I’m linking up today with Kim and Zenaida for their Tuesday Topics: Holiday Gifts for Runners!
I didn’t want this post just to be a repeat of my “Favorite Running Brands”– that post has a lot of ideas for gifts as well! There are a few repeats in this post, but generally a bit more specific (and this post includes some affiliate links, for the record) but instead of focusing on my favorite apparel, this post provides holiday gift ideas that work for men or women.
Enjoy!
- Ultimate Direction Utility Belt:
I have this belt in a size small, Dustin has it in a large, and we both love it. Its perfect for winter running. It has a lot more room than most of the zippered belts that a lot of runners use, and it can also hold a water bottle. It is comfortable and useful!
2. Pro Compression Socks:
I mentioned Pro Compression socks in my Favorite Running Brands post, but they make an awesome stocking stuffer for the runner in your life, as the sizes are pretty generous and they come in so many fun patterns, there’s something for everyone, for running or for recovery!
3. A gift card to a local running store!
Depending on where your runner lives, I recommend purchasing a gift card to their local running store! In the Twin Cities, my favorites are Gear Running Store, Mill City Running, and TCRC (Twin Cities Running Company). We are lucky to have lots of options to shop local. Every runner will love a gift card to their store!
4. A Nuun-filled Nuun display case!
Handmade by my dad. Perfect way to organize and display your favorite hydration. Message me if you’re interested, they are $30 each!
5. A gaiter or face mask!
Assuming your runner lives in a colder climate, a gaiter or face mask is a great gift that is generally one-size-fits-all. Picture below is one from Oiselle and one basic one from Turtle Fur!
6. Kahtoola Nanospikes:
You will need to know the shoe size of your gift recipient, but the sizing is generous; an approximation is okay!
I have been running in these nanospikes for a few winters now, and they have held up quite well. I prefer them to my old Yaktrax, particularly because they don’t bother me as much when the pavement is a mix of clear and snow covered.
7. A new Garmin
I have the Fenix and love it, but there are even better ones out now; DC Rainmaker has the best reviews to help you select the best one for your runner, but happy to share more about the Fenix if that’s the one you are interested in. And even if your runner has one already, they might want an upgrade!
8. Winter running gloves!
Everyone needs a few more pairs.
I mean, they might have a Ruthless Ruth in the house like I do, who destroys their gloves, ha!
For the really cold runs, I highly recommend all things Craft!
9. A Noxgear light-up running vest
My morning running friends and I all have one! They are very bright and allow other runners/cyclists and drivers to see you.
10. A treadmill.
Obviously this is a BIG gift! But I’d be remiss not to mention my Landice L7 treadmill, just in case your runner is in the market for one. I should seriously get a commission from Landice (I don’t), as I recommend this brand to all my runner friends looking for a treadmill. We love ours.
Vizsla not included!
Bonus Idea: A Running Coach!
You might think it’s a weird time to sign on with a coach, but a coach might be just the motivation the runner on your holiday list needs right now! True, there is still uncertainty about when races will be back, but I am optimistic that at least smaller races will be more common in 2021. And we don’t need races to benefit from a coach!
I have space right now to take on more clients and would be happy to work with runners of all levels; I can issue a gift certificate for my coaching services for any amount of time. Let me know if you’re interested!
There you go- 10 gift ideas (plus a bonus) for the runner on your list!
Be sure to check out Kim and Zenaida’s blogs for more ideas from other running bloggers.
Happy holidays!
These are great gift ideas! i love the idea of giving a gift card to a local running store. Such a great way to support small/local businesses.
exactly! And generally easy enough to purchase online still to stay home and stay safe 🙂
These are all such great suggestions! Thanks for the recommendation of your treadmill, too. Mine is 20+ years old and so I’m trying to collect ones to think about for some day. Oh yeah, I was going to use this on my tea date this week, but we tried to get Bandit on the treadmill yesterday. Let’s just say that was a non-starter. I mean, he gets on it, but even on the lowest setting, he pretty much freaked out the minutes we turned it on (and we’d taken the time to just have him standing there & feeding him… Read more »
Haha, I’ve never tried to put our dogs on the treadmill when its on! I think they’d get scared too 🙂
A gift card of the local running store! I love this kind of gift but I can choose the product myself. I used to get these often from work colleagues.
Yep! Gift cards are still great gifts, as they show that the gift giver knows your interests, but maybe not your exact shoe size, haha 🙂
Thanks for the TM rec…not that I’m in the market, but dear old Milly is going on 20 years (I think?), and I fear her time may be limited. Thankfully, I don’t run on her much, but I just have a feeling she’s going to putz out on me when I may actually need her most. You’ve probably mentioned the Nanospikes before, but I’d forgotten. I’ve never used YakTrax because I always have some pavement mixed in with the ice/snow. I’m going to check out these others…they seem like a better option for me.
Personally I think the Nanospikes are better on all surfaces, but nothing is perfect on pure ice 🙂 Unless you had real crampons to wear!
OH, the Garmin Fenix is so pretty… I really love my Forerunner 235, but I can’t say that I am not intrigued by the Fenix.
Love the NUUN display case. How cool.
Thanks San! I’m pretty happy with the Fenix, as it looks like a regular watch!
Nice collection of cold weather stuff! I have been eyeing those Kahtoola spikes. How are they on ice? Yaxtrax don’t do as well on ice as they do on snow. I have a pair of Craft leggings and I love them so much for the cold weather running. So I asked for a pair of Craft mittens. I hope Santa brings them!
Nothing is perfect on pure ice 🙂 But the Kahtoolas are about as good as can be!
I LOVE Craft stuff across the board!
That is such a sweet display that your dad made you! I do need a new pair of gloves and I will check out the Craft ones. Thanks for the idea!
He has made them for tons of friends and family, so I asked him to make a few extra in case any readers want one to gift to a Nuun fan!
Great ideas here too! That is a beautiful Garmin watch.
Thanks Zenaida!
[…] If you missed it, I shared some holiday gift ideas for runners on Tuesday, catch up HERE. […]
aww your poor gloves! I just found my running ones but still ended up running in throw aways today because I “lost” them overnight.
What a great idea in the Nuun holder
Ruth has destroyed a significant number of gloves/hats/and socks!
I can’t imagine a Garmin better than a Fenix — it has more functionality than I do. 😉 I’ll keep those Nanospikes in mind if I take the plunge with snowy running. One reason I’ve resisted the YakTracks is because we don’t get that much snow so it gets patchy.
Yes! The nanospikes are much better on mixed terrain between snow and clear!!