Consummate Athlete Gift Guide 2020: Runner Edition

by Molly Hurford | Nov 27, 2020 | Gear

Shopping for runners is tough: Sure, it seems like a fun hobby to buy stuff for, but it’s actually pretty tough to come up with presents that don’t break the bank and that will actually get used. So, we’re putting together our 2020 roundup of what we’re gifting the runners in our lives. We tried to make most of these budget-friendly and buildable, meaning you can get a few of them together as a gift basket, or just as a small token of appreciation between fellow runners.

Note: As a serious runner myself, I don’t like the idea of gifting apparel or shoes because between size, fit, and style, it’s really a personal decision on the runner’s part. It’s annoying to have someone give you gear with the best of intentions, only to realize it’s non-returnable and doesn’t fit you well. So all of these options are pretty one-size-fits-most (with socks, you may have to make an educated guess but you get the idea.)

(Check out our other gift guides right here)

Snack Pack!

My family and Peter’s family love doing candy and chocolate in stockings, but if you’re doing small presents or exchanging stockings with an athlete, why not get them something fun, but still super practical? Love this. If you have a lot of runners you’re buying for, AKA your whole club or group, this is such a great present because you can buy boxes of these snacks and put together individual presents with one or two of each option in them for fantastic variety without blowing your budget.

Clif Iced Gingerbread: The classic Clif bar, done holiday-style. I order two or three boxes of these every single year because I love eating them so much! Get it: Clif Iced Gingerbread
I’m a huge fan of Nuun for hydration—it’s what I used for Ironman training and race day—and I think it’s a great choice for any athlete. (It’s also an AMAZING hangover helper for those post-holiday party mornings.) Get it: Nuun
Clif Nut Butter Bars. Just… Delicious. Enough said. Get it: Clif Nut Butter Bars
Boon’s Organic Stroopwaffles: They come in some really cool flavors (mmmm cardamom!) and they’re gluten-free. They just feel a little more festive than your normal cyclist snacks, so I love the idea of giving them as a gift. Get it: Stroopwafels by Boon Organic
Gu Hoppy Trails: For a light citrus flavor in a gel that isn’t sticky sweet, even Peter likes Gu Hoppy Trails! Get it: Gu Hoppy Trails

OK, if you really want to make this an awesome full-on gift, I recommend buying a pair of running socks like the ones I’m listing right down here and actually stuffing them with snacks!

Swiftwick Aspire Four Trail Running Socks

The only concession I’ll make to runner clothing is the Christmas cliche of socks. I’m extremely into these Swiftwick ASPIRE FOUR Trail Running compression-fit socks for winter, and my pastry chef-turned-runner sister is in love with them for dealing with foot sweat in the kitchen as well as running in the cold.

Get them here
$19/pair

Janji Sling Bag

This is the piece I didn’t know that I needed, which means it’s a great gift since most runners won’t have something like this either! We hike a fair bit, and often I start carrying a water bottle, plus my phone and snacks (see above) for me and DW. I don’t really have pockets on most of my clothing, but I don’t like wearing a full-on run pack on a hike. Enter this sling bag, which can be worn across your chest or back (with a strap to keep it in place, or just wear it loose for easier access), or as a fanny pack. Also great for random quick trips into town, since it doesn’t look like a standard outdoorsy bag, it’s a bit more stylish and simple.

Get it here

DIY a Foot Care Kit

Combine any of these items together in the big basin for foot soaking and you have the ultimate runner footcare kit of things that are all actually useful to runners, with none of the BS fancy crap that usually comes in a pre-packaged pedicure kit. I tried to find aesthetically pleasing options and cuter colors so the gift doesn’t come off totally utilitarian, but of course, adjust as needed!

Soaking basin ($9)
Epsom salts ($4)
Lacrosse balls (for massage) ($10)
Pumice stone ($9)
Toe Separators ($9)
Optional: nail polish—for runners, I like a really dark color to hide black toenails! (I always go for OPI’s black nail polish, but I love this dark purple too)

Camp Shower

For those remote runs where your runner really needs to get changed after their training, or for post race cleanups, a shower rocks. And this awesome ($10) camp shower is the absolute best! You wouldn’t think a shower like this would get super hot, but it honestly does, and it’s also great for cleaning off bikes, doing dishes, and of course, giving your dog a quick rinse before letting him jump into the car.

Best Books for Runners

A few of our favorites, many from past podcast guests!!

Travel Shoe Dryer

I’ll list this one over and over again because very few people will get it for themselves, but it’s a total trip/race saver. If you’re in a hotel frantically trying to dry shoes after pre-running a course, or back at a (electricity-having) campsite after a long day of hiking, it is SO nice to be able to ensure that your shoes are dry and ready the next day. And it can also run on your car’s cigarette lighter, WHAT!?!?! This is perfect for runners, cyclists, hikers, literally ANY outdoors type, and the travel option takes up no space.