Choosing Kitesurfing Gifts Just Got Easier
Let me start by saying, I know why you’re here.
You’ve worked out that kitesurfers are simultaneously the best and worst people to buy gifts for (best because we love our gadgets and gear, worst because we’re so bloody particular about them).
As such, holiday seasons, birthdays, and present-giving occasions can be tricky to navigate when a kiter is involved. Sigh… I’m sorry, we (kitesurfers) are trying to do better.
Here’s the thing:
Chances are, your kiter pal already has the crucial gear they need (and anyway, buying kites or boards for someone is REALLY hard — unless they’ve already given you a not-so-subtle hint about the new 2020 gear from their favorite brand). So, what’s left to give??
Product
Details
Kitesurf World Map
Specialty: Detail Kitesurf Map
Coral-Friendly Sunscreen/Sunblock
Specialty: Natural Ingredients
Refillable Water Bottle
Specialty: Easy to Fill & Carry
Dry Bag
Specialty: Waterproof Bag
Surf Poncho
Specialty: Easy to Change in Public
Badass Apparel
Specialty: Comfortable to Fit
Swimwear
Specialty: Flexible and Comfortable
Beach Towel
Specialty: Soft Fabric
Water Resistant Powerbank
Specialty: Long Lasting Battery Life
Kiteboard Bag
Specialty: Durable Material
Travel Bag
Specialty: High Quality Material
Smartwatch
Specialty: Advance Feature Smart Watch
GoPro
Specialty: Ultra 4k Camera
Watersports Sunglasses
Specialty: Most Stylish Glasses
Wetsuit
Specialty: Fully Stretchable
Balance Board
Specialty: Best for Pro Riders
Woo 3 kitesurfing Tracker
Specialty: Measure your Performance
Waterproof Speaker
Specialty: Loud and Clear
A fair question, and one we’re going to answer in-depth in this article.
Our selection of gifts for kitesurfers focuses on the awesome added extras, from must-have kitesurfing accessories to the beach essentials, that will take any kite session from ‘pretty good’ to ‘freakin’ mind-blowing’. We’re going to dish out 20 awesome kitesurfing gift ideas ranging from the practical to the pretty, the cheap and cheerful to the big ticket winners.
We’ve sorted the list into categories according to price (high to low) so no matter your budget, there should be a kitesurfing gift here that your special someone’s gonna love.
On the flip side, we kitesurfers are a fairly low-maintenance bunch so if you’re truly stumped, a 6 pack of ice cold Heineken and a bag of kettle chips will probably put a smile on our faces too. Amiright?!
Alas, you’re not reduced to corner store supplies just yet. Beware though, there are quite a few bits in there you might actually end up buying for yourself! And rest assured, we won’t say a word.
Want to blast your best buddy’s socks off? Why not book an unforgettable kitesurfing camp in one of the best kite destinations in the world? Pretty sure they’ll let you come along with such a mad present!
Here’s our pick of the baddest and raddest kitesurfing gifts we could get our mitts on:
Stocking Stuffer Gifts for Kitesurfers
1. Kitesurf World Map
When we first saw these kitesurf spot maps online, we knew we had to get one for above our work desk at home — not only did it inspire (and let’s face it, educate) us on a daily basis, but it also got so many compliments from our kiter friends who came over to visit!
These guys have done a pretty decent job of marking off the main kiteboarding locations in every country around the world. It’s the sort of thing you could spend ages staring at and still see new places each time you look at it! Every spot also has a little key next to it which tells you things like water conditions and whether or not it’s one of the ‘premiere’ kite locations in the world.
Bottom line, if there’s a better kitesurfing gift out there for less than $40, I don’t know what it is. Readers of our blog can avail of a 10% discount by using the code EXTREME at checkout!
2. Coral-Friendly Sunscreen/Sunblock
Still wearing commercial sunscreen? SRSLY, didn’t you watch Chasing Coral?! Eco sunscreen is where it’s at, and with so many awesome reef-safe brands on the market there’s no excuse not to go green.
The good news is that the aesthetics of these little tubs of sun protecting goodness make sweet gifts for kitesurfers. They’re cheap, thoughtful, and good for Mama Earth — what’s not to love? Check out this All Good SPF 50+ Butter Stick, which is a mix of 25% non-nano zinc oxide mineral and 75% organic ingredients including coconut oil, beeswax and calendula flowers. It’s oxybenzone free (the big bag guy in chemical-based products), gmo-free, vegan and 100% bio-degradable. We encourage you to learn more on the important differences between chemical-based spray sunscreen, and zinc oxide-based rub sunscreen by reading this handy little sunscreen guide on the topic.
What’s quite unique about this SPF 50 stick is that you can use it both as sunscreen, rubbing it on the skin so it gets absorbed, but also as sunblock, simply applying a thick layer without rubbing it, on the most exposed areas like cheeks and forehead for maximum protection. And of course, it’s water-resistant whilst staying hydrating thanks to the coconut oil.
3. Refillable Water Bottle
Kitesurfers, by their very nature, spend shiteloads of time in the water. As such, we usually find ourselves becoming advocates for the ocean in some way or another. Plus, salty air and exercise means we’re ALWAYS thirsty!
Giving the gift of a reusable water bottle is a pretty darn cool way of showing you care and making sure they never have to buy a plastic bottle ever again.
We dig the vacuum-sealed stainless steel, 32 oz Klean Kanteen (50% off on USoutdoor.com as of May 2020), which will keep your drinks hot (up to 24 hours) or cold (up to 90 hours), and guess what? These guys also make a super cool 20 oz Steel Pint to keep your beer ice-cold (Oh my Guinness!), perfect for the hottest Thaï beaches or even to rock with at your favourite earth-friendly music festival.
In Europe? Our partner Blue Tomato stocks this awesome Klean Kanteen 800ml stainless steel and bamboo cap model, the result of a heartfelt collaboration with Protect our Winters (POW Austria).
Voucher
Alright guys, it happens. You get to the end of the list and you’re like “yeah, but no, but I dunno” about it all. In that case, you can’t go too far wrong with a voucher for an outdoor retailer where your special someone can buy whatever they want for themselves.
Pick an awesome shop like evo, or even REI where they can gear up on anything they fancy for their next kite session and you’re sure to win brownie points and big love.
Mid-Range Kitesurfing Gifts
4. Dry Bag
A super practical gift for kitesurfers who have a habit of leaving their damp towels behind in your car. Mmmm…. Ideal.
In all seriousness though, a high quality dry bag is a great addition to any kiteboarder’s quiver; they’re versatile, lightweight, and can be used on or off the water (‘on’ like for carrying your phone, money, and energy bars when setting off on a downwinder, and ‘off’ like for filling with ice and turning into a portable beer cooler at the beach — YAAAASSSS!).
You can even find dry bags especially made for photographers.
5. Surf Poncho
Snuggly stuff is always a winner when it comes to gift-giving, and since nobody on planet earth needs more socks at Christmas time (thanks Moms) a poncho is the next step up. These things are the best to have when you finish a kite session; you can chuck it on right over your wetsuit, use it as a changing robe, or peel off the wet stuff first and use it as a towel and jumper in one.
Check out the super cool collection of kitesurf ponchos from Vivida Lifestyle and score yourself 10% off with the discount code EXTREMENOMADS at checkout.
You’ll also find some sweet deals (up to 50% off) on surf brands’ ponchos & towels from our partner Xtremeinn (US), or Blue Tomato (Europe).
6. Badass Apparel
Keep your kiter friend feeling the salty vibes back on land with some surf-inspired apparel. Snowboarding hoodies, T-shirts, and sweaters make perfect gifts for kitesurfer guys and girls — just find a cool colour/print and you’re away.
We really dig the style of the apparel made by Vivida Lifestyle; their collection is all about beachy colour palettes and earth-friendly, quality materials. Get 10% off anything on Vividalifestyle.com with the code EXTREMENOMADS.
7. Swimwear
Whether your buddy is riding in the tropics of South America or the frigid waters of northern Europe, you can bet their swimwear takes a beating (admittedly the latter is probably wearing it under a 5mm wetsuit, but that’s a debate for another day).
Personally, I can never have too many kitesurf friendly bikinis in my life, and I know many kite chicks who feel the same! Jim is also a compulsive board shorts collector, so I’m fairly confident this transcends gender…. Just about.
Check out these reversible, crash-proof, recycled plastic (YAY for eco-friendliness!) kitesurf bikinis for women from Vivida Lifestyle (don’t forget to use the code EXTREMENOMADS at checkout for 10% off). And for the guys, Jim’s absolute favorite at the moment is certainly the award-winning Hurley Phantom series, but word on the street beach is that you basically can’t go wrong with any piece from Volcom, Billabong or Rip Curl).
8. Beach Towel
Also one of these things we’ll just always need, beach bums of all coasts, a nice quality towel is simply a must. The primary one, the secondary one when the first is still wet, spare ones for the buddies who forgot theirs, you can be sure these will never end up dusty in a forgotten corner of the garage like many trendy toys often shelved too soon…
However they choose to use it, beach towels make super gifts for kitesurfers because they are SOOO versatile — they’ll always come in handy. Take a peek at these really nice branded towels (up to 30% off – US) for inspiration, or find this 25% off O’neill Shell beach towel on Blue Tomato (Europe).
9. Water Resistant Powerbank
Chances are, if your kiter buddy is spending loads of time in the outdoors, their devices are dead fairly often. A super tough, water resistant power bank is a game changer! The Kodiak Ultra we feature here is IP67 certified, meaning it’s dust and dirt proof, and can take a proper rain shower, but isn’t designed to be fully submerged underwater.
If your friend really wants to bring it on the water, let’s say for a multi day downwinder with wild overnight camping, we’d advise to just throw it in the dry bag we mentioned earlier, with the rest of the essentials.
Once back on the beach though, you really won’t have to worry about it; whether it’s sand, one of your drunkest mates accidentally pouring their beer on it, or even a random kite landing right on top, this Kodiak Ultra from Outdoor Tech can take it.
But perhaps most importantly, it boasts a pretty fat 7800mAh battery, meaning it can charge a Samsung S9 about 2-3 times, or a GoPro Hero 8 Black about 5-6 times… Boom.
And if you’re looking for a good deal on rugged and waterproof power banks, check out this link to get 20% off your first order with our partner Outdoor Tech.
Big Ticket Gifts for Kitesurfers
10. Kiteboard Bag
Sure our bags look battered! But hey, together they’ve seen about 20 years of world traveling (13 years for Jim’s brownie, 7 for mine, on top). Sure we’ll change them soon, but when they’ve carried you for so long and far, you get attached.
Whether they’re full time kite travellers or weekend warriors, all kitesurfers are going to need a kiteboard bag big enough to fit their quiver in at some point. This was one of the first “extras” I added to my gear collection after I got my main kit sorted — and my Mystic kite bag has now been to 7 countries with me!
All round, this is a practical, thoughtful kitesurfing gift that’s going to last your buddy for years to come. We actually have a dedicated guide on the best kiteboard bags that you may want to check out.
11. Travel Bag
If the kiteboard bag idea is a wee bit too technical for your comfort zone, an awesome travel bag is a solid option. It’s something they’ll use to tote their soggy, sandy wetsuit and towels to and from the beach; and doubles as an escape bag for their trips away at the weekend.
You can’t go wrong with the weather-proof duffle bags from North Face; the quality is second to none, they’re easy to spot at airport baggage collection, and they stand the test of time (I bought mine fresh out of college before I set off backpacking SE Asia and I’m pleased to say it has survived many a typhoon and tequila-fuelled party).
The cool AF kite/surf brand Vivida Lifestyle have a similar bag which you can get at a 10% discount by using the code EXTREMENOMADS at checkout!
12. Smartwatch
The ULTIMATE toy for saltwater sessions (and Ummm, for practical stuff like calling in “sick” when there are 20 knots forecasted for Friday). A waterproof smartwatch can tell your kiter friend how long their session was, how far they rode, how fast they went, and all the while play their favorite music to them when they’re out on the water. Check out our review of the top 5 waterproof smartwatches for kitesurfing we’ve written especially to help you pick the best one. We’re obsessed with the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro because it offers SO many functions for the price you pay — and it’s super hard wearing.
On a practical note, if you choose a smartwatch that has call capabilities (like the Apple Watch Series 5 GPS + Cellular model, compatible only with iPhones) they’ll also be able to contact someone back onshore if they get into difficulty in the water.
Thoughtful, useful, and frickin’ fun; a smartwatch makes a phenomenal kitesurfing gift.
13. GoPro
One thing us kitesurfers can always use more of? Shots of us having the time of our lives on the water! Waterproof action cams are a staple for most outdoor adventurers, and if your kiter pal doesn’t already have one they will ADORE you for gifting them this.
And yeah, there are tons of different brands out there — but in our experience, nothing beats GoPro. We took our Hero 7 Black with us wakeboarding, kiting, surfing, and motorbiking across Southeast Asia, and lemme tell you, the insane footage we captured was worth every penny. Since this model is out, with the first Hypersmooth feature, IT’S ALWAYS JUST SO GODDAMN STABLE.
14. Watersports Sunglasses
Kiteboarders often neglect their eyes out on the water (I know I’m guilty of this sometimes) and you guys, trust us when we say you do NOT want them to get pterygium, i.e. ‘surfer’s eye’… it’s a common affliction amongst salt water lovers — but one that can be prevented just by wearing a pair of watersports sunglasses.
We’re a hardcore LiP Watershades household; we freakin’ love the quality and design of their glasses (so much more appealing than SeaSpecs). Check out their most popular model, the Typhoon, which have polarized Zeiss lenses, hydrophobic and oleophobic coatings, and a crash-proof retainer system. FYI they also have a really good returns policy and customer service, should there be any problem with your order.
Before you buy, just beware that sunglasses on the water aren’t for everybody, some love it, others don’t. It depends on so many factors from type of practice to nose shape to simply personal preferences, so you might want to make sure beforehand this is a gift your BFF will actually use.
15. Wetsuit
Now I’m not going to lie, wetsuits make tricky kitesurfing gifts because the fit is SO important — without trying them on there’s room for error. With this in mind, I’d only consider giving a wetsuit as a gift if the person has expressed to you that they want it.
But honestly?
Sometimes asking someone what they want is the best way to ensure you give them something they’ll actually use. If you’d be comfortable asking, then go for it! A wetsuit is a key piece of kit that your kiter mate is sure to appreciate.
We adore the eco-friendly plant-based neoprene suits by Patagonia and the classic O’Neills Psychotech suits.
Need more ideas? Check out our full guide on choosing a badass kitesurfing wetsuit.
16. Balance Board
One for all the big kids out there.
Give a kitesurfing gift that lets them practice their board skills away from the beach. A balance board makes an awesome present for kiteboarders because it’s fun, portable, and totally inline with their main passion.
It’s also something that a lot of people wouldn’t think of buying for themselves — which makes it even better when someone else is thoughtful enough to buy it for you!
Update: We’ve just published a guest post from our friend Matteo, about his first experience with an indoboard while in lockdown!
17. Woo 3 kitesurfing Tracker
For the uninitiated, these little devices primarily measure a kitesurfer’s jump height and then stack those scores up on local and international leaderboards. Riders can compete with their friends — as well as on a global scale — and push themselves to ride harder and jump higher than they’ve done before. The ideal gift for kitesurfers who love to play — or those who have a competitive streak!
Thanks to a 9 axis motion sensor and being AI powered, the Woo 3 can even understand which tricks you’ve performed and analyse their level of execution, all the way to the landing quality. This latest model is now compatible with Android powered smartwatches / smartphones, and iPhones / Apple watches series 3 and 4. Find here a detailed list of compatible devices.
18. Waterproof Speaker
Who doesn’t love a good old beach party after an awesome day of kitesurfing with your friends?
If you’re looking for a truly waterproof, dust and dirt-resistant speaker that’s loud enough to get everyone dancing feet in the sand, look no more.
This rad Turtle Shell Bluetooth speaker is a must-have for any sandy meet-up; its IPX7 waterproof rating means you can actually take it for a swim, it’ll blast wherever, and stay afloat for however long needed — and with a 3600 mAh battery, you can be sure the beats will keep coming all the way till sunrise. To be precise, that’s 20 hours of tunes guaranteed from a single full charge!
Not sold on any of these gifts for kitesurfers? Or just not sure which one to get for your person? Hit me up with a comment below and tell me all about it; I’ll be happy to give a personal recommendation!
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