If you are looking to buy a gift for your beginner skateboarder child, friend, or other loved one, we have got some idea’s and inspiration to help you choose the perfect gift. The list of items below are sure to get any skateboarder stoked and put you in the good books as a thoughtful and caring person.

As long time skateboarders we have a fair idea of what skaters want and need. There is nothing worse than getting a gift that we can’t use or doesn’t represent who we are and what we do. Having the right skateboarding gear is imperative for skaters not only to progress but also to stay as safe as possible while doing it. Skateboarders can be hard to please but there are some gifts you can’t go wrong with for beginners.

Skateboarding Gifts For Beginners

Complete Skateboard

If they don’t already have a skateboard you might want to consider buying a complete skateboard which will include all the components such as the deck, trucks, and wheels. If they are brand new to skateboarding and you are unsure about what type of skateboard to buy, here is a complete beginner guide to buying a skateboard. These complete CCS skateboards are perfect for beginners and available in a variety of colors.

If they are not brand new to skateboarding you could just buy them a new deck. A skateboard deck may be an obvious choice as a gift for a skateboarder but make sure it is the right one!

Skateboard decks come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and quality. You will need to find out what size deck they ride first which you can do by measuring their current deck. The average size skateboard deck is 8 inches wide. If worse comes to worse you can also just ask them.

Another thing to consider when purchasing a skate deck for someone else is what brand name they prefer. If you’re trying to surprise your kid or friend with a new skate deck just look under their current deck to find out what name deck they are riding. Some popular names are Element, Real, Creature, Santa Cruz, and Zero.

The last thing you want to do is buy a brand they don’t like or a size they are not comfortable riding. For more information on skate deck sizes see this guide on skateboard deck sizing.

Skate Shoes

Skate shoes make a great gift and an epic surprise. However, they can’t be just any old shoes. Skateboarders need footwear that is especially designed for skating that don’t wear out easily from grip tape. Needless to say then that skateboarders need good quality shoes that are in a style they prefer.

There is a wide variety of skate shoe styles from high top to slip-ons and low cut. Find out what style they are into before making a purchase if possible and then go from there. Vans skate shoes have been around longer than any other skate company and are a brand name you can’t go wrong with. Emerica have also been around for some time and have built a great reputation in the skate community. Other popular skate shoe brand names include Etnies, Nike SB, DC, and Adidas.

Skate Helmet

We highly recommend a helmet for all beginner skateboarders. Yes, a helmet might not seem very cool but neither is a head injury. If your kid resists wearing a helmet maybe you could try to convince them they could make it seem cool by customizing with their favorite stickers. Some skateparks also enforce a rule where you can’t skate without the proper safety gear too so it’s a good idea to always have one.

Helmets do come in a variety of styles and colors. The best in the game is anything from Pro-Tec as they are known for making good quality skateboarding helmets and other safety skate gear.

Skate Pads

Like helmets, skate pads are highly recommended for beginner skateboarders. A beginner skateboarder is going to fall a lot and wearing pads can help lessen the chance of broken bones and other injuries. Once they have improved their skills and feel confident in their abilities, beginners can consider losing some of the pads but until the it’s better to be safe than sorry. However, if your skater kid or friend prefers skating ramps then more than likely they will need and want to keep using them. Pro-Tec have a great set of knee, elbow, and wrist pads available at an affordable price.

Skate Tool

A skate tool is a must have for every skateboarder. A skate tool provides every tool needed to assemble and disassemble a skateboard all in one! There is nothing worse than needing to adjust a truck or bolt during a skate session and not having a skate tool on hand to do so. A skate tool is an extremely useful and inexpensive gift. This is our #1 recommendation.

Skate Wax

What is skate wax you ask? Skate wax is needed to help with grinding and sliding on rails, ledges, ramp coping, and curbs. If there is no wax on these features then the skateboard will not slide or grind easily and can result in a dangerous slam! Skate wax is a useful, affordable, and not to mention necessary gift for all skateboarders.

Backpack

A backpack is a necessity when hitting the skatepark for the day to carry water, snacks, and other skate goodies. It can also double as a school backpack so make sure you buy something cool and skateboarder friendly. There are lots of skate brands that offer backpacks but Vans probably make the coolest backpacks that every skateboarder would be proud to wear on their back.

Skate Pants

Skateboarders love pants! This is because skateboarding in pants offers a lot more protection than skating in shorts. Skaters usually go through pants more often than a regular person due to frequently falling and sliding on concrete.

The most popular and fashionable skate pants would have to be Dickies which are known to be strong and durable. You can never go wrong with Dickies pants! Other popular skateboarding brand when it comes to skate pants include RVCA, Vans, and Volcom. And yes, you can pick up all of the mentioned brand names in kids and adult sizes.

Skate Socks

Most people get disappointed with socks as a gift but not skateboarders. Skateboarders love a fresh pair of socks especially if they are from their favorite brand such as Vans. Vans have been in the skateboarding industry since 1966 and are veterans when it comes to skate apparel. These Vans socks are guaranteed to make your skater kid, friend, or significant other smile.

Bluetooth Speaker

Being able to jam out while skateboarding with your friends at the skatepark or while practicing new tricks in the driveway makes things a lot more fun! That’s why a Bluetooth speaker makes a great gift for skateboarders.

The JBL Clip 3 is the perfect gift because skateboarders can clip it to their backpack or pants while skating around.

Stickers

Kids love stickers! Sticker packs are a cheap gift that will still be appreciated by the kids. There are some cool packs available that include stickers of popular brands such as Spitfire, DC, Santa Cruz and more that you can order on Amazon.

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