10 Ultrarunner and Trail Runner Gift Ideas
Check out the list fully updated for 2023!
This gift guide for ultrarunning has 10 great gift ideas for your favorite ultrarunner. Whether they run ultramarathons, or just like to get our for long runs on the trail, these gift ideas are sure to please. These ultrarunning gift ideas also apply to beginners as well as experts, so no worries if they are running their first ultramarathon or their twentieth. We have identified ultrarunning gifts that are great for stocking stuffers and also full on presents. Make their birthday, holiday celebration or just a thank you surprise something to remember with one of these gifts. Get them ready for their next ultramarathon, solo trail run or just a run home from work.
1. Ultrarunning Europe Guidebook
The ultimate gift for the ultrarunner in your life, this comprehensive guidebook leads readers on a journey through the most exhilarating long-distance and extreme trails across Europe. With 40 carefully selected trails, Ultrarunning Europe features stunning photographs, detailed maps, and in-depth trail descriptions, all complemented by the author's personal experiences and insights. Whether your loved one is a seasoned ultrarunner or an intrepid adventurer seeking their next challenge, this essential guide offers a passport to the most captivating landscapes Europe has to offer. Give the gift of inspiration and exploration with Ultrarunning Europe!
Available to buy and ship from Amazon worldwide:
2. Sea to Summit eVAC Dry Sack
I’ve got two of these dry sacks and they are critical for any ultrarunner who wants to either keep their spare clothes dry, or keep their clean clothes from getting wet when they change out of their sweaty clothes after a run. Why I really like and recommend these:
Completely water tight. When I travel with one bag I have no worries that my change of clothes will stay dry no matter what the conditions are.
Save storage space. The sacks compress down so you can fit more in your pack.
Durable. I’ve had the same 2 for over a year and they work as well now as the day I got them.
3. Endure: Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits
For anyone into endurance activities such as ultrarunning the book Endure: Mind, Body and the Curiously Elastic Limits is a great resource on the science of endurance. Not only does the book delve into the physiological aspects but also the mental components of endurance that are so critical for an ultrarunner to master. I developed new ways of thinking from this book and also got a better understanding of what I can endure.
4. Sugoi Versa 2 Jacket
I’m sad that the original jacket I had from Sugoi was discontinued, the Sugoi RSX Neoshell Jacket. It may be an over exaggeration, but it saved my life a couple times. Especially when running in the mountains, you never quite know how the weather will turn during an all day run. There is a new version, the Versa 2, that is impervious to the wind and rain and keeps you from getting overly clammy since the fabric breathes. It’s also perfect for layering, and works for going to work or crushing that 14,000 foot peak. I also really like how form fitting it is, which is key when you are wearing a backpack, and also need to keep the bulk down when packing.
5. Camel Back M.U.L.E Backpack
I’ve loved this pack so much I’m on my 3rd one. The only reason it’s needed to be replaced is since I load it with a 10 pound weight for all my training runs and that would wear out any pack. This pack is super comfortable and with the side straps and pockets it can hold much more than it seems at first glance. For a self supported run I generally fit two of the eVAC Dry Sacks in here (#1 Item) containing my clothes and extra layers, 2.5 to 3 Liters of water, and nutrition plus safety gear. I use it on every training run as well since training with a pack is an integral part of the solo runs I do. While back packs and hydration packs are a personal preference, I cannot recommend this one enough for your favorite ultrarunner to try out.
6. Wright Socks Anti Blister Two Layer Socks
My sister and law lent me a pair of these socks 13 years ago for my first half marathon. They are the only socks I’ve worn since, and never had a blister. Enough said. An ultrarunner can never have too many pairs of socks.
7. Combat Wipes Active
When you run on the trails a lot, sometimes you realize you haven’t planned for everything. Wipes and some folded up paper towels are essentials I keep in my pack on every run (along with several ziplock bags). These are biodegradable, but your ultrarunner probably packs everything out, so a box of quart sized ziplock bags makes a nice pairing gift with these.
8. Duct Tape
Who doesn’t need duct tape? What the ultrarunner needs though is duct tape packaged in a small size so they can carry it on every run. Midway through a run my inner soles delaminated and my foot was sliding all around. Thankfully I had the duct tape to fix the situation. Other things that can derail a run is blowing out the side of a shoe, a hydration pack breaks, or a blister. Blister you ask? Many ultrarunners swear by duct tape as a quick fix for a nasty blister. It’s good to have it in case you need it.
9. Anker Power Core 10000
This is probably one of the most important things in my pack. Did you know that if your phone powers off because it gets to cold the only way to bring it back online quickly is to plug it into a charger? That reason is enough to carry this battery pack, but on an 8 hour run, even with airplane mode on, I generally need to charge my phone at least once. This charger is good for 3-5 charges and it’s small size means there is never an excuse to leave it behind. If I’m going to be in an extra remote area I carry 2!
10. A subscription to Gaia GPS
You can read about Gaia GPS in my article on it here. But suffice it to say, this is the #1 piece of gear I have when I set off on a trail run. Especially on my solo runs where it’s the first time I’ve ever been there it’s great to have a resource where you can download your tracks, satellite and also the tracks of other runners as a reference. This tools has gotten me out of a jam many times. Every runner should carry a mapping tool like Gaia GPS with them, and I believe this one to be the best.