The Best Gifts for Runners: A Guide from REP

Sometimes the holidays sneak up on us and we're left scrambling for the perfect gifts. But, if you've got a jogger, sprinter, or racer in your life, we've got the perfect gifts for runners to help them fuel up, train, and recover this holiday season.

We've organized the following gift ideas for runners based on budget, so you can find the right gear at the right price — whether you're looking for a simple stocking stuffer or interested in the best running gifts to support your loved ones.

Running Presents for Women and Men: Under $50

Here are the best budget running gifts from REP Fitness and Purist Nutrition for birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas, Hannukah, and any other time you want to suprise the runner in your life with a little support.

Short Loop Bands

These Short Loop Bands are a runner's best friend. They're compact and easy to carry in a gym bag, purse, or stuffed into a pocket. And they can help target the glutes, hips, and hamstrings for a pre-run warm-up. 

If you're looking for stocking stuffers for runners, look no further — these mini resistance bands are your ticket to the gift of stronger legs, better mobility, and an even better run.

High Density Foam Roller

For the runner in your life — logging countless miles, pounding pavement, day after day — recovery is essential. The High Density Foam Roller is a self-myofascial release tool designed to help improve mobility, relieve sore muscles, and break up tight knots thanks to the elevated peaks. Plus, its compact size makes it easy to stow away under furniture, and pull out for a quick roll between commercial breaks.

Jump Ropes

REP offers multiple jump ropes depending on your needs, and both options can help the runner in your life improve their cardiovascular fitness, coordination, and cadence. This style of cross training can also help strengthen supporting muscles and joints — like the Achilles tendons, ankles, calves, and foot arches — which can reduce the risk of tendonitis, sprains, and other running-related boo boos.

Trading in your warm-up for a quick jump rope routine has also been shown to improve foot-arch stiffness, explosiveness, and the 3K time-trial performance for runners in this study in the Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance.

Purist® Pre-Workout

This Pre-Workout powder from Purist Nutrition provides 175mg of organic PurCaf® caffeine, clinically studied performance ingredients (and dosage), and nootropics that can help give runners a boost for their workout. It's also NSF Certified Sport, so you know exactly what you're getting in each container.

Purist® Hydration

For long runs, or efforts in the heat, our bodies lose electrolytes like sodium and potassium through sweat. Replacing these minerals with Purist® Hydration can help muscle function, nerve signaling, and fluid balance. This electrolyte supplement is sugar free, without artificial sweeteners, and features Chromax® for a healthy metabolism.

Running Gifts Under $200

A strong run takes a strong body, and these running gifts from REP Fitness and Purist Nutrition will help the runner in your life build the strength they need to support their mileage and support their body with supplements that help them get going, fuel up, work harder, and recover faster.

Kettlebells

Kettlebells are a versatile and space-saving strength tool, and they're super effective for runners since they can help to train the hamstrings, quads, glutes, hips, and core. Building strength with kettlebells can help increase running efficiency, stability over unstable terrain, and body alignment. 

Strata™ Weight Vest and Weight Vest Plates

A weight vest is often considered a must-have for walkers, joggers, and runners looking to increase the intensity of their workout. However, not all weight vests are created equal. Most importantly, you'll want to give the gift of adjustable resistance — providing a weight vest with adjustable weight plates like the Strata™ Weight Vest offers, so runners can work with progressive overload to continue building strength as their body becomes accustomed to the added resistance.

Read More: Walking with a Weighted Vest

Adjustable Dumbbells

Strength training is paramount for anyone serious about their running, increasing the tolerance of muscles, ligaments, and joints to the repetitive pounding on pavement, improving running economy, and boosting speed and power.

Kettlebells, dumbbells, and barbells are great for working a strength circuit into your weekly routine, but to continue building strength you'll need progressive overload — AKA heavier weights as you get stronger — to continue challenging your muscles. To save space and cost, adjustable dumbbells like the QuickDraw™ Adjustable Dumbbells (which comes out to about $168 per dumbbell for a 30lb pair) allow you to quickly adjust resistance from 5lb to 30lb with intuitive and secure Lock-N-Load steel switches.

Purist® Nutrition Supplement Stack

Give the gift of a complete supplement stack with Purist® Nutrition — featuring clean, transparent, and scientifically-proven performance ingredients and dosages.

Build your own Purist® stack with your choice of:

• Purist® Whey Protein with 25 grams of protein per serving. Available in chocolate or vanilla.
• Purist® Pre-Workout with 5 g citrulline malate, 3 g beta-alanine, 2.5 g betaine anhydrous, zootropics, and 175 mg PurCaf® natural caffeine.
• Purist® Creatine Plus with 5 g of Creapure® creatine monohydrate and Chromax® for metabolism support.
• Purist® Hydration with 510 mg sodium, 250 mg potassium, and Chromax®. Available in peach mango or strawberry lemonade.

Premium Gifts for Marathon Runners, Casual Joggers, and More: $200+

When the runner in your life deserves the best, we've got you covered. Here are the best gifts from REP to help your loved one start, build, or maintain a routine — whether they're looking for a way to log more miles inside or add crosstraining to their to-do list.

REP® Strive™ Curved Treadmill

It's the thought that counts when it comes to gift giving — it's not a competition. But if it were, and you're looking to WIN the holidays, it doesn't get any better than the Strive™ Curved Treadmill.

This manual treadmill is self-powered, with a curved belt deck that supports a more natural, above ground running form. However, unlike typical manual treadmills, you'll find resistance adjustments and inclince adjustments to fully customize your workout. Plus, a sled mode with ergonomic sled handles and a heads-down display, so you can add resistance training to the itinerary.

REP® Strive™ Air Bike featuring VPR™

Gym Rack

For the ultimate at-home build out, a power cage or squat rack is perfect for the runner looking to put in the effort to increase their speed, power, and stability. Choose between compact wall-mounted racks, folding options for tight spaces, and 4- or 6- post setups when space is no concern and you want the most versatility. 

Training on a rack opens the door to strength work like back squats, RDLs, chest press, split squats, and more — giving you and your loved one access to training that supports running, jogging, and sprinting. REP also has rack options with cable attachments for targeted isolation work.

Barbell

A barbell is a gift that keeps giving for the runner in your life. These versatile tools support moves like back squats, Bulgarian split squats, lunges, bent-over rows, deadlifts, chest press, and more. Just be sure to consider adding in a few weight plates and some flooring so this gift is ready to go!

Adjustable Weight Bench

You're looking for the perfect gift for the runner in your life, but it feels like they already have everything they could possibly need. Dumbbells, kettlebells, and barbells for cross-training. A power rack and cardio equipment. But what about an adjustable weight bench so they can fine-tune their training for whatever they need?

An adjustable weight bench is a great tool to changing the angle for chest and shoulder work, adding incline core work, or providing a stable solution for the dreaded Bulgarian split squat. REP offers a wide range of options, so choose the right fit for the space, budget, and needs you're looking to fill.

Takeaway

Don't let the holidays run away from you without checking a few things off your runner's wish list. The right gear can support their training, help them cross-train, and make those miles a little more enjoyable. Whether it's a new piece of cardio or strength equipment, running recovery tools, or something to complement the home gym they already have, a thoughtful upgrade can go a long way.

FAQs

What are the best gifts for men that run?

Nail down a price range then consider the needs of the runner you're looking for a gift for. Recovery tools like a foam roller, strength equipment like kettlebells or adjustable dumbbells, and cardio equipment are great gifts to help the runner in your life support their efforts.

What are some Christmas gift ideas for runners?

If you're looking to surprise a runner with a Christmas gift, consider their ability, space, and price you're willing to spend. A manual treadmill like the Strive™ Curved Treadmill supports both strength and cardio efforts thanks to its adjustable resistance, Short Loop Resistance bands are perfect as stocking stuffers, and Purist Nutrition supplements can be stacked together for a Christmas gift that won't disappoint.