It’s definitely better to be a cyclist than a runner at Christmas…so many more goodies to be bought.
But for those of you who are runners (or runners’ partners) then here are some new and some more unusual presents you can buy to meet those running needs this Christmas.
[I’ll update this over the next few weeks]
Just to be clear…I get no free samples on these products no discounts and no revenue for these links. Just saying…
Let’s take the socks. They are from 1000-Mile. They are good quality running socks (cross-sport in fact). I do have a similar pair from the same manufacturer from last year and, whilst it may not have done 100 miles on my feet it has done hundreds, and it/they are still going strong. Socks are normally able to fit more than one size of foot and so an easier purchase than a pair of running shoes – very personal choice.
Then we come to the Salomon water bottles. If you or your loved one runs for up to 60 minutes then you don’t need any additional hydration – especially in winter! Over that, eg training for a marathon, then you probably will at some point. Or you may just like practicing taking water regularly on shorter runs. The 45 degree water holder is quite neat if you think about it. If someone needs to drink you can’t go much wrong here.
The Suunto Ambit3 watches are neat and as good for triathlon as they are for running. They are new to 2014 and I have reviewed them a little on this site. If your loved one currently uses Polar watches then you might be risking it by buying them a Suunto. If, however, they use the Ambit2 then the upgrade to the Ambit3 can be done in secret and they will be pleasantly surprised on Xmas day. The new version no longer supports ANT+ BTW.
Salomon shirts. I tend to use their gear in the summer. A bit different to the Nike-standard wear, a bit cheaper and often better at the same price point. I would regard them as performance apparel. It’s not that hard to find your loved ones shirt size and buy one as a nice Christmas day surprise.
Then finally to the Ultimate Performance clip thingy. At first glance I thought these were headphones. Nope. They are lights that clip to the rear of your shoes. Have a look at their site. They have a few other unusual things on there as well.
Running School: Full Biomechanical Analysis   £89 (Regularly £125). Video analysis of running technique + Functional Movement Analysis to identify weaknesses & imbalances Buy Now . I can’t endorse the Running School either way – but I can endorse that getting your technique improved is a great way for relatively easy speed gains.
Last Updated on 2 October 2026 by the5krunner
Small things I always use
- Garmin 90-degree charging adapter: Charges your Garmin from any USB-C cable. Essential when travelling. I use one.
- Body Glide: The blue anti-chafe stick swimmers and runners carry. I use it.
- Speedo earplugs: Fewer ear infections and no cold-water dizziness. I use them.
- Dryrobe Advance: My winter changing robe for open-water swims. I use one. A cheaper option is the AONYIYI changing robe.
- Maurten: Race fuel that stays easy on the stomach. I use them.
- Beet It Sport nitrate shots: Beetroot shots I take in the days before a race. I use them.
- Garmin charging puck: The quickest way to top up before a session. I use one.
- Injinji: Toe socks that stop rubbing, so you run more. I use them.
- Ultimate toe protectors: Stop black toenails on long runs. They work. I use them.
- Compressport R2 v2 calf sleeves: My calf sleeves of choice. I use them.
- Cellucor C4: My pre-workout before hard sessions.
- TPU tubes: Schwalbe Aerothan, Tubolito and Pirelli SmarTube. Light, tiny spares. I use all three.
- G8 insoles: Adjustable insoles that are good. I use them.
- Cycplus Cube: A 97g electric pump that gets a road tyre rideable in two minutes. I carry one. 5% off with code THE5KRUNNER.
Watches and sensors
- Polar H10: My daily driver for waking HRV.
- Polar Verity Sense: My backup arm-worn HR sensor.
- Nomad bedside charger: Charges my iPhone and Apple Watch overnight. I use it, and many of their bands.
- Train.Red: The best muscle oxygen sensor I’ve used.
- Tymewear: Accurate heart rate and reliable ventilatory zones. I use it to pace endurance rides over an hour.
- Garmin Forerunner 970: A pro-grade triathlon watch. I use this.
- Apple Watch Ultra 4: My daily smartwatch. No phone needed on rides.
- Garmin Fenix 9 Pro: I’ve just bought one.
On the bike
- Continental GP5000 for everyday riding, and Aero 111 on the front for special occasions.
- Helmets: Specialized S-Works Evade 3 for road riding, and Rudy Project Wing for TT-style races. I use both.
- Ravemen FR300: A front light that mounts under your Garmin or Wahoo. I use one.
- Wahoo TRACKR Radar: I use it on one bike and Varia on the other. They perform the same.
- Garmin Varia RTL515: Radar that warns you of cars from behind. I use this model.
- Wahoo ELEMNT Roam 3: The bike computer that’s easy to use. I use mine on most rides.
- Favero Assioma Pro RS2: Accurate power pedals that swap easily between bikes. I use this model.
Home and indoor training
- NPE Runn: Makes my basic treadmill smart, sending more accurate speed and distance to my watch and Zwift. I use it.
- Google Wifi: Keeps Zwift connected in my pain cave. I use it.
- Apple TV 4K: Zwift on the big screen. I use two.
- Google Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen): My video doorbell, running in both Google Home and Apple Home. I use it.
Health, recovery and sleep
- FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus: Shows how my blood sugar responds to diet.
- hDrop: Measures my sweat loss in summer and indoors.
- Fourth Frontier Zone: Checks my heart under load in hard sessions.
- Oura Ring 5: My partner’s recovery tracker of choice.
- Eight Sleep: A cooling mattress cover my partner and I use nightly.
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tfk is the founder and author of the5krunner, an independent endurance sports technology publication. With 20 years of hands-on testing of GPS watches and wearables, and competing in triathlons at an international age-group level, tfk provides in-depth expert analysis of fitness technology for serious athletes and endurance sport competitors. See the gear tfk uses. ID
