15 Best Gifts for Runners in 2024
You need a gift for the runner in your life. Does the thought of rushing from store to store bring you out in a sweat? Want to avoid panic buying socks (again)?
Problem solved. We’ve asked around the office and curated a list of the best gifts for runners on the market today. Real runners, letting you know the gifts they’d really like to find under the tree. There’s a range of prices, with running gifts for him or her, whether they run trail or road, short or long.
And the best part is they’re all just a click away. So you can relax knowing you’ve got the ideal running gift in the bag.
What does every runner need?
Good running gear choices can have a huge benefit, improving performance and reducing the risk of injury. We’ve tried to cover all sorts of gifts for runners — from the everyday to the high end.
The basics
Good quality shoes and running clothing make a huge difference — and any runner would love to see them under the tree. With worse weather conditions in winter, it’s a great time to invest in some good wet weather gear.
Fuel
Every runner loves receiving a pack of their favourite running fuel to power their training. Energy gels and chews are perfect in a Christmas stocking — or you could include them in a hamper of running goodies.
Upgrades
The things that solve those little irritations and make running more enjoyable, like purpose-built sunglasses or headphones.
Something fun
Runners like fun too. An inspirational running book, a jazzy pair of socks, or some bright and colourful new gear can all bring much needed motivation on a dark morning run.
The best running gifts
- Nike ZoomX Invincible Flyknit Trainers
- BAM Balance Bamboo Leggings
- FX FFEXS Foam Roller
- Veloforte Mixed Energy Gels / Mixed Energy Chews
- SWIFTVEST® Running Vest
- Walsh PB Elite Fell Running Shoes
- goodr Running Sunglasses
- Inov8 Ultrashell Jacket
- Veloforte Ultimate Snood
- Veloforte Energy Chews
- parkrun Ultraband Barcode Wristband
- Hardest Geezer: Becoming the first person to run the entire length of Africa
- Alpkit Qark Headtorch
- Aftershokz Aeropex Bone Conduction Headphones
- Stance Overload Tab Socks
1. Nike ZoomX Invincible Flyknit
£174.95
Not content with creating record-breaking race day shoes, Nike have pioneered the ZoomX Invincible — a shoe designed to reduce injuries. It’s ideal for weekend long runs, providing plenty of comfort in the midsole along with Nike’s usual light and dynamic feel.
They come in a variety of stylish colourways, naturally. We’re fond of the minimal off-white Flyknit version.
Great gifts for marathon runners to stay fresh-legged and niggle-free. (And they’ll complain less after a long run.)
Men’s and women’s sizes and designs available.
2. BAM Balance Bamboo Leggings
£49
‘Tis the season to stay warm out there. These supersoft bamboo leggings from BAM hit all the right notes for comfort, stretch and durability.
They’re also super sustainable. Each pair saves over 500 litres of water. And the innovative Enduro fabric won’t go see-through.
They’re great for chilly runs or indoor yoga sessions. (And we wouldn’t judge you for weathering them to the shops either.
BAM have a range of designs, from understated black to bold statement prints.
You’ll look and feel awesome.
3. FX FFEXS Foam Roller
£13.99
This deep tissue foam roller is like a post-run massage for tired legs — in a portable and lightweight design.
The variety of textures on the FFEXS foam roller means you can move from a gentle rubdown to a more intense rolling experience. Perfect for restoring muscles, and avoiding soreness later on. Plus there are loads of colour options to choose from.
“Anything that can reduce muscle soreness and speed recovery is definitely on my list! Plus it’s easy to store, and I love the green camo version.” says Lara, avid runner and Veloforte's Head Chef
4. Veloforte Mixed Energy Gels
£9.34
Our energy gels are one of the most efficient ways to take on energy-boosting carbs during a run. These all natural gels come in a variety of great-tasting flavour combinations. They also offer the same hit of carbohydrates as their synthetic counterparts, in a much more compact size.
5. SWIFTVEST® Running Vest
£21.99
An ideal gift in combination with the energy gels above, running vest is a great way to keep your gels handy.
The front pouch is big enough to hold your phone plus a zip pocket on the shoulder for your keys.
"I absolutely love this running vest and wear it on every run, whether it's a 5km around the park or half marathon", says Millie, "It holds everything I need and I love that it comes with it's own 500ml soft flask too."
Available in black and grey.
6. WALSH PB Elite
£75.00
This is the original fell-running shoe — and it’s as iconic as the Cumbrian hills. In fact, you’ve probably seen a pair of these dashing past you up a rugged mountainside.
Renowned for unbeatable grip and pleasingly old-school styling, leave a Walsh PB Elite under the tree of any keen fell runner.
They have great credentials too: they’re made in the UK of totally vegan materials.
Range of sizes available.
7. goodr Running Sunglasses
£30.00
Non-slip polarised sunnies designed especially for runners. The goodr range of glasses offer UV400 protection and keep that pesky winter sun out of your eyes too.
The coated frames are made to reduce bounce and movement, and there are fantastically coloured options, as well as a restrained black-on-black option.
8. Stormshell FZ V2 Mens Jacket
£160
Stay dry in the heaviest rain with the STORMSHELL V2, a high performance waterproof running jacket built for intense training and racing.
The STORMSHELL V2 is made with Pertex Shield 2.5 layer waterproof fabric. This premium material is water repellent to 20,000mm, which means it should keep you dry in the heaviest downpours and snow. The 20,000mm HH rating means that if a column of water was placed on the jacket's fabric, it would need to be 20 metres tall before the water would penetrate it! Alongside the waterproof fabric, the STORMSHELL V2 also benefits from fully taped seams, which means it meets any racing requirements, where you need to carry a waterproof jacket.
Available in four colour choices.
9. Veloforte Ultimo Snood
£9.99
It’s a headband, it’s a scarf, it’s a hat. It’s a supersoft multipurpose snood that makes winter runs a breeze.
Made from soft and stretchy CoolMax Microfibre, it can be worn in any number of styles, with no irritating seams.
A wonderful stocking-stuffer for the runner in your life.
Available in three styles.
10. Veloforte Mixed Energy Chews
From £10.99
Veloforte’s all-natural energy chews are soft, squishy and completely delicious. But don’t be fooled, they also deliver a substantial amount of dual-source energy. The Amaro chews give a mellow caffeine lift from guarana, and all three flavours contain pure natural electrolytes to keep muscles feeling fresh.
They’re super easy to digest and a delight to eat. It’s no surprise that they’ve picked up multiple awards and accolades, including Best Buy from the Independent and Men’s Fitness magazine.
11. Parkrun ID Band
£14
If the runner in your life is a parkrun fan, this little wristband is a game changer. No more Saturday morning scrambles to find their barcode. No more missed chip times or crumpled up paper barcodes around the house.
This great stocking stuffer features their personalised parkrun barcode on the outside of its soft-touch rubber, with the option for important medical information and emergency contact details on the inside.
Other designs and colours available.
12. Hardest Geezer: Becoming the first person to run the entire length of Africa
£22.00
Hardest Geezer, Russ Cook, is the first person to run the entire length of Africa. From his starting point in Cape Agulhas, South Africa, through sandstorms in the Sahara Desert, rainforests, mountain ranges and long empty roads stretched out for miles in front of him, Russ ran the equivalent of 386 marathons finally crossing the finish line in Tunisia 50 weeks later.
From being held at gunpoint to pushing his body to the limits of endurance, Cook's record-breaking run across the entire length of Africa is recounted in thrilling style in the 'hardest geezer's memoir.
13. Alpkit Qark Headtorch
£39.99
Equally at home on an ultramarathon or an early morning jog, the Alpkit Quark light provides an impressive 580 lumens. Small, mighty and reliable, it features adjustable brightness, focus and angle with minimal faff.
You can also feel good about buying from UK–based Alpkit, who have achieved B–Corp status for sustainability.
"Nice and bright for dark early morning runs, and the option to use the rechargeable battery or AAAs is great if you keep forgetting to charge your stuff!" - Adam, Ultra Runner
14. SHOKZ Open Run Pro Headphones
£159.95
SHOKZ's most premium headphones ever. They pack an enhanced bass, a 10-hour battery life, and quick-charge feature. The newest 9th generation of bone conduction technology (called Shokz TurboPitchTM technology) and a refined design.
All with their signature situational awareness and comfortable fit you know and love. Music is meant to make you move, OpenRun Pro makes that happen.
15. Stance Overload Tab Socks
£10.99
Yes, we know it’s stocks. But Stance are some of the most comfortable and durable out there.
These no-show tab socks are constructed from Stance’s super comfortable Feel360 technology. They’re durable and designed to reduce discomfort and blisters.
There are loads of styles and designs that will put a smile on your face before you’ve even got out the door.
Men’s and women’s designs and sizes.
What do I get a runner who has everything?
In our experience there are a few things that you can just never have too many of. Energy gels are one example, or running socks. It’s always great to have a spare pair for laundry days, or double-run weekends.
More experienced runners may have different shoes for different runs. So even if it seems like they couldn’t possibly need another pair, it could be worth asking…
And all runners love to celebrate their accomplishments. For the runner who really does have everything, why not frame the medal and race number from a big race? Or customise a mug with their favourite Strava route?
Choosing the perfect running gift
We know that choosing the perfect gift for the runner in your life can seem daunting. We hope that whatever kind of runner they are, you can find the perfect gift from our festive list.
- Tags: Running