The familiar adage, “You can never have too much gear,” is more like a commandment for most kayakers. While that simple fact should make it easy to find the best kayaking gifts, it can be difficult to discern between what’s truly practical from stuff they’ll never use.
Spanning from budget-friendly to splurge-worthy, all items on this list of kayaking gifts have been personally tested and approved by Paddling Magazine editors and longtime contributors. Whether you’re shopping for a sea kayaker, recreational kayaker, whitewater kayaker or packrafter, there’s something for everyone here at all price points—from a truly waterproof map case to a versatile PFD and an ultralight packraft to venture deep into the backcountry. This article showcases some of the season’s best kayaking apparel, gear and accessories to help you make the best selections for all the paddlers on your list. And while it’s tailored for the holiday season, bookmark this guide for birthdays, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, and any special occasion year-round.
Keel Eazy DIY keel strip
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Eventually, every composite sea kayak will benefit from a keel strip as the hull’s gel coat wears down in high-use areas. Keel Eazy is a great gift for kayakers that allows moderately handy paddlers to breathe new life into a fiberglass or kevlar boat with a durable PVC keel strip and only a few basic tools. It takes about a half-hour to install two-inch peel-and-stick Keel Eazy on a typical 17-foot kayak, using a heat gun and roller for a professional application. Multiple colors are available to match (or accentuate) your boat. —CM
Astral EV-Eight PFD
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ASTRAL AMAZON PUBLIC LANDS
The Astral EV-Eight is a favorite amongst rec kayakers for its light weight and breathability, plus its extra-high mesh back pairs with modern high-back kayak seats. Astral’s Airescape system features mesh, contoured foam and vent ports to let heat escape, making it the perfect PFD for hot summer days. And at just 1.2 pounds, it’s also the lightest foam vest we’ve tested. Seven adjustment points make this vest fit a wide range of paddlers, and the Velcro shoulder-strap keepers are a nice touch. The EV-Eight is one of Paddling Mag’s top picks for best life jackets. —KP
Watershed Ocoee dry bag
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The Watershed Ocoee is a favorite among Paddling Magazine photographers and editors. I use it to keep my camera and long lens dry on trips. I typically stash it in the cockpit with me, so it’s easy to access my camera to catch the moment. Prefer to stow it in a hatch? You can do that with the 10.5-liter Ocoee too. Try that with a big Peli case. The Ocoee lives up to its claim of being a waterproof and submersible thanks to its ZipDry seal, which looks like a giant Ziploc seam running across the top. I love the easy-carry handles and included padded liner to soften inevitable bumps. Not quite what you’re looking for your camera gear? See more of Paddling Mag’s top picks in the best waterproof gear boxes. —KP
Garmin InReach Mini 2
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Gifting a Garmin InReach Mini 2 is really about giving the gift of peace of mind. Perfect for backcountry paddlers, sea kayakers and others traveling off grid, the Mini 2 delivers everything you want in one tiny, dependable package: SOS and check-in messaging, long battery life, and two-way texting that can pair with your smartphone to save you pecking at its screen like it’s 1999. Garmin’s newer InReach Messenger Plus can send photos and voice memos, which is neat but not essential. After hundreds of nights in the field, the Mini 2 remains my favorite satellite communicator. —KP
NRS HydroLock Map Case
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It’s tough to find a reliable, waterproof map case that can survive the rigours of riding on the deck of a sea kayak for more than a trip or two. Most suffer from blown seams or defective zip seals way too soon. That’s why the NRS HydroLock map case is such a great gift for kayakers. The medium size fits a good span of coastline at most map scales. —CM
Paddling Magazine print subscription
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Each issue of Paddling Magazine is packed with essential skills, expert tips, unforgettable expeditions and trusted gear reviews. If your loved one is passionate about paddling adventures and values top-notch storytelling, it’s the perfect gift for the holidays! Get a subscription for yourself or give it as a gift.
Paddling the Salish Sea guidebook
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AMAZON BARNES & NOBLE BOOKSHOP.ORG THRIFT BOOKS
Veteran Pacific Northwest kayaker Rob Casey has penned the ultimate guide to kayak touring in Puget Sound, the San Juan Islands, Olympic Peninsula and southern British Columbia. Paddling the Salish Sea features 80 routes to inspire paddlers of all skill levels. This is a great holiday or birthday gift for kayakers or armchair adventurers alike, with a mix of day trips and overnight tours and an excellent overview of the region’s diverse human and natural history. —CM
PAKA Everyday Baselayer
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Available in men’s and women’s styles, the PAKA Everyday Baselayer is ideal for wearing next to your skin under a drysuit for cold-weather paddling. The blend of natural alpaca and Tencel synthetic fibers is soft, breathable, odor-resistant and durable—with a cut that transitions effortlessly from the backcountry to the cafe. —CM
Sea to Summit Evac Compression HD dry bag
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SEA TO SUMMIT AMAZON BACKCOUNTRY REI
A good dry bag will consistently rank amongst the best gifts for kayakers. The Sea to Summit Evac Compression HD dry bag combines durable, reliably waterproof yet lightweight Cordura eVent fabric with a compression system to force excess air from bulky items, such as clothing and sleeping bags. Eight- and 13-liter models are good all-around choices for most paddlers that fit almost every hatch size. See more of Paddling Mag’s top picks for the best dry bags. —CM
Kokopelli Twain
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The Kokopelli Twain is a tandem flatwater packraft for adventurous duos that excels on lakes and smooth-flowing rivers. A sleek bow and stern profile and a built-in skeg improve glide and keep you tracking straighter than other packrafts for more efficient paddling. With an overall length of 10 feet, when paddled solo, the Twain is a packhorse with oodles of space for gear, a bike or a canine companion—yet it still tips the scales at less than 14 pounds, which is lighter than most two-person inflatable kayaks. Impressively, it manages to pack down the size of a sleeping bag. —CM
Kokatat Meridian Dry Suit
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After a kayak, a drysuit is probably the most expensive purchase any cold-water paddler will make but it’s also the only piece of gear that can double your season, making it sort of priceless when you think about it. The Kokatat Gore-Tex Meridian is a perennial favorite and has been my go-to suit for nearly 15 years. Others on our team report their Meridians are still going strong after two decades. The Gore-Tex fabric offers reliable waterproof protection and breathability, keeping you dry inside and out, all to Kokatat’s legendary standards of comfort and durability. See more of our top picks for best dry suits. —KP
Paddling Mag TV Gift Subscription
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Gift your loved one endless entertainment with Paddling Mag TV, the premier streaming platform for paddlers, featuring the best kayaking, canoeing, whitewater, and standup paddleboarding films all in one place. More than 150 paddling films are accessible on all devices, including smartphones, tablets, TVs and computers. Stream directly to your TV via HDMI or casting devices for the ultimate viewing experience.
Feature photo: iStock
