Top 10 Best Gliding Gifts for Glider Pilots
With the festive season fast approaching, finding a thoughtful gift for the glider pilot in your life can be a challenge. As fellow glider pilots ourselves, we thought we'd help out by compiling a list of gifts that any pilot, whether they're a seasoned pro or just taking their first flight, would love to see under the Christmas Tree!
Glider Pilot Navigation Ruler
A Ruler? Really?
Yes! Pre-flight planning is a crucial step and we do a lot of it. A surprisingly difficult task is finding a good ruler, and this one is made especially for glider pilots. It matches the scale of the aviation charts that glider pilots use and has kilometers right on the edge, rather than in the centre like most others, making it a practical gift that they'll use before every cross-country flight.
The Soaring Engine Books (Volumes 1-4)
Another practical gift, that will help the glider pilot in your life with their soaring adventures. We consider this series of books by G Dale a must-read! They explain and help visualise how the sky works and even extremely experienced pilots will gain insights into gliding strategies and tips on how to improve their performance. Insights you gifted them...
The Art of Gliding
This book is less of a guide and more of a love letter to the sport. It combines stunning pictures taken across a decade of flying in the Alps with exciting accounts from some of the most experienced pilots who've been flying in these regions. If the glider pilot in your life needs a bit of inspiration during the cold winter months, then this book will make for a thoughtful gift that they are bound to appreciate.
Gliding Aviation Calendar 2025
Tobi Barth is an exceptional photographer, who's well known in the gliding world for his stunning images. This calendar is a collection of the most beautiful gliders in breathtaking settings. Keep the glider pilot in your life inspired year-round and as a bonus, when the month is done, the dates can be torn off to create a poster perfect for their office or shed...
Bigatmo Sunglasses
Glider pilots need clear vision and UV protection, and Bigatmo Sunglasses deliver both in style. The importance of good sunglasses is often underappreciated, but those of us that try a Bigatmo pair rarely go back. Designed specifically for aviators, offering superior lens clarity, comfort, and a sleek aesthetic that works both in the cockpit and on the ground, this is a gift that will be cherished for years to come!
Navboys Soaring Bucket Hat
A glider's cockpit, especially on a good soaring day, turns into a greenhouse. It's very bright and very hot! We are exposed to a lot of UV radiation which is why bucket hats are so popular, they provide much needed shade and protect our ears without obscuring our field of view.
We couldn't find a bucket hat we liked so we made our own! 100% cotton for comfort, with a reversible design allowing a choice between two distinct looks: a bold, darker side that minimizes glare and absorbs more light, or a lighter, understated side that reflects heat and light for a cooler wear. We love them and we think your pilot will love them too!
Navboys Gift Card
Not sure what to choose, or looking to contribute toward a bigger purchase? A Navboys Gift Card is the perfect way to give the pilot in your life the freedom to select exactly what they desire. Available as a convenient e-gift card or as a beautifully presented physical gift card delivered in a sleek envelope with your personalised message inside, you can pick from a range of denominations. It's the ideal solution for those pilots who are extra hard to shop for!
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The Ultimate Glider Care Bundle
We spend a lot of time looking after our gliders, but it's not just obsession. Smooth, shiny wings give much better performance and, yes, they do look cooler when they glisten. The Ultimate Glider Care Bundle includes everything they need to clean, polish, and protect their aircraft. This gift is as practical as it is thoughtful, ensuring their glider stays looking as fresh as the day they first laid eyes on it.
SeeYou
Whilst books are great for understanding the theory, we need to be able to analyse our flights to understand whether we applied it correctly. SeeYou is the powerful software that allows us to do just that, with features for planning, analysing and optimising flights. It’s a fantastic gift which will help your pilot improve and a safe bet because even if they already have a subscription, this will simply be tacked on extending their subscription length.
Oudie N
This gift is a two-in-one. The people who make the SeeYou software also make the Oudie N, which is a glide computer that displays all the vital information we need in flight. Unlike your phone, this is designed for the cockpit so it has an extraordinarily bright display that is easily readable in direct sunlight and it has an enormous battery so it can last the whole flight without issue.
Where's the two-in-one? Well the Oudie N comes with a year of SeeYou subscription included so technically you're getting them two gifts. Whatever they got you better be good!
Hopefully we have helped you with our selection of our best Christmas present ideas for pilots. If you need any more help or ideas, do not hesitate to contact us.
For even more inspiration, visit our shop here, where you’ll find our huge range of products for pilots and aviation enthusiasts.