Christmas Gifts for Swimmers, Paddlers and Cyclists 2026: Ideas by Budget
27 October 2026
The short answer: for a swimmer, a tow float or a changing robe; for a paddler, a small dry bag they can clip in the boat; for a cyclist or commuter, a roll-top backpack that shrugs off a downpour. Below that, a waterproof phone case or a pair of pouches makes a stocking filler they will actually use every week.
Buying for someone whose hobby happens in or near cold water is harder than it looks. Most of their kit is personal and fitted, and they will already own the big things. What they rarely have enough of is somewhere dry to put everything else: phone, keys, car fob, a warm layer, the clothes they will want after a January swim. That is the gap this Christmas 2026 guide fills, sorted by who you are buying for and how much you want to spend.
Christmas delivery: order by Monday 21 December for UK delivery before Christmas. In the last week before Christmas we send every order First Class or 24-hour delivery, as soon as it comes in.
Gifts for sea and wild swimmers
Winter swimmers are the easiest people on this list to buy for, because the season is hard on them. The water is cold, the changing is worse, and the walk back to the car is the worst part of all.
Waterproof changing robe — the big present. A waterproof, windproof outer shell with a soft sherpa fleece lining, roomy enough to change underneath and warm enough to stand around in afterwards. Pink/Grey is by far the most popular colour. There is a kids’ size too, and our robe measuring guide takes the guesswork out of the size.
Tow float — a bright 28 litre float that trails behind on a waist strap, so the swimmer is easy to see from the shore and from boats. It doubles as a dry bag: phone, keys and a snack ride along inside.
Changing mat — a soft fleece square to stand on instead of wet sand or freezing concrete, with a water-resistant base. Small, cheap and loved out of all proportion to its price. Colours match the robes.
20 litre dry bag backpack — holds a towel and a full set of dry clothes and keeps the wet kit away from everything else on the way home.
If they are new to it, our sea swimming kit checklist shows what else is worth having.
Gifts for kayakers, canoeists and paddleboarders
Paddlers already know they need dry bags. What they usually want is the right size for the job, and one more than they have.
5 litre dry bag — phone, keys, wallet, a snack. Small enough to sit in a cockpit or clip to the deck lines of a paddleboard, and its long shoulder strap goes across the body under a buoyancy aid.
10 litre dry bag — our best seller, and the size most people find themselves reaching for. Room for a dry layer as well as the valuables.
Waterproof phone case twin pack — IPX8 rated to 100 feet, so the phone can still take photos on the water. One white, one black: it solves the “one for you, one for them” problem. There is a single case too. (If you are already buying them a dry bag, skip this: one comes free with every bag.)
Not sure what size they need? Our dry bag size comparison puts all six side by side, and the paddler’s guide to waterproof bags goes into what fits where in a kayak or canoe.
Gifts for cyclists, commuters and walkers
Anyone who cycles to work in a British winter has opened their bag to find a soggy laptop sleeve at least once. A roll-top backpack ends that.
30 litre waterproof rucksack — padded shoulder straps and a chest strap, big enough for a change of clothes and lunch.
35 litre dry bag backpack — the step up for longer days: a padded back panel with breathable mesh, chest and waist straps, a zip pocket with a window and two mesh bottle pockets.
55 litre dry bag backpack — the same carrying system with room for camping kit or a weekend away.
The difference between those three is explained properly in dry bag vs dry bag backpack.
A tip if you are buying a big backpack: add a 5 or 10 litre bag to go inside it. Rain will never get into a roll-top backpack, but if they are out on the water, a second small bag for a camera or tablet is a second layer of protection against the unexpected, and it keeps wet kit away from dry kit in the meantime.
Gifts by budget
Stocking fillers under £15
5 litre dry bag
Waterproof phone case
Waterproof pouches, 2 pack
Changing mat
Tow float waist strap
Open water mug
Under £30
10 litre dry bag
20 litre dry bag backpack
30 litre waterproof rucksack
Tow float
Phone case twin pack
Also under £30: our swimming and paddling t-shirts.
The big present
And for the paddler who has everything: our hoodies, including “Kayak: I’ll be in my office”.
Live prices are on each product page.
Why these make good presents
- They get used every week, not once. A dry bag goes on every swim, paddle and wet commute.
- A free waterproof phone case comes with every dry bag and backpack. It is IPX8 rated to 100 feet, and the zip-front twin pack comes with two, one with each bag. So a bag is really two presents in one box.
- Every dry bag, backpack and tow float carries our 5 year guarantee. Register it here once it is unwrapped.
- They are built for the job. The bags are welded 500D PVC with a roll-top seal and are IPX6 rated: rain, waves and spray do not get in, and they float.
- Trusted by International Search & Rescue, with around 250,000 bags sold over ten years.
Frequently asked questions
What is the last day to order for Christmas 2026?
Monday 21 December for UK delivery before Christmas. That week every order goes out First Class or 24-hour delivery, but earlier is always safer when the post is at its busiest.
Do you deliver outside the UK?
No, we only deliver within the UK.
What if the size or colour is wrong?
See our delivery and returns page for how to send something back.
What is a good gift for someone who has just started wild swimming?
A tow float and a changing mat between them cost less than most swimming costumes and solve the two things beginners find hardest: being seen in the water and getting changed on a cold beach afterwards.