The Best Gifts For Runners 

We’ve asked around The Running Channel office, and in the TRC Club, and have put together a list of some of the gifts that us runners would most like to receive. 

We’ve got gifts under £20/$20, gifts between £20 and £50 (up to $75), and gifts over £50/$75.

There are no affiliate links in this list (except one, which we make clear). The links are all guiding you to the company’s website or an online retailer that’s most relevant worldwide. Feel free to shop around or look for similar alternatives!  

Gifts For Runners Under £20 / $20

We beat our bodies up when we run a lot, and it’s always nice to have things which help protect us during a run, or make us feel better after we’ve finished, so a care package of items for running is a really thoughtful gift to receive. Epsom salts for a bath, a foot care kit, SPF lip balm, sports suntan lotion, Biofreeze, KT tape, blister plasters, electrolytes… We’ll use them all!

A Parkrun wristband is the perfect choice for someone who loves their weekly Saturday morning parkrun.

Almost all of us are dealing with a little niggle most of the time, so a reusable ice pack is a very handy gift for runners. They can keep it in the freezer, wrap it around whatever hurts that day, then put it back in the cold again ready for tomorrow’s aches! 

Talking of niggles… We can also always use things which help us get stronger or look after tired muscles and body parts. A mini foam roller, small massage balls for your feet (as an example, this set has one of everything you need), or resistance bands are great choices. 

Does your runner always have dirty running shoes? Then they need a Boot Buddy! 

There are lots of companies who print personalised calendars. Upload images from your runner’s favourite races, or photos to inspire them as they train towards new goals in 2025. They can then use the calendar to help plan their training. A running journal is also a lovely gift if you know your runner likes to write down their thoughts and feelings about running. 

Know a runner who brags about a certain run they’ve done? Or has a favourite run they’ve uploaded to Strava? They can celebrate that achievement every day with their own Strava map mug or coaster!

Do they like reading about running? Then here’s a list of some of our favourite books for runners. 

Forget chocolates under the tree, us runners want energy gels and electrolytes! You can buy a selection boxes of gels or a RunnerBox of goodies which are ideal for new runners, or sample packs from brands can be a great choice, like these from Precision Fuel & Hydration, High5 and Veloforte (these ones are great if you prefer whole foods).

And of course: socks! So many of the TRC Club community suggested socks. Some favourite sock brands include Stance, Feetures, Balega and OS1st. Or if you know that your runner has a favourite running shoe, then check out Shyu’s matching socks (Shyu do gift cards if you’re unsure what socks to go for). 

Gifts For Runners Up To £50 / $75

A subscription to TRC Club or a TRC x Vaga running hat! (Just see how good the team look in the hats!!)

This price range is great for essential running accessories. A running belt is really useful and can help your runner carry a phone, soft flask and other accessories. Decathlon has some good choices. FlipBelt is also popular, as is Salomon if you want more storage.

Running in the dark? Get a running headtorch, like a Petzl Bindi, or a chest torch, like this from Kiprun. You can also buy a beanie hat with a headtorch in it. Or get a high-vis running vest. 

We always need good running gloves, and there’s nothing worse than your gloves getting wet. So how about some waterproof running gloves? And thermal running tights can keep your runner nice and warm in winter – these are some of the best we’ve tried. 

Goodr sunglasses have brilliant and colourful designs, affordable prices and they don’t bounce when you run. The best low cost running sunglasses around. 

Does your runner come home with soaking wet running shoes, and do those running shoes stink?! Then they need a running shoe dryer! (Boot bananas can also help with the smell…)

As much as we love putting on our running shoes, we also love to wear something a little less speedy to walk around in after, so a pair of sliders or recovery slip ons, like the ones from Oofos, are a great choice. 

Entry into a race. Maverick is a great race organiser if you want a trail run in the UK, and they have events of varied distances around the UK. Also in the UK, RunThrough have gift vouchers for their races.

A voucher for a sports massage (or a physio appointment for your always-injured runner!). We’re always grateful to have something like this to depend on when we’re in need of a little TLC. 

Gifts For Runners Over £50 / $75

A subscription to Runna will kick-start the training for any runner, giving them the best training app in their pocket, guiding them to all their running goals (this one’s an affiliate link because we love Runna and they are our training partner).

A good massage gun is something every runner should have. Theragun (with a few different choices) and Bob & Brad are both good choices. 

The Running Channel team tested a lot of headphones this year, from the best budget options to the best open-ear headphones. Here are our favourite headphones for runners. 

If your runner loves the trails, or is hoping to take on longer runs, then a hydration vest is essential. Salomon make some of the best – the Active Skin 4 and ADV Skin 5 would be enough for most runners, unless they are planning very long runs (they aren’t the cheapest but they are very durable).  

There are a lot of benefits to using an ice bath after a workout, and these LUMI ice baths are compact but really useful. Your runner may curse you every time they get in, but they’ll be loving you for all the positives they feel afterwards! 

Sungod sunglasses are high-quality and high-performance, and look just as good around town after you’ve finished your run.

These wooden 3D marathon maps are expensive, but they are really beautiful. Check out the London Marathon, Chicago and New York City. There are also lots of options for prints which have race maps on them. 

We all need a good running watch, and everyone in The Running Channel team wears a Garmin running watch. The Forerunner 265 is a very popular all-rounder watch, the Forerunner 55 is a great entry-level watch, or the Forerunner 965 or Fenix 8 are for runners who want more tech on their wrist. 

For serious runners, one of the best things you could get is a voucher for VO2 Max analysis or lactate threshold testing (they’re around £100-£150). This is brilliant for a runner looking to learn much more about their running performance (trust us, if you gave us this, we’d be very happy!). Universities and special sports performance centres around the UK offer this. 

***

And if you’re a runner and there’s something you don’t see on this list which you’d love to receive, then let us know in the comments!