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Shopping for other people can often be challenging. But one way of getting them that perfect gift is to find out what they enjoy. And if it’s kayaking, then your search for the perfect gift just got a whole lot easier.
We have searched and compiled a fun list of the best gifts for kayakers. No matter how old they are, a kayaking related gift is likely to please every paddler and encourage them to fully enjoy their favorite hobby.
11 Gifts Kayakers Will Love
1: Saturn Deluxe Molded Foam Fishing Seat
This fishing seat can be a fantastic gift for any kayaker to make their paddling days more comfortable. The seat is padded with foam and features an 18 inch high seat back, to provide additional comfort during long paddling trips.
As well as providing a comfortable place to sit, this seat also features a detachable backpack that can be attached onto the back of the seat to hold extra gear. This means it can be even more useful on kayaks that don’t have a lot of storage space.
Another feature of this foam fishing seat is that it has built-in rod holders on the back. This can be useful if your kayak doesn’t have any provided or if you just like to paddle out with a couple of extra rods.
2: Earth Pak Waterproof Dry Bag
One of the most essential items when you’re out kayaking is a dry bag; somewhere that you can safely store your spare clothes, valuables or supplies. This dry bag from Earth Pak comes in a range of different sizes to accommodate different uses, from 10 liters up to 55 liters.
The smaller sizes come with a single shoulder strap and the larger ones have the added benefit of backpack style straps, which may make it easier to carry to and from your kayak.
A dry bag can be ideal for both sit-inside and sit-on-top vessels and can be a great way to store camping gear, food and clothing. This bag also comes with a waterproof phone case included, so you can keep your phone safe and dry while you’re on the water.
3: Invicta Men’s Pro Diver Watch
For anyone who spends a lot of time on the water, a watch that can stand up to watery conditions is a must. With the Invicta Pro Diver watch, you can kayak all you want and not worry about your watch getting splashed.
The Pro Diver is water resistant up to 660 feet, so it can handle various watersports and marine activity (although you can’t actually go diving with it). But its water resistance means you can still keep an eye on the time to know how long you’ve been paddling.
It has a 43 millimeter blue case with a date window and a stainless steel strap, which gives it a smarter look than some of the resin sport watches.
4: Brunton Kayak Straps Compass
A compass can be a great gift to help your loved one always find their way home. This Brunton compass can be ideal for attaching to a kayak, as it features bungee straps with clips that can easily be secured to the deck.
It is designed to stay flat on the deck of your yak and its straps mean it should stay put while you’re paddling, so you can always know you’re heading in the right direction.
It’s lightweight and compact, so it won’t take up much room in your gear. It can also be ideal for using on camping or hiking trips where you might not have access to cellular signals.
The way this one can attach to your yak means you won’t have to worry about losing it or trying to find north with a handheld one. With this one you can simply set it beforehand and then be on your way.
5: Seattle Sports Multi Leash
For anyone who kayaks, a paddle leash can be a must have item. This leash from Seattle Sports can be ideal for either your paddle or your fishing rod, so you can be safe in the knowledge that if you do happen to let go of your paddle or rod, it’s not going to float away.
This one features an adjustable velcro cinch loop to fit different sized paddles and rods. It has an internal bungee with nylon webbing on the exterior, which is designed for heavy duty use for added durability.
The exterior webbing is also a bright, high visibility green color for added safety on the water.
6: Fifty Places To Paddle Before You Die by Chris Santella
Fifty Places to Paddle Before you Die, by Chris Santella is a beautiful book that will be enjoyed by any kayaker. This is the kind of book that will make you determined to travel to visit these amazing places.
The book is filled with colorful pictures of these inspiring places, with each place chosen by paddling experts. The book includes some of the best and most interesting spots to paddle from all across the world.
Paddlers will enjoy reading about the different locations and looking at the stunning photos. It could also make a fabulous coffee table book and it could even encourage others to get out there paddling after they’ve seen some of these beautiful places.
7: Airhead Complete Folding Grapnel Anchor System
This folding anchor system from Airhead can be a great tool for kayakers, paddle boarders and canoeists. It weighs just under 3.5 pounds so it’s lightweight and designed to take up very little room on your vessel.
It features a 25 foot long marine grade rope and the anchor is built to hold in sand, mud, gravel and rocks, making it ideal for the different types of beds you might encounter while paddling.
It also benefits from an in-line buoy and a stainless steel snap hook so you can attach it securely to your vessel. The anchor comes with its own nylon pouch so you can easily pack it in with your gear and store it on your yak. It should fit under your seat or in one of your storage compartments in or near your cockpit.
8: Venterior VT-FF001 Portable Fish Finder
For anyone who loves to fish from their kayak, a fish finder can really help. This Venterior Fish Finder is a budget option that can help you locate the fish and potentially catch more.
It’s designed for rivers, lakes and the ocean and can work in water that is between 3 feet and 328 feet deep. This means it may be better suited to kayakers rather than deep ocean anglers.
It’s a compact, hand sized fish finder with a clear, non-color, LCD display. It can locate fish and let you know the depth of the water and any obstacles, such as weeds or rocks that might be under the water.
The display also features a backlight to help you see the screen in low-light conditions or if you’re fishing in the dark.
9: Kayalu Kayalite Kayak Light
Safety is important when you’re on the water, especially after dark. And that’s where a kayak deck light, like the Kayalite from Kayalu, can really come in handy. In some states you’ll find that it’s a legal requirement to have a white light on your vessel when you’re paddling at night or early morning.
This light is designed for a kayak and so it floats and is waterproof. It features nylon bungee cables and a steel clip to attach to the eyelets or pads on your vessel. This means it’s not relying on suction cups to stick to the deck and should stay secure.
It’s a battery powered light, which uses three AA batteries to power the bright white LED light for up to 100 hours, so you can stay safe and seen by other vessels while you’re on the water.
10: Seattle Sports Kayak Catch Cooler
Whether you’re out fishing or out for a day of exploring, a cooler can be a useful accessory for your kayak. This Catch Cooler from Seattle Sports can let you keep your catch cold and fresh till you get home.
The insulated cooler can attach to the deck of your kayak and it features a separate fish bag inside that can be removed and washed, while the main cooler remains on the deck. It measures 13 inches wide by 5 inches high and 20 inches deep, so there should be plenty of room for your catch.
Even for those who don’t fish, this bag can make a great cooler for picnics or camping trips where you need to keep your food fresh or cold in warm weather.
> Our roundup of the best coolers
11: LifeStraw Go Water Filter Bottle
Sometimes when you’re out and about, things may not always go to plan and running out of supplies can become a possibility. With the LifeStraw Go water bottle you can at least have access to drinkable water.
The LifeStraw bottle features a two stage filtration system that removes bacteria, parasites and chemicals from the water, so you can fill up your bottle in streams, rivers and lakes. The process can also make regular tap water taste better too, as it can reduce the amount of chlorine and other chemicals in the water that can affect flavor.
This can be a great gift for anyone who loves being outdoors, whether it’s camping, hiking or kayaking. Most paddlers will carry a water bottle with them, so this could be a good alternative as it’s reusable and can help your water to taste better.
Another feature of LifeStraw is that with every product purchased, a child will receive safe drinking water for a whole school year.
Wrapping Up (no pun intended!)
While buying gifts can be difficult for some, we hope that this guide will have given you some inspiration and help for when you need to buy your loved one that all important present.
If they love kayaking, they are sure to like a kayaking related gift. So think about what their favorite colors are and combine that with their favorite sport and you should be able to find them that perfect gift.
Certain items may not always be ideal gifts because of personal preferences and sizes, such as kayaks, paddles or PFDs. So if you opt for any of those items it can be a good idea to make sure you’re buying the right size or style.
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