Free delivery on orders over £8012 Gift Ideas For Trail Runners This Winter - Run Up To Christmas
Gift-wrap and Sellotape at the ready! Spoil that runner in your life (or just splurge on yourself) with this selection of favourites from Scottish trail running company, Girls on Hills.
When we start to feel cold, one of the last things we think about is our legs. But our legs make up 18% of our body’s surface area and can lose heat rapidly. Keep leg muscles warm when trail running in cold weather to save energy and reduce the likelihood of injury and cramp.
Coming in both Men's and Women's versions, these Winter Tights from Inov-8 work brilliantly when the conditions are tough. They are made from durable windproof softshell with a water-resistant finish across the front, but on the back, they have a softer brushed-finish for moisture management and breathability.
Winter has a lot of darkness... A LOT of darkness. Make sure you don’t get caught out and run with super-lightweight headtorch from Petzl. A respectable 200 lumens (rechargeable by USB) for a headtorch that would fit inside a Christmas cracker! You won’t even know it’s in your running vest – until you need it!
No matter what trail shoes you go for, few will have traction in icy conditions. These microspikes are easy to put on and provide a quick way of overcoming icy patches and making progress on frozen trails. They have a secure fit and can be stashed away easily when not needed. Running in these microspikes is so much better than you think it’s going to be!
We love this clever beanie from North Face – stylish and practical! Wicking yarns draw away moisture, while the open-knit construction on the top of the hat allows heat to escape more easily.
Fortune favours the well-prepared. And so it is when trail running in winter weather. This lightweight running vest from Salomon has a huge 12L volume and a plethora of pockets and pouches so that you can pack everything you need for every eventuality, and it is all to-hand. Take the extra layer? Another set of gloves? A few more gels? Do it.
This insulation jacket is a favourite at Girls on Hills. It’s simply a great fit; roomy enough to be practical for layering, with nice long sleeves and plenty of stretch for unrestricted movement. It has a slinky, soft feel and is warm when wet (perfect for Scottish winter!). We use this jacket for cold conditions in the mountains but also for cold morning starts, and every day-to-day life. A stylish all-rounder for winter! It's available in both Men's and Women's models.
Cut-out wind chill with this windproof layer from Rab’s Skyline series. It’s so lightweight you’d forget you had it on, if it wasn’t for the fact that it makes such a BIG difference to your body temperature. Perfect for those cold, dry days when it’s breezy out on the trails. Available in both Men's and Women's models.
Basically you can never have enough dry bags, and this one is special! The super-light fabric means that you can keep your spare layers dry (4L) for just 26g, plus it’s strange slippery-finish makes it easy squish into your vest!
9. The North Face
Flight Series FUTURELIGHT Jacket
If you’re looking to experience a major game-changer this Christmas, then this jacket could be it. FUTURELIGHT™ fabric is fully waterproof but more breathable than anything else on the market, allowing heat and moisture to escape at the same time. This shell will keep you dry but it is NOT going to keep you warm, so it’s ideally suited for those hard, sweaty runs in the weeks after Christmas when you’re burning off mince pies.
Hands often feel warmer in mitts than in gloves because fingers can share warmth. These mittens from Inov-8 are lightweight and packable, and work as a waterproof covering when the conditions are wet and hostile. A perfect stocking filler!
We always wish for a white Christmas, but let’s face it winter in the UK is mostly about rain, rain and more rain. If your trails are boggy, waterlogged or resemble a river then these waterproof socks from Sealskins are the gift for you. They work great in wet snow too! Dry feet are warm feet and you’ll be happy you invested in these this winter.
If you’ve been REALLY good this year, then ask Santa for a Fēnix 6X Pro! This multisport GPS watch is actually one in a series of more than 20 watches, all with subtly different characteristics. But all of them are top-end expedition watches with a barrage of features for monitoring your body’s performance. Of particular use in winter is the mapping for navigating your adventures, the long battery life (21 days!) and even a storm alert that senses rapid drops in barometric pressure and warns you when winter is coming!
