Best Gifts for Paddlers

Most river runners we know are inveterate gear freaks, so gift-giving is easy and fun for paddling friends and family. Here’s a roundup of paddling gear we’ll be giving our fellow rafters, kayakers, and paddleboarders this season. (Some of these are affiliate links, meaning that we might make a small commission if you buy something.)

Virus-filtering water bottle

The Grayl Ultra Press Water Bottle is expensive, but it performs a critical function by filtering for viruses as well as bacteria and protozoa. This is one of the few devices that comes in bottle format and filters norovirus, rotavirus, and hepatitis A. Especially if your favorite paddler is headed to Grand Canyon or another area where norovirus has been detected, this water bottle will be a welcome gift. (To read more about water filters and carrying clean water on river trips, check out our 3 Essential Water Filters post).

River knife

Every paddler needs at least one river knife, but we’ve found that if you have a couple of different PFDs—one for kayaking, one for rafting, for example—it’s handy to have a knife on each jacket so you don’t have to swap them out. Plus, river knives are relatively inexpensive so they make great stocking stuffers. Our favorite knife is the NRS Co-Pilot.

Brimmed paddling hat

The Topo Designs camp hat is one of the best hats for wearing under a helmet (or wearing on a summer run). It has flat seams, a low-profile adjustment mechanism, a long sun-blocking bill, and no annoying hardware, which can dig into your scalp under the pressure of the helmet. Hats are great gifts because no paddler can have too many.

Topo Designs hat — *For paddlers, look for brimmed hats like this one from Topo Designs with no metal knob on the top*

Paddling gloves

I’ve probably bought at least 5 pairs of NRS Boater’s Gloves—some for myself (I have lost a pair or two) and others as gifts. They are simply the best gloves I’ve used as they provide excellent grip, their fingerless design helps you perform tasks that require dexterity, and they provide UV protection.

Small dry bag

Especially for inflatable kayakers, the Watershed Ocoee bag is a perfect gift. It will accommodate everything you need for a day of paddling, it has plenty of anchor points so you can strap it securely to your boat, and the duffel style means you won’t need to dig around for what you need. It’s also a great pick for stand-up paddleboarders. (For more on this topic, see our post about choosing the best dry bags for various types of river trips.)

Watershed Ocoee duffel dry bag — *Watershed Ocoee duffel-style dry bag is perfect for inflatable kayakers and stand-up paddleboarders*

Sun shower

Yes, for some river runners, a solar shower is a silly indulgence. But once you’ve tried it, you’ll come to crave a few minutes of warm spray to chase away the chill from paddling in cold water all day or to help slough off the day’s grunge. Our favorite sun shower is the Advanced Elements Summer Shower: It produces deliciously warm water, is easy to use, and takes up very little space. (Here’s more about the sun showers we’ve tested.)

Advanced Elements Summer Shower on river trip — *The Advanced Elements Summer Shower is compact, convenient to set up, and heats water quickly in hot sun*

Dry suit

A dry suit is a very, very generous gift—but will be cherished for years by your favorite paddler. One dry suit that we love because it performs well and you can sometimes catch on sale is the Level Six Freya for women. Another highly rated pick: Kokotat Hydrus dry suits for women (here’s the men’s version) are currently 22% off at REI. Also check used gear stores for dry suits: As long as the gaskets are in good condition, a used dry suit is a good investment as most paddlers end up using them only a few times a year. (I’ve had excellent results shopping at Geartrade, a used outdoor gear online store, and they carry an impressive array of paddling gear.)

Dutch oven

We were converted to Dutch oven enthusiasts on our Grand Canyon trip. Although this method of cooking takes some time in camp, it’s such a satisfying and magical way to cook food in the wild. You can save a little weight with a D.O. that’s purpose-made for river trips, but a few more pounds in a raft full of gear probably won’t be a deal-breaker, so we recommend the classic cast-iron Dutch oven. The classic Lodge 10-inch, 4-quart Dutch oven makes a great gift, not only for river trippers but for car campers, too. (Check out our Dutch oven tutorial for tips on choosing and cooking with Dutch ovens.)

Waterproof case

A good-sized Pelican waterproof case will be welcomed by any paddler, but especially one who needs to keep camera gear or other valuables dry. I’ve used the same Pelican case for a couple of decades with no mishaps. Pelican cases come with pre-scored foam so you can custom-fit the padding to accommodate gear. I use different sections of foam depending on which electronics I’m bringing on a particular trip.

PFD for the pup

Dogs bring a special level of comfort and chaos to any river trip. Make sure your pup has a well-fitting PFD before you launch. This highly rated Ruffwear Float Coat Dog Life Jacket has a sturdy handle for hoisting your hound out of the water as well as an adjustable neck closure. (See “10 Questions Before You Bring Your Dog on a River Trip” for more about dogs on river trips.)

Tully dog on raft trip Gunnison River — *Tully (with a well-fitting PFD) gives Audrey some rowing tips on the Gunnison River, Escalante Canyon*

Happy gifting

The best part of giving your favorite paddler a practical, fun, or over-the-top gift is sparking the anticipation of long, dreamy days on the river to come next season. Need some ideas for river trips to paddle next year? Check out our River Beta section. Happy gifting!