Our Graduation Gift Guide for Surfers and Beach Lovers
- Kailey Aiken
- 11 hours ago
- 5 min read
We’re right around the corner from summer time, which also means we’re heading into graduation season. If you haven’t gotten the graduating surfers in your life something special to celebrate their achievements yet, we’ve put together a list of some of our favorite swimsuits, boardshorts, clothing, and surf essentials, right in time for summer.
Photo courtesy Yeti
Even though school’s out, a solid backpack is still a must-have, especially for beach days, quick surf sessions, or weekend trips.
The YETI Everyday Carry Backpack is built to keep everything organized and protected, from snacks and sunscreen to towels and wetsuits.
It’s the perfect summer bag for tossing in the car and heading straight to the beach, and it's durable enough to handle the sand, salt, and whatever new adventures you throw its way.
Photo courtesy H20 Audio
Everyone’s been out in the lineup waiting for what seems like hours for a set, and thought, “I wish I had music right now.”
The Florence x H2O Audio TRI 2 Multi-Sport Headphones can make that wish a reality. These bone-conduction headphones are fully waterproof, so you can surf, swim, or paddle with music, without losing awareness of what’s around you (we tried them, and they work even better than advertised).
They’ve got Bluetooth for land use, MP3 mode for underwater listening, up to 9 hours of battery, and a secure fit designed for comfort during high-intensity activities that won’t budge mid-session.
This might be the coolest surf-related gift we’ve seen in a while, and it's the perfect way to show your graduate how proud of them you are.
Photo courtesy Thule
Post-grad summer surf travel plans? A high quality surf bag could be the difference between arriving at your destination with a dinged up, broken board, or a board in mint condition.
The Thule Surfboard Bag, a limited-edition bag designed in partnership with big-wave legend Garrett McNamara, combines smart function and rugged durability.
It has room for up to four boards, so there’s space for friends to load up too, and it's built specifically for real-world surf travel, offering the protection, flexibility, and style surfers on the go need.
Photo courtesy Freefly
For early-mornings, long sessions in the sun, and big-surf days, the Freefly Dawn Patrol Boardshort keeps things simple for the guy grads.
A good pair of boardshorts is an essential for any surfer, and the last thing anyone wants to worry about in the lineup is a bathing suit mishap.
The Dawn Patrol shorts have the look of a classic boardshort, but with next-level comfort: no inseam means no chafing, and the clean finish gives wearers full mobility in the water.
No need to worry about comfort or functionality when you’re surfing in these, and they’ve got a few color and pattern options to match your grad’s style.
Photo courtesy Carve
For the girl grads, you can’t go wrong with a high-quality, surf-proof bikini. Sometimes finding a surf top that doesn’t look like a sports bra can be challenging, but Carve’s Tamarindo Top hits the perfect balance of being stylish without sacrificing support.
Its criss-cross back gives it a cute open-back look, but it's still super sturdy.
This top will stay on in the surf, but you can also wear it for a tanning session on the sand, to a beach party, or to the pool. With tons of color, pattern, and sizing options, the Tamarindo top works for just about everybody.
Photo courtesy Carve
To match the Tamarindo top, we picked out Carve’s Sanitas 2.0 Compression Bottoms. Put this duo together to make the perfect gift for any surfer girl — it’ll be the set she wears all summer long.
With a hidden interior waist tie, seamless design, and high-compression features, these bottoms aren’t going anywhere, even in big surf.
With plenty of color and pattern options to match the Tamarindo top, there’s no limit to the different ways you can style these bottoms.
Have two girl graduates to shop for? Get them this set in different colors!
Photo courtesy Freefly
Every grad needs a go-to button-up, and the Freefly Men’s Harbor Short Sleeve Shirt checks that box. It’s lightweight and breathable with a cotton-linen blend, and has just enough stretch. This classy yet casual shirt will work for everything from dinners out, to beachside hang outs, to backyard parties. It's easy and polished with a coastal flair, perfect for a surfer who feels most comfortable in beachwear.
Photo courtesy Freefly
Moms, Dads ... if you’ve been begging your son to wear a rashguard for long sunny sessions but can never find one he’ll agree to ... look no further. Freefly’s Pinnacle Rash Guard fits like a “second-skin”. No embarrassing baggy look or huge logos, just a functional guard for the sun.
Designed thoughtfully with body-mapped seams for chafe-free comfort, security loops for a locked-in feel, and Freefly’s signature softness, the Pinnacle Rash Guard was built to deliver maximum sun protection and comfort so you can stay out longer and not match the color of a tomato when you finally get out of the water.
For the girls, Sunski’s Dipsea sunnies are a high quality yet affordable option for everyday wear. The design features lightweight, flexible frames with sculpted contact points for pressure-free wear and polarized lenses to reduce glare and eye strain for longer, more comfortable days in the sun. They feel so light on your face, you might even forget you’re wearing them, so make sure to double check before hitting the water for a surf session. They’re durable enough to keep up with beach days, hikes, and any other adventures you throw their way, and they’re stylish too.
For the guys, Sunski has plenty of great lenses for you, too. Our pick is the Headland Sunglasses, a versatile, medium-coverage frame with universal fit for all-day comfort. Like Dipsea, this design features lightweight, flexible frames with sculpted contact points for pressure-free wear and polarized lenses to reduce glare and eye strain for longer, more comfortable days in the sun. Sunski’s affordable, quality glasses are the perfect option for surfers who throw their sunnies into the bottom of a beach bag every time they take them off.
The Bottom Line
The summer after graduation, whether it be from high school, college, or graduate school, is an exciting time in any young person’s life. And for surfers, it usually means more time available to spend in the water.
Make their post-grad summer sessions even sweeter with some gifts from our list!
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