Paddle Pulse: A kayaker’s Christmas gift guide
To be honest, what any kayaker really wants for Christmas is perfect weather, glassy seas, guaranteed wildlife sightings, and a tailwind both ways. But short of bending the laws of physics, here are some gifts that come pretty close – totally unbiased and not at all aimed at anyone who might be shopping for me:
Safety gear (always a winner)
You can’t go wrong with simple, practical safety items: a new whistle, a compact first aid kit, a waterproof phone case, a towline, reflective tape, or a reliable head torch. Useful, appreciated, and never wasted.
Books and paddling guides
A good paddling book is the kind of gift that gets picked up over and over. Technique guides, adventure memoirs, tide and weather references, or paddling maps for local waterways all make great options. They’re also superb for fuelling trip ideas – which is half the fun.
Dry bags
Every paddler loves a good dry bag, and you can never have too many. Smaller ones (5-10L) are perfect for organising snacks, phones, and warm layers. They’re inexpensive, extremely useful, and very giftable. For Christmas, stuff them with wool socks and choccies!
Camping gear for kayak expeditions
Lightweight cookware, compact camp chairs, stainless steel mugs, inflatable pillows – kayak campers will happily receive anything that makes life easier at the end of a long paddle. Bonus points if it’s lightweight and packs down small. Also doubles for hiking gear for the versatile adventurer in your life.
If you’re not sure what exact model or size they need, a gift card saves everyone the hassle and guarantees they get something they’ll actually use.
A paddling experience or instructional course
Instead of more stuff, why not give time on the water? A guided day trip, a multi-day adventure, a group paddle event, or even a rental voucher is often the most memorable present of all.
For paddlers wanting to improve their skills, an instructional course is a brilliant gift. Think of it as future confidence wrapped up in a bow.
“What about buying them a kayak?”
Tempting! And occasionally a great idea… with a few big caveats.
Buying a kayak is a bit like buying someone shoes – very personal, and almost impossible to get right without their input. Fit, comfort, weight, length, handling, hatches, seat position – everyone has preferences.
If you’re keen on giving a kayak-themed gift without the risk, try one of these instead:
- A gift card toward a kayak
- A hand-written “kayak shopping day” card where you go test-paddling together
- A voucher for a guided trip so they can try different kayaks before committing
And remember – the best gifts for paddlers aren’t always the fanciest ones. They’re the ones that get used, get wet and help someone enjoy more time on the water.
Wherever you find yourself this Christmas, I hope there’s water nearby and time to enjoy it. Happy paddling.
Toby Story is the lead guide and managing director of global paddle tour company SSV – you can hit them up at [email protected] to purchase a gift card towards their paddling merch or guided paddling adventures.
