We’ve all got someone we know who is crazy about running (guilty!), and it can be overwhelming to shop for a runner if you don’t know much about running yourself. This guide to shopping for your runner breaks down 10 great gifts that any runner would be happy to receive! They’re practical and useful and are great options if you’re not sure what to buy someone who lives and breathes running.
It may seem like a simple gift, but lights are essential to a runner’s safety if they’re running at night or in a dark area. Lights are a great gift because they’re practical and useful but they also show the runner that you care about their safety and wellbeing!
There are many different lights out there that come in different shapes and sizes, but a great go-to is the LED Safety Light by NathanSports. These little guys may be small but they pack a lot of power and offer 8 different light options! They can easily clip to your shirt, belt, shoe or wherever is most convenient! Any runner would be happy to be gifted a light or two, they’re always useful!
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Socks are always a favorite gift among runners! Socks are essential to running and can save the runner a lot of foot-ache and pain (not to mention adds some style to their running wardrobe!). Socks designed specifically for running can have different designs depending on what they offer the runner, such as cushioning, blister-prevention, compression, or comfort.
A great go-to for buying socks for your runner is the Feetures high performance running sock. This brand offers comfort and cushioning while providing compression and stability! The socks come in many different sizes, colors, and styles and you’re sure to impress your runner with these socks as a gift!
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It may seem strange, but gloves are a perfect gift for runners at any time of the year. The colder months can sneak up quickly and catch a lot of runners by surprise and gloves are essential to surviving any run in the cold! Running without a good pair of gloves can lead to freezing hands and fingers and that makes for a miserable run.
The cold often doesn’t stop runners from getting outside and completing their run, but you could make them a lot more comfortable with a pair of running gloves! It’s something that can be overlooked in the running world and makes a great gift for someone who may not think to buy them for themselves. A great glove for running is the Nike Accelerate running glove!
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If you’re willing to splurge a little for your runner, headphones make an amazing gift! Wireless headphones are all the rage among runners today and getting a new pair as a gift would certainly be appreciated by any runner. If you don’t want to go wireless, there are a lot of different options for goof running headphones that all vary in price, but typically the better the quality, the more expensive the price. A great pair of wireless headphones that are loved within the world of running is the JBuds Airsport True Wireless Earbuds. They’ve got awesome sound quality and fit around the ear for non-slip listening!
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If the runner you’re shopping for races competitively, they may have a collection of race bibs and medals that mean a lot to them piled up somewhere in their room. Give them a great place to show off their swag with a display! There are a lot of different medals or race bib displays out there, and some even combine both! It can be really exciting to hang your medals and display your bibs in one place, and it means fewer bibs lying around waiting to get lost or damaged.
Your runner will love this thoughtful gift and a great go-to is the My Victories Race Bib Holder & Medal Hanger by Victory Hangers. It’s an exciting gift for any runner and makes for some great wall decor!
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Armbands have really evolved over the years and now hold a lot more than just a cell phone! They’re a stylish way to carry keys, money, I.D., anything small that a runner may need to carry with them. They still work great for carrying phones for music, and some have even evolved into sleek carriers for water bottles! No matter which design or style you go with, buying your runner an armband is guaranteed to be a hit. They’re so practical and stylish they make the perfect gift! A great armband is the Universal Armband Sleeve by E-Tronic. It’s made from a comfortable spandex material and fits all phone sizes!
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A foam roller is essential to muscle recovery and widely used within the running community after workouts to stretch and loosen muscles. Your runner will love getting a new foam roller as a gift because runners can always use one! It’s a great tool for stretching and recovery and they need to be replaced every once in a while anyway if they’re being used often. A great go-to foam roller is the Grid Foam Roller by Triggerpoint. Unlike classic, cheaper foam rollers, this one has a hollow core and is made with a multi-density foam surface to offer a deep roll that imitates a sports massage.
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Wearing a baseball cap or lightweight hat while you run has a few different benefits to it. It’s great for keeping the sun out of your eyes, and if you’re running in the rain it can help keep the water off your face. Hats also help keep hair in place and protect from sunburn! A hat always makes a great gift for any runner and they’ll get a lot of use out of it. A great hat to buy for the runner in your life is the Ultra Pocket Hat For Runners by Gone For A Run. It’s stylish, lightweight, and even offers two pockets for extra storage!
Getting your runner a subscription to their favorite running or fitness magazine is really the gift that keeps on giving! If they have a favorite brand like Saucony or New Balance that has their own magazine, go for that one! Or there are also several great magazines that are not brand-specific that would also make wonderful gifts for any runner, such as Runner’s World or Running Fitness! If you’re looking for a general running magazine that offers a lot of great information and trends, try Runner’s World. It’s a great magazine that any runner could get a lot of information and enjoyment out of.
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As simple as this gift may seem, it’s always a great option for a runner because they need to buy new shoes after a certain amount of miles in their old ones, and shoes can be pricey! Not to mention buying shoes as a gift can be tricky for a runner because so many factors go into picking out the right running shoe.
A gift card is a really nice way of getting your runner a gift while letting them do the work of picking it out! Gift cards to their favorite brand outlets like Nike or Adidas is a great gift, or try for a more all-encompassing running store such as Runner’s Alley that carries many different brands!
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Featured Image Source: Andrea Piacquadia on Pexels
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