The Non-Paddler Shopping Paddler's Guide

Christmas is here and The River Store's Dan Crandall has plenty of gift ideas for that paddler on your list at your local paddling shop.

YEP! This is the Guide for those who don’t paddle but need some help figuring out a useful, cool gift for their buddy. May it be partner, child, or friend these items are sure to keep you out of the dog house this winter. />

Now, I know what you’re thinking… How do I know what gear to get them without asking and ruining the surprise? Don’t worry The River Store has you covered. Below you can learn about the gear that most paddlers need and the subtle questions you should ask your gear head to find out exactly what they need.
First, here are some basic universals that most paddlers can use:
Noseplugs (great stocking stuffer) 

Zinka Colored Nosecoat (Keep their faces safe from the sun rays with colored Zink super great for kids especially!)
Locking Carabiners (you can’t ever have enough of these)
Filter bottle (Not in stock at the River Store currently, but can custom order)
Sink the Stink (whether they think they need it or not, this helps />remove the stink from the gear)
New sponge for sponging out their boat
Straps 12′ 15′ or 20′ all good sizes
A new set of fleece or Capilene Top and Bottoms
Don’t know what to get… Gift Cards always are Sweet you can do them for Gear or For Instruction.
Now if you are looking for the extra brownie points or are trying to do the shopping on the sly, here are some helpful tips for figuring out what is needed.

STEP 1 GET SOME INFO DIRECTLY FROM PADDLING BUDDY & HIS/HER PADDLING FRIENDS.
This is the part where you check in and see what info they might give out automatically or what you can glean. Below are some key things to find out, because even if you can’t make full sense of it The River Store staff can help you decide on the perfect presents. So here is where to start…
Find out what they paddled and what they like to paddle or aspire to paddle is it all playboating, creeking, river running, stand-up paddleboarding, or do they do all of the above.
Find out if they have any paddling trips or goals they are working towards now through next season.
You can bluntly ask if they need any gear
Pay attention to what time of year they like to paddle in, do they paddle June-September, do they paddle year-round, do they paddle April thru October? This will help you know what layering or shells they might need or want.
Also, stealthy or directly find out where they keep their gear so that you can go check it out on your own time and see if anything needs replacing.

STEP 2: STEALTH MODE
OPERATION 1… TO THE BOAT SHED.
“Stealth mission” Wait till your buddy is Out and about but NOT PADDLING, to ensure full gear kit is present. You are checking to see what they have, and what condition it might be in… First, avoid the stinky items, but make a note: IF really stinky a definitely get the Sink the Stink (the enzyme that will help with the stench and not damage the materials).
Next look at the kit they should have the basic 5 items first, Helmet, Paddle, PFD (lifejacket), Skirt, and Boat.  Here are some things to look at to figure out if they need to replace anything due to use.
Paddles: check the edge of each blade, do they look battered as if your friend was chopping firewood or rocks with the blade instead of gliding through the smooth substance of water. Is their carbon fiber or fiberglass either on the shaft or blades that get poky and could cause splinters.

Skirt: So, first of all, there are two sizes on a skirt, one is the waist the other is the cockpit, if you see any sizing written on the skirt write it down, also write down whatever the brand and model name and size of the boat/s they might have. This info will be useful if it turns out the skirt does need replacing, you can call in and have a staff member help you make sure to get the right sizing. Now look for wear marks and holes, Wear usually occurs along the sides of the skirt on the top of the deck. Also, look at the bungee or rubber rand that goes around the skirt is it well attached. Some things to note about the skirt is it all just neoprene, does the skirt have areas that are doubled up for abrasion, is it made of Kevlar or very rugged material in some areas, does it have a hard plastic strip either sewn into the deck of the skirt or in a pocket that runs across the deck this is called an implosion bar it keeps the skirt on the boat even in rough water.
Boat: Unless they have been talking about what they want specifically I would steer clear of trying to pinpoint what boat they might want… however a great gift might be a membership to a demo program at a local shop, then they can try a bunch of stuff till they know what they want. repair job for the gaskets on the suit or top, the Neck gasket generally blows out once a year, if you prepay then this way they can come in at a later date and get the work done.
Another simple repair item that makes a good stocking stuffer is a wash in waterproofing formula, or Gortex/Synthetic fabric cleaner, often tops will lose a portion of their ability to breath or dryness after several seasons of use.

IF THEY DON’T have a …Drytop, and they paddle any time before June or after September, you might consider getting them a drytop.
Drysuits are amazing, particularly if your bud is headed on a trip like the Grand Canyon anywhere from October-May or to Chile, Alaska, or the Pacific North West. They are highly useful if they paddle year-round here in California also.
You may at this point want to tell them that this is what you want to do, so that you can get the sizing and color right. One thought on this, whatever top you buy make sure the company has a repair facility, if they don’t do repairs on the fabric, the top will not last as long. Kokatat, IR, Stohlquist, NRS all have repair facilities.

Other Items they will need
River Knife (you may need to find out if they like folding or ones that attach to their PFD
3/4-inch tubular webbing hopefully 15’ length (Great stocking stuffer particularly if included with a locking carabiner)
Spare Paddle (They may have specifics that they want time to ask)
Float bags (these are big inflatable bags that fill up the back compartment of their boat it helps keep water out of the boat when paddler takes a swim, important safety feature, if they don’t have any or they don’t hold air any more, make sure you know what boat they need to fit, both make and model)
Throwbag (this is often yellow in color or red, it is a rope stuffed into a bag of some sort, they might have specifics on what they want if they don’t have one so check in with them.)
1st aid kit (good size to get 2–3-person 2-day outing size Adventure Medical makes a good one)
Good Shoes/Booties (this one may be best done as a gift certificate… unless you know what they are looking for & the size….)
A Drybag (Snacks, Cameras, Dry clothes, Car keys, and anything else that needs to stay dry must go in a dry bag while kayaking) 
So at this point, you have established what they have or don’t have, in Hard Wear, and what condition it is in. Now you need to find out if your paddling buddy has particular tastes in gear…

STEALTH MISSION 2…GET HELP FROM FRIENDS OF YOUR BUDDY.
Friends of your buddy are the next best bet in keeping this a stealth operation. See IF they will ask your buddy about gear and what they would get if they could replace it. Your backup if this doesn’t work is to ask for a gift certificate.
One last note… The River Store staff is super knowledgeable and maybe able to stealth mission some things for you feel free to shoot us an e-mail: info@theriverstore.com
Our The River Store return policy is either return for store credit or exchange with a receipt. If an item was special ordered or on sale, we, unfortunately, cannot do returns.

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