Most people would agree that it’s pretty hard to find a good personal gift for someone, and it’s even harder to find a good gift for skateboarders specifically.
Growing up as a skateboarder, my family would always try to get me a thoughtful skateboarding-related gift. Unfortunately, there were a lot of times when they would get me something that I really didn’t want or need.
To make the gift-giving process easier for every, I compiled a list of the best skateboarder gift ideas. These are items that every skater is guaranteed to find useful, regardless of their age or skill level.
Skate Wax
Skate wax is one of the best gift ideas for skateboarders because it’s something that every skater will use.
Seriously, there’s a 100% chance every skater will use wax if you give it to them.
Skateboarders use wax on rails, ledges, and coping to allow them to do grinds and slides. Although it can sometimes be possible to skate these obstacles without wax, it definitely makes it a lot easier.
The more an obstacle is skated, the fasted the wax is rubbed off. This means that skaters are constantly having to reapply wax to obstacles, so it’s an item that always comes in handy.
Most skate wax is exactly the same, so don’t get too caught up on specific brands or styles. Skate wax comes in all sorts of shapes and colors, but it gets messed up after the first use, so don’t worry about the design too much.
If you want a cheaper alternative to skate wax, Gulf wax works just as well and will usually save you a few dollars.
Skate Tool
Another great skateboarder gift idea is a skate tool.
Assembling a skateboard usually requires 3 different-sized wrenches along with either a Philips head or Allen head screwdriver. Obviously, it’s not very practical to carry around a toolbox at the skatepark, so most skaters prefer using a dedicated skate tool instead.
Skate tools are all-in-one tools that have everything needed to put together a skateboard.
They tend to vary when it comes to price, functionality, and design, but they always share the same essentials.
Every skate tool has the option to adjust axle nuts, mounting hardware, and the kingpin nut on the top of the truck.
More expensive skate tools will also come with truck re-threaders, a file, or a built-in ratchet that makes setting up a board faster. These features are mostly luxuries though and aren’t essential to adjust a board.
Some companies make basic skate tools for as cheap as $5 dollars, but I recommend paying a little more for a good all-in-one tool.
You can get a really nice skate tool for around 20 bucks that has literally everything you could possibly need to adjust a board. It might cost a little more, but I can assure you it’s worth spending the extra money on.
If the person you’re shopping for already has a skate tool, there’s also the option to buy a skate tool keychain as well. They do tend to be more basic, but skaters lose their tools all the time so having one on a keychain can come in handy.
Muscle Massager
A muscle massager is a great present not just for skaters, but for athletes in general. After all, everyone loves a nice massage.
Now aside from just feeling good, this is actually a very practical item for skaters.
Muscle massagers are an easy way to loosen up before a session, and they’re also good for preventing sore muscles after a session.
They’ve been getting more and more popular in skateboarding, and even though they’re not directly related to skating, they are really common with skateboarders.
The most well-known brand is Therabody muscle massagers, but there are some more affordable alternatives as well.
Keep in mind though that some of the knock-off brands can be cheaply made, so you don’t want to penny-pinch too much.
A good muscle massager should cost around $100, anything cheaper is likely sacrificing quality.
Skateboard Bearings
For the most part, it’s risky to buy a skateboarder any type of skateboard part as a gift.
Every skater has their own preference of brand, style, size, and color, so it’s better to avoid things like boards, trucks, and wheels.
With that said, skateboard bearings are universal, and it’s something every skateboarder will use.
Bearings are what allow a skateboard wheel to roll, but they’re often the most neglected part of a skateboard.
Skaters will replace their board every few months, but they’ll skate the same set of worn-out bearings for years.
Although some skaters still have their own preferences when it comes to bearings, it’s hard to go wrong with a set of Bones Reds bearings.
Bones Reds are by far the most popular skateboard bearings out there, and they provide great value for the money. They usually cost around $20, and just about any skater would be glad to get a set.
Skateboard Ramp
It’s every skateboarder’s dream to have a backyard skatepark, so buying a ramp is easily one of the best gift ideas for skateboarders.
It doesn’t matter if the skater has only been skating for a few weeks, or if they’ve been skating for years. Buying a skateboarder a ramp will for sure win you brownie points.
There are a lot of different styles of ramps out there, but a quarterpipe is arguably the most common.
Quarterpipes are great because they’re a ramp that can be enjoyed by any skill level.
Beginners can get more comfortable riding on transition, and more experienced skaters can practice actual tricks.
There are several companies that make prebuilt skate ramps that are easy to assemble, but Keen Ramps is one of the most reputable. They have a wide variety of ramp options, and their products have excellent quality.
The price can vary depending on which ramp you buy, but you can expect to pay at least $200-$500 for a decent ramp.
There are tons of cheaper ramps on Amazon, but most of them are very poorly made and won’t last very long. They often get good reviews because parents don’t know any better, but these ramps should be avoided.
Cheaper ramps break easier, they’re more dangerous, and they won’t get used nearly as much.
This is definitely a more expensive item, so only buy a ramp if your budget allows you to get one from a reputable company.
Skate Trip
One of the best parts about skateboarding is traveling to other places to skate, which is exactly why paying for a skate trip can be a good gift idea for a skater.
Now there are a few different ways you can do this. You can either send them on a trip somewhere that’s great for skating like Los Angeles or New York, or you can send them to a skateboarding event like Tampa Pro, Street League, or the X Games.
It honestly doesn’t even need to be extravagant. Simply paying for a trip to a nearby city that they haven’t been to can be an amazing gift.
Skateboarders love to travel to new places to skate, so booking a trip for them to go somewhere new is a thoughtful gift idea that every skater would appreciate.
If the skater is too young to travel on their own, consider sending them to skate camp instead.
Places like Camp Woodward are basically a skateboarder’s paradise.
Skate camps tend to feature several world-class skateparks, along with other summer camp activities like go-carts, rock climbing, and paddleboarding.
Camp Woodward has locations in California, Utah, Colorado, and Pennslyvania, but there are some similar skate camps in other states as well.
Shoe Goo
If you’re looking for something simple and inexpensive, a tube of shoe goo is one of the best gift ideas for skateboarders.
Shoe goo is a rubber adhesive that makes skate shoes last longer and it’s something that almost every skateboarder uses.
It comes in a tube and is used to cover holes or tears on skate shoes. Once the adhesive dries, it has a similar texture to rubber.
Skate shoes often get holes in them before the shoe is fully worn out, and adding a little bit of shoe goo can prolong the life of a shoe by weeks or even months.
If you don’t skate yourself, it might seem odd to put goo on shoes instead of just buying a new pair, but skaters care more about functionality than looks.
Once a pair of shoes is broken in, they feel a lot nicer to skate in than a brand new pair. If they happen to get a hole in them early on, most skaters would rather repair the hole than break in a whole new pair.
Shoe goo is both a cheap and practical present, so you can’t really go wrong with it.
Hydro Flask
A Hydro Flask is an insulated water bottle that keeps cold liquids cold for 24 hours and hot liquids hot for 12 hours.
This might seem like a boring gift, but it’s really useful for skaters to have.
I can’t stress enough how nice it is to have some cold water on standby when you’re out skating, and I’ve yet to find a bottle that’s as good as a Hydro Flask.
They come in a variety of sizes and colors, and there are several lids and cases you can buy for them as well.
If you don’t want to fork out for a name-brand Hydro Flask, there are some slightly cheaper alternatives that are almost the same thing.
As long as it’s a double-walled steel bottle and has good reviews, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about.
Aside from the fact they keep water cold, putting tap water in a reusable bottle is ~2,000 times cheaper than buying plastic bottles, so really it’s a win-win.
Insoles
If you even remotely care about the skateboarder you’re shopping for, do them a favor and buy them some insoles.
Most skate shoes come with terrible insoles, and the majority of skaters are too lazy or too cheap to buy a nicer set to use instead.
There are countless insoles out there that you can buy, and for the most part, it doesn’t really matter what you go with.
Some skate shoes come with insoles that are barely better than a piece of cardboard, so pretty much any other insoles are an improvement.
Dr. Scholl’s insoles are some of my favorite, but if you’re willing to spend a little extra then Footprint insoles are great as well.
Local Skate Products
Skateboarders always like to support their local skate scene, so if you got them something from a local company, chances are they’d be pretty hyped on it.
Using products from small local companies in a skate scene is a like a badge of honor, so this is a really good gift idea for skateboarders
Aside from selling popular products, local skate shops often carry their own custom branded boards or clothes.
If there’s a small local skate shop in your area, check to see if they have their own merchandise. If they don’t, see if there are any small local skate companies that they carry instead.
Worst case scenario, you can always buy them a gift card and let them pick their own stuff out. The main idea here is that you’re helping them support their local shop, which skaters love to do.
Keep in mind that in skateboarding, a “local shop” refers to a privately owned skate shop that operates as a small business. If the only skate shop nearby is a chain store or mall store like Zumiez or Tillys, it’s better to avoid it altogether.
Transformer Rail
Every skater would love to have some backyard ramps to skate. The problem is, buying several ramps can be expensive, and they also take up a lot of space.
The Transformer rail solves both of those problems.
Transformer rails are essentially 2-in-1 or sometimes even 3-in-1 rails that you can skate like a ledge, flat bar, or round rail.
They’re super easy to switch from ledge to rail, and you can also adjust the height of it, so you can skate it a lot of different ways.
Since they’re 2-in-1 and 3-in-1 rails, they allow you to skate several different obstacles without taking up a ton of space.
Depending on the model you go with they can seem kind of pricey, but they’re far cheaper than buying several individual ramps.
Any decent ramp or rail is going to cost at least $200, and Transformer rails provide 2-3 obstacles in one.
Also, the build quality of Transformer rails is unmatched. The rails are designed to last for years, and there are very few companies with similar quality.
Transformer rails also have a few models to choose from and they even do custom builds, so it can definitely be a good present to get a skater.
Skateboard Art
One of the more unique skater gift ideas is buying some skateboarding art.
Over the past few years, making art out of recycled skateboards has become incredibly popular.
There are a ton of different types of skateboarding art out there, so it really just comes down to what you think is best.
People use recycled skateboards to make rings, guitar picks, wallets, tables, key chains, clocks, sculptures, and even sunglasses.
Basically, anything out there that is made with wood, people have recreated using recycled skateboards.
The key thing here is to avoid any generic skateboarding art that you’d find at a department store. Even though it might catch your eye, most skateboarders can spot generic skate art, and won’t appreciate it the same way they’d appreciate something handmade.
Deck / Trucks / Wheels
Some common gift ideas for skateboarders are decks, trucks, and wheels.
Now if you’re a skateboarder yourself, getting someone any of these things can be a great gift, because they’re things that every skateboarder could use.
With that said, if you don’t skate and you’re looking for gift ideas for skaters, I would maybe avoid these things specifically unless you’re willing to put in the work to get the right size.
The reason is that skateboarding can be super nuanced and confusing to someone who doesn’t skate, and buying the wrong size can make the difference between an amazing gift that someone loves, and a not-so-good gift that someone doesn’t really want.
For example, if the person you’re shopping for skates a size 8 board and you get them an 8.5, they’re probably not going to skate it.
If you want to get a skater one of these things, I would recommend just asking one of their friends what company and size they like to skate. That way you can avoid any confusion, and you don’t have that awkward scenario where they kind of like the gift, but can’t really use it.
Stocking Stuffers
There are a few other skater gift ideas I wanted to mention that are pretty straightforward and don’t need much explaining, so I decided to make a mini top ten list of smaller gift ideas that can still be great.
Think of these basically like stocking stuffers, but they could still be nice presents for someone’s birthday or pretty much any other occasion.
Skaters are pretty bad about never buying new hardware, so this can definitely be a good present for them. Pretty much any 7/8th inch to 1-inch skate hardware is fine, and it only costs a few dollars.
Balance boards are a little gimmicky, but they can be fun to mess around on and they can help skaters practice certain tricks.
Skateboarders ripe laces all the time, and it’s super annoying when you don’t have any extras, so most skaters will be happy to get some extras. Waxed laces and leather laces tend to last the longest, but most laces will work just fine.
If you want to get something small as a present, pins, patches, and stickers are all solid options. Skaters love customizing their clothes and boards, and these are all inexpensive ways to do that.
It might not seem skateboarding related, but a phone case is one of the best gift ideas for skateboarders. A lot of skaters have broken phone screens simply because they’re too lazy to buy a case. Getting a skater a decent phone case is a nice way to save them the hassle of having a broken phone.
Stance socks are arguably the most popular socks in skateboarding. They’re comfortable, the quality is top-notch, and the designs are solid.
There are a lot of sock companies nowadays with crazy designs, but Stance was one of the first, so they’re usually skater’s first choice.
Fingerboards are super fun to play with, so it can be a nice little present to get someone who skates. While you’re at it, you might want to consider getting a fingerboard ramp as well.
Skateboarders love to film videos of their skating, but there isn’t always someone available to hold their phones for them. Getting a small phone tripod is a thoughtful gift that most skaters will definitely enjoy.
Skateboarder Gift Ideas To Avoid
Buying someone a gift they don’t want isn’t a pleasant experience for anyone.
The person buying it feels bad they bought the wrong item, and the person receiving it feels bad that they didn’t have a good reaction. It’s an awkward experience for everyone, so it’s better to avoid it if possible.
Even though you may have good intentions, skateboarders are hard to shop for, and it’s easy to buy the wrong item.
These are a few skateboarder gift ideas that should be avoided unless you’re absolutely sure you know you’re buying the right item.
Skateboards, Trucks, and Wheels
Skateboarders are very particular when it comes to the sizes, colors, brands, and styles of products they use.
Skateboards can be incredibly nuanced, and skaters are very picky when it comes to what they like to skate.
Items such as boards, trucks, and wheels seem like good gift ideas for skaters, but it’s very easy to buy the wrong size.
For example, boards can vary in size by as little as 0.125 inches, and most skaters can notice the difference. If you buy a board that’s 8.125 inches and the person actually skates boards that are 8.25 inches, they likely won’t use the board.
Unless you can get an insider tip from one of their friends, buying skate gear should be avoided.
The only exception to this is if the person you’re shopping for doesn’t skate yet, or is still relatively new.
It takes at least a few months or sometimes even years to figure out what sizes you like to skate. If someone is still a beginner, buying a slightly bigger or smaller board likely won’t be noticeable to them.
Skate Shoes
Skate shoes are another item that can be hit or miss when you’re shopping for someone else.
Shoe sizes are definitely a lot easier to figure out than boards, trucks, and wheels, but there’s still a lot of room for error.
Shoes are extremely important in skateboarding, so skaters can be particular about what they like and don’t like.
Also, just because you see a skater wearing a pair of shoes, doesn’t mean that they actually like them.
When a skater gets a pair of shoes that they decide they don’t like, they’ll often end up using them anyway just so they don’t waste money.
Just like with boards,trucks, and wheels, it’s better to avoid buying skate shoes for someone else unless you have an inside tip. As with the previous items, if the skater is just starting out, this doesn’t really apply.
Cheap Skate Ramps
Amazon is filled with listings of cheap skateboard ramps and rails that parents unknowingly buy for their kids.
These ramps aren’t very fun to use, they break easier, and they can even be dangerous.
Most of these ramps are made of plastic or cheap metal, so it doesn’t take long for them to start bending and breaking.
Often times young kids will have fun with them for a while, but they’ll inevitably get pushed aside like an old toy because they aren’t very fun long-term.
If you want to buy a ramp for a skater, expect to pay at least $200 for a good one, unless you plan on building one yourself.
What are the best skater gift ideas?
Pretty much everyone knows how hard it can be to shop for someone else, and skateboarders in particular can be even harder to buy gifts for.
Every skater has their own preferences, but these are a few items that every skater is guaranteed to find useful.
Keep in mind that although some of the items on this list are somewhat expensive, a present doesn’t have to cost a lot of money to be a good gift.
If it’s a thoughtful gesture and it’s something the person can use, that’s all that really matters.