life, more story.
• Repair instead of buying: a voucher to get that old board in the garage fixed at a workshop is a lovely gift too.

Ideas by budget

Under €30

• Wax pack with base coat and comb
• Surf earplugs
• Zinc sun stick
• Ding repair kit
• Waterproof phone pouch and changing mat
• A surf book

€30 to €100

• Surf towel poncho
• Wetsuit boots or gloves
• A quality leash
• Board sock or basic padded bag
• Soft roof rack or key safe
• Wall rack for the board
• Balance board

€100 to €300

• Surfskate
• Padded travel bag
• Waterproof fleece-lined changing robe
• Action camera
• A pack of lessons or a video coaching session
• A set of fins (if you know the system)

Over €300

• A quality winter wetsuit (if you know the size)
• GPS watch with surf mode
• A custom board from a local shaper, or a course to build one
• A surf trip

What not to give (or not without asking)

• A surprise surfboard. Every surfer knows exactly what dimensions, volume and shape they want. The wrong board is an expensive gift that never gets ridden. A shaper voucher is better.
• A wetsuit without knowing the size. Too loose and it flushes and feels cold; too tight and they can't paddle. Sizes vary a lot between brands.
• Wax for the wrong temperature. Tropical wax in cold water has no grip; cold wax in summer melts and smears.
• Fins without knowing the system. FCS and Futures are not compatible.
• Cheap leashes. A leash that snaps sends the board loose among other surfers, which is dangerous. This is not the place to save money.
• Souvenir gadgets. Mugs with surfboards and wave keyrings are sweet, but rarely what a surfer actually wants.

Looking for the ultimate gift? Find a shaper near them in the Shapers Europe directory and ask about a gift voucher. And if you know a shaper who isn't listed, let us know.