The Six Minute Mile Holiday Gift Guide
Don’t stress about shopping for your running-obsessed friends and family members—or yourself, wink wink!—we’ve got you covered with the gifts runners want and the gifts runners need.
Here are 6 pieces of cool running gear we really love this month.
Last week we had our first true downpour in a while. Obviously, I still ran in it. And this was at the cost of absolutely soaked trainers, but still, well worth it. When I got home I immediately stuffed each shoe with a Smell Well insert. These little magic pouches, made of bamboo charcoal, are designed to absorb moisture and thus eliminate the wet environment for bacteria that leads to stinky shoes. One day, that’s all it takes. When you get ready to hit the road again your shoes will be fresh and dry. The inserts last about a year, so for the price they are almost too good to be true. — Rebecca Trachsel
More often than not, if a friend or teammate is about to take on a big race or has just completed one, regardless of the outcome, I will pop a card in the mail to acknowledge their accomplishment. A note of any kind warms the heart. But, with Sweaty Ponytales cards, you can help them celebrate all the glorious moments in run life—the training, the toughness, the triumph and the humor behind every mile.
Each card captures the good, the bad and the beautiful side of running for both the runner and the spectator. Literally, they had me laughing out loud primarily because they are so damn relatable. Every athlete has a story, and, yes, because of this they deserve more than a generic card. — Rebecca Trachsel
I have been running for more than 40 years and prior to last week had never worn socks with separate toes. If I’m being honest, I was always a little wary. But I’m up for trying anything once. The Injini toe socks are a bit tricky to get on at first, and it does feel a bit strange to have the fabric between each toe instead of having my toes sit all together.
Occasionally, depending on the shoe, my toes will rub together and form blisters or hot spots and with these that’s not possible. And that is a beautiful thing. I also have a bunion on one foot and the sock’s compression keeps the side of my foot from rubbing against the side of my shoe. Added bonus, I can throw on my flip flops post-run and keep my socks on! After 3 runs – a track workout, a long run and a recovery run—I am sold. — Rebecca Trachsel
Pit Viper shades have been all the rage among the cool kids for the past few years, both because they offer bright, bold colors and designs and because they hearken back to late-1980s and early-1990s blade-style sunglasses. Built on Pit Viper’s Original 2.0 platform, the Actualbush edition combines a premium ScaleX Polycarbonate lens with 100 percent UVA and UVB protection. The best feature is the Turbo adjustable lens tilt mechanism that offers a truly customizable fit and lens angle, which I’ve found especially helpful for steep uphill and downhill trail running. — Peter Maksimow
The 7mesh Guardian Air Jacket is a premium, ultralight waterproof shell (approximately 7.0 oz. for men, 6.2 oz. for women) built for active sports in which protection from the elements, packability, and freedom of movement are essential. I wore this 3-layer GORE-TEX ePE laminate jacket on several early September peak bagging and trail running adventures in both mild and cold weather conditions that had, at times, included rain, sleet, snow, and it performed exceptionally.
It moved with me at all paces, and I never overheated or felt constrained by the jacket. Plus, it’s PFAS-free construction, ensuring a more sustainable, environmentally responsible design. It’s a pricey jacket, but I found it to be worth its weight in gold amid a surprise rain shower with 38 degree weather coming down Colorado’s Mount Elbert after dark. — Brian Metzler
Whether you’re running rugged trails or preparing for your next big road race, the T-Rex 3 Pro is a premium smartwatch designed with long battery life, good health/fitness tracking sensors (HR, SpO₂, etc.), and strong display outdoor visibility. Built from durable, high-quality materials and equipped with advanced technology, it’s engineered to endure the toughest environments while providing accurate tracking and detailed performance insights. With exceptional comfort, all-day wearability, and good value for the price, it’s a smart and effective alternative to the high-end models from Garmin, Suunto and Coros. — Peter Maksimow
