Gifts for Runners and Walkers – Apparel & Gear

Ideas for Running and Walking Clothing, Equipment, and Custom Items

Nov 5, 2009 Debra Peterson

Apparel and gear for runners and walkers are useful presents that acknowledge their fitness interests. Custom gifts are personalized touches that preserve memories.

There are many thoughtful gift ideas for those who run and walk for recreation and fitness or who train for races. Runners and walkers appreciate apparel, both for workouts and for casual wear, designed for and reflecting their respective sports. Also appreciated is gear for training in special conditions or equipment that can assist in post-workout recovery. The following gifts are appropriate for a variety of runners and walkers, from beginners working on overall health to seasoned marathoners.

LiveStrong Clothing, Breast Cancer T-Shirts, and Lifestyle Running and Walking Shirts

For runners and walkers, workout apparel should be made of a performance or wicking material, while post-workout clothing may be made of other comfortable material. Numerous companies make technical running shirts, from the familiar sports brands of Adidas and Nike to the more specialized Brooks and Pearl Izumi.

One suggestion for clothing gifts is to choose shirts that reveal the athlete’s interests. Some companies sell shirts supporting a cause, such as breast cancer t-shirts. Others offer healthy lifestyle t-shirts with quirky statements.

Recommendations for Shirts with a Message:

Lance Armstrong’s LiveStrong
New Balance’s Breast Cancer Apparel
Life Is Good
One More Mile Running
See Jane Run

Gifts of Sports Bags for Runners and Walkers

Runners and walkers need sports bags to transport their apparel and gear to the gym or to a race event. An all-purpose sports bag should have separate compartments for sweaty shoes; smaller pockets for storing store recovery food, wallets, and keys; and a designated water-bottle holder. Race-day bags need to be smaller. Gym sacks – lightweight, portable bags with drawstrings – are generally the right size for races. A variety of sports bags are available at specialty running stores, like a local Fleet Feet or the online RoadRunnerSports as well as being found at general sports chains.

Fueling and Hydration Belts

Athletes often use additional gear to train in special conditions. Athletes undertaking mid- or long- distance training need to carry water or sports drinks with them in order to stay hydrated. The size of the hydration container varies from a backpack style to a belt to a handheld bottle, with or without a removable carrier or pouch. Backbpacks and hydration belt generally have small pockets for keys, an ID, and small amounts as fueling food, as do water bottle carriers.

Recommendations for a Hydration Belt:

Backpacks: Camelbak
Belts: Amphipod, FuelBelt, and SpiBelt
Hand Bottles: Amphipod, Nike, and Ultimate Direction

Gifts for Running and Walking in Cold-Weather or Night Training Conditions

Nighttime training can raise safety issues. Reflective apparel, such as belts and vests, and portable lights both help runners and walkers see and be seen.

Recommendations for Nighttime Training:

Brooks Nightlife apparel or L.E.D. light
Nathan reflective vest
Firefly Belts, lights and other accessories

Cold weather training requires not only additional clothing layers and protection of the body’s extremities: thermal wear, tights, wool socks, and extra hats, gloves, and headbands are important components to a cold-weather wardrobe.

Recommendations for Cold-Weather Training:

Asics reflective thermal, hats, and gloves
Brooks thermal vest
SmartWool, Thorlo, or Wright socks

Gifts of Recovery Aids and Gear for Runners and Walkers

Runners and walkers benefit from gear that relieves fatigued or sore muscle fatigue and eliminates tension. Foam rollers, massage balls, and The Stick are used on leg and other muscles are useful for recovering from mild aches.

Recommendations for Recovery Aids:

Foam Roller
The Stick

Custom Running Shirts, Quilts, Medal Display Cases, and Road ID

Most custom gifts can be handmade by the giver or ordered from companies that market their products specifically to athletes.

Several companies will make custom t-shirts for training and races. Gift-givers can customize the shirt by providing their own designs as well as specifying the text, use graphics and ideas provided by the company, or a combination of the two.

Recommendations for Custom Shirts:

Single Orders: Running Banana and Custom Ink
Multiple Shirts: RaceReady and Custom Ink

Worn-out race shirts can be made into a custom quilt and used for recovery naps or proudly displayed. Race medals and mementos that commemorate an athlete's milestone race or that record the completion of several events may be displayed in custom shadowboxes or other display cases.

Recommendations for Memorabilia and Mementos:

Custom Running Quilt: Campus Quilt Co.
Race-Medal Display: Fond Memory Graphics

A special custom gift that every road athlete should have – runners, walkers, cyclists – is an up-to-date road identification that provides personal, emergency contact, and medical information. Identification can be produced in variety of easily accessible and wearable formats, including necklaces, bracelets, and shoe tags. Every athlete should carry one, homemade or otherwise, in case of an emergency.

Recommendations for Custom ID tags:

Road ID
Running ID

Gifts that speak to runners’ and walkers’ love of their respective sports are always appreciated, whether the gift is practical like apparel and water bottles or a special custom quilt. These gifts all let the runner or walker know the gift-giver appreciates the place of the sport in the recipient’s life.

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The copyright of the article Gifts for Runners and Walkers – Apparel & Gear in Running & Marathons is owned by Debra Peterson. Permission to republish Gifts for Runners and Walkers – Apparel & Gear in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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Custom Running Shirts Make a Unique Gift