Whether it’s a birthday, holiday, or just a surprise, it’s not always easy to know what to buy for the longboarder in your life. We’re here to help you out with our list of best longboarding gifts depending on your budget.
Here’s a tip before we begin: If you are really worried about buying the wrong gift, and you don’t know the first thing about longboarding, try finding out what they need. The easiest way to do this is to ask a friend of theirs who also longboards to do some spying and relay the info back to you.
We’ve asked our fellow longboarders what they think would make the best longboarding gifts, here’s what was the most popular:
Budget: Under $20
1. Alouette Skate Tool 2-in-1
Every longboarder needs a good skate tool, and if you’re buying one as a gift, you can’t go wrong with this set of Alouette skate tools. There are tons of cheap skate tools out there that break easily, but people love the Alouette. The price is very reasonable, especially for two, and you can even choose from 6 different colors. This tool will allow the longboarder to loosen or tighten just about anything on their board and remove bearings. The main reason there are two tools is to allow for different sized O-rings to accommodate various bearing diameters.
2. Grip Tape
Grip tape is always a great gift for any longboarder. Over time, the grip tape on a longboard will become smoother due to friction, which makes it easier for your feet to slip. Applying fresh grip tape will help increase the friction and overall riding experience. If the recipient doesn’t use it right away, they will eventually. You can’t go wrong with the standard black color, though it tends to be available in various colors depending on who is selling it. To help you make the right choice, we’ve written a very thorough post showcasing the 7 best grip tapes for longboards.
3. Nosejob Noseguard
If you know the person you are buying for has a drop-through style longboard, they can probably use a nose guard to protect their investment. A nose guard will add life to a longboard by protecting the part that gets damaged most, the tip.
Budget: $20+
If you plan on spending more than $20, you can start looking at actual longboard parts or even complete setups. We’ve written many articles identifying the best longboarding parts by category. Bearings are always a good idea that won’t cost too much. Trucks are a critical component, and a new set of trucks would make for an excellent gift. If you are buying a gift for an aspiring longboarder looking to start, or just someone who could use a brand new full setup, check out our article on how to buy the right longboard.
Gift Cards
When in doubt, gift cards are always a solid idea. Longboarders will typically make online purchases at MuirSkate.com or on Amazon. Both of which sell e-gift cards that the longboarder in your life will be very happy about. This way they can get exactly what they want, and you don’t have to just give them cash if you don’t want to.
Mystery Boxes!!!
If you plan on spending $50-$250+ and have no clue what to buy, we highly recommend getting a mystery box. Mystery boxes are perfect for when you aren’t sure what to buy a longboarder but also don’t want the guilt of buying the wrong thing. Mystery boxes can include a number of items including an entire longboard setup, clothes, accessories, magazines, stickers and more. These can be brand specific and be purchased directly on the website of popular longboarding manufacturers. A great example of a mystery box options are Bustin’ Boards, and Landyachtz.
GoPros
If money isn’t an object, a GoPro and some accessories would make a great present for a longboarder. There are also plenty of competitors that are just as good, GoPro is just the household name so everybody knows what we’re talking about. GoPros are amazing for action sports and longboarders love them. GoPro longboard mounts aren’t too hard to find online by DIY sellers.
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Longboarders may seem tough to buy for, but we hope our list can help simplify things and get you pointed in the right direction.