It is already that time of year again. Thanksgiving comes at the same time every year, but it somehow still finds a way to catch me off-guard. Mainly because I start hearing fun facts like, “Only 6 more Mondays until Christmas!”, which makes it seem equally far away and like it is coming tomorrow. Then, before I know it, it is actually coming tomorrow!
According to Google Trends data (because I’m a nerd like that), December 7th is the day you are all searching “gifts for runners” every year, so let me help you out so you can take advantage of Cyber Monday and not have to scramble for last-minute gifts for the runner in your life. Or for yourself, I totally support you buying gifts for yourself!
I pulled together some ideas at various price points, all of which are items I use on the regular. These are my tried-and-true, favorite running gadgets, accessories, and essentials.
FlipBelt – $29
Before I started religiously running in my Toolbelt Roga shorts from Oiselle, which have pockets upon pockets upon pockets built-in, I found myself holding my phone and my gels in my hands on every run, with my car key tied into my shoe laces. At first I accepted this as a not ideal, but doable solution even though it did get really annoying on my long runs where I’d be carrying multiple gels. I really don’t like things around my waist while I’m running, as they inevitably bounce or ride up, which is why I never wore fuel belts. However, after multiple rave reviews from fellow Oiselle Teammates, I bit the bullet and bought one on Amazon Prime Now so that I could test it out the next morning on my last long run before the New York Marathon in 2015. It quickly became a staple part of my running gear, almost like my GPS watch. I wouldn’t run without it. I have successfully put 5 gels, an iPhone, car keys, my ID, a credit card, and a water bottle in my FlipBelt and I didn’t feel weighed down, nor did it bounce or ride up. In fact, you really do forget you are even wearing it. They sell a version with zippers, which is a good feature to have when you’re carrying your ID, credit card, or money, but to be honest, I haven’t ever had a problem with those items coming loose. But, it could still be nice to have!
Quill Vest – $158
If you know me, you know that I run with the Oiselle Team, and 99% of the running clothes I own are from Oiselle. I love the brand, what they stand for, and most importantly, I love the style and quality of the clothes. I live in Minnesota, so winter running is cold. I mean COLD. My rule of thumb (and I’m a baby compared to many of my running friends) is that I’ll run outside if the temps are above zero. You’ll find me on the treadmill if the temps are below zero or after a giant snowstorm, but otherwise I try to tough it out as much as possible outside. With that said, the Quill Vest has been my go-to outer layer this fall as temperatures are starting to fall below freezing. My coldest morning run so far this fall was 19 degrees, and I felt like I was dressed perfectly with Spandos, a Flyte Long Sleeve, a Flyte Zip Up, my Quill Vest, an earband and the Power Stretch mittens. This vest is light, soft, warm, and stylish to the point where I also wear it with jeans as part of my everyday wardrobe. It is on the higher end of what I’d typically pay for a vest, especially one that I will sweat in, but it is totally worth the investment. I actually just bought a second one earlier this week!
Garmin Forerunner 235 – $299
The first thing I say to people when they ask me what kind of GPS watch I have is, “It is a Forerunner 235, and I would marry it if I could.” I wear this watch as an everyday watch, regardless of whether or not it matches my wardrobe. In fact, I’ve worn it so much that I now have a ridiculous tan line to the point that I can’t take it off if I wanted to.
I previously had the Forerunner 310XT, which is a cross training watch that is so big that it felt like I was wearing a computer on my wrist (I basically was). What I loved about it though is that I could see four fields on the face at a time. Especially for a marathon, I want to see total distance, current pace, average pace, and time elapsed. The Forerunner 235 also has a large face, but it is light and much more fashionable than my previous option. It isn’t a cross training watch, rather it only tracks running activity, but for my needs that is ok. This watch has a built-in heart rate monitor, tracks your sleep, steps, VO2 max, run cadence, and connects via Bluetooth to your mobile device for automatic updates. It also has a “Run Indoor” feature that in my experience is more accurate than other options I’ve tested out, or other options friends have experienced. There are many great watches on the market, but if you are looking for a solid, middle-of-the-road price point GPS watch that someone could love so much they’d want to marry, this is it!
Orange Mud Hydration Pack – $85 – $135 (depending on bladder size, accessories, etc.)
As I mentioned before, I really dislike fuel belts. However, having the option to carry fuel with you on a long training run in the middle of the summer is basically a necessity. The things I love about this hydration pack from Orange Mud are that you can carry two water bottles, there is storage in the front pouches for gels and a phone, and it straps on snug enough where it doesn’t bounce or shift at all. I was skeptical, but this definitely checks the box for all of my needs. This would also be great for general hiking, or outings with kids where you want the option to have water with you and still have both hands free.
Moroccanoil Dry Shampoo – $26
This one is mainly for the ladies, and is less of a gadget or accessory, rather it is a necessity. I am someone who runs 5-6 days a week, and am usually squeezing my runs in before work. I don’t wash my hair every day, even when I run, because not only do I not have time for that, but it is also not good for your hair. So, I went on a mission to find the best dry shampoo so that I can go to work looking like an acceptable human on the days that I don’t wash my hair. What I love about this dry shampoo (besides the smell) is that it is made to blend in with dark hair. Often dry shampoos leave dark hair looking silver or white, but this has a tint to it so it doesn’t leave your hair looking dull. It shows up clear on clothes, so you don’t have to worry about it leaving a residue on your clothing. They also make a light tones option for those with light hair. This dry shampoo is a bit more expensive than other options, but in my opinion totally worth it. If you haven’t tried dry shampoo as an alternative to washing your hair every day, now is the time! I blow-dry sweat out of my hair on the regular without anyone noticing thanks to this dry shampoo!
Roll Recovery R8 – $119
When I first heard about the R8, I thought anyone who was considering spending over $100 for what is essentially Rollerblade wheels on a hunk of plastic was straight up crazy. Then I tried it, and now I am one of the crazy ones! If you or your friends foam roll, this product would be a great gift in the sense that this does everything a foam roller can do, plus more. The size and shape of the R8 allows you to really target specific muscle groups a foam roller is hard to get to, and the flexibility of the device allows you to adjust the pressure in which you dig into areas with knots. I haven’t found a better way to loosen up tight IT bands or hip adductors than the R8. Lastly, given that this is a smaller option than a foam roller, it is easy to pack in a suitcase if you are going out-of-town for a weekend or traveling to a destination race.
Aftershockz Trekz Titanium Bluetooth Headphones – $130
I rarely run without music. Knowing all the safety warnings of running with ear buds in, I sometimes run with music playing out loud from my phone in my pocket. I know not everyone that I pass on the trails wants to listen to my music, but it seems to be a safer alternative to ear buds because I can hear my surroundings, and I look like less of a target without visible ear buds hanging from my ears. These bluetooth headphones sit on the outside of your ear and uses bone conduction to play sound to the user, so you can still hear your surroundings when you’re wearing them. They are arguably one of the safest alternative to just not wearing ear buds or headphones at all. They are also waterproof and sweatproof, so they can withstand any weather (rain, heat, etc) you find yourself running through. These are a more expensive option, but as the case with some of my other recommendations, they are worth the cost!
goodr Running Sunglasses – $25
Finding the perfect pair of running sunglasses is not only difficult, but it is also usually an expensive endeavor. If you are a Kara Goucher fan like me, you might have seen photos of her wearing super cute and colorful sunglasses, then immediately turned to Google to figure out what brand they were. When I learned that they were goodr, I expected them to be out of my price range, but was excited to learn that they are only $25! Twenty five dollars! They have a variety of color options to fit any personality, and I suspect that you’ll have a hard time just choosing one pair. I purchased two pairs right out of the gate, without ever trying on a pair or taking them for a test run. I figured that if they are good enough for a totally badass, elite runner like Kara, they will certainly be good enough for me. I must say that these are not your top-of-the-line sunglasses, but they are polarized, don’t bounce on your face, and are light enough where you really do forget you’re wearing them. Totally worth your $25 (or $50 if you end up buying two pairs like I did!).
What are some of your favorite gadgets or running essentials? I’m a sucker for new swag, as I really think there are few things more motivating than new shoes, socks, running clothes, or gadgets to use on your next run. I’d love to hear your recommendations!
Happy gifting!