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It can be overwhelming to find the perfect present for the boater in your life. After all, there are thousands of boating accessories and gadgets out there—and chances are your giftee wants almost all of them. But how are you to choose? To help, our experts narrowed down all the best boating gifts this year below.
We covered everything from Costa sunglasses and Free Fly hoodies to Yeti coolers and the waterproof Turtlebox speaker. You’ll also find more practical gift ideas, like a weather radio and super powerful spotlight. Most importantly, most of the recommendations have been personally tested by the Field & Stream staff for quality and reliability. No matter what you choose, you can’t go wrong with any of the best gifts for boaters on this list.
Free Fly Bamboo Hoodie
The Elevate has quickly become one of my favorite sunshirts. The UPF 30+ sun protection is perfect for someone who burns as easily as I do in the sun. It is light and airy and includes a hood and sun cuff to protect the tops of your hands.
Yeti Tundra 45 Cooler
The Tundra impressed us in our rotomolded cooler test earlier this year after holding ice for six days in hot and humid conditions. It will easily keep drinks or a fresh catch of fish cold all day until it’s time to head in for dinner. This cooler is durable, too—I threw it off the top of an 8-foot ladder more than a dozen times with hardly any signs of wear.
Xtratuf Ankle Deck Boots
A good pair of deck boots is essential when you’re at sea. These Xtratuf ankle deck boots are arguably the most popular pair out there—and for good reason. They’re lightweight yet heavy-duty, with a slip-resistant sole for traction and a breathable lining that keeps your feet dry for hours.
Bajio Sunglasses
I’ve been a fan of Bajio for years due to their comfort, durability, and versatility. The fishing sunglasses come in a variety of frame styles and lens colors to cover just about any type of water and cloud conditions. I love the clarity and enhanced colors that I get with the wildly popular Bales Beach style.
Turtlebox Speaker
The Turtlebox Gen 2 speaker is easily the best outdoor speaker we've ever used, in terms of sound quality (it's incredibly loud!), ruggedness, and functionality. Of course, the biggest highlight—especially for boaters—is that it's completely waterproof and even floats if it accidentally gets tossed overboard.
Toadfish Folding Cutting Board
Whether they're cleaning their latest catch or preparing a little charcuterie tray for a boat snack, a cutting board is a handy thing to have on board. This one from Toadfish folds up to save space (a must-have when storage is limited) but has plenty of prep space along with rubber feet to prevent slippage. Bonus: It even has a built-in knife sharpener!
Benchmade Fishcrafter Fillet Knife
Speaking of knives, this Benchmade fillet knife from the brand's newest Water Series collection is an upscale blade any boater or angler will appreciate. We tried it ourselves and love that the corrosion-resistant, stainless steel blade is strong and durable with just the right amount of flex for filleting and deboning fish.
West Marine Beanbag Chair
For those who enjoy relaxing on the boat (and who doesn't?!), they'll love kicking back in one of these West Marine beanbag chairs. They're made of weather-resistant, marine-grade vinyl so they'll last for plenty of seasons on the water, and they boast an easy-carry handle for portability. The comfy chairs come in four colors.
Orion Alerter with Flares
Speaking of safety, an emergency signaling system is a great gift, and Orion makes some of the best flare systems today. This 12-gauge launcher comes with four red aerial flares that burn bright red and produce thick smoke for signaling emergency responders.
Streamlight Waypoint Spotlight
This 1,400-lumen marine spotlight is water-resistant and features multiple lighting modes for different scenarios on the water. It has a long-range beam that can illuminate more than 3/4 of a mile and, just as impressively, a 50,000-hour battery life.
Free Fly Latitude Pants
The Free Fly Latitude pants are shockingly light and airy, keeping your legs protected from the sun during hot days on the water. I wore these pants all summer and was always amazed with how comfortable they are even during the most humid of conditions. I also like the waistband, which stays secure without digging into my skin.
Givoust Weather Radio
We dubbed this weather radio the best we’ve tested. It blew us away with its 8,000-mAh battery that can allow it to run for literally days. Throw on some extremely bright lights for safety and this is a great boating safety device for monitoring conditions before and during a day out on the water.
Yeti LoadOut GoBox Gear Case
Both freshwater and saltwater can be harsh on sensitive gear. A waterproof solution is a must for any boater. That’s where a rugged case like the Yeti LoadOut GoBox comes into play. Dust-proof and shock-resistant with a removable cargo tray, it will keep all their gear safe, organized, and most importantly, dry.
Grundens SeaKnit Boat Shoes
Of all the boat shoes out there, the Grundens SeaKnit are one of our favorite pairs. The lightweight knit upper is quick drying and breathable (and designed so you don't even have to wear socks!), while the sole has ample cushioning for all-day comfort and traction for slippery piers and boat decks.
Costa Fantail Sunglasses
The Costa Fantails are another comfortable sunglasses option that’s perfect for just about any angler. Costa offers dozens of different lens color options. These glasses are built with a higher fit that’s perfect for anyone who has the bridge of their nose higher than their pupils.
Toadfish Non-Tipping Can Cooler
This can cooler from Toadfish is one of the coolest we’ve ever seen. Mainly because the unique suction technology helps it stick to almost any surface, keeping your drink secure against spilling. It’s great for boats and other vehicles that don’t have built-in drink holders already. And a double wall of vacuum insulation keeps it cold for hours.
Humminbird Helix 7
The Humminbird Helix 7 is one of the best fish finders available today and is a perfect upgrade for any angler with aging gear. The size of this finder is perfect for everything from the largest bass boats to kayaks. We love the dual spectrum Chrip sonar. I use it all the time on my kayak because it’s super clear and makes spotting big fish quick and easy. This finder also comes at an excellent, affordable price point.
Why Trust Us
For more than 125 years, Field & Stream has been providing readers with honest and authentic coverage of outdoor gear. Our writers and editors eat, sleep, and breathe the outdoors, and that passion comes through in our product reviews. You can count on F&S to keep you up to date on the best new gear. And when we write about a product—whether it’s a bass lure or a backpack—we cover the good and the bad, so you know exactly what to expect before you decide to make a purchase.
