No, I’m not fishing for loot…although I’m not one to decline a gift. 😉 The season of giving is upon us and you might be looking for a holiday gift guide for the runner in your life. On the one hand, runners can be pretty particular about their gear so gifting can be a challenge, but on the other hand we never tire of talking about running, thinking about running, wearing cool stuff, trying new products, etc so you can’t go too far off course (see what I did there?).
First you have to consider how well you know the person. For instance, I have friends who I run with ALL the time and I still wouldn’t buy them running attire. Forget about the horror of trying to guess someone’s size and getting it wrong, it’s just better for people to pick out their own clothes in my opinion. But if, say, your significant other has been complaining about their favorite pair of whatevers wearing out and you know their size, brand etc then have at it!
For the rest of you…I’ve compiled a list of ideas. You’re welcome.
Recovery Care Packages
Recovery nutrition: Tailwind Nutrition offers a recovery line that I absolutely LOOOOOOVE but a quick Google search offers many many more suggestions.
Muscle Rubs: Check out Runner’s World’s list of the best rubs.
Rollers: Check out Amazon for a multitude of foam rollers, grids, and massage sticks. My personal favorite is the TriggerPoint Grid. Hurts so good.
Epsom Salts: Inexpensive and easily found at most drug stores and grocery stores, epsom salts are great for soaking tired muscles.
Compression socks/sleeves: Another savior for tired legs, compression socks are a nice gift that just about everyone can use. If you’re unsure about them, check out my overview and then get to Googling.
Massage Gun: You really love someone if you’re willing to cough up for a massage gun, but hey maybe you have some money to burn! There are a lot of options out there. Theragun, Kraftgun, Hypervolt, and Addaday are just a few popular choices.
Safety Gear
Lights: There are a lot of options for “blinky” lights. There are some that clip on, go on your shoes, headlamps, etc. All of these are good options for runners. Noxgear makes a super cool light up vest that makes a great gift. I get compliments on mine all the time!
Reflective Gear: Almost any running gear comes in a reflective option. Check out some nice vests or jackets for the cooler months.
Road ID: Road ID makes all kinds of ID gear like bracelets, watch clips, lace clips, etc. In the event that something happens while out running, an ID will give responders critical information quickly. Bonus, you can also engrave them with things like “My super cool friend gave this to me” or whatever. 🙂 Bonus bonus, they run sales all the time!
Accessories
Runners never tire of accessories. Especially if they’re like me and are hard on their gear.
Sunglasses: Referencing the above, I’m not allowed to buy fancy sunglasses. I tear them up. Goodr make nice, affordable options that stay put! Check them out, they make lots of cool designs too.
GPS Watch: Again, you may really need to know and love your runner for this one as they can be spendy and we all have difference preferences. I’m a Garmin fan, but there are many more out there, made for beginners and pros alike.
Headphones: For those who need music, podcasts, etc to run, some nice headphones or even wireless options are a plus!
Gaiters: Especially in 2020, gaiters are having a moment. These are nice for covering your face in the cold, but also when passing by other people. I can’t vouch for their effectiveness at fighting a pandemic, but they are good for sweat too.
They even make gaiters for your shoes. Why? This is something I recently learned for trail running, to keep the dirt and gravel out of your socks. I always seem to get gunk around my ankles, what a cool idea. Check out these for inspiration.
Artsy Stuff
I’m trying to keep a lot of my shopping local, or small business this year. Etsy is a good place for unique gifts, and if your runner enjoys that you’re in luck!
There are some cool inspirational bracelets and the like if you’re willing to browse around for awhile.
Something I think I might buy myself (If I ever get to run Big Sur) is some race art.
Other stuff
Hydration: I wrote an Ultimate hydration guide with specifics, but runners need to hydrate! Whether it’s a bottle to take on a run or a cute personalized water bottle for recovery, there are lots of options here.
Run coach: Especially helpful for new runners, or someone stuck in a rut like me, a run coach subscription can be a great way to show you care. Run4prs has made an incredible difference in my running and it’s super cost effective.
Gift cards: When all else fails, gift cards show you care enough to let them pick out whatever they want. 😀