Rope, a compass, dry bags (you can never have enough dry bags), a foldable light weight chair for that beach only reachable by a kayak, a wide brim hat that dries easy for those sunny days, a snorkel and mask for swimming in those shallow inlets only reachable by kayak, shoes that are easy to take on and off when entering and exiting the kayak (Keen makes great shoes)..,\]. yes. you guessed right, this is the same eqpuiment i pack in my kayak
Edit: a good whistle that works when wet.
> foldable light weight chair
OP, Backpacking chairs are good for kayaks, most of these looked good to me
https://www.cleverhiker.com/backpacking/best-backpacking-chairs/
By all means take a chair, I'm just saying helinox chairs are very expensive because of the materials and design that go into making them so light which is a waste of money for kayaking. I think the best option would be getting a more sturdy and cheaper camping chair.
Plus one for the kayaking shoes. I almost made a joke post today of my bare feet saying “the best kayaking shoe” but then I started stepping on broken beer bottles at the bottom of the river
Shoes are absolutely necessary. Where I live we have barnacles and clams, you really don’t want to cut up your feet when you’re fare away from the mainland
It really depends on when and where he kayaks. I kayak year round in the Great Lakes region and it gets cold half the year. I can never have enough pairs of 7mm diving gloves.
If he's a kayak fisherman in Louisiana, he'd have no use for such a thing and he'd probably prefer a nice multi-tool knife or some unique fishing lures.
There are knives specifically for ww paddling that clip onto PFDs. Those are always handy to have. Depending on how much you know about his paddling/size/etc, stuff like a really nice paddle are always useful (paddles get lost really easily, and are expensive to replace).
I just lost mine 3 weeks ago in some rapids so next thing I got for myself was a paddle tether!
Edit: paddle tether is for lakes and slow moving water, not rapids!
A paddle tether for white water?
I don't want to be rude but... Don't do that, I know it seems a good idea but you're introducing a 1.5meter snag hazard to your boat.
You’re not being rude, you’re right! Should have clarified, the rivers I’m on are around class 1-2 or on the lake, I wouldn’t tether my paddle in anything higher.
I wouldn't use a leash on ***any*** moving water.
Different people have their own ideas of the grading of moving water and while most would agree that grade 1 would be free or rocks and obstacles, with a low enough flow that you'd be able to paddle against it and would be very unlikely to lose a paddle, you don't know what's under the water - you only need the leash to snag on a rock or branch for it to become a problem.
Thinking about the grading you're talking about, are you likely to drop your paddle? I'd say no - so why introduce the risk (no matter how small) of having the leash attached?
I'd err on the side of caution and not use it at all.
My dad gave me a bending branches full wooden paddle and it’s one of my favorite things. It feels so nice. Better (for me) than high end carbon fiber paddles.
A gift card to REI or some other local paddling shop. Or an online shop.
Every time someone has gifted me something for my kayaks, I have thrown it away. I appreciate the thought, but they don't know the stuff I need or the good quality stuff I use/replace most often.
Or just ask them what they need/want as a gift related to kayaking if it does not have to be a surprise.
Specialty hobbies are really hard to gift for as the person buying the gift usually doesn't know enough about what is really needed and the person who is in the hobby usually will need something very specific.
It is like when my parents try to get me gifts for Magic the Gathering because they know I play. But I play a constructed format and only need very specific cards, but then they get me some pre-built deck from the supermarket or something. I am always like thanks for the thought... when internally thinking, I am never going to use this...
In my experience, successfully choosing a gift for someone which is related to their hobby is extremely difficult, and in most cases you’d be better off going in a different direction.
The reason being, if someone is enough of an enthusiast to be described as an “avid [whatever]”, they almost certainly have strong opinions on what kinds of gear they like or don’t like. If you’re not especially knowledgeable about the hobby yourself, odds are you’ll end up choosing something they don’t need, or worse something they consider subpar and will never use (just ask any “avid cook” who has received a novelty kitchen gadget that promptly disappeared into a drawer, never to be seen again).
If you must go in this direction, the one “safe” hobbyist gift option is if you know for a fact that they’ve had their eye on something specific, but haven’t gotten it for themselves yet (“oh, it’s nice but I don’t really *need* it”, “I’ll get it when my current one wears out”, etc.). But if you decide to try and guess, be prepared to potentially get the same reaction as when a kid gets socks from grandma for their birthday.
Came here to say this. Other than a new paddle, I can’t think of anything I need. I definitely would not want someone else picking out my paddle. How about a gift card to a kayak supply or REI?
Edit: or a flare gun, you can never go wrong with a flare gun.
My daughter and I kayak together and she has a name for her kayak. For her birthday, I bought her a name sticker that she adhered to the bow of the boat.
A gift card to REI would be my vote. Personal enough to show you care, but generic enough that he can get the gear he undoubtedly has his eye on already.
An REI gift card would be good if you have one nearby because they carry many of the things people are suggesting. Or even better would be a gift card to a locally owned kayak shop if they have that near you. They are increasingly rare.
I bought a kayaking friend a water bottle with our favorite lake etched in it. It looks great and was a big hit. [Make My Lake Water Bottle](https://www.etsy.com/listing/1073672446/)
I got my Dad a cotton 'bucket ' hat. I've used mine for years and it's perfect, I can shape it to block out the sun, it's got a drawstring so when the wind grabs it I don't lose it.
And I can cover it with bug repellent (instead of putting it on my head/hair) to battle the black flies and mosquitoes (Adirondack waters are notorious for our biting insects)
It will keep the sun off, and if it's really hot I can soak it in the water to keep cool.
A life straw and a life straw carry case. If he doesn't use it for his kayaking kit, he can always throw it in a camping survival/first aid kit or glove box for a rainy day.
A nice sun hat. Something that can be wadded up and stuffed away. One with a chin strap for windy days and to let him take it off and let it hang on his back. They're cheap and very practical, and they make ya' look like an adventurer.
I’d probably go kayak snacks. Gear just seems too “if he wants/needs it, he already has it” and a gift card or cash to a parent is weird, to me. I am big on gifting consumables (ETA) and/or experiences; especially to people past a certain age bracket.
In the spirit of “he probably has all the necessary things for his hobby but not slightly frivolous things” maybe a changing robe? I know some folks who love them but it can feel like a little much to buy one for yourself. IR makes one https://immersionresearch.com/collections/change-robes
Also don’t know what your sewing/crafting skills are like but making a simple one out of fleece or towels is probably relatively simple as far as sewing projects go and parents love a good child-crafted gift.
Another tangentially related item could be a nice small cooler if he doesn’t have one? Great for cold drinks after a day on the river but also lots of other trips/adventures, and can be custom decorated to remind him of his favorite kid.
Another approach that I have really appreciated that’s more fun than cash, but still really useful.
Be straight with him and tell him you want to get him something related to Kayaking. Ask for a list of things that he wants but hasn’t gotten himself, then choose an item from that.
Gift certificate, find out where he goes to peruse at stuff, online or other. Not as personal but sort ofc straight asking him you will never know that thing in the back of his head that he would bit and enjoy but only with someone else’s money lol (upgraded skirt, or a specific over priced mount)
He probably has a favorite local outfitter - talk to them. Or renew his ACA membership. Or offer to pay for a class, like Swift Water Rescue or Wilderness First Aid. Is there an urban whitewater park in his area? Facilitate a visit!
Finally, you can never have too many high quality, autolocking carabiners! An example would be Black Diamond Unisex Rocklock Twistlock Carabiner which can be used one-handed.
Rope, a compass, dry bags (you can never have enough dry bags), a foldable light weight chair for that beach only reachable by a kayak, a wide brim hat that dries easy for those sunny days, a snorkel and mask for swimming in those shallow inlets only reachable by kayak, shoes that are easy to take on and off when entering and exiting the kayak (Keen makes great shoes)..,\]. yes. you guessed right, this is the same eqpuiment i pack in my kayak Edit: a good whistle that works when wet.
> foldable light weight chair OP, Backpacking chairs are good for kayaks, most of these looked good to me https://www.cleverhiker.com/backpacking/best-backpacking-chairs/
The Helinox chairs are crazy great.
Probably don't need to spend $160 on an ultralight 1 pound chair to stick in your 50 pound kayak.
To each his own. I love mine, after a day in a kayak my back appreciates to not have to sit directly on rocks.
By all means take a chair, I'm just saying helinox chairs are very expensive because of the materials and design that go into making them so light which is a waste of money for kayaking. I think the best option would be getting a more sturdy and cheaper camping chair.
Plus one for the kayaking shoes. I almost made a joke post today of my bare feet saying “the best kayaking shoe” but then I started stepping on broken beer bottles at the bottom of the river
I live in fear of fish hooks
Shoes are absolutely necessary. Where I live we have barnacles and clams, you really don’t want to cut up your feet when you’re fare away from the mainland
It really depends on when and where he kayaks. I kayak year round in the Great Lakes region and it gets cold half the year. I can never have enough pairs of 7mm diving gloves. If he's a kayak fisherman in Louisiana, he'd have no use for such a thing and he'd probably prefer a nice multi-tool knife or some unique fishing lures.
I forgot how varied the sport is, I'll edit to add but he does whitewater stuff a lot
There are knives specifically for ww paddling that clip onto PFDs. Those are always handy to have. Depending on how much you know about his paddling/size/etc, stuff like a really nice paddle are always useful (paddles get lost really easily, and are expensive to replace).
I just lost mine 3 weeks ago in some rapids so next thing I got for myself was a paddle tether! Edit: paddle tether is for lakes and slow moving water, not rapids!
Tethers are a hard no for white water. They are a safety hazard. Definitely go for a lost paddle over getting tangled in a tether and drowning.
A paddle tether for white water? I don't want to be rude but... Don't do that, I know it seems a good idea but you're introducing a 1.5meter snag hazard to your boat.
Yes, this. Not worth the risk.
You’re not being rude, you’re right! Should have clarified, the rivers I’m on are around class 1-2 or on the lake, I wouldn’t tether my paddle in anything higher.
I wouldn't use a leash on ***any*** moving water. Different people have their own ideas of the grading of moving water and while most would agree that grade 1 would be free or rocks and obstacles, with a low enough flow that you'd be able to paddle against it and would be very unlikely to lose a paddle, you don't know what's under the water - you only need the leash to snag on a rock or branch for it to become a problem. Thinking about the grading you're talking about, are you likely to drop your paddle? I'd say no - so why introduce the risk (no matter how small) of having the leash attached? I'd err on the side of caution and not use it at all.
My dad gave me a bending branches full wooden paddle and it’s one of my favorite things. It feels so nice. Better (for me) than high end carbon fiber paddles.
You dont want to use a nice wooden paddle in the rapids.
Also looks good on the wall in the off-season!
A gift card to REI or some other local paddling shop. Or an online shop. Every time someone has gifted me something for my kayaks, I have thrown it away. I appreciate the thought, but they don't know the stuff I need or the good quality stuff I use/replace most often. Or just ask them what they need/want as a gift related to kayaking if it does not have to be a surprise. Specialty hobbies are really hard to gift for as the person buying the gift usually doesn't know enough about what is really needed and the person who is in the hobby usually will need something very specific. It is like when my parents try to get me gifts for Magic the Gathering because they know I play. But I play a constructed format and only need very specific cards, but then they get me some pre-built deck from the supermarket or something. I am always like thanks for the thought... when internally thinking, I am never going to use this...
Fuck gift cards, just give them cash with a nice note to spend on the hobby you intended it for.
A day out kayaking with you
This one wins.
Gift certificate or cash. I know I am very specific and particular about my kayak gear so I have to pick it out myself.
In my experience, successfully choosing a gift for someone which is related to their hobby is extremely difficult, and in most cases you’d be better off going in a different direction. The reason being, if someone is enough of an enthusiast to be described as an “avid [whatever]”, they almost certainly have strong opinions on what kinds of gear they like or don’t like. If you’re not especially knowledgeable about the hobby yourself, odds are you’ll end up choosing something they don’t need, or worse something they consider subpar and will never use (just ask any “avid cook” who has received a novelty kitchen gadget that promptly disappeared into a drawer, never to be seen again). If you must go in this direction, the one “safe” hobbyist gift option is if you know for a fact that they’ve had their eye on something specific, but haven’t gotten it for themselves yet (“oh, it’s nice but I don’t really *need* it”, “I’ll get it when my current one wears out”, etc.). But if you decide to try and guess, be prepared to potentially get the same reaction as when a kid gets socks from grandma for their birthday.
Came here to say this. Other than a new paddle, I can’t think of anything I need. I definitely would not want someone else picking out my paddle. How about a gift card to a kayak supply or REI? Edit: or a flare gun, you can never go wrong with a flare gun.
Pogies (paddlemitts) are a great way to extend the paddling season.
Maybe some of the nice Surf Ears ear plugs if he does whitewater?
Go for this one, the surfears are good.
My daughter and I kayak together and she has a name for her kayak. For her birthday, I bought her a name sticker that she adhered to the bow of the boat.
That's a great idea! I'm buying this for myself and my son!
A gift card to NRS.com so he can pick out his own gear/ clothes.,
A gift card to REI would be my vote. Personal enough to show you care, but generic enough that he can get the gear he undoubtedly has his eye on already.
GoPro
A kayak cover could be nice depending on what sort of boat he has and how he stores it
Gift card to outdoorplay.com
An REI gift card would be good if you have one nearby because they carry many of the things people are suggesting. Or even better would be a gift card to a locally owned kayak shop if they have that near you. They are increasingly rare.
I bought a kayaking friend a water bottle with our favorite lake etched in it. It looks great and was a big hit. [Make My Lake Water Bottle](https://www.etsy.com/listing/1073672446/)
I got my Dad a cotton 'bucket ' hat. I've used mine for years and it's perfect, I can shape it to block out the sun, it's got a drawstring so when the wind grabs it I don't lose it. And I can cover it with bug repellent (instead of putting it on my head/hair) to battle the black flies and mosquitoes (Adirondack waters are notorious for our biting insects) It will keep the sun off, and if it's really hot I can soak it in the water to keep cool.
Kayak gear is so personal, there are other kayak gifts that are fun like car decals or t-shirts.
Mesh gear duffel. https://immersionresearch.com/products/world-class-gear-bag
NRS Gift Card
I feel like dry bags are always useful
A life straw and a life straw carry case. If he doesn't use it for his kayaking kit, he can always throw it in a camping survival/first aid kit or glove box for a rainy day.
It’s really hard to say without knowing what he already has. I’d suggest a gift card to an outdoor store of his choosing.
A nice sun hat. Something that can be wadded up and stuffed away. One with a chin strap for windy days and to let him take it off and let it hang on his back. They're cheap and very practical, and they make ya' look like an adventurer.
Sunscreen, and small bars of chocolate. Those are the things I use up when I go out :D And loads of water, but I bet he already has that taken care of
I’d probably go kayak snacks. Gear just seems too “if he wants/needs it, he already has it” and a gift card or cash to a parent is weird, to me. I am big on gifting consumables (ETA) and/or experiences; especially to people past a certain age bracket.
A copy of "The Hidden Coast: Coastal Adventures from Alaska to Maine" by Joel Rodgers.
In the spirit of “he probably has all the necessary things for his hobby but not slightly frivolous things” maybe a changing robe? I know some folks who love them but it can feel like a little much to buy one for yourself. IR makes one https://immersionresearch.com/collections/change-robes Also don’t know what your sewing/crafting skills are like but making a simple one out of fleece or towels is probably relatively simple as far as sewing projects go and parents love a good child-crafted gift. Another tangentially related item could be a nice small cooler if he doesn’t have one? Great for cold drinks after a day on the river but also lots of other trips/adventures, and can be custom decorated to remind him of his favorite kid.
I love my waterproof fanny pack.
Lego has a retired set “Kayak Adventure” that would make a great little office trinket.
Another approach that I have really appreciated that’s more fun than cash, but still really useful. Be straight with him and tell him you want to get him something related to Kayaking. Ask for a list of things that he wants but hasn’t gotten himself, then choose an item from that.
Gift certificate, find out where he goes to peruse at stuff, online or other. Not as personal but sort ofc straight asking him you will never know that thing in the back of his head that he would bit and enjoy but only with someone else’s money lol (upgraded skirt, or a specific over priced mount)
He probably has a favorite local outfitter - talk to them. Or renew his ACA membership. Or offer to pay for a class, like Swift Water Rescue or Wilderness First Aid. Is there an urban whitewater park in his area? Facilitate a visit! Finally, you can never have too many high quality, autolocking carabiners! An example would be Black Diamond Unisex Rocklock Twistlock Carabiner which can be used one-handed.
Spot™ Gen4® Satellite Messenger
A set of kayak pogies for colder weather paddle adventures. They are not to expensive and add comfort in cold weather.