If you're trying to figure out what to get the skater in your life for Christmas, here's my first piece of advice: please don't just get them another random deck.
Not because decks are bad gifts. It's just that setup stuff is personal, and skaters are picky. So here's my list of Christmas gifts for skaters that actually land, from someone who's been skating for nine years.
The Big Rule for Christmas Shopping
If you're buying setup parts like a deck, trucks, or wheels, you need to know what they ride. Width, size, hardness, all of it matters. If you don't know, don't guess. Get a skate shop gift card and let them pick.
Everything else on this list is safe even if you know nothing about skating.
1. A Skateboard Ring (Yeah, I'm Biased)
I make these, so obviously I think they're the move. But hear me out.
A skateboard ring is cut from a real deck that someone actually skated. The colored layers of maple inside the board wrap around the ring, so every one is one of one. It's the one thing on this list they can't just go buy at a skate shop, and it's something they'll wear every day instead of shredding through in a month.
All wood rings like the Green and Yellow start at $49.99. The Blue and Pink stainless steel version is $99.99. Every ring comes in a wooden box with a card and a sticker, so it's basically already wrapped.
Important: every ring is handmade by me, and it can take up to 4 weeks to ship. If you want it under the tree, get your order in before Thanksgiving.
2. Skate Shoes
Skaters go through shoes fast. It's the most useful gift you can give. Know their size and whether they like low tops or high tops. Suede holds up best.
3. A Skate Tool
Small, cheap, and they'll use it all the time. Perfect stocking stuffer.
4. Bearings
New bearings make an old board feel brand new. Standard bearings fit pretty much every skateboard, so it's hard to get this one wrong.
5. Wax and Grip Tape
Not exciting, but always needed. Throw them in a stocking with a skate tool and you've got a solid little bundle.
6. A Warm Hoodie or Beanie
Winter sessions are cold. A good hoodie or beanie gets worn to the park every single time.
7. A Board Bag or Backpack With Straps
Makes it way easier to carry a board around school or the city. Look for straps that actually hold a deck.
8. A Trip to a New Park
Take them somewhere they've never skated. An indoor park when it's too cold, or a road trip to a spot they keep talking about. Experiences like that stick.
Christmas Gifts for Skaters by Budget
Stocking stuffers under $25: skate tool, wax, grip tape, bearings.
Under $50: an all wood skateboard ring, a beanie, or a gift card.
Under $100: a stainless steel skateboard ring, skate shoes, or a hoodie.
Go big: a full new setup or a skate trip.
For Your Skater Boyfriend or Girlfriend
If you're dating a skater, a ring made from a skateboard says a lot more than another hoodie. It shows you actually get what skating means to them. Want to go all in? I make matching sets for couples. Here's how that works: matching skateboard rings for couples.
Don't Know Their Ring Size?
Classic Christmas problem. A few tricks:
Borrow a ring they already wear on that finger and check it with the sizing guide. Or ask a friend or family member. Or ask me for a ring sizer.
My rings are comfort fit and run true to size. Wood rings can't be resized, so double check before you order. Unworn rings can be returned within 30 days if the size is off.
When to Order for Christmas
This is the one thing I really want you to take away. Everything I make is handmade, one ring at a time, and it can take up to 4 weeks to ship. Order before Thanksgiving and you're good. Wait until mid December and it probably won't make it.
Want more ideas beyond the holidays? Check out gifts for skateboarders they'll actually use.
FAQ
What is a good Christmas gift for a skater?
Skate shoes, bearings, a skate tool, or something personal they can't buy at a skate shop, like a ring made from a real skateboard deck.
What do you get a skater who has everything?
Something one of one. A skateboard ring is made from a board someone actually skated, so nobody else has the same one.
When should I order a skateboard ring for Christmas?
Before Thanksgiving. Every ring is handmade and can take up to 4 weeks to ship.
Are skateboard rings good stocking stuffers?
They fit in a stocking, and they come in a wooden gift box, so yes.