The editors of SURF Buyer’s Guide have put their heads together to come up with ten affordable gift ideas for the surfer on your list this holiday season. Simple explanations will help even non-surfers to put something every wave rider will love (and use) under the tree—for less than 100 dollars. Better hurry!—SBG
See below for the 2008 list, including: 1. Leash; 2. Wetsuit Booties; 3. Changing Towel; 4. Surf Shirt; 5. Earplugs; 6. Women’s Boardshorts; 7. Board Bag; 8. Sandals; 9. Tide Watch; 10. Travel
DaKine makes quality leashes, like the Kainui Team, in a variety of lengths and diameters.
1. Leash: A leash is a critical piece of equipment that’s used by almost all surfers—traditional longboarders being the exception, because they need the freedom to walk (hopefully cross-stepping!) the length of an eight- to ten-foot board. A surfing leash, or “cord,” attaches the board to the ankle of a surfer’s back leg, preventing it from drifting away after a fall. Leashes are made in different lengths and thicknesses for varying wave conditions. A standard leash for all-around surfing measures seven feet long and 1/4-inch in diameter. This is a go-to gift because leashes get kinked, and snap, and a back-up is always handy. Leashes are universal in the sense that any new leash will be compatible with any modern surfboard. Available at surf shops everywhere. Price: US$25–30
Editors' Pick: O'Neill's 3mm Mutant Split-Toe bootie. Price: US$54
2. Wetsuit Boots (Booties): Perfectly timed for the winter holiday, a pair of neoprene surfing boots (often called “booties”) will last for years. Booties a generally worn in combination with a full-length wetsuit in water temperatures below sixty degrees. Just like wetsuits, booties come in different thicknesses, measured in millimeters. (more…)
