Gifts For Triathletes – 37 Excellent Ideas For All Budgets

If you have a special someone who is training for a triathlon, you’re in luck. With three different sports to choose from there’s never a shortage of gift ideas. Regardless whether that special person trains for the first sprint triathlon or is a seasoned Iron-distance veteran, everyone enjoys attention. And in this post I will share what are some of the best gifts for triathletes that help satisfy that need.

It might be overwhelming to search for the perfect present for someone who loves three sports instead of one. However, keep in mind that triathlon is a very ‘consuming’ sport – both in terms of time and budget. As triathletes we go through a lot of different products on a daily basis and would appreciate any support here. So, a great present can be as trivial as something we use frequently. And, therefore, need to replace often.

Be cautious, though. While triathletes are generally a ‘no fuss’ bunch, there are some products that tend to be personal. Choosing things like chamois cream, energy bars & gels or even cleats can be a little tricky, because every triathlete has their own taste or is used to certain brands. Instead, a much safer approach is to stick to more universal items, like socks, water bottles or even pool toys. These items are critical but are often afterthoughts for most triathletes and are not replaced as often as they could be.

Scroll down for the list of 26 excellent gift ideas for triathletes – from stocking stuffers to cool and unique products.

As I’m building volume for exciting races ahead, this holiday season I’m personally excited about Bob & Brad’s recovery boots.

Holiday gifts and stocking stuffers for triathletes (under $25)

Thinking about what to get someone (him or her) who loves triathlons for Christmas or other holidays? Searching for the best stocking stuffers for triathletes? A gift doesn’t have to be expensive to be appreciated. Below are some of the low-cost essentials that every triathlete needs and will be happy to receive as a present.

#1 Quality tri socks

Price: $20

It sounds cheesy to get someone a pair of socks for the holidays, but it’s a timeless classic for a reason. Every triathlete would appreciate a pair of good quality (and preferably colorful) tri socks as a Christmas or other holiday gift. These don’t come cheap and for an athlete it’s sometimes hard to commit to buying a new pair. But that feeling of wearing new socks makes every run or bike ride comfortable and extra special. Look for a fabric that is moisture-wicking and has a little compression.

#2 Chain lube

Price: $16

Nobody likes a squeaking chain – it’s annoying and results in lost power. A simple solution is to keep it clean and lubricate often (ideally before every long ride), which makes chain lube a very useful gift for someone training for a triathlon. Ironman athletes in particular cover a lot of volume on the bike and, therefore, go through chain lube very quickly.

#3 A pack of CR2032 batteries

Price: $6

If you’re really pressed for budget or are looking for a cheap stocking stuffer, a pack of CR2032 batteries is a good choice. Everything is powered by this type of battery (i.e. chest straps, lights, power meters) and they seem to always run dry quicker than expected. In fact, it’s always a good idea to use fresh ones for a race.

#4 Triathlon laces

Price: $9

‘Automatic’ laces help to speed up transition time, because there’s no need to spend an extra minute on tying them. You just slip your feet into the shoes and you’re ready to go. It’s a great gift idea not only for triathletes, but also for runners and those who use sneakers on daily basis.

#5 Water bottles

Price: $14

A water bottle is a great example of a product that tends to get overlooked. A plastic bottle doesn’t break, so there’s no obvious need to get a new one. However, if not replaced or cleaned it does get mouldy and filthy. Consider getting a few good quality, BPA-free water bottles as a holiday gift – any triathlete would appreciate it. Or, even better, think sustainably and get a stainless steel one that will hold the heat for longer.

#6 Triathlon race belt

Price: $13

A triathlon race belt is a necessity for every race and can be a very useful training tool outside the competition period as well. In particular, it’s a great way to carry gels and other nutrition during a long run. So, if you decide to give this as a present for a triathlete, make sure it has plenty of ‘storage room’ on it.

#7 Inspiration or Triathlon training book (especially my book – The Resilient Athlete)

Price: $15 – $30

By far one of the most affordable and best gifts for triathletes is a book. It can be a one on training practices, an inspirational story of a certain triathlete, a bucket list book or even a cookbook. Below are a few to consider that I personally enjoyed a lot:

• Fast-Track Triathlete: Balancing a Big Life with Big Performance in Long-Course Triathlon
• 80/20 Triathlon: Discover the Breakthrough Elite-Training Formula for Ultimate Fitness and Performance at All Levels
• The Triathlete’s Training Bible: The World’s Most Comprehensive Training Guide
• Lonely Planet Epic Runs of the World and Lonely Planet Epic Bike Rides of the World
• The Plantpower Way: Whole Food Plant-Based Recipes and Guidance for The Whole Family
• Thrive Energy Cookbook: 150 Plant-Based Whole Food Recipes

I cannot miss the opportunity and encourage you to purchase one of my books as a gift for your special (triathlete) someone.

My books feature mindset, lifestyle and training tips to help readers optimize fitness while becoming the very best they can be as an athlete and individual.

In particular, The Resilient Athlete presents a series of self-coaching sessions, much like ones you would have with a performance coach. The book uncovers tools & strategies of professional athletes that YOU can use to develop mental strength, adopt an active lifestyle and build lifelong fitness.

The Resilient Athlete by Andrejs Birjukovs

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eBook – Train For Adventure: 4 Steps To Lasting Performance

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#8 A set of resistance bands and/or loops

Price: $16

Resistance bands and loops are great training tools that can help triathletes build strength, improve form and prevent injuries. Each color creates a specific resistance and, therefore, promotes a different training effect. A bundle of different bands and loops make up a great present for any triathlete.

#9 Magnesium salt for bath

Price: $17

If you’re looking for a gift for the triathlete who has everything, I bet many of them do not have magnesium salt (i.e. Epsom salt) for bath. And didn’t think they need it.

The idea is that when you pour such salt into warm water, it dissolves the magnesium in it and allows it to be absorbed into your body through the skin. That can contribute to overall well-being by supporting muscle function, energy production and providing a calming effect on the nervous system. For runners in particular, this helps to reduce muscle soreness, cramps and stiffness, as well as promote faster recovery after long or intense training sessions.

#10 Anti-chafing balm / body glide

Price: $11

A pro Secret Santa gift for triathletes would be an anti-chafing balm (also known as body glide). It’s essentially a lubricant that helps to reduce friction and irritation in areas prone to chafing (i.e. neck from a wetsuit or feet during long runs. Less chafing = more comfort and less risk of blisters that can affect the run.

Read also: 5 Tips How To Prevent Chafing While Running Or During Other Exercise

Mid-range gift ideas for triathletes ($25 – $75)

If you have a bigger budget to spend, there’s even more useful and cool gift ideas to choose from. Presents in this category are perfect not only for the holiday season, but also for birthdays, anniversaries and other special occasions.

#11 Spare inner tubes

Price: $30

A flat tyre is something every triathlete faces at some point in their career (some do struggle more than others). Unless your special someone runs tubeless tyres, a few packs of spare inner tubes will come very handy. Just FYI, most triathletes use 28″ wheels with a presta valve, so make sure you get the right ones.

#12 CO2 inflator kit (with spare cartridges)

Price: $27

Equally as important as spare inner tubes are CO2 cartridges. These are used to inflate the tyre quickly when on the go – during a long ride or in a race. Inflator kits include a mount that moves the compressed CO2 from the cartridge into the tyre and are very handy gifts for triathletes.

#13 Foam roller

Price: $35

A foam roller is one of the best training tools for any athlete. As little as 2-3 minutes of gentle rolling after every hard session helps to relieve tightness in the muscles and help them recover as quickly as possible. A medium hard foam roller is one of the most versatile gifts for triathletes, because it can be used for both warm up and recovery. The softer the roller, the more muscle activation it provides. Harder, on the other hand, provides better tightness relief.

Read also: Reduce Muscle Soreness – 14 Proven Ways To Speed Up Recovery

#14 Medal hanger

Price: $40

If your special someone likes to race, putting medals on display is a great way to celebrate that and boost his or her motivation. Some medal racks include motivational quotes, room for bib numbers and even space to record personal records.

#15 Smart tail lights

Price: $30

One of the great tech gifts for triathletes is a smart light system that adjusts automatically depending on the external conditions and even the bike’s movement. Imagine how cool it is when tail lights shine brighter during braking, just like an actual car?

#16 The Resilient Athlete performance hat

Price: $38

Why not get your triathlon friend a unique and special hat as a gift? After all, athletes can’t have too many.

I made a limited edition run hat design to celebrate the launch of my book The Resilient Athlete. It looks cool, is very comfortable and is extremely durable. I’ve been training exclusively in it for multiple months and it still looks like new. If you’re looking for a unique gift for a triathlete friend and/or being part of the resilient athlete tribe, reach out to me directly via Instagram or email.

#17 Fins and other swimming aids

Price: $25

Out of all swimming aids available on the market fins are, probably, the most useful for a triathlete. They help to improve ankle flexibility, support better body positioning and help to maintain speed during slower drill exercises, all of which makes a person a better swimmer. Other swimming aids that can be equally great gifts for triathletes are paddles, pull buoy and snorkel.

#18 Triathlon magazine subscription

Price: $30

If you’re not sure about what to get someone who has recently found passion towards triathlon (or someone who seemingly has everything), consider a subscription to one of the triathlon-themed magazines. It’s a great way for a person to step into the sport and also learn a few new things. There’s plenty of publications to select from – Triathlete and 220 Triathlon are some of the most popular ones. Typically, you can get a gift card that includes a 1 year subscription to the print version plus exclusive access to certain digital content.

#19 Quality Yoga mat

Price: $67

A quality non-slip yoga mat provides a comfortable and stable surface for stretching, core exercises, activation – essentially everything where an athlete lies down on the floor. The non-slip surface of the mat is key, as it allows to focus on stability during exercises and maintain proper form. A nice looking yoga mat is a great gift for runners – women and men. It can give extra motivation to stick to that strength training routine or core exercises the coach has prescribed.

#20 Bike cover

Price: $70

One very cool gift idea that many triathletes would not think about themselves is a bike cover. It’s essentially a piece of cloth that goes on top of the front and rear wheels and covers all the dirty bits (or the entire bike altogether). That serves two purposes – keeps the area of the house where you store the bike clean and keeps the bike clean during transporting.

#21 Acupressure set

Price: $50

Juggling three different sports on a weekly basis often means that a rest day is ‘just an easy spin on the bike’. Moreover, most triathletes also balance a career and family with extensive training schedule. An acupressure set (mat + pillow) is a great way to relieve overall tension in the body and promote recovery. Sometimes as little as 10 minutes on an acupressure mat can rejuvenate better than a massage appointment.

Read also: 7 Surprising Benefits Of Recovery Workouts And Active Rest Days

#22 Swim buoy

Price: $40

Although it sounds similar, a swim buoy is completely different to a pull buoy. For starters, it’s used to provide a visual reference where a swimmer is and avoid an accident in open water. Secondly, it works as a flotation device that the swimmer can use to get some rest (if the cost is far). Finally, it’s a great way to store all personal belongings (keys, phone, dry clothes) while swimming in open water and don’t worry about leaving them unattended on the beach.

#23 Compression socks

Price: $45

There’s plenty of research that supports the use of compression gear for recovery. For triathletes calves in particular are at increased risk of overuse, as they are engaged in all three disciplines. However, just like quality tri socks, full compression socks don’t come cheap. Which is why these make up for great presents for triathletes.

Premium, unique and cool gifts for triathletes (over $75)

If you’re looking for a special present for someone (like a birthday gift or a group present), you’ll want to look into the big-ticket items. Below are some of the best gifts for triathletes that come with a high price tag.

#24 Heart rate chest strap

Price: $80

It used to be that an athlete requires an entire heart rate monitor setup (that costs $400+) to track his or her heart rate. Now a Bluetooth-enabled chest strap can do that for less than quarter of the price. Such chest strap connects to the smartphone and can record valuable heart rate data that an athlete can analyze after the session. Monitoring heart rate in such a way can help to tailor the training process to the athlete and, as a result, make it more efficient.

Read also: Heart Rate Training Zones – Complete Guide To Endurance Gains

#25 Set of new racing tyres

Price: $90

Athletes who spend a lot of time riding the bike outdoors will appreciate a pair of fresh tyres. Good tyres help to reduce resistance and make the ride smoother and enjoyable. Moreover, many triathletes are using tubeless tyres that offer extra protection against punctures (but do require a bit more setup). This might be something you’d want to confirm with your triathlete before buying the gift.

#26 Bob & Brad recovery boots

Price: $110

Recovery boots are a hot topic at the moment as runners & triathletes discovered the power of a so-called lymphatic drainage for recovery. Such gentle massage stimulates blood circulation and helps move the lymph around the body. That does two important things: facilitates removal of waste products produced during intense or prolonged running session and speeds up the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the muscles. Recovery boots use compression to simulate the same effect – all in the comfort of one’s own home.

There are many models on the market and prices can vary a lot. At the end of the day, ‘active compression’ is what creates the recovery effect, so you don’t necessarily need to cash out $500+ to reap the benefits.

Use the code BobBrad36 for a 10% OFF.

#27 Swim trainer

Price: $200

Swimming is the most complicated discipline for triathletes to train, because it focuses a lot on form. And, of course, because it involves a lot of logistics to get to the pool. Which is why a swim trainer is one of the best gifts for triathletes who want to improve their swim. It helps to develop core muscles to improve body position in the water and provides resistance to help develop stroke’s power and efficiency.

#28 TRX suspension trainer

Price: $130

A TRX suspension trainer is a perfect training tool for a triathlete in any situation – outside, at home, in the gym or even while traveling. It can offer a full-body exercise using an athlete’s own body weight and besides developing muscle strength it also helps to improve stability, core strength and coordination that is so critical in a triathlon race.

Read also: Strength And Conditioning For Triathletes In Base Period (+Workout)

#29 Transition bag

Price: $139

A transition bag is a backpack that triathlete uses to carry all his or her gear before and after the race, as well as to a training practice. It has many different compartments to help stay organized. One for smelly bike shoes. Another for clean clothes. One more to separate wetsuit, swimming cap and goggles that get wet during the session. Even a pocket for gels & energy bars. And even more. In fact, transition bag is quite handy to store the gear at home as well.

#30 Bob & Brad mini massage gun

Price: $130

A massage gun is like a portable massage therapist designed to be a cost-efficient alternative to a traditional massage appointment. It helps to relieve tightness, promote blood & lymph circulation and prevent inflammation caused by adhesion between the fascia and muscles.

A mini massage gun helps to target smaller areas better than a bigger gun and is perfect for muscle activation before a key workout. It can be used anywhere anytime, which makes it one of the most practical and fun gifts for runners.

Use a discount code BobBrad16 for a 10% OFF.

#31 Noise-cancelling earbuds for sleep

Price: $289

Athletes who travel a lot and stay in different hotels often struggle to maintain a consistent sleep quality. Jet lag, beds of questionable origin and, of course, the background noise. People talking loud, TV sounds, noise from buses and trains outside and all sorts of sounds that travel through hotel walls. All of that can affect sleep quality.

QuietOn’s noise-cancelling earbuds is a unique and one of the coolest gift ideas for runners. Especially those who travel to run a race and need a peaceful and uninterrupted sleep. These fit inside an ear and can help athletes on the road and at home improve sleep quality by reducing low-frequency sounds.

#32 Omius cooling headband/cap

Price: $200+

Omius is a relatively new tech. You might have noticed an interesting-looking headband or cap with crystals on a few pro triathletes. I first thought it’s a charity thing, but then discovered that a brand Omius has developed a technology to increases the evaporative surface area of the skin by 5x. This improves the body’s natural cooling mechanism and dramatically increases comfort and performance in hot conditions and during strenuous exercise.

Lots of people I work with struggle with running in the heat. Omius came up with a cool cutting edge technology that makes up for a unique gift for triathletes, as it provides a simple yet effective solution to manage body temperature during intense workouts (and races).

#33 Stryd power meter

Price: $270+

Cyclists have been using power meters for years to better control intensity and measure the mechanical work done. It’s a relatively new trend in running, but is definitely here to stay. Unlike traditional metrics such as pace or heart rate, power meters directly quantify the force applied to the ground, offering a more immediate (and precise) reflection of a runner’s effort. This allows for better pacing, helping triathletes maintain consistent effort levels during the run leg on varying terrains, gradients and weather conditions (i.e. headwind).

Stryd offers the most advanced running power meter and is definitely one of the fun gifts for triathletes to play around with. Besides power it also visualizes your gait (to help coaches discover inefficiencies) and offers training plans to follow.

Special & personalized gifts for triathletes

Looking for a very specialized gifts for triathletes? Worry no more. Below you’ll find an extra special gift for your special someone.

#34 Professional bike fit / run gait analysis / or swim form review

Price: $100+

Triathlon is an endurance sport and is very repetitive. There’s a lot of ‘left-right-left-right’ – be it in the water, on a bike or on the road. Which is why improving economy of the movement always results in better performance overall. And less injury risk.

Chances are that your special someone already has a professional bike fit done when he/she bought a bike. If not – that would be a great idea for the gift, as comfort on the bike is one of the biggest factors affecting triathlon performance. But you might look further and sign a person up to do a gait analysis or a swim clinic as a present. It’s a very useful experience and is one of the most personalised gifts for triathletes to receive during holiday season.

During the analysis, a specialist (i.e. a physiotherapist, not a shoe salesman) would analyze the running stride (or swim stroke) and the overall body movement and provide a structured program to become a more effective and resilient triathlete. An experienced professional can spot inefficiencies and highlight areas & muscles to strengthen to prevent injuries and improve economy. A very valuable investment.

#35 A lactate test

Price: $150+

Lactate testing involves measuring the concentration of lactate in the blood during various exercise intensities. This allows the athlete to determine aerobic and anaerobic thresholds, set correct training zones and develop a highly-targeted training plan.

Much like a gait analysis, not many athletes usually do this (it is gaining popularity, though). However, by planning workouts based on lactate test results, triathletes can make more informed decisions about their training intensity and duration, which helps to induce desired training adaptations and contributes to more effective and efficient performance gains.

#36 An annual subscription to InsideTracker

Price: $150

Biohacking is another trend that is seriously gaining popularity. More and more people looking into optimizing their lifestyle to get more energy and improve performance. So, if your special triathlete is looking for every gain, give him the gift of understanding. Via InsideTracker subscription.

InsideTracker is a platform where a person can upload his/her bloodwork and get an understanding of what it means. The platform assesses key biomarkers related to various aspects of health & performance, such as metabolism, inflammation, endurance, sleep, recovery. The data is then interpreted to offer insights and tailored recommendations for optimizing individual health and performance.

Definitely one of the most unique and personalized gifts for triathletes.

#37 Personal coaching

Price: $100 – $250

I saved the best for last. One of the best gifts for triathletes is that of a personal coach. Be it a one-time appointment, a program that is tailor-made to the athlete or ongoing monthly feedback sessions – having someone look at the training process from the side and tell what an athlete is doing wrong is by far the best way to become a better athlete.

A coach will be able to find areas of improvements, provide a different perspective on athlete’s training and help set achievable goals that motivate him or her to put in quality work, elevate fitness level and with that gain more satisfaction from the training process.