For those wondering what to get the tech-loving run-nerd in their life (even if it happens to be you), bookmark this list as a handy holiday shopping survival guide. Our roundup of shiny gadgets and gizmos will let you or your favorite runner crank the tunes, listen to a favorite podcast, fine-tune your stride, tell the time and track relevant run data with style and ease. Go ahead and get shopping. You’ve earned it!
AfterShokz Trekz Air
The titanium band of the Trekz Air gently and securely places the earphones just ahead of your ear—not in it—for clear sound via bone conduction, with zero worries about fit. The big advantage of bone conduction audio is that your ears are free to hear what is around you, increasing situational awareness and allowing natural and easy conversations with running partners. With 6 hours of battery life, you can take it on your multi-hour runs without worry of it dying on you. ($150)
Polar OH1
Ditch sweaty chest straps with this optical heart rate sensor worn on the forearm or bicep with a 12 hour battery life and the capacity to store up to 200 hours of data. It pairs to other devices via Bluetooth and reduces the potential accuracy issues of wrist based heart rate monitoring on thinner wrists, in cold weather, or when hands are clenched such as when weight lifting or cycling. ($80)
Epson ProSense 57
The brand new ProSense 57 is a great value in a GPS and HR watch with smartwatch features. It has up to 10-hours of training battery life and comes with extensive run training features such as cadence, stride length, lap pace, lap distance and lap count, all configurable via the Epson View app. Bluetooth data uploads, smartwatch notifications, activity and sleep tracking and music control are also included. ($150)
Garmin Vivoactive 3
The new Vivoactive 3 has a round metal bezel and is thin, light and classy. It looks great around the clock while tracking all of your activities, sleep, runs, phone notifications and controlling your music. It can even contactless pay for a post run coffee or smoothie. It has up to 13 hours GPS training time and up to 7 days in smartwatch mode. ($300)
BackBeat Fit 300
We love the light weight, easy fit and sound from these durable and sweat proof wireless earbuds. The patent-pending occlusive ear tips block outside sound very effectively and, in combination with the soft rectangular ear wings, deliver a secure fit with deep, rich sound quality. With a 6-hour battery life, a 15-minute charge for an hour of play, and a 60-day deep-sleep mode, the Fit is ready to go for a run at a moment’s notice. ($80)
RunScribe Plus
When the RunScribe Plus pods are clipped to each shoe, they can capture a wealth of biomechanical data, including ground contact time and stride rate, foot strike characteristics, right/left leg symmetry and power. The dashboard provides easy comparative analysis of the data across runs, between different shoes and to the RunScribe community. It’s a great tool for helping monitor the status of injuries, the relationship of your training to changes in biomechanics, and for determining which shoes are the most efficient for you. ($249)
