11 Savvy Gifts for the Runner in Your Life

Sneakers and a willingness to sweat are the basics of what a runner needs to get going, but these gifts go the extra mile, helping your favorite 10K devotée or aspiring marathoner stay moving whatever the distance, weather, or terrain.

Mental Floss has affiliate relationships with certain retailers and may receive a small percentage of any sale. But we only get commission on items you buy and don’t return, so we’re only happy if you’re happy. Thanks for helping us pay the bills!

1. YAKTRAX RUN TRACTION CLEATS FOR RUNNING ON SNOW AND ICE; $32

Snow and ice won't slow down runners when they wear Yaktrax cleats, which can be secured to running shoes to prevent slippage. Replaceable carbide-steel spikes and stainless-steel coils provide great traction, while reflective stripes on the sides and heels make night runs safer.

Find It: Amazon

2. GARMIN RUNNING DYNAMICS POD TRACKER; $69

Way beyond a basic pedometer, this tracker pod links to a compatible watch and sends real-time information about six running metrics: cadence, stride length, ground contact time and balance, vertical oscillation, and vertical ratio. It clips onto a watch wristband and weighs less than 5 ounces, so your giftee will barely notice it's there.

Find It: Amazon

3. RUNTASTY HYDRATION BELT; $30

This hydration belt holds two BPA-free water bottles (17 ounces total) to keep a runner going through a longer distance. Slip your phone into one large pocket with a touchscreen for easy control. Keys, cards, and everything else fit in the roomy other pocket. They're both sweatproof to keep your electronics safe. Anti-slip texturing keeps it from sliding around, and it's adjustable to fit a wide variety of bodies.

Find It: Amazon

4. JULBO AEROLITE SUNGLASSES; $143

Ultrarunners and mountain bikers helped design these high-tech polycarbonate sunglasses. They're super lightweight, rimless, and provide 100 percent protection against UV A, B, and C rays. Air circulates easily through them, so they won't fog up.

Find It: Amazon

5. RUN INK MARATHONER MAPS; $13 AND UP

These personalized printed maps are perfect for marathoners who have all the gear they need, but could use a well-designed memento of their endurance, tenacity, and spirit. Each colorful map shows the location, course, date, and name of a specific race, along with the runner's name, time, and bib number. Not a marathoner? Run Ink customizes maps for any race. They'll frame it too.

Find It: Run Ink

6. GRAND TRAIL: A MAGNIFICENT JOURNEY TO THE HEART OF ULTRARUNNING AND RACING; $31

Set that New Year's resolution high. Really high. Inspiring and beautiful, this coffee-table book visits 13 iconic ultrarunning locations across the world in stunning color and black-and-white photography, and profiles 16 astonishing champions who've mastered these breathtaking, supremely challenging courses.

Find It: Amazon

7. GRAZE SNACK SUBSCRIPTIONS; $42 FOR THREE BOXES

The right kind of fuel is essential to running, especially during long distances. Gift your favorite runner with Graze snack boxes; each box has eight energy-packed snacks that easily travel. Snacks are each perfectly portioned into six servings. And with more than 100 options, there's a lot to choose from. Three categories a runner is likely to try: nuts and seeds, superfoods, and protein bars, bites, and toppers.

Find It: Graze

8. BABY TREND EXPEDITION JOGGER STROLLER; $103

New parents are often eager to get moving after a baby is born. They can start running again—and give a kid a fun ride—using this jogger stroller. It has a trio of large bicycle tires to smoothly roll over all surfaces, four cup holders (two for an adult, two for a child), a storage compartment, and a five-point harness to keep baby secure. It easily folds into a compact unit for stashing in the car.

Find It: Amazon

9. T-SHIRT QUILT; $75 AND UP

Wrapping a runner in a blanket just after they cross the finish line is a long-standing tradition—and a necessity in cold-weather races. Give the practice a unique spin with this customized T-shirt quilt. Crowdsource some favorite or meaningful T-shirts from the runner's friends, and ask for tees from the runner too (but keep the end product a secret!). Ship them to Project Repat, choose a color for the fleece backing, and within weeks your runner will have a personalized quilt to warm up with—and keep forever. And don't worry about a little post-race sweat—the quilt is machine washable.

Find It: Project Repat

10. FITBIT ALTA FITNESS TRACKER; $124

Data-obsessed runners are all about the metrics while running. The Alta Fitbit can illuminate their activities during the rest of the day (and night) as well. It uses an array of sensors to track activity levels, sleep patterns, steps taken, floors climbed, calories burned, and more. Using Bluetooth, it automatically, wirelessly connects and syncs with more than 200 leading iOS, Android, and Windows devices. It's also sweat, rain, and splash proof, so it doesn't need to come off in the shower.

Find It: Amazon

11. SPOTIFY GIFT CARD; $30

A runner's soundtrack is important—and often carefully chosen. With this gift card, runners who are Spotify subscribers can choose from millions of tracks to keep them going through three months of runs.

Find It: Amazon