Are you searching for the perfect gift for your favorite trail runner?
Trail runners thrive on the excitement of the great outdoors, embracing both the challenges and the beauty of nature. The right gear, fuel, and gadgets can significantly impact their performance and help them achieve their personal goals—whether they’re training for a big race, enjoying a leisurely run, or racing against the clock.
Every runner is unique and has specific preferences for what they take with them on the trails. Please keep that in mind while going through this list. To help you support their passion, here are some thoughtful and practical gift ideas.
Apparel Ideas for Trail Running
Socks. Socks are gold to runners. Some of my favorites are Balega Running Socks, XOSkin Toesocks, or Injinji Socks.
Hats. Hats are good no matter the season. For a lightweight brimmed hat, check out Jani’s AFO Hyperlight Cap or for keeping warm, the Thermal Merino Reversible Cuffed Beanie.
Bandanas or Buffs. Bandanas can be used in many different ways out on the trail. Buffs, Appalachian Trail buff, or Smartwool’s Thermal Merino Wool Long Neck Gaiter are great options. Also, check out Rabbit’s Ice RAD-dana. This is especially great for summer runners who want to tuck some ice cubes away to help beat the heat.
Shoes. Shoes are invaluable. If you know their favorite shoe, style, and size, you can’t go wrong with gifting a brand-new pair of their favorite shoes. If you’re not sure, a gift card to a local shoe store will do the trick.
Gloves. Fleece-lined gloves are perfect for those chilly winter runs. I love my Smartwool Merino Gloves. They keep my hands warm but not sweaty.
Leggings or shorts. These items can depend from runner to runner. Some popular brands include Janji, Patagonia, and Ultimate Direction. Some of my favorites include Constant Varied Gear and UnderArmour.
Gaiters. Gaiters such as Kahtoola INSTAgaiter Mid Gaiters (rated best overall by IRunFar.com), Altra Trail Gaiters, or Dirty Girl Gaiters
Compression Sleeves. Sleeves like these Leg Sleeves and Arm Sleeves from XOSkin (Great for recovery too).
Suntops. Designed to do what it says. Protect the wearer from the sun. Some examples include Outdoor Vital’s Altitude Sun Hoodie (Men’s & Women’s) or Janji’s Sunchaser 50 (Men’s & Women’s).
Books About Running
Two of my favorite books this year were Running with Sherman by Christoper McDougall and Choose Strong by Sally McRae.
- Running Rewired: Reinvent Your Run for Stability, Strength, and Speed by Jay Dicharry
- Built to Run by Dr. Matthew Silver
- NO ONE Gets There Alone by Dr. Rob Bell
- Ultraunning for Normal People: Life Lessons Learned On and Off the Trail by Sid Garza-Hillman
- The Big Book of Endurance Training and Racing by Philip Maffetone
- The Come Back Quotient by Matt Fitzgerald
- The Happy Runner by David Roche & Megan Roche
- Do Hard Things: Why We Get Resilience Wrong and the Surprising Science of Real Toughness by Steve Magness
- Born to Run 2 by Christopher McDougall & Eric Orton
- Running Your First Ultra by Krissy Moehl
- North by Scott Jurek
- Any of the Ultrarunning History books by Davy Crockett including Grand Canyon Rim to Rim History; Frank Hart: The First Black Ultrarunning Star; Classic Ultramarathon Beginnings: The Barkley Marathons, Comrades Marathon, London to Brighton, JFK 50, Spartathlon, and others
Trail Running Experiences
Funds for Races. For those who love racing. Entry fees, buying supplies for races, and overnight lodging can add up over time.
Adventure Racing. Michigan Adventure Racing or find a local adventure racing organization in your area.
Trail Pass. Gift a city, state, or national park pass to access their favorite trails.
Journal. A runner’s journal or log can help organize training, racing, and track progress. Not to mention share things of interest they see on their runs.
Fuel for the Trail
Calories. For the long-haul runners, a stockpile of their favorite fuel is an awesome gift idea. Some of my personal favorites are Gnarly’s Fuel 2.0, Honeystingers, Cinnamon Applesauce Pouches, Peanut Butter Filled Pretzels, Peanut Butter M&Ms, and Gold Fish Crackers. Other popular brands out there for fuel include UCANN, Skratch Labs, and Tailwind.
One that I’m excited to try this year is Trail Butter with flavors like almond butter, almond cashew butter, and my personal favorite, salted brownie peanut, these convenient packs are great for on the trail and are real food.
Electrolytes. Electrolytes are essential for long runs and hot runs. There are so many options there but here are some options Gnarly’s Hydrate, BPN Electrolytes or Dripdrop. Or if liquid electrolytes aren’t a favorite, some capsule options include Hammer Nutrition and SaltStick Fastchews.
Cookbook. A cookbook focused on fueling a busy lifestyle such as Run Fast, Eat Slow, Meals on the Run, or Racing Weight Cookbook.
Post Run Protein Bars. For runs over 90 minutes, runners need to start re-fueling immediately to start the recovery process. Protein bars such as the G2G Protien Bars (I love the almond oatmeal cookie), PROBAR, and Kind Bars for those nut lovers are good choices.
Trail Running Gear
Hydration Vest. For the longer distances, some runners prefer having a hydration vest. Some options such as Salmon Skin ADV Skin 5, Nathan Pinnacle 12 liter Hydration Vest, Ultimate Direction Vest, or Ultraspire Alpha 5.0 Race Vest. The size of the vest depends on the distance they are running and how much gear they want to carry.
Heart Rate Monitor. For a runner who is focused on heart rate zone training, an accurate heart rate monitor can make a big difference in their training. Check out the Polar H10.
Hydration Bottles or Hydration Reservoir. I love the HydraPak brand and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a hydration reservoir or soft flasks.
Sunglasses. Good sunglasses are hard to come by. Two options include GoodR Sunglasses and Tifosi.
Headlamp or Wasit Lamp. For those doing night running, I highly recommend the IKO Petzel Core headlamp. It is lightweight, comfortable, and has the option to switch out the batteries if needed. A Ultraspire Lumen 600 is a great option for a waist lamp.
Post Trail Running Recovery
Percussive Massage Gun. Excellent options include the Hyperice Hypervolt 2 Pro, Theragun Elite, or Raemao Massage Gun.
Foam Roller. Foam rollers are one of the worst and best aspects of running. Foam rolling is painful, but sometimes necessary. TriggerPoint Foam Roller is a great overall foam roller. For a deep tissue massage, the RumbleRoller, and for a soft foam roller, the Pro-Tec Athletics.
Massage Ball for the Foot. The TriggerPoint Performance Therapy Ball is my go-to for sore feet.
Epsom Salt. After long miles, there are few things better than a nice warm soak in an Epsom salt bath.
Safety/Troubleshooting While Running Trails
First Aid Kit. Running trails often means you’re on your own. Getting your runner a basic first aid kit to take care of any bumps, cuts, and stings gives them the tools to handle a lot of common issues that pop up on the trail. Mettle Running has a great DIY First Aid Kit or you can purchase a pocket one at REI.
Emergency Blanket. If the first aid kit doesn’t have an emergency blanket aka space blanket, then I recommend getting one. They are lightweight and easy to carry in pockets, vests, packs, or belts.
KT Tape. Kinesiology Tape is designed to support muscles and help with pain relief. It is a good tool to have in the kit.
Anti-Chafe. Long miles and the heat can cause some pretty serious chafing issues. A stockpile of Squirrel Nut Butter, Bodyglide, or even vaseline can help.
Sunscreen. Hours outside in the sun means sunscreen. I love Native Sunscreen. Vertra Invisible Face Stick is also a great option and convenient for re-application.
GI Upset. In my recent 100K, I learned the importance of having something to help with GI upset, even if it isn’t something you typically experience. TUMS worked amazingly for me. I’ve also used Gin Gin Chews, which also make a tasty snack on the trail.
Cross Training for Trail Runners
Weights. A diverse number of weights, whether Dumbbells or Kettlebells, can help a runner who doesn’t want to spend time in the gym, get stronger at home for the trail.
Resistant Bands. Longer resistant bands set like the Allvolces Resistant Bands are long bands, great for things like bird dogs. Therabands 12 inch bands are perfect for banded side walks, clam shells, and glute bridges. I prefer the fabric versions of the shorter bands, like these by WALITO, as I find them more durable, comfortable, and challenging.
Apps or Classes. I love Sally McRae’s Strength App because it is designed for runners and I can do it at home with minimal equipment. I use it mostly in my off-season when I increase my lifting. However, local gyms also offer plenty of opportunities for classes – whether it is lifting weights, pilates or yoga.
Gear to Support Cross Training. Every runner has a different form of cross-training. From swimming and biking to cross-country skiing and strength training. Like with running, no two runners cross-training are the same.
Other Ideas
Race Bibs and Medal Displays. If your trail runner loves to race like I do, they are going to need a place to proudly display those medals. Gone for a Run has both medal hangers, bib books, and a mix of both. Check out Etsy for custom options.
Ornaments. Getting an achievement ornament is one of my favorite things to do during the holidays. Reflecting on my accomplishments for the year and years past is a special way to end the year. In the past, I’ve gotten ornaments painted with my biggest achievement for the year.
Subscription Box. Have a new runner who is still trying to figure out what works for them? Subscription boxes are a great way to try new things. A couple of examples are FunRunBox (You can gift a box) or the RunnerBox (buy one or multiple months).