Holiday Gift List for Runners

The holidays are fast approaching, and you may be wondering what to get the favorite runner(s) in your life (or a little splurge on yourself!)  Read on for some great gift ideas for a range of budgets! 

Winter Running

Most Minnesota runners have a story (or several!) of a scary fall on snow or ice.  Secure footing is a must to prevent injury, but that doesn’t mean the treadmill is the only option.  

• Steal: Yaktrax. These web-like traction devices for winter walking and running cost $25-60 and strap onto any running shoe or boot to provide more secure footing on ice and snow. The basic model has stainless steel coils wrapped around a rubber base. The running models also have spikes.  The outer band is elastic and slips over your shoes.   

• Splurge: Ice Bugs Running Shoes. Starting at $150, these are studded running shoes designed for comfortable and safe running on winter roads and snow. The company is also committed to sustainability and uses recycled materials in all their shoes.  Despite the steel tips embedded in the soles, these shoes are still light, fully cushioned and are more comfortable on asphalt than Yaktrax if you are running on a mix of surfaces. 

Home Gym

The busy holiday season often means trips to the gym become less frequent or poor weather means you need to workout at home.  Here are a few options to keep in your home gym so you never need to miss a strength training session. 

• Steal: Resistance Bands.  Amazon sells a 5-pack of short latex resistance bands for $10, a 5 pack of long latex resistance bands for $30 and a 3 pack of heavy fabric resistance bands for $20. You can find a plethora of lower body, upper body and core exercises on YouTube using the bands.    

• Splurge: Trap Bar. This is one of the most versatile pieces of strength training equipment. A trap bar will set you back about $80 – 120 plus another $50 for a set of 25 lb plates or $200 for a complete set of plates (but these can always be purchased later as you get stronger). Trap bar deadlifts are a great exercise for runners as they work the glutes, quads, hamstrings and core simultaneously.  The trap bar deadlift is a little more “squatty” than other deadlifts and thus, safer and easier to learn. The trap bar is also a great tool for weighted carries.    

Sleep

Numerous research studies have found that quality sleep is the number one best recovery tool for athletes.  Quality sleep also improves athletic performance by increasing endurance, speed and reaction time, and decreasing perceived exertion.  

• Steal: Silk Pillowcase. Prices start at around $50 for these pillowcases made of 100% pure mulberry silk. Silk creates less friction between the pillow and your hair and skin which leads to less frizziness of your hair and fewer creases (& maybe fewer wrinkles over time) on your skin.  Plus, the silk feels cool against your skin, which helps promote sleep. 

• Splurge: Lagoon Performance Pillow. These pillows were designed to improve the quality of your sleep by matching the pillow to your sleep preferences and positions. A short quiz on the company website will tell you which pillow to buy. These pillows are endorsed by elite athletes across multiple sports and start at $140, but promotions bring it down to $115. The company also sells travel pillows for under $100. 

Soft Tissue Care

Runners occasionally end up with tight or sore muscles, especially if they are running faster or longer in preparation for a race. There are some great “treat at home” options to help loosen things up.  

• Steal: Foam Roller, Muscle Stick or Lacrosse Ball. You can find these at Target, Walmart, Amazon and elsewhere with basic versions priced between $10 and $30. 

• Splurge: Theragun and Hypervolt are two types of popular motorized massage guns that typically cost between $140-$300 but often go on sale around the holidays.  It’s hard to beat a good old-fashioned professional massage which costs about the same, so a gift card for one is also a nice treat! For the ultimate splurge, Therabody or Normatec recovery boots include compression, massage and infrared light therapy starting around $1000. 

Injury Prevention & Performance

Strength of the foot and ankle is an underrated component of healthy running and performance.  

• Steal: Gait Happens Toe Strengtheners. Developed by a chiropractor, these mini-bands fit over your toes and work to strengthen the four layers of muscles in your feet. For $35 you get three strengtheners (easy, medium, difficult), and instructional videos to get started. 

• Splurge: Mobo Board. As a physical therapist, the Mobo Board was an absolute game changer in how I treat and prevent foot and lower leg injuries. It also is an invaluable tool at integrating foot function with that of the knee, hip and pelvis.  Developed by a physical therapist and used by Olympic athletes, $90 gets the board, a band, and a wedge.  The website has over 35 exercises to get you started.  

Wishing you joyful running this holiday season and all the best in 2026! 

I am not affiliated with any of the above products and receive no commission from promoting them. All opinions are my own. The information provided in this article is intended for general education and demonstration purposes only. It does not substitute for professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if you seek medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment specific to your individual situation. 

Kristen Gerlach, PT, PhD, is a physical therapist who specializes in working with runners. She is one of the team of Motion Experts TCM has gathered to help its subscribers and participants get the most out of their running. Have a question for Kristen: [email protected] or website: instridemnpt.com.