Getting presents for your kayaker friend can be a challenge. How do do get him something that you know will be useful, but also is within your budget. The list compiled here is based on what I as a kayaker love to find under the Christmas tree, which I will definitely use when I'm out on the water.
1.PVC Dry Bags
These are always an easy gift that will be appreciated. Kayakers need dry bags to store their gear so it doesn't get wet. The 5 to 10 Liters range should be the right size for most items. Smaller is usually safer. If the bag is too big, then there's a risk it won't fit through the hatch.
A 5 Liter bag is good for small things like your wallet toiletries, and snacks, while the 10L will handle bulkier items like a pair of shoes. Usually, an expedition kayaker will have about ten of these bags, and they will be different colors to know what's inside of each (food, electronics, boat repair, bug/bear spray, toiletries, first aid etc...)
2.Bilge Sponges
Bilge sponges are a thoughtful gift that shows you understand the little hassles of sea kayaking. It doesn't matter how tight your kayak hatches are, there's always some water that ends up getting in, especially during rough weather and if you had to do some combat rolls to stay afloat. Few things are worse than finding standing water in your hatches, discovering that one of your dry bags had a few pinpricks, and now your change clothes and sleeping bag are soaked with seawater. Buy three bilge sponges (one for each hatch compartment) for your kayaking buddy, and they will be reminded of you when they open their kayak hatches and think, "Thank goodness I have these with me!"
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3.Compression Bags
Compression bags are an excellent way to cut down volume inside your kayak hatches for those things that are fluffy. These include your sleeping bag, your clothes and your tent fabric. Usually you want a 10 Liter bag for your clothing, and a 20 Liter for your sleeping bag or tent fabric. I normally have about four of these bags with me in an expedition (two for clothing, one for the sleeping bag and pillow, and one for the tent fabric). You'll be amazed just how much extra room you'll find inside your kayak after that. If you want a great quality compression bag, get the AMK Compression Sack! Yes, I used these in my trip around the UK and Ireland!
4.My Book "Around Vancouver Island on my Kayak"
If you want to read about a great paddling adventure, then you'll enjoy my book about my 1,000 Mile journey around Vancouver Island! It's a tale rich with storytelling about the West Coast Native peoples, Captain Cook, George Vancouver and the towns, outports and parks of today’s Vancouver Island. It’s also replete with fascinating accounts of the island's flora, fauna, geology, and beguiling and often wacky characters that populate Vancouver Island’s most remote lighthouses, shacks, and villages. All this as I navigate my kayak through rock inlets, islands, tidal currents, tankers, winds and waves in an absorbing adventure.
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5.Luci Solar Lamp
Yes, at some point you'll find yourself paddling at night, and you're going to need a lamp. These Luci Solar Lamps don't take up much space. You can attach them to your deck lines with the solar panel facing up, and over the course of the day, they will charge up enough to last a few hours. I'll normally carry about 3 of these with me.
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6.Kit Bags
Every kayaker knows that making a bunch of trips from the campsite to the kayak carrying your gear is no fun. We want to make as few trips as possible, and quickly pack the kayak so we can get on our way. Having a dedicated kit bag for each hatch compartment really makes this easy. Kayakers love Ikea bags. They are robust, and will crumple into very tight spaces. They are super cheap, might even be free at your local Ikea store.
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7.Wide Brim Sun Hat You can get some very bad sunburns in a bright day on the water. For that reason you need a wide brim sun hat that will keep your face in the shade. Most wide brim sun hats have a 4-inch rim, but the AMK Helios (yes it's my creation, and it's me in the photo and video!) has 6-inches! Don't think that an extra 2-inches makes a difference? You will know it when you wear one! Plus you can roll with this hat as well, and it won't come off your head!
8.Beach Chair
One of the best things to have in a kayaking expedition is a comfortable place to sit when you're at the campsite, eating your food, and enjoying the scenery. The "sort of flat" boulder, the oddly shaped log, and maybe even that random toilet seat cover you found at the beach just can't compare to a good folding chair that you can even take a nap in the shade (yes, it's me in the photo again!). Your friends in the trip who don't have one, will be jealous of you.
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9.Zijie Paddles
Buying a high end kayak paddle for a friend, is tricky because the length and the size are really specific to the paddler, so this is really a present you will most likely be buying for yourself.
But if you want a high end, affordable carbon fiber paddle, it will be tough to beat a Zijie Paddle. They are every bit as good as an Epic paddle, but about half the price. I used a Zijie wing paddle on my 3,500 mile journey around the UK and Ireland, and they were may most valuable piece of gear in the trip. You can see me rolling with the Zijie wing paddle below. They are light, smooth, and elegant. If you use the coupon code ZJAMK2024 you can get a discount on their website.
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10.Gator Patch
Field repairs to your hull are really distressing. You don't want to be fiddling with epoxy glues, mixing cups, and mesh cloths when there's no clean place to do it, and the wind is blowing the sand everywhere. You want something that will get the crack patched quickly, and get you through the end of the journey, or at least to the nearest port.
The Gator Patch is easy to use, hassle free, and takes up very little space so you can keep two or three patches with you all all times. Your kayaker friend will really like this gift if he doesn't already have one.
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11. Jelly Belly Sports Beans
If I'm your kayaker friend, I would love to get a box with 25 packs of these. They are tasty, and there's plenty of variety to chose from. My favorite is caffeinated version. They give you a hell of a kick when you need fast energy to finish off a 40 mile paddle against they wind. I call them the He-Man jelly beans...
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12. Neoprene Booties
This one is a little tricky. If you know your kayaker friend's shoe size, then a new set of booties will be a really nice present. Just make sure that you buy one size bigger than their shoe size, especially if they use those booties with a dry suit.
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13. Chamois Butter Anti Chaffe Cream
If your kayaker friend is a hardcore paddler who goes on long paddling expeditions and doesn't shower for weeks on end, then he (and let's be honest, it's definitely a guy, not a girl), is going to need something to ease the chaffing on those body areas that are constantly rubbing against each other, so they don't turn into nasty raw sores. I put a generous amount under my armpits, around the nipples, and those other important private body parts you definitely don't want chaffing on... It's a life saver! It turns a multi week kayaking expedition into an experience, as opposed to a slog. Your kayaker friend will appreciate having a tube of lube with him.
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14. Neoprene Gloves
If your kayaker friend is one of those hardcore dudes who takes pride in his hand calluses to show how much he paddles, then he might think that gloves are for sissies. However, if you ever had to wrap bandages around your naked fingers and had the salt water reeling in your wounds with every paddle stroke, you know how much you wish you had a pair of comfortable gloves with you. One note of warning when buying a pair of gloves for a friend, bigger is usually safer. I would not get anything smaller than a large.
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15. O'Neill Men's Premium Skins
If you are paddling in warm tropical weather, then you'll need something that will protect you from the sun, but it's also breathable and flexible. I really like these O'Neill Skins and I took five of them with me in my trip around Puerto Rico (yes its me in the picture, looking silly, but definitely not sun-burned). They are comfortable, dry quickly, and are good to go after a rinse. I would highly recommend that you go for at least one size bigger than your regular shirt. If you think your kayaker friend is a medium, then definitely get a large. I'm 6 feet, 180 pounds, and I use an X-Large.
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16. Mosquito Repellent
Of all the predators you might encounter in a paddling expedition; bears, sharks, mountain lions, and wolfs, none is more common and ferocious than the mosquito. They will bite you through the tent fabric if you lean against it. They will sting you in the butt when you're doing you're business. And they will buzz in your ear all night long when you're sleeping. That's why you need a powerful mosquito repellent like the Therma-cell. It slowly releases a chemical repellent into the air, creating a little bubble of protection which keeps all the bugs away. It's like magic when you see it work. One minute the bugs are eating you alive, and then suddenly, they're all gone! If I was in the arctic and I had to chose between the Therma-cell for the mosquitos and a shotgun for polar bears, I'll take my chances with the bear without the shotgun...
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17. Zipper Wax
If your kayaker friend has invested the money on a Dry Suit, then he definitely using zipper wax to make sure those zippers on the suit run smoothly, don't get stuck. and seal tightly. The last thing you want in a kayaking expedition, is to find that your dry suit isn't sealing, or worse, you can't open the zipper, and you have to go number 2 REALLY badly ASAP.
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18. Bungee Cords
Bungee cords are an excellent way to tie things down in your kayak. I usually take about 15 of these with me in an expedition. They are great for bottles, paddles, and any other miscellaneous items you need to keep in hand on the kayak deck. A bag of these is a cheap but very useful gift for a fellow paddler
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19.Adhesive Cable Base Holders
If you've ever wondered how to make good use of the space under your legs inside the kayak cockpit then these will work wonders for you. Wipe the inside of your kayak with some acetone and they will stick well even when wet. Then wrap a bungee cord around the tie down strap and you'll have a secure hold for your water bottles, and bilge pump. It's one of those tricks of the trade you pick up over the years.
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20.IMG Travel Insurance
If you have ever been in an accident on your trip and needed a hospital visit in a foreign country, then you know the feeling of relief you get from knowing that you got a travel insurance policy that has your bills covered! Peace of mind is priceless! I used IMG for my 6 month expedition around the UK and Ireland.
21.Meefar Roof Rack
If you need to transport your kayak, and you need an affordable roof rack that will do the job, then Meefar will do get the job done. I used it to transport my 18 foot Rockpool Taran from Anglesey to London, and we got there safe and sound!
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22.Amazon Gift Card
If you still can't think of anything to give your Kayaking friend, then I suppose you can give them an Amazon Gift Card. They might, however, think you're trying to be their dad...
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