The Ultimate Surfer Holiday List (Real Gear Surfers Actually Want in 2025)

Surfers don't want random accessories or novelty gear—they want equipment they'll actually use. Everything on this list comes straight from brands surfers trust, built with materials and design choices that actually matter in the water or on the road. From premium boardbags to wetsuits that move better than anything else on the market, here are the gifts that will actually get used.

1. Db Surf Pro Coffin  (3–4 Boards)

The Surf Pro Coffin from Db is one of the smartest-designed surf travel bags available today. Built to safely carry 3–4 boards, this bag features Db's signature Rib Cage Construction™, which provides structure and impact protection without weighing it down.

Other key features of the product:

Hook-Up System™ to connect to Db rollers or backpacks

Compressible construction, so it packs flat when empty

Full-length opening, making it easier to load boards without wrestling with foam and zippers

Heavy-duty wheels, designed for airports, truck beds, and cobblestones

If you travel with multiple boards in various sizes—even once a year—this is the ultimate boardbag.

2. Florence Marine X Cordura® Airtex Boardshort

These aren't average boardshorts—they're engineered for long sessions and heavy wear. Made from CORDURA® Airtex fabric, this short is lightweight, abrasion-resistant, fast-drying, and built specifically to handle surf travel.

Notable product features:

4-way stretch that moves naturally without getting soggy or heavy

Durable CORDURA® nylon, which outlasts standard polyester surf trunks

Stabilizing waistband that stays put during duck dives and bottom turns

Low-profile side zip pocket for keys or small essentials

If someone surfs, travels, hikes to remote breaks, or beats the hell out of their gear, this is the boardshort that can keep up.

3. Florence Marine X Long Sleeve Hooded Rashguard

This is the warm-water essential that lets you surf for hours. The Florence Hooded Rashguard is built for heavy sun exposure, boat trips, full-day sessions, and surf travel.

Product-specific features include:

UPF 50+ sun protection

Lightweight, quick-dry fabric designed for performance

Tailored surf fit to prevent bunching or drag

Integrated hood to protect ears, neck, and head from intense sun

Interior elastic loop for boardshort attachment

This is the rashguard you actually see serious surfers wearing in Indo, Tahiti, the Philippines, and Panama.

4. FERAL Wetsuits

FERAL makes some of the most respected wetsuits in cold-water surfing. Handcrafted in small batches, built from Japanese Yamamoto neoprene, and designed with minimalist paneling that increases flexibility, FERAL suits are known for being both surprisingly warm and incredibly stretchy.

Product benefits drawn from the brand:

Yamamoto rubber = lighter, warmer, more flexible

Minimal seams = fewer cold-water entry points

Durable, thoughtful construction without unnecessary features

Premium fit that eliminates that "paddle resistance" feel that plagues cheaper suits

This is a no-fluff wetsuit built for performance, longevity, and comfort in cold water.

5. Vans Surf Bootie

Based on Vans' iconic skate shoe, the 5mm and 3mm Surf Booties offer a barefoot-like feel while still providing cold-water insulation. Vans focused on flexibility and boardfeel, so the bootie bends naturally instead of feeling like you're surfing in stiff rubber.

Key product features:

Soft, flexible neoprene for strong board connection

Grippy micro-waffle outsole, the same traction logic Vans uses in skate shoes

Supportive ankle design while still allowing natural flex

Durable heel pull for easy on/off

These are some of the most comfortable cold-water booties on the market.

6. Veia Supplies JJF Pro Leash

Veia's JJF Pro leash was designed with direct input from John John Florence and built to handle powerful surf. These leashes are sleek, strong, and made to minimize drag when it matters most.

Product details pulled from the site:

Low-drag urethane cord

Precision-molded cuff and hardware

Reinforced rail saver

Secure ankle cuff that doesn't twist or loosen

Designed for critical surf, not mushy beachbreaks

This is a high-performance leash for someone who surfs real waves.

7. Fix Manufacturing "The Kraken" Surf Tool

The Kraken is a corrosion-resistant stainless steel multi-tool built specifically for surfing. It's compact, cleverly designed, and eliminates the need to carry multiple tiny fin keys or random screwdrivers.

The Kraken features:

Stainless steel construction

FCS & Futures fin compatibility

Universal fin key + Phillips head + flathead

Wax comb & scraper

Bit driver with interchangeable bits

Bottle opener (because of course)

It's durable, pocketable, and solves 90% of the gear adjustments surfers need to make.

8. The Ultimate Gift: A Surf Trip to Playa Venao, Panama

Warm water. Consistent waves. A walkable beach town. Multiple peaks for every level. Playa Venao is one of the easiest, most user-friendly, progression-friendly destinations in Central America.

A stay at Beach Break Surf Camp is the kind of gift people remember forever.

The best surf gifts are the ones that make it easier to get in the water, travel farther, and stay out longer, and everything on this list does exactly that. If you’re ready to give a gift they’ll never forget, book a surf trip to Playa Venao and let the waves handle the rest.

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