With three sports, as well as nutrition, recovery and accessories, there’s a seemingly never-ending pool of gifts to to choose from. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with a roundup of the best gifts for triathletes.
First off, it’d be remiss of us not to suggest the gift of ultimate entertainment, training tips, advice and motivation in the form of a 220 Triathlon magazine subscription, now on offer for only £34.99! That’s 12 months of world class coaching and training advice for triathletes of all levels.
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Best gift ideas for male triathletes
Sundried Men’s Pro Trisuit
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A classic pick, this short-sleeved tri suit is described by Sundried as an ‘aero skin suit’ thanks to ribbed skin-tight sleeves and legs. It’s designed for all triathlon distances, from sprint to long-distance Ironman events.
This should translate to a relatively thick chamois pad and back pockets large enough to stuff several gels, the tops of which are elasticated for secure packing.
Leg grippers have vertical silicone grippers and should be wide enough to provide equal comfort over long distances. The fabric used in this tri-suit is said to be waterproof, with underarm mesh panels designed to help to regulate body temperature on the fly.
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The Triathlete’s Training Bible
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A large and weighty 300+ pages of comprehensive advice, graphs and technical information, the Triathlete’s Training Bible from coach and author Joe Friel is a glorified encyclopedia of triathlon knowledge.
This fourth edition of the training guide covers mental and physical training, as well as the fundamentals of training, racing, recovery and speed.
The back section of the bible includes a training diary where Friel advises the reader on how best to lay-out their own training diary and record their sessions, though Friel also has also produced The Triathlete’s Training Diary (available to purchase separately), which does all the work for you.
This training bible is an ideal aid for those wanting to take control of their training and educate themselves on how best to optimise all aspects of their own triathlon training.
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Giro Syntax MIPS helmet
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Complete with MIPS safety protection system and EPS liner, this Giro helmet model has 25 wind vents for temperature regulation and anti-microbial padding inside. It’s also available in various colourways and comes in at under £100.
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Blue Fuel Recover Shake
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Containing a huge 30g of protein in one serving, this whey-based recovery drink from Blue Fuel also has a mix of carbohydrates, electrolytes and vitamins.
Available in chocolate or strawberry flavour, this it’s designed to ‘rehydrate, refuel and rebuild’ your body and muscles after a workout.
Blue Fuel says their recovery mix is ‘elite sports nutrition available to everyone’, as it was developed in collaboration with pro players from Chelsea Football Club.
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Best gift ideas for female triathletes
Le Col Hors Categorie II bib shorts
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Our tester was a big fan of these Le Col bibs in our list of the top bib shorts and it’s no wonder, with the soft, compressive materials, deep and comfortable leg grippers and wide, stylish suspender straps.
They might not be cheap, but if you’re after a quality and long-lasting gift idea that your loved one will appreciate and use for years to come, then you can’t go wrong with this pick from Le Col.
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Smartwool Seamless Racerback Bra
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If you want to give the gift of supreme comfort, support and style this Christmas, then something from Smartwool is a safe bet. Their seamless racerback bra is made from breathable, wicking material that feels soft, without being itchy, to the skin.
It provides medium support with in-built cups and has no uncomfortable wires, fiddly straps or metal clasps to deal with. Simply slip on and go.
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Zone3 Strap Back Swimsuit
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Available in a range of colours, this strappy, open-back swimsuit from Zone3 is made from Italian Xfinity fabric and claims to be 100% chlorine resistant.
We liked the quality of this suit in testing and found the style flattering when on. The Kona-esque tribal print was a win with us too!
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- Check out more swimming costume reviews with 11 of the best women’s swimsuits.
Premax Chamois Cream for women
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This is a premium and luxury chamois cream from Premax, and comes in two different types optimised for men and women.
The women’s version is said to be pH balanced, with nourishing and deliciously smelling extracts of tea tree, aloe vera, macadamia seed oil, quandong and desert lime, among others.
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- Here’s a round up of our other top picks for anti-chafe creams.
Top gifts for the tech-savvy triathlete
Polar Vantage V2 Multisport Watch
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The Polar Vantage V2 has everything you need in a fitness watch and more. It comes complete with fitness tests, measurements like VO2 max, music controls, and a 40hr battery life in GPS mode, along with the classic GPS activity tracking capacity.
You can also keep an eye on sleep patterns, training cycles, heart rate and the weather when scrolling through the watch’s interface.
If you’re considering gifting a multisports watch, then look no further as the V2 has all you’ll need to track your triathlon training, as well as a host of other activities.
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- For more ideas and an in-depth review of the Vantage V2, here’s 10 of the best triathlon watches reviewed.
Wahoo Elemnt Bolt
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The new and updated Elemnt Bolt improves on an old classic. With crisp a 2.2 inch colour screen, visuals and navigation are easy on the fly. The Bolt is really a ‘do it all’ bike computer.
You can upload routes onto the Bolt easily when connecting to your phone via Bluetooth and the device also has a host of navigation features. These include ‘take me to’ directions and ‘route me to the start’, which can get you out of a pickle if you get lost when out on the road.
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- For in-depth reviews on the Bolt and others, see our best bike computers for triathletes round-up.
Coros Pod
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We’ve personally been massively impressed with Coros’ functionality since using the brand’s Pace GPS watch. This run data gadget clips onto your belt and, after a pain-free setup, gives seven run metrics on the Coros App, the most useful being L/R balance and form power.
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Form Smart goggles
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Available in both pool and open-water versions, the form smart goggles revolutionised the swimming industry when they were first released in 2019.
These high-tech goggles communicate real-time swim information as you’re using them. This includes a lap count, time, stroke rate, pace and heart rate (if you pair with a compatible device), and a whole range of post-session data. Intrigued? Here’s a full in-depth review of the Form Smart goggles.
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Best funny triathlon gift ideas
Triathlete novelty mug
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After a funny and apt gift for your triathlon-loving, tea-drinking friend? This could be the gift for you. Claiming to be both microwave and dishwasher safe, this novelty mug gently pokes fun at the tri-mad among us, while also taking away the need to proclaim to all others in the room, “do you know I’m a triathlete?”
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Boot Bananas Moisture Absorbers
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Think your tri friend is bananas but still want to get them a useful gift? These banana-shaped moisture absorbers don’t require batteries or heat to work, but aim to absorb all water and sweat from your trail shoes or cycling kicks within only 4-6 hours.
They’re handy if you only have the one pair of shoes and need them to dry before your session the next day, and are entirely reuseable.
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Triathlon medal holder
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Triathlon training, racing and recovering can often feel like a full-time job, so why not celebrate your achievements and display them loud and proud in your home – you deserve it!
This classy-looking swim/bike/run medal holder should fit plenty of your hard-won medals and claims to be compatible with wall mounting. An ideal gift to show your triathlete how proud you are of their achievements.
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Motivational shoelace tag
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A small and affordable gift ideal as stocking filler or small add-on to give your sporty friend. These medal shoelace tags can be thread onto your shoes and sit pride of place as you’re smashing those trails or pounding the pavements.
Take the motivation with you with this set of tags, which are made from stainless-steel and are designed not to tarnish or rust.
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Best tri stocking fillers
After an inexpensive gift for a pal or to fill up a stocking, then take a look at these affordable useful tri-related gift ideas.
- Stay warm on the bike with our top Buffs, arm sleeves and cycling gloves.
- Re-fuel with top sports nutrition with our favourite energy bars and energy gels.
- Speed up recovery with a foam roller or with one of our favourite sports recovery drinks.
- Stay safe on the bike with a puncture repair kit, bottle cage and water bottle.
- Be visible when running with our top running headtorches, running belts or hydration packs.
- Keep warm during chilly dips with our top neoprene socks, neoprene gloves and neoprene hats.
Best cycling gear gifts
Santini Delta Pietra cycling jersey
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This flattering and stylish jersey from Santini ticked all the boxes for us, and feels such good quality when on. It comes complete with elasticated back pockets, a smaller zip pocket, aerated back and side pannels and silicone hem gripper.
This would make the ideal, thoughtful present that your tri friend can wear for years to come. Available in men’s and women’s versions.
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- Check out our top five women’s jerseys reviewed.
Craft Essence bib shorts
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This lightweight and breathable pair of bibs has a sleek, thin chammy pad, wide chest straps, and a sizeable mesh back panel for breathability. Available in men’s and women’s versions.
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- Here’s our reviews of the best cycling bib shorts.
Saris M2 smart turbo trainer
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This smart turbo trainer from Saris connects to apps via Bluetooth and can measure power and rpm (cadence). It has a 1.2kg flywheel with a solid-build frame that allows for a sturdy-feeling ride. It’s also fairly quiet when in use and can fold away making it easy to move about.
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- What to know more? Here’s our full review of the Saris M2 smart turbo trainer.
Best running kit gifts
Kiprun Ultralight running shoes
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Sub-£70 for such a lively and responsive pair of road running shoes is pretty unheard of. We were impressed when testing the Kipruns, as they were one of the lightest kicks at just 220g, yet still felt comfy and controlled in use.
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- Check out our top race-day run shoes reviews.
CEP Women’s Run Tights 3.0
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It might seem like a bit of a spend for leggings, but these are no ordinary pair of running tights. First off, they’re supremely comfortable, with seams and compression panels placed at exactly the right areas to hold you in, compress the muscles and look super flattering.
There are also small pockets for valuables and they’re thick enough to keep you warm on winter runs. A staple for high-mileage athletes wanting to avoid injury.
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- Here’s some more women’s compression leggings we liked.
Oakley Plazma Sports Sunglasses
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This timeless design is compatible with prescription lenses or non-prescription lenses. You can customise your sunnies with a choice of different colours and lenses depending on your preference and the clarity you need.
We found they enhanced visibility on sunny days, on the bike and when running, and the frames felt ultra light on thanks to the ear and nose pads, which didn’t budge. A quality choice.
- Take a look at our full Oakley Plazma Sports Glasses review.
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Brooks Canopy running jacket
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This run jacket is a great lightweight choice for spring runs or summer showers. Made from ‘Drylayer Seal’ fabric, it doesn’t get hot or sweaty when on and comes complete with fitted hood.
There are also two spacious zipped side pockets that can be used to stuff the coat into to form a mesh bag for easier transportation when not in use.
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- Here’s our top running jackets for men and women.
Best swimming gift ideas
Aqua Sphere Fastlane
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These goggles are a good and affordable pick for pool swimming, we liked the tinted lenses for bright pool lights and the soft gaskets, with no fogging or leaking experienced when testing.
- We’ve broken down the best swimming goggles for pool and open-water here.
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Huub Varman wetsuit
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This wetsuit model from Huub scored incredibly highly when we put it to the test. Huub claims materials used offer 43% more buoyancy than standard neoprene, and we felt this on test with plenty of uplight along the hips.
Zonal thickness in different panels meant that we didn’t feel any restriction during armstroke and rotation. A high-tech and good-quality wetsuit pick with only a mid-range price-tag.
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- Here are our reviews of triathlon wetsuits across all budgets.
Robie Dry-Series Long Sleeve
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The waterproof material and taped seams do a stellar job of keeping the rain off after a drizzly early-morning dip, while the electric-blue, wicking inner kept us toasty and feeling stylish.
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- Check out our 7 top changing robes for open water swimming.
Huub Safety Buoy
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This hi-vis tow float from HUUB aims to keep you safe in the water by offering a means of flotation and by making you more visible to other water-goers. It should also offer waterproof storage inside for valuables and the adjustable waistband aims to fit a wide range of sizes.
- Here’s why you should use a tow float for open-water swimming.
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Top image credit: Chad Madden/Unsplash