Let’s be honest: skydivers are a peculiar kind of people. Their passion is infectious, but it also makes them notoriously difficult to buy gifts for.
Choosing a present for them is less like shopping and more like trying to buy a specific camera lens for a professional photographer. You want to support their passion, but their world is full of technical gear where a small mistake can mean an expensive, unusable gift.
As a skydiver who spends months researching my equipment, let me share a secret to save you from this stress. When I receive a technical gift that isn’t exactly right, it puts both me and the giver in an impossible spot: their thoughtful effort is wasted, and I’m left feeling ungrateful.
But this isn’t just about being picky. It goes much deeper. For a skydiver, our gear is our lifeline. We are obsessive about our equipment because if something goes wrong, the consequences are final. We don’t mess around with it.
So, here is the single most important rule to guarantee your gift is a hit:
Focus on symbolic gifts, not the technical gear.
Now for the fun part. We’re focusing on symbolic gifts that celebrate the culture of skydiving. I’ve grouped these ideas into a few categories, starting with where skydivers spend most of their time: the dropzone.
1. For the Hours at the Dropzone
A common misconception is that a skydiving day is mostly spent in the air. In reality, much of it is spent on the ground. We’re waiting for the weather to clear, for the plane to refuel, or just hanging out with the community that becomes a second family. Gifts that make this “ground time” more comfortable or enjoyable are always a huge win.
- A High-Quality Travel Mug They’ll Actually Use: Coffee is the lifeblood of a dropzone morning. Because of this, a durable, insulated travel mug isn’t just a nice gift; it’s an essential piece of weekend gear. Instead of a generic mug, you can give them one that truly speaks to the soul of the sport. The one I designed, for instance, features a beautiful landscape with a canopy pilot and the quote: “Those who have jumped can’t explain, and those who haven’t won’t understand.” This isn’t just a mug; it’s a piece of the culture they can hold in their hands. It shows you get it.
- Comfortable Dropzone Apparel: The same principle applies to clothing. Comfort is key when you’re at an airfield all day. A soft hoodie for cool mornings or a t-shirt with a unique, subtle design is something they will wear constantly. It’s a practical gift that also serves as a badge of honor within the community.
2. For Their Home or Office
Some of the best gifts for skydivers are the ones they can use all week long, bringing a piece of their passion to their home or office. A thoughtful gift can be a subtle, stylish way for them to keep that feeling close, even when they’re at their desk or relaxing at home. This isn’t about being loud; it’s about small reminders of what they love.
- A Mouse Pad That’s an Escape: For anyone who works at a computer, a mouse pad is prime real estate that’s usually occupied by a boring corporate logo. You can replace that with a daily window to the sky. The mouse pad I designed uses the same beautiful artwork and meaningful quote—“Those who have jumped can’t explain, and those who haven’t won’t understand.” Every time they sit down at their desk, it’s a quiet, personal reminder of where they’d rather be. It’s a small thing that makes a big difference in a long workday.
- A Coffee Mug for Their Desk Ritual: While a travel mug is for the dropzone, a classic ceramic mug is for the daily ritual at home or in the office. To make this gift truly unique, look for a design that can be personalised. Adding their name or a special date – like the day they got their license – transforms it from just a cool mug into their mug. It becomes the one that colleagues know not to touch, a guaranteed conversation starter, and a simple way for them to own their identity as a skydiver in their professional life.
3. Gifts That Say "I Get It"
Some gifts go a step beyond just having a cool picture. They show you’ve seen the world through the skydiver’s eyes. These are the presents that incorporate a piece of the sport’s unique culture or gear cleverly, guaranteeing a smile of pure recognition.
- The Altimeter Wall Clock: This is my favourite example of a truly “insider” gift. Every single skydiver lives by their altimeter—it’s the wrist-mounted gauge that shows their altitude and tells them when it’s time to open their parachute. It has a very distinct and iconic look.
This wall clock brilliantly reimagines that essential piece of gear for their home. It swaps the altitude markings for the hours of the day, but keeps the familiar, life-saving design. When your skydiver sees this, they won’t just see a clock. They’ll see a clever nod to the most important instrument they own. It’s an inside joke and a beautiful piece of design rolled into one. This is the kind of thoughtful, symbolic gift that says you didn’t just search for “skydiving stuff”; you found something that genuinely speaks their language.
It’s More Than Just a Gift
Ultimately, choosing a present for the skydiver in your life doesn’t have to be intimidating. It’s not about knowing the difference between a canopy and a parachute, or what an AAD does. It’s about sidestepping that entire world of technical gear and focusing on what truly matters: celebrating the joy, the community, and the passion that make them who they are.
By focusing on a symbolic gift, you completely avoid that lose-lose scenario of the wrong equipment. Instead of causing frustration, you give them a present that sends a clear and simple message:
“I see you. I respect your passion. And I think it’s awesome.”
That, more than any expensive piece of gear, is a feeling they will genuinely appreciate.
Blue skies.
