Outer Banks Shopping

Celebrating more than 40 years as an Outer Banks shopping mecca, Birthday Suits is a favorite for swimwear – in fact, it’s been voted Best on the Beach for swimsuits for more than 10 years in local polls. Women's swimsuits are the specialty here – the latest styles for all ages, mix-and-match separates, bra-sized swimwear and mastectomy suits – but they also sell suits for kids and men. For kids there’s everything from swim diapers and toddler suits to board shorts and competition swimwear in sizes infant to preteen. Men will find surf trunks, board shorts and briefs from sizes 28 to 4X large. Don’t forget the sun-protective rash guards for kids and adults. Birthday Suits is a clothing store, too, with designer and California surf brands, sportswear, shoes and beach-inspired accessories like sunglasses, flip flops, hats, jewelry and purses. Love the OBX logo? You’ll find original OBX brand accessories and clothing here. The flagship store is on the Bypass in Kill Devil Hills.

One of the oldest surf shops on the Outer Banks, Cavalier is a family-run operation and is known for providing great customer service in sales and rentals. You can buy or rent hard or soft-top surfboards, bodyboards and skimboards. They also offer private or group surfing lessons with a focus on safety and surfing etiquette. Lessons are a great way to get started in surfing or an opportunity for more experienced surfers to hone specific skills. Beach chairs, umbrellas and standup paddleboards are available for rental as well as purchase. In the shop you’ll find lots of surf and sports clothing, wetsuits, sunglasses, sandals, brand and logo stickers and accessories for the entire family. Cavalier Surf Shop logo t-shirts, sweatshirts and hats for all ages are legendary souvenirs for generations of visitors and are beloved by locals as well. 

The Cotton Gin has been a coastal shopping tradition for more than 50 years. With locations in Corolla, Duck and Nags Head, this beloved local store is a favorite shopping destination for both locals and visitors. You’ll find resort fashion for men and women from fine designers like Vineyard Vines, Southern Tide, Habitat and Simply Southern. Other top accessory designers include Pandora, Vera Bradley and Spartina 449. They also offer home fashions, candles, books, garden accessories and products for the gourmet kitchen. The Cotton Gin stores sell the wines of their sister business, Sanctuary Vineyards, which is based in Currituck County. In-store tastings of their many locally grown wine varieties are available.

Hatteras Island Boardsports has more than 5,000 square feet packed with swimwear, apparel and accessories for men, women and kids. Some brand names you’ll find here include Billabong, Quiksilver, Volcom, Roxy, O’Neill, Rip Curl and Katin, along with surfboards by Sharp Eye, Channel Island and Catch Surf. If you need new sunglasses, Hatteras Island Boardsports has hundreds of styles from Costa, Oakley, Electric, Ray-Ban and more. They also feature a great selection of Cape Hatteras t-shirts and gifts. Their shop rents surfboards, paddleboards, bodyboards, skimboards, kayaks and wetsuits, and delivery is available. They offer group or private surfing lessons too. Find them across the street from the Koru Beach Klub and the Avon Pier right on N.C. Highway 12.

OBX Bait and Tackle is an angler’s paradise. Conveniently located in Corolla’s Monteray Plaza to serve the northern beaches and beyond, OBX Bait and Tackle is a full-service tackle shop that specializes in freshwater and surf-fishing equipment along with rods and reels at all price levels, a wide variety of fresh and frozen bait, crabbing supplies and other necessities such as coolers, ice, soft drinks, sunglasses and sunscreen. You can even gear up on apparel with their extensive line of clothing that includes both souvenir t-shirts and fast-drying, UV-protective clothing from top brands such as Salt Life, Costa and Hux. OBX Bait and Tackle is the only shop on the northern beaches that carries fishing licenses, making it the perfect place for one-stop shopping. The folks at OBX Bait and Tackle can arrange offshore, nearshore and inshore fishing charters for everyone from the novice to the pro, and family groups are always welcome. Stop by, call ahead or visit their website for more information, and be sure to check out their free daily fishing reports.