More than one in five Britons run weekly, which suggests many of us are likely to know someone – from marathon runners to parkrun enthusiasts – who may enjoy a running-related gift.
You might think that running requires only a decent pair of trainers and some all-weather kit, but the gift options are endless, for every budget. The runners we spoke with told us they were dreaming of everything from hi-tech trainers to recovery treats and nifty headphones to gait analyses. So, if you’re buying a present for a runner and feel clueless, read on.
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The best gifts for runners
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Multipurpose belt
Kiprun hydration running belt, £19.99
decathlon.co.uk
Salomon hydration belt, from £25.99
amazon.co.uk
Jo Harley, who runs the Cornish coastal path and has covered distances of 12, 22 and 32 miles in 2024, rates this running belt “for when you want your phone, keys and a small drink, but don’t want to take a hydration vest”.
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Breathable headgear
Buff five-panel Go cap, from £24.95
buff.com
From £19.56
amazon.co.uk
Jo also loves Buff’s breathable running cap because “it’s the only hat that doesn’t leave an imprint on my forehead for hours!”
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Supportive underwear
M&S ultimate support sports bra, £28
marksandspencer.com
Shock Absorber ultimate run bra, £52
shockabsorber.co.uk
Vicky Camy has been running for 15 years, completing nine half marathons and one full marathon, and is a member of social running group Run 2 Drink. She rates the M&S running bra.
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Sweat-wicking T-shirt
Under Armour women’s short sleeve top, £32
underarmour.co.uk
From £15.75
amazon.co.uk
Camy has plenty of free T-shirts from events but if she’s buying, she chooses this Under Armour option because it’s “sweat-wicking and I never have any problems with seam rubbing”.
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Reflective clothing
M&S high-waisted reflective gym leggings, £29.50
marksandspencer.com
“These M&S leggings are a bargain, and I cannot recommend them enough,” says Camy. “They’re high-waisted and feel secure with no rubbing. There’s a zip pocket, plus a deep pocket on the leg that will hold a phone, a gel or both.”
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Lights for dark runs
Ronhill recharge magnet light, £17
cotswoldoutdoor.com
£17.99
amazon.co.uk
Safety first. “These magnetic lights clip to your clothing so that you can be seen on night runs in the winter months,” says Camy.
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Hydration options
Osprey Dyna LT women’s hydration vest, £65
osprey.com
From £60.99
amazon.co.uk
Osprey Duro LT men’s hydration vest, £65
osprey.com
From £59.99
amazon.co.uk
Ultimate Performance runner’s bottle, £5
1000mile.co.uk
amazon.co.uk
“For longer distances, I treated myself to a running pack, which holds water at the front and back. The slightly cheaper options only hold water on the chest,” says Camy. For shorter runs, she likes “a bottle with a hand-grip shape”.
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Subscription for explorers
Ordnance Survey app subscription, £34.99 a year
ordnancesurvey.co.uk
Ultrarunner Sophie Power’s top pick for Christmas is an Ordnance Survey app subscription, as “it helps you find trails and paths wherever you are”.
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Shoe savers
Trainer Armour big toe hole preventer, £7.50
trainerarmour.com
amazon.co.uk
Power would love to find these self-adhesive patches, which prevent or repair holes in your running shoes, in her stocking.
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Wearable ID
Parkrun wristband, £14
parkrun.com
For families, Power rates parkrun ID wristbands, saying, “They’re amazing for kids as you put your phone number on them – we use them out and about all the time.”
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Super-comfy shoes
Altra Experience Wild running shoes, £130
runandbecome.com
altrarunning.eu/uk
Tasha Thompson of Black Girls Do Run UK is training for her first 100k ultra, so dreams of a pair of Altra Experience Wild shoes. “I love the wide toe box, which gives more space for toes to spread, making them super comfy and supportive,” she says.
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Skin-saving socks
Injinji trail socks, from £17.95
ultramarathonrunningstore.com
From £16.99
amazon.co.uk
Socks are a classic Christmas gift. Thompson says: “I ran my first 50km ultra wearing these, and my feet were fine – no blisters or lost toenails – so I want to add more to my collection.”
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Regular inspiration
Women’s Running magazine, £49.99 a year’s subscription
shop.womensrunning.co.uk
Inspiration is key to keeping up the training habit, so Thompson also wants a subscription to Women’s Running, which describes itself as “your friendly running coach, whether you’re embarking on your latest ultra or considering your very first Couch to 5K”.
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For hitting the trails
Merrell women’s Agility Peak 5 Gore-Tex, £170
merrell.com
£129.95
amazon.co.uk
Men’s, £170
merrell.com
From £192.60
amazon.co.uk
Unwrapping these would “put the biggest smile” on Thompson’s teammate Linda Agyemang’s face as they’re “the perfect trail shoe for any condition”.
At-home massage tech
Therabody Theragun Relief, £99
argos.co.uk
Boots deep tissue Percussive massage gun, £39.99
boots.com
Agyemang is running a 100k race in 2025, so she wants this massage gun to aid her recovery. A more affordable alternative would be the deep tissue Percussive massage gun from Boots.
For more gift suggestions for fitness fans, please see our guide.
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Off-road footwear
Inov8 MudTalon Speed women’s, £130
inov8.com
£114.95
amazon.co.uk
Matt Whiting has his finger firmly on the pulse. He’s director of the Runners’ Retreat running shop and has coached runners from club to international level. He says these shoes are “perfect if you’re running off-road in the winter, giving great traction while keeping your feet dry”.
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Shoes for super-committed runners
Hoka Cielo X1, £250
hoka.com/en/gb
sportsshoes.com
For your serious, PB-obsessed runner, Whiting recommends the new breed of carbon-plated racing shoe. “In the past, quicker runners would wear a lighter, more responsive shoe, but they weren’t that cushioned. Now there are these well-cushioned shoes with a carbon plate in.” Hoka is the brand of the moment, he says.
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Multifunction timepiece
Coros Pace 3 GPS sport watch, £219
uk.coros.com
amazon.co.uk
For Whiting, this is “the best GPS running watch; packed with different features to track and analyse your runs”.
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Safer sounds
Shokz OpenRun, £129.95
uk.shokz.com
amazon.co.uk
Need a bit of entertainment as you run? Whiting says these “are one of the few headphones approved by England Athletics to race in [on roads]. They sit on the jaw bone and mean you can hear outside noise while listening to your music or a podcast.”
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Better visibility
Ledlenser Neo5R head torch, £54.95
ledlenser.co.uk
£46.90
amazon.co.uk
Training for an event that means running year-round, including on dark evenings? Whiting describes this head torch as “an essential if you have to negotiate unlit roads or country paths”.
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Waterproofs
Janji women’s Zephyrunner wind shell, from £79.95
uk.janji.com
Sundried Grande Casse V3 women’s waterproof jacket, £44
sundried.com
Nandanti Martaskova, who works at independent running shop Run and Become in London, would like to find this Janji jacket under the tree this year. “The Boston-based brand makes sustainable, high-performance gear,” she says. “Each season is inspired by a location somewhere in the world, where they partner with and donate 2% of every sale to local clean water projects.”
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Balance support
Catbells aluminium Z-poles, £49.99
harrierrunfree.co.uk
TheFitLife trekking poles, £21.24
amazon.co.uk
BBC newsreader Sophie Raworth has completed 20 marathons and taken part in more than 200 parkruns. Now she’s “doing more and more trail running, and hoping to head to the Alps next summer, so I’m keen for trekking poles to get me up the steep climbs”.
Running-style assessment
Gait analysis, £15 or free within 30 days of buying running footwear
runnersneed.com
Debbie Parker, a disability sports coach in London, recommends a gift voucher for a gait analysis. “As a coach working with disabled people, I see lots of problems with hypermobility and low muscle tone. A well-fitted, supportive trainer is key to a stable footing and race comfort.” She loves Up and Running in East Sheen, London.
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Protective holdall
Finisterre Drift 30L waterproof backpack, £185
finisterre.com
M&S Stormwear Plus waterproof backpack, £50
marksandspencer.com
Luke Douglas-Home, AKA The Coastline Runner, is running the English coast, collecting as much plastic as he can along the way. He says Finisterre waterproof bags top the list, “so I have dry clothes and a computer to work on”. M&S do something similar for £50.
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Soothe and relax
Bath bomb by Lush, from £3
lush.com
As a thoughtful stocking filler, he also suggests a Lush Bath Bomb to soothe tired muscles, as “Lush is doing more than many about removing unnecessary plastic from our economy and consumer lifestyles”.
