Checklist · 18 picks · 6 categories
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This list is for someone who already has a board and a wetsuit and is in the water whenever the waves cooperate.
It skips the starter kit (that is our surf checklist) and goes for the small things surfers use every session: wax, a changing mat, wetsuit care, ear plugs and something to dry off with. I pulled every pick from published surf gift guides at The Atlas Heart, Finding Dulcinea and Cleanline Surf, and I only kept products one of them actually named. I show price bands instead of exact prices, so check the current one before you buy. Tip: surfers wax for a certain water temperature, so check whether they surf cold or tropical water before buying wax.
Who this is not for. Skip this if the person is brand new to surfing; our surf starter checklist covers the basic kit.
| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUN CUBE Wetsuit Changing Mat | budget | $25-50 | surfers who change in the car park | 1 outlet |
| Slowtide Ginny Changing Poncho | mid | $50-100 | surfers who change on the beach | 1 outlet |
| Nomadix Original Towel | mid | $25-50 | surfers who hate sandy towels | 1 outlet |
budget changing mat
Best for surfers who change in the car park
Finding Dulcinea's Best Overall pick, for keeping sand and water out of the car after surfing.
Picked by Finding Dulcinea best overall.
$25-50
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mid changing poncho · Adult S/M and L/XL
Best for surfers who change on the beach
The Atlas Heart listed it for warmth and privacy when changing after a session.
Picked by The Atlas Heart pick in its surfer gift guide.
$50-100
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mid beach towel · 30 x 72.5 in
Best for surfers who hate sandy towels
The Atlas Heart listed it for drying off after a session.
Picked by The Atlas Heart pick in its surfer gift guide.
$25-50
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budget wetsuit shampoo
Best for surfers with a smelly wetsuit
The Atlas Heart listed it for cleaning neoprene.
Picked by The Atlas Heart pick in its surfer gift guide.
$15-25
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mid wetsuit dryer
Best for surfers who go out most days
The Atlas Heart listed it for drying a wetsuit between sessions.
Picked by The Atlas Heart pick in its surfer gift guide.
$50-100
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| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pickle Wax Remover | budget | under $15 | surfers prepping a fresh coat | 1 outlet |
| Sticky Bumps Original Cool/Cold Surf Wax 6-Pack | budget | $15-25 | surfers in cooler water | 1 outlet |
| MSHUNKEJI Surfboard Wax Comb | budget | under $15 | eco-minded surfers on a budget | 1 outlet |
| Ho Stevie 6-Foot Surf Leash | budget | $25-50 | surfers with an old leash | 1 outlet |
| Ho Stevie Surfboard Daybag | mid | $50-100 | surfers who drive to the beach | 1 outlet |
budget wax tool
Best for surfers prepping a fresh coat
The Atlas Heart listed it for making board cleaning more fun, and Cleanline Surf also listed Pickle Wax Remover.
Picked by The Atlas Heart pick in its surfer gift guide.
under $15
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budget surf wax · Six-pack, cool/cold water
Best for surfers in cooler water
The Atlas Heart listed it for keeping the surf bag stocked.
Picked by The Atlas Heart pick in its surfer gift guide.
$15-25
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budget wax tool
Best for eco-minded surfers on a budget
Finding Dulcinea's Best Eco-Friendly Pick and Budget Pick, a bamboo alternative that doubles as a scraper.
Picked by Finding Dulcinea best Eco-Friendly Pick.
under $15
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budget surf leash · 6 ft, other lengths available
Best for surfers with an old leash
The Atlas Heart listed it for replacing a worn leash.
Picked by The Atlas Heart pick in its surfer gift guide.
$25-50
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mid board bag
Best for surfers who drive to the beach
The Atlas Heart listed it for protecting a board during everyday transport and storage.
Picked by The Atlas Heart pick in its surfer gift guide.
$50-100
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| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SurfEars 4.0 Ear Plugs | mid | $25-50 | cold-water surfers | 1 outlet |
| O'Neill Basic Long-Sleeve Rashguard | budget | $25-50 | warm-water surfers | 1 outlet |
| Sunski Dipsea Polarized Sunglasses | mid | $50-100 | surfers who spend all day outside | 1 outlet |
mid ear plugs · Several gel and wing sizes
Best for cold-water surfers
The Atlas Heart listed it for keeping water out of the ears, and Cleanline Surf also listed it to protect from cold water and Surfer's Ear.
Picked by The Atlas Heart pick in its surfer gift guide.
$25-50
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budget rashguard · Men's and women's fits
Best for warm-water surfers
The Atlas Heart listed it for more coverage in warm water.
Picked by The Atlas Heart pick in its surfer gift guide.
$25-50
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mid sunglasses · Medium round shape
Best for surfers who spend all day outside
The Atlas Heart listed it as an everyday upgrade for beach days.
Picked by The Atlas Heart pick in its surfer gift guide.
$50-100
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splurge balance board
Best for surfers on flat days
The Atlas Heart listed it for balance practice on land.
Picked by The Atlas Heart pick in its surfer gift guide.
$100-150
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budget balance board
Best for surfers on a budget
Finding Dulcinea's Pro Training Tool and Best for Training pick, for building balance when waves are flat.
Picked by Finding Dulcinea best for Training.
$25-50
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| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garmin Instinct 3 Solar 45mm | splurge | $300-500 | surfers who track their sessions | 1 outlet |
| GoPro HERO13 Black | splurge | $300-500 | surfers who want to film sessions | 1 outlet |
| Barbarian Days by William Finnegan | budget | $15-25 | surfers who like travel stories | 1 outlet |
splurge sports watch · 45mm
Best for surfers who track their sessions
The Atlas Heart listed it for recording and reviewing sessions.
Picked by The Atlas Heart pick in its surfer gift guide.
$300-500
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splurge action camera
Best for surfers who want to film sessions
The Atlas Heart listed it for reliving good waves.
Picked by The Atlas Heart pick in its surfer gift guide.
$300-500
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budget surf book · Memoir
Best for surfers who like travel stories
The Atlas Heart listed it as a gift for days out of the water.
Picked by The Atlas Heart pick in its surfer gift guide.
$15-25
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means three independent outlets recommend a pick, means one, and limited evidence means none has yet. I research these picks. I have not tested them myself. How I pick · Spot a mistake? A broken link, a wrong price range or an outdated pick: tell me at hello@allsetlist.com and I'll fix it.
Wax, a wax comb, a wax remover or wetsuit shampoo. The guides I read at The Atlas Heart, Finding Dulcinea and Cleanline Surf all list small items like these, and surfers use them every session.
It depends on the water. Sticky Bumps Original Cool/Cold is made for cooler water, according to The Atlas Heart, and is not made for tropical conditions. Ask what water temperature they surf in first.
Not for most of this list. Changing mats, wax, towels, wax removers and wetsuit shampoo need no size. Rashguards and sunglasses do.
No. If the person is just starting to surf, use our surf starter checklist instead. This list assumes they already own a board.
USPS's recommended last send dates for December 25 in the contiguous US are December 17 for Ground Advantage, December 18 for Priority Mail and December 19 for Priority Mail Express. Retailers set their own order-by dates, so check at checkout.
