40 Gifts For Pilots

Our Best 3 Picks

Best

Stuhrling Original Aviation Watch

The guiding triangle helps you to keep your bearings straight.

Buy Now for $79.99

Also Great

Personalized Monogram Beer Mug

It has a 16 ounce capacity and is safe to use in dishwashers.

Buy Now for $15.97

Good on a Budget

Airplane Design Silver Coaster Set

These coasters are made of nickel and are guaranteed to never tarnish.

Buy Now

Birthday Gifts For Pilots

Airplane Design Silver Coaster Set

These coasters are made of nickel and are guaranteed to never tarnish.

Buy Now

Airplane and Globe Liquor Decanter set

It has a 650 ml capacity and is made of hand-crafted glass and wood.

Buy Now for $89.95

Navigator LED Pen

The LED light activates when the lower body slides into the top.

Buy Now for $17.95

Personalized Aviation Keychain

It's made of hypoallergenic stainless steel and is highly durable.

Buy Now for $12.89

Portable Mini Espresso Machine

It has a 70 ml capacity and only needs manual operation.

Buy Now for $43.92

Airplane Aviation Socks for Adults

They're made of 75% polyester, 15% cotton, and 10% spandex.

Buy Now for $11.95

Vintage Handy Passport Holder

It secures cards and documents with RFID-blocking technology.

Buy Now for $14.99

Charming Aviation Bottle Opener

It's made of stainless steel and has a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Buy Now for $8.47

Useful Gifts For Pilots

Stuhrling Original Aviation Watch

The guiding triangle helps you to keep your bearings straight.

Buy Now for $79.99

Breathable and Comfy Memory Foam Neck Pillow

It includes an added adjustable rope lock to adjust the angle.

Buy Now for $23.99

Noise Reduction Aviation Headphone

It features a custom headband and an Electret noise-cancelling mic.

Buy Now for $93.99

Military Tactical Messenger Bag

Can fit a 15.6-inch thin computer and has an anti-collision pad.

Buy Now

Vacuum-Insulated Stainless Steel Tumbler by Yeti

It has a 20 oz capacity and a magnetic lid that's securely attached.

Buy Now for $35.00

Casual Bomber Jacket

It has a polyester lining and is available in 15 colors.

Buy Now for $49.98

Heavy Duty and Waterproof Portable Power Bank

It's waterproof, drop-resistant, and dirt-proof.

Buy Now

Slim Flip-side Wallet

It features 3 RFID-blocking card slots that are scan-proof.

Buy Now for $42.95

Personalized Gifts For Pilots

Personalized Monogram Beer Mug

It has a 16 ounce capacity and is safe to use in dishwashers.

Buy Now for $15.97

Personalized U.V. Aviator Sunglasses

They're non-polarized, with a UV-protection coating for glare.

Buy Now for $9.99

Aviator Plane Tee

This vintage designed tee is 100% cotton and available in 7 colors.

Buy Now for $21.99

Sterling Silver Compass Aviator Pendant

It's made of 925 Sterling Silver and symbolizes direction in life.

Buy Now for $39.99

Personalized Wooden Watch

This lightweight watch comes with its very own bamboo box.

Buy Now for $52.99

Soulmate Promise Necklace

It's made with high-quality polished surgical steel and is 21.65".

Buy Now for $29.95

Airplane Kinetic Desk Display

It provides a decompressive focal point to help you de-stress.

Buy Now for $15.99

Vintage Aviation Propeller Wall Sculpture

It's crafted from 100% iron and is durable and sturdy.

Buy Now for $45.99

Gifts For New Pilots

Adventure Vacuum Insulated Travel Mug

It has a 12-ounce fluid capacity and is break resistant.

Buy Now

18K Beads in Leather Morse-code Bracelet

It's lead-free, nickel-free, hypoallergenic, and won't tarnish.

Buy Now

Vintage Genuine Leather Messenger Bag

It's made of Crazy Horse cowhide leather and is water resistant.

Buy Now for $34.99

Peanut Varieties Gift Box

The unique flavors include cocoa, coconut, honey, salted and spicy.

Buy Now for $36.99 ($1.54 / Ounce)

Magnetic Floating Globe

It features a zero friction force and rotates for 15–25 minutes.

Buy Now for $28.79

Directional Compass and Quote Keychain

This stainless steel item is the perfect gift for inspiration.

Buy Now for $7.99

Luxury and Stylish Engraved Pen

This pen features an LED light and stylus tip for touch screens.

Buy Now for $12.99

Snack Gourmet Gift Basket

It's filled with 4 lbs of bestselling snacks such as milk toffees.

Buy Now for $35.99 ($35.99 / Count)

Gifts For Professional Pilots

Professional Aviation Headset By BOSE

It includes an updated tap control for talk-through communication.

Buy Now for $995.00

Classic Square Whiskey Decanter Set

It has an 860 ml capacity and is made of lead-free crystal glass.

Buy Now for $53.99 ($53.99 / Count)

Cocktail Mini Sampler Gift Set

Features 20 flavor options including apple, Moscow mule, and more.

Buy Now for $27.99 ($1.65 / Fl Oz)

Multitool Tactical Pen by TAKEFLIGHT

It's made of CNC-machined aluminum, and has a flashlight.

Buy Now for $19.97

Aviator Design Necktie

This microfiber tie measures 53.6 inches in length.

Buy Now for $27.95

Smart Journal Notebook

Includes 36 dot-grid notebook pages, 1 microfiber cloth, and 1 pen.

Buy Now for $28.24

Handy Survival Gear with Durable Case

It's portable, waterproof, shockproof, and features tactical tools.

Buy Now

Pilot Aviation Smartwatch by GARMIN

It features an activity tracker and an AMOLED touchscreen display.

Buy Now for $999.99

Pilots are some of the hardest-working, most skilled professionals who fly us to our destinations safely. They’re away from home and their families for long periods and experience immense amounts of work-related pressure. Fortunately, there are many gifts that can thank them for their invaluable service.

Choosing the best gifts for pilots

According to Erin Bowen, chair of the Behavioral and Safety Science Department at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, piloting often tops the list of the most stressful careers in terms of perceived stress and quantifiable stress metrics, like rates of burnout and health issues.

When pilots make mistakes, the consequences can be disastrous because they’re responsible for the lives of all on board. They’re away from their families for long periods of time, living out of a suitcase and because they fly from timezone to timezone at all hours, it’s stressful on their bodies too. Gifts that they can use in-flight to help them perform their jobs better as well as items that can make their lives easier or more relaxing when they’re on the ground are ones to consider. Everything from professional headsets and espresso machines can make a great gift for the pilot in your life.  

How we identified the best gifts for pilots

Our selection is based on what airline pilots and other industry professionals regard as great on- and off-duty gifts, and we chose the most highly rated items in terms of functionality and popularity. 

When pilots are on-duty, there are many useful gadgets and items that they can use in the cockpit, at the airport, and while traveling that will make their lives easier. When flying, items like noise-cancellation headphones, memory foam neck pillows, and portable espresso machines can help to improve their performance and provide a degree of comfort and convenience, which is why we selected some of the best on the market. Pilots are always on the go and find themselves in a different country daily. We included functional messenger bags, power banks, and aviation watches to complement their fast-paced lifestyles. 

If you’d prefer to commend them and show your appreciation, our personalized gifts are varied, but each one will send the message that you’re proud of them and grateful for the work they do. They’ll serve as special mementos that the pilot in your life will appreciate. And because a pilot needs their downtime, we included gadgets, accessories, and appliances that they can use or enjoy when they’re off-duty — like whiskey decanter sets. We also distinguished between the wants/needs of professional versus new pilots. We chose items that a seasoned aviator will appreciate more, based on their years of experience, and that will make a newbie to the profession feel excited about their career ahead. 

Tips for buying the best gifts for pilots

  1. Consider the occasion
    The occasion can help you determine what type of gift to buy for the pilot in your life. If it’s their birthday, for example, it’s the perfect opportunity not only to celebrate them but to honor the great work they do as well. Personalized gifts with meaningful messages would be a great choice. Whereas, if you’re celebrating a work milestone with them, functional gifts are less personal, but they’ll certainly come in handy.
  2. Make sure they don’t have it
    Pilots will most likely buy the items they need if it’ll help them to perform their jobs better. If you have a great gift in mind, make sure it’s something they don’t already have, particularly if you’re planning to spend a little extra on the time.
  3. Ask them
    After years of flying, who better to tell you what they need most than the pilot in question? By asking them, you can take the guesswork out of the gift-buying process and ensure that it’s something they’ll get a lot of use out of.

 

FAQs

Are gifts for pilots readily available?

Just like any other gift items, gifts for pilots are readily available depending on what it is you intend to buy. Many online stores have pilot-themed gifts such as drink coasters; various merchandise items such as mugs, t-shirts, hoodies, and other knick-knacks that will be well received. So just get browsing to see what is available and you’ll realize there’s no need to stress about getting gifts for pilots or for the pilot in your life.

What are the best gifts for pilots?

The best gifts for pilots are those items they will need each time they fly. You could go as basic as a warm pair of aviation gloves to keep their hands toasty warm or splurge on some high-end aviator sunglasses. You could go practical and get them a flight bag to put all their essentials, an aviation headset for easier communications, an iPad for them to keep their backup charts, or a water bottle to keep them hydrated. When you understand what their profession entails, you will be able to figure out the best gifts for pilots.

Where do you buy gifts for a pilot?

The advent of the internet has made shopping so much easier because of the choices available online. This should be your first stop when thinking about getting gifts for a pilot. If online stores are not your thing, take a walk to your local thrift store and get some knick-knacks that are bound to appeal to the aviator in your life. You may find some great wall decor items or sculptures. You could also go to your local jeweler and have some customized jewelry made for them. There are plenty of places where you can buy gifts for a pilot so get shopping.