For the adventurous person in your life looking for their first kayak, consider the Perception Tribe. Available in 9.5 and 11.5 foot lengths, the Tribe offers an excellent balance of stability, light weight, maneuverability, and price. Suitable for flat water rivers and lakes, the Tribe will help access those places that you can’t get to on foot.

$559

If your giftee is already set with a kayak, consider a paddle upgrade. For those using heavy aluminum paddles, the Accent Kauai is a welcome change. With a carbon shaft and fiberglass nylon blade, the Kauai weighs in at 31 ounces, a significant improvement over aluminum shaft paddles, and offers infinite blade offset options. The Kauai is a solid mid-range paddle that will allow the user to stay on the water for longer without getting tired.

$149

If even the Tribe is a little too heavy, take a look at the Dagger Zydeco 9, a nimble sit-inside boat that weighs only 37 pounds. Like the Tribe, the Zydeco excels at flat-water recreational paddling and offers a surprising comfort to weight ratio. We think the Zydeco is one of the best-performing budget kayaks on the market.

$459

Ideal for everything from river trips to road trips, the original Rumpl Puffy Blanket is the perfect partner for wanderlust-inspired journeys. It’s small enough to pack into a kayak stern and cozy enough to sub for a sleeping bag in mild weather. Better yet, each Rumpl Puffy is constructed from recycled materials, treated with a DWR coating, and equipped with a Cape Clip and corner loops for ultimate versatility. It’s equally at home snuggled on the couch or rigged up as a hammock under quilt.

$99

Astral’s takeout-to-taproom footwear is a welcome upgrade from regular water shoes. The Loyak and Hiyak both offer water-ready uppers and super-sticky G-Rubber soles, with the perfect blend of flexibility and protection. Built-in drains and silt dumps help vent water and sand out of the shoe. The Loyak is offered in men’s and women’s sizing and colors; the Hiyak is unisex and women should order one size down.

 Loyak: $90 Hiyak: $125

For those who need the ultimate cold water protection, the Kokatat Supernova Semi-Dry suit offers a Durable Water Repellent Hydrus 3.0 fabric and latex wrist gaskets. The neoprene cinch neck keeps out most water without the need for an uncomfortable neck gasket. It’s important to note that this is a semi-dry suit, and will not provide complete protection from immersion for long periods of time. The Supernova provides excellent protection for flatwater recreational paddlers and fishermen, but should not be used by whitewater boaters.

$640

ARC Tie-Down Cam Straps are an excellent alternative to rope. Unlike ratchet straps, they are very hard to over-tighten, meaning it’s much harder to damage your boat with a cam buckle. They eliminate the need to constantly tie and untie rope, and our ARC logo straps pack conveniently back into their own mesh storage bag.

$20

If your loved one paddles into the colder months, a pair of NRS Hydroskin Gloves is an excellent way to keep hands toasty while retaining mobility. .5 mm neoprene and a DWR coating protect fingers from the cold, and the wrist pairing snaps help make sure you don’t take home just one glove, while the other is still hiding in the shuttle vehicle. For the fair-weather paddlers out there, NRS’s Boaters Gloves provide extra paddle grip and blister protection without overheating your hands.

$39.95

If you know someone who’s always hiding their keys at the takeout, the Pelican 1010 Micro Case is a perfect storage solution to keep car keys dry and tucked away while on the water. It even fits into the pockets of many life jackets.

$17.95

The (much) littler cousin of the original Puffy Blanket, the Rumpl Beer Blanket keeps hands warm and beers cold, and stuffs into its own tiny little pocket when you’re done. It’s the ultimate stocking stuffer for any beer drinking camper, and packs down so small and light that it’ll earn a place in even the most compact camp kitchen set.

$8.00