Gifts any runner will love

If you are looking for an affordable full-carbon plate shoe for racing and speedwork, look no further than the Asics Magic Speed 3. With its propulsive carbon midsole, the Magic Speed 3 encourages a faster pace, while the FF BLAST PLUS cushioning midsole provides a lively and bouncy feel. The lightweight and highly breathable upper is constructed with at least 50 percent recycled materials. For the outsole, Asics specs a generous amount of their lightweight ASICSGRIP rubber for solid traction and reasonable durability.

These lightly flavoured electrolyte tablets are ideal for replenishing electrolytes during or after longer, more challenging runs. Simply drop a tablet into about 500 ml of water, wait until it dissolves, and you have a refreshing, slightly fizzy hydration drink. It contains no preservatives or artificial sweeteners and now only uses non-GMO dextrose and stevia.

Weighing in at just 100 grams and providing up to 900 lumens of light, the Swift RL is perfect for the low-light running conditions most of us experience during winter. While these specs alone make the Swift RL an ideal running headlamp, it’s also worth noting that Petzl has used a unique light sensor that automatically adjusts the brightness of the lamp based on the ambient lighting. The result is extended battery life with manual adjustments while still retaining the visibility necessary when running in low light conditions. If you want to control the brightness yourself, the Swift RL also offers three manual settings. A comfortable and easy-to-adjust headband and USB recharging round of the features on this impressive headlamp.

With its patented multi-density foam and three-dimensional surface, the TriggerPoint Grid Foam Roller is perfect for massaging sore and tired muscles and connective tissues. The roller features a compact size (13 inches in length and 5.5 inches in diameter), making it easy to carry when travelling, yet still provides sufficient surface area for targeting larger muscle groups.

Unlike many traditional headphones that prevent you from hearing outside noise, the Shokz OpenMove, with its open-ear design, allows you to listen to your music and your environment. The result is greater safety as you are not isolated from the noise of the cars, bikes and other runners. This is particularly important when running in crowded urban settings. The OpenMove headphones, with their titanium band, are surprisingly light and comfortable and provide a secure fit even during high-intensity workouts. At normal volumes, they offer up to six hours of listening time.

Tucked into a jersey pocket, the GU Energy Gel is ready for deployment any time your energy levels start to wane. The gel consists of a tasty carbohydrate blend for a quick energy boost, while the addition of antioxidants and amino acids reduce muscle tissue damage and delay muscle fatigue. Finally, the 20 mg of caffeine provides an extra energy lift on longer runs.

Thanks to its Gore-Tex-lined upper, the Peregrine 13 GTX delivers unmatched wet-weather protection for runners training on muddy or snow-covered trails. A PWRRUN Foam midsole provides cushioning while maintaining the nimble and responsive ride desired by many trail runners. Additional trail protection comes from a rock guard insert positioned at the forefoot of the shoe. Finally, a PWRTRAC rubber outsole with highly aggressive lugs ensures traction in even the sloppiest conditions.

Built with 100 percent merino wool, the Classic Thermal Merino Base Layer is warm enough to be worn on its own in milder conditions or as a cosy base layer in cooler weather. Merino wool is known for not retaining odours (unlike some synthetics), which means runners can use the top multiple times before it needs washing. The top also features a generous front zipper that allows for ventilation and simplifies getting dressed.

The H10 is regarded by many elite athletes and medical professionals as the most accurate heart rate monitor on the market. This heart rate monitor offers Bluetooth, 5kHz transmission, and ANT+ compatibility, allowing runners to pair it with various devices, including a phone, commercial cardio machines and most of the popular training apps. The device has a 400h battery, which translates to more than a year’s worth of daily one-hour training, and is also waterproof down to 30m.

With its secure hand-harness system, the insulated SpeedDraw Plus is ideal for carrying just over 500 ml of water when running. The hand harness easily adjusts for a snug fit, allowing you to focus on running rather than holding the bottle, while the insulated bottle ensures liquids remain refreshingly cool in the summer and don’t freeze in the winter. Finally, Nathan has included a small pocket on the harness system for storage of small essentials, such as keys or a credit card.

Products reviewed in this article: