What do you get a runner who has everything? {I know that’s what my husband is thinking}. The good news is that I don’t have “everything” but I do have a lot of favourite items I consistently use year round. You can never have too many ideas for gifts.

There’s a lot of “stuff” out there for runners from clothing to sneakers, from medal racks to yak tracks and fueling food to books. Each runner is different and each runner might not have tried it all. Having gift receipts might be handy for the person you are buying for as it gives them the option to exchange or return if necessary.

My Favourite Running Items

These are a few of my favourite things (sing it, it sounds better). Some have been gifted to me and some I may have gifted myself 😉

Compression socks. Oh my how I love compression socks during long runs, post runs and when my legs are tired. There are many brands out there: ProCompression, CEP, Tiux etc., with various colours and sizing.

Headbands. These can be great stocking stuffers and I may have bought some Frozen themed ones for my girls this year! I find headbands tricky as most slide of my head 😦 I have an awesome set of Asics headbands but they don’t stay put which is so disappointing. I’ve been using the same one from Sparkly Soul for a few years and recently bought two Badass Mother Runner {BAMR} headbands and love them! Again, different colours and styles are available.

Fuel. This can be a tricky one but I’m a big fan of GU’s for long runs – they work for me. I’ve tried other stuff but it never sits well with me. I’m also a fan of Vega products not just because my husband is a vegan. However, in the last few months,  I recently found my new favourite “fruit punch” Nuun. I’ve tried many flavours but fruit punch was the best one (to me) and I’m down to my last tablet…hint hint Saï.

Belts. I’ve had two different belts to put stuff in when I run. I don’t use the FLEXR belt anymore as it doesn’t fit much it in. A few years ago I won a Flip Belt and use it on almost every single outdoor run. I can fit a lot in it {cell phone, Gu’s} and it’s comfortable and easy to use. I also have a Nathan fuel belt that I bought for my longer runs; I can just squeeze in all my long run stuff plus water.

Seasonal gear. One of my favourite items I received last year from my husband was this amazing winter toque from the Running Room. It’s really warm and my pony tail can fit through a little hole. I also received a great pair of running gloves – crucial for winter runner in Nova Scotia!

Safety Tools. It’s so important to be visible to others when running outside, especially now while it’s darker longer than it’s light outside. YOU’VE GOT TO BE SEEN! I always run with a vest on at night and there are many different types out there. Last year I also received an awesome headlight or torch as my husband calls it. Investing in a good headlight is worth it.

This past year, I had the opportunity to review Night Runner 270 lights that go on your sneakers. These too are amazing! They are extremely easy to use and can’t even feel them on your shoes when running. They light up the street in front of you and anything reflective!

The other items I received as a gift from my husband {remember he’s a paramedic} was a Road ID. In case something happens to you, you can have critical information on this ID and contact information.

Gym Membership.  Not all runners like going to the gym to run on a treadmill…me, I love having access to a treadmill. Memberships to gyms like GoodLife Fitness can come in handy on those bad weather days in the winter or when you want a air conditioned place to run in the summer. If you are not a gym goer but want access to the occasional opportunity, day passes are great stocking stuffers.

REGISTRATION for a race! This has to be one of my favourite gifts to received and I’d be 100% happy to buy registration as a gift too. Even if you can’t register the person for the actual race, you can find out the fees and make a creative card to put the money in for their “registration”. They can either choose the race they want to go in or put it towards a race that they just couldn’t afford.

These are just a few of my favourite things {again, it’s better when you sing it like the Sound of Music}.

What’s your favourite running (or workout) gear?

Ever buy something new for a runner friend and they didn’t like it?

What do you want for Christmas {or other holiday} this year?

Note: This post is not sponsored and reflect my opinions only. I was not asked to write this post on behalf of any products lists. These are simple products that I’ve come to love and use all the time.