The 40 Best Fitness Gifts for Your Fittest Friends

Whereas socks might get you an “Oh... thanks,” from many people, they’re always great gifts for runners. These Balegas, specifically, wick moisture well thanks to the mohair wool and Drynamix in their fabric. This means there’s less chance for uncomfortable chafing and blisters. That wool also retains warmth, though—good as we enter the colder months—without too much heat buildup.

There are a few essentials everyone needs to have with them on a run—phone, wallet, keys. This belt accommodates them and stays in place without jostling or bouncing. Bonus: the comfortable, low-profile buckle.

Health & Injuries vest. Stuffed with warm down, it provides optimal warmth and protection from the wind while remaining lightweight enough to not impact speed and time. It’s available in five colors (sonic pink, cassis, pipe dream blue, raceway green, and black) and in sizes 0 to 18.

Great for triathletes, kids, or people who hate tying their shoes, these Lock Laces allow them to slip on their running shoes and still have them stay secure and supportive on your feet. They also come in 13 different colors, which gives you a bunch of options if you’re trying to match a particular pair of shoes.

If your giftee enjoys early morning or late night runs, this headlamp is the ideal option to make sure they’re seen by vehicles and pedestrians. There are spot, wide, and red-light modes and a translucent silicone strap for comfort. When it runs out of battery, it’s USB rechargeable.

Few things are unpleasant in the way a shrieking alarm early in the morning is. This phone holders can be bulky and annoying, but this design by Sprigs feels like a second skin. Rubber nubs on the inside of the sleeve ensure that it doesn’t slip. And since it’s made from stretchy fabric, it can fit almost any size phone.

This cookbook, designed by pro runner Shalane Flanagan, focuses on the best foods to fuel your performance. With recipes ranging from smoothies to sandwiches to pasta to cookies, it has everything you need to nourish a hard-working body. Plus, the dishes are delicious and will leave even your non-runner friends coming back for seconds.

This essential tool might just give them the most affordable massage they’ll ever get. The foam roller We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.

Eye protection is crucial. These best-selling sports sunglasses feature a polarized gray-based and blue mirror-coated lens to protect eyes from the sun’s rays. The best part? It doesn’t affect the view — runners can still take in the road, trail, or nature around them without manipulated colors and hues.

It’s not always easy to find running hats that are comfortable and will actually stay in place while a runner is moving, but this one is a great option. It’s lightweight and breathable via the mesh-like fabric.

On longer runs, especially in the heat, friction between your legs can lead to chafing. This stick from Gold Bond is specifically designed to reduce irritation while soothing any chafed skin. Simply slide it on like a stick of deodorant and run free even on a hot, sticky day.

For anyone who runs along busy roads or crowded paths, noise-canceling earbuds can end up hindering awareness. These open-ear, bone-conduction headphones mean that they can have their music and keep tabs on what’s going on around them too, since these don’t block their ears. We found that, while the sound quality isn’t as good as with typical headphones, it’s worth the tradeoff for the safety. Plus, the band lends a secure fit and we didn’t experience any undue friction from the cheekbone pads.

This muscle roller from Tiger Tail has two handles bookending a firm roller. This lets you lay into the handles and run the roller over sore, stiff muscles or nagging knots. While it may work best for legs, it does fine on arms and feet, too.

If your runner has banged up joints or needs a bit of help with a lingering injury, KT tape might be the added support they need for their joints, tendons, or muscles. It works by slightly lifting up the skin to increase blood flow, which can reduce soreness and pain over time.

Few things are unpleasant in the way a shrieking alarm early in the morning is. This alarm clock provides a gentler wakeup with soothing sounds and energizing melodies that’ll break the sleep cycle. There’s even an adjustable nightlight to prevent unwanted falls during the night.

If you don’t know what to get the runner in your life, this Runner Box from Fuel Goods covers a lot of bases. The box comes with snacks, gel chews, electrolyte powders, sunscreen, and even a shaker bottle. Because each box is mostly one-off products, you can also get this for your running friend over and over again.

Just because they don’t have a bathtub doesn’t mean that washing up after a run can’t be therapeutic. These shower steamers are filled with dried plants and essential oils, which can give washing up a relaxing aromatherapy vibe.

Writing down your training can be both therapeutic and can help you keep better track of your progress. This journal, designed by pro Lauren Fleshman, helps keep track of weekly training, gives tips on how to improve, and even has exercises to help you assess where you are in terms of your overall fitness progress.

This inflatable hot tub makes winter training recovery less frightful and more delightful. It can fit up to four people and works both indoors and out—though it does need to be 39 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer outside.

Know an endurance athlete? There’s a good chance that they already use Gu to help them get through their toughest workouts and longest races—and that makes it a great stocking stuffer, since you know it won’t go to waste.