Christmas Gifts for Lifeguards: 10 Picks from £4.30

Our top picks

Best overall: CRESSI Ninja Floating Polarised Sunglasses (£34.00). Polarised sunglasses are one of the most requested gifts from lifeguards who work outdoors, because they cut reflected glare from the water. The Amazon UK listing describes these as polarised sunglasses with 100% UV protection, a floating frame that helps you find them if they go in the water, and a durable, flexible wrap-around frame with an Italian design. It lists the material as rubber and polycarbonate and the weight as 0.08 kg. The price shown is for the Floating style with black frame and green mirrored lens.

Best budget: Fox 40 Breakaway Neck Lanyard, 36 Inch, Black (£4.30). The cheapest gift here and a practical one. Most lifeguards wear their whistle on a lanyard, and the listing describes this as a 36 inch rope-style lanyard woven with the Fox 40 logo, with a spring clip, a button-style spring-loaded adjustable cord lock and a breakaway clasp for safety. It is a lanyard only, so pair it with a whistle (or the whistle set below) if they need one.

Best for pool lifeguards: Lifeguardgear Classic 40 Whistle with Lifeguard Printed Lanyard, Red (£8.45). A whistle is the lifeguard's most basic piece of kit, and this set includes the lanyard too. The listing describes a red and white Classic 40 whistle that is 3-chamber pealess with no moving parts and a 115 dB sound, a non-corrosive ring, and a lifeguard printed tube lanyard with a safety break. Pealess whistles are the type lifeguard bodies recommend (see the FAQ below), which makes this a good first gift for someone who has just qualified.

More Christmas gifts for lifeguards

kuou CPR Mask Keychain Ring, Emergency Face Shield, Pack of 5 (£5.99). A face shield gives a barrier between the rescuer and the casualty during rescue breaths, which is why many lifeguards and first aiders carry one. This listing is a pack of 5 CPR face shields, each in a nylon keychain pouch with a ring, so they can go on keys, in a bag or in a first aid kit. The listing says the shield is made of polyethylene fibre. It is best for someone trained in CPR, such as a qualified lifeguard.

ACME Thunderer 60.5 Metal Official Referee Whistle (£7.33). A classic metal whistle for a lifeguard who also coaches swimming or referees. The listing describes a robust metal design with a waterproof speed pea that works in rain and an easy blow with instant response, and lists the country of origin as the United Kingdom and the weight as 20 g. Note that this one has a pea, so for lifeguarding itself a pealess whistle such as the set above is the usual recommendation.

Lifesystems Pocket First Aid Kit (£15.22). A small first aid kit is a useful extra for a lifeguard's bag or for days out. The listing describes a compact kit with 24 CE approved items, including tweezers, scissors, safety pins, an open woven bandage, a crepe bandage, gauze swabs, micropore tape, saline wipes, a dressing, plasters and a blister plaster, in a ripstop case with a belt loop and a waterproof zip. It lists the dimensions as 125 x 80 x 45 mm.

Brentfords Adult Hooded Poncho Towel, Charcoal Grey (£11.99). A changing poncho is handy for a lifeguard who swims for training or works on the beach. The listing describes a one size adult hooded poncho towel in 100% microfibre, 108 cm long and 85 cm wide with a 40 cm hood, for quick drying and privacy when changing, and machine washable at 40°C. The price shown is for the charcoal grey colour.

Polar Gear 1L Insulated Water Bottle with Chug Cap (£14.99). Lifeguards on long shifts are told to stay hydrated, and a large insulated bottle came up again and again when lifeguards were asked about gifts. The listing describes a 1 litre double-wall vacuum insulated bottle in 304 stainless steel that keeps drinks cold for up to 24 hours and hot for 12 hours, with a leakproof chug cap with a flip cover and a wide mouth for ice cubes. It says it should be hand washed. The price shown is for the colour we checked (forest green).

CIVO Men's Digital Sports Watch, Big Numbers, Black (£18.99). A simple waterproof watch helps a lifeguard keep track of rotations and breaks when there is no clock in view. The listing describes a digital sports watch with oversized numbers, a backlight, alarm and stopwatch, a 50 mm case, a rubber strap and water resistance to 50 metres (5ATM). The price shown is for the black 1258 model.

MUGFFINS World's Best Lifeguard Mug (£10.95). A fun gift for a lifeguard friend or colleague, or for Secret Santa at the pool. The listing describes a white 11 oz (330 ml) ceramic mug printed with a World's Best Lifeguard design that is microwave and dishwasher safe.

Lifeguard gifts for pool and beach

For a pool lifeguard, the whistle and lanyard set (£8.45), the spare lanyard (£4.30), the CPR face shield keyrings (£5.99), the watch (£18.99) and the water bottle (£14.99) are all things they can use on poolside. For a beach lifeguard, the floating polarised sunglasses (£34.00), the poncho towel (£11.99) and the pocket first aid kit (£15.22) suit long days outdoors.

Stocking fillers for lifeguards

The lanyard (£4.30), the CPR face shield keyrings (£5.99), the ACME whistle (£7.33) and the whistle and lanyard set (£8.45) are all under £10, so they work well as stocking fillers or as a small thank you gift for a lifeguard.

What to look for in a Christmas gift for a lifeguard

Choose a pealess whistle for lifeguarding. A pealess whistle has no ball inside, so it keeps working when wet, and lifesaving bodies recommend this type for lifeguard work. Pea whistles such as the ACME Thunderer are better suited to coaching or refereeing.

Look for a breakaway lanyard. A breakaway clasp lets the lanyard come apart if it is caught or pulled, so it is a safer way to wear a whistle around the neck.

Think about where they work. Beach and outdoor lifeguards get the most use from polarised sunglasses, sun protection, a warm changing towel and a large water bottle, while pool lifeguards mostly need a whistle, lanyard, watch and a face shield for first aid.

Check sizes and colours. The sunglasses, poncho, water bottle and watch are sold in more than one style or colour, and the price shown is for the option we checked. Choose the right option on the listing, and keep a gift receipt.

Check the price and delivery. Every gift here cost between £4.30 and £34.00 when we checked on 2 November 2026. Prices change often, so check the total and the delivery date on Amazon before you order, especially close to Christmas.

How we chose these picks

We only included products that were in stock on Amazon UK with a single live buy-box price in pounds when we checked on 2 November 2026, read with a UK delivery address. We skipped listings showing low stock, no stock line or unclear details, and we avoided repeating products already featured in our other guides. Specs in the comparison table come from each product's Amazon UK listing, and a dash means the listing does not state that detail. Descriptions are based on what each listing says; we have not tested these products ourselves, and we have not used star ratings or review counts.

Prices were checked on Amazon UK on 2 November 2026 and can change at any time. Check the current price, details and delivery date on Amazon before you order.