Heads up: Grembi is reader-supported. When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. How this works.
Skaters and surfers are hard to shop for for one reason: they’re picky about their gear, and they already have opinions about all of it. Buy them a novelty skateboard-shaped bottle opener and it lives in a drawer forever.
The fix is to buy the stuff they burn through. Wax runs out. Grip tape wears down. Bearings get crunchy. Boards get dinged. These gifts get used, and most of them fit a $50 budget (check the live price, because it moves).
How we pick
- Consumables and upgrades over gimmicks. We picked things skaters and surfers use up, lose or replace.
- Real brands and product types. Brands named here are long-running skate and surf names. Where the exact choice depends on the person (sizes, water temperature), we explain what to check.
- Under $50 as a budget band. Prices change daily; check the live price before you buy. No prices are listed here.
- No fake testing. We haven’t tested these products for this guide. Brands can’t pay for a spot.
Before you buy: three sneaky questions
You want the gift to fit their setup without giving away the surprise. Try these:
- “What width is your board?” (Skaters.) Affects grip tape and trucks.
- “Where do you usually surf?” (Surfers.) Water temperature decides which wax to buy.
- “What’s the most annoying thing about your setup right now?” The answer is often your gift.
If you can’t ask, stick to the “no sizing needed” picks marked below.
For skaters
1. Bones REDS bearings
No sizing needed (standard skateboard bearings). A fresh set of bearings makes an old board roll like new. Bones REDS are a common, affordable upgrade. Check Bones’ product page for current specs and care instructions.
Good for: anyone whose wheels sound gritty or slow down too fast.
Browse Bones REDS bearings on Amazon
2. Grip tape
Grip tape wears smooth over time, and a fresh sheet makes a board feel new. Mob Grip and Jessup are two long-running griptape brands. Sheets come in different widths, so check the deck width first.
Make it fun: colored or printed grip is a nice touch for someone who already has the basics.
Browse Mob grip tape on Amazon · Browse Jessup grip tape on Amazon
3. A skate tool
No sizing needed. A T-shaped or Y-shaped skate tool puts the wrenches a skater needs for trucks, wheels and hardware into one pocket-size piece, so they can adjust and swap parts anywhere. Skaters lose these constantly, so a spare is never wasted.
4. Wheels
A new set of wheels is one of the best skate gifts, but it’s a personal choice. Ask, or check what they ride now. Our beginner skateboard setup guide explains wheel size and durometer (hardness). Short version: softer wheels for cruising rough streets, harder wheels (99a and up) for smooth skateparks. Spitfire and Bones are well-established wheel brands. Wheel prices vary, so check whether a set fits your budget.
Browse Spitfire wheels on Amazon · Browse Bones wheels on Amazon
5. Skate wax
No sizing needed. A small bar of curb or ledge wax helps a board slide on ledges and curbs. Cheap, small and very skater. (Check that wherever they skate is fine with waxed ledges.)
6. Wrist guards or pads
For newer skaters, a good set of wrist guards is a thoughtful gift. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons recommends that skateboarders wear a helmet, wrist guards, and knee and elbow pads. Pads come in sizes, so check the brand’s chart.
For surfers
7. Surf wax (the right temperature)
Surfers go through wax constantly, and it comes in formulas for different water temperatures. Sticky Bumps is a long-running surf wax brand. Match the wax to where they surf; check the label or the maker’s site for the water temperature range each bar is made for.
Gift move: a few bars of the right temp, a basecoat and a wax comb, tied up together.
Browse Sticky Bumps surf wax on Amazon · Browse wax combs on Amazon
8. A ding repair kit
No sizing needed (but check board type). Every surfboard gets dinged eventually. Sun-cure resin kits, like the ones from Phix Doctor, are made for quick fixes; check the listing for how the resin cures and how long it takes. Check whether the kit says it works for epoxy, polyester or both, and match it to their board.
Browse Phix Doctor ding repair kits on Amazon
9. A leash
Leashes wear out, and a frayed one is the kind of thing surfers keep meaning to replace. They come in different lengths, so check what matches their board before you buy. Dakine and FCS both make leashes.
Browse Dakine surf leashes on Amazon · Browse FCS surf leashes on Amazon
10. A dry bag
No sizing needed. A roll-top dry bag holds keys, phone and a towel on the beach, then carries the wet wetsuit home. Earth Pak and Sea to Summit both make them.
Browse roll-top dry bags on Amazon
11. A changing poncho or hooded towel
Changing in a parking lot is a surfer rite of passage. A hooded changing towel makes it less of a show. Check the price: some brands go over $50, but simpler versions often fit the budget.
Browse surf changing ponchos on Amazon
For both
12. Sun protection they’ll actually wear
Skaters and surfers spend hours outside, so pick a sunscreen they’ll actually use. The FDA’s sunscreen page recommends using broad spectrum sunscreens with SPF values of 15 or higher regularly and as directed. A stick sunscreen is easy to throw in a bag, and an SPF lip balm is a nice add-on. More sun basics in our beach day bag checklist.
Browse sport sunscreen sticks on Amazon
13. Sunglasses
Board people lose and sit on sunglasses at an impressive rate. Knockaround is one brand to look at, and the FDA suggests looking for a UV400 or “100% UV protection” label. Floating straps are a good add-on for surfers.
Browse Knockaround sunglasses on Amazon
14. An insulated water bottle
Hydro Flask, Yeti and plenty of others make insulated bottles that keep water cold through a long session. A bottle with a carry loop clips to a backpack.
Browse insulated water bottles on Amazon
15. A tee for after the session
A soft, roomy tee is the post-session uniform. Grembi’s own original tees are coming soon (preview the designs on our tees page). Until then, a plain heavyweight tee is never wrong, and our guide on how to style an oversized graphic tee has the skatepark and beach looks covered.
Gift bundles under $50
These are budget plans, not price promises. Check what each piece costs today.
| Bundle | What’s in it | For |
|---|---|---|
| The fresh setup | Bearings + a skate tool | Skater whose board sounds crunchy |
| The regrip | Grip tape sheet + skate wax | Skater with a worn deck |
| The wax kit | 2-3 bars of the right temp + basecoat + wax comb | Any surfer |
| The ding doctor | Ding repair kit + a dry bag | Surfer who travels |
| The sun session | Sunscreen stick + SPF lip balm + sunglasses | Anyone who’s outside all day |
Keep going
More gift ideas: best gifts under $25 for college students, white elephant gifts under $20 and stocking stuffers under $10. Ordering close to the holidays? Check our holiday shipping deadlines.
FAQ
What do you get a skater who has everything? Things they use up: bearings, grip tape, wax, a spare skate tool. Ask about their board width before buying grip or trucks.
What’s a good cheap gift for a surfer? Surf wax in the right water temperature, a wax comb, or a ding repair kit.
Do I need to know their board size? For grip tape, wheels and leashes, yes. For bearings, skate tools, wax, dry bags and sunglasses, no.