Skateboarders are very picky about their gear and like to stick to their favorite brands, board sizes or even the skate store they prefer. There is a big chance you’re buying the wrong stuff, even if you think it’s cool.

Buying shoes is risky, helmets aren’t cool, and wheels may be too big/small/hard/soft. Any change to a skaters gear is a bad idea. Skateboarders don’t want to change anything because it might mean they can’t do a certain trick anymore or they have to relearn. Let’s look at a few gifts that every skater would appreciate.

Wax is a skateboarding must have, especially if they like to skate on streets. Wax helps to make rough surface slick and allows for grinding and sliding on obstacles. It’s an essential and cheap gift and they come in many shapes and colors. There is difference in quality, but crappy wax is always better than no wax at all.

Another gift that a skateboarder will really appreciate is a skate tool. Skate tools range from $6 to $30. Both will do the job, but the latter lasts longer. My advice is to get a skate tool with a re-threader to fix the axle threads. Often skateboards land on the side, resulting in crushed axle nuts. This damages the axle thread and makes it sometimes hard to replace the axle nuts. A quality tool is something every skater will love and often use. One of the common question in skate parks is ‘bro, do you have a skate tool?’.

Socks? Really? Yes, really! Skateboarders love comfy skate socks from their favorite brand. I always wear skate socks when I skate. Not only because they feel comfortable but also because it looks nice. Even though skateboarding isn’t a fashion show, it doesn’t hurt to look good when you ride around a skate park. - SkateboardersHQ