Gifts for triathletes: 38 ideas for all budgets in 2024

With three sports, as well as nutrition, recovery and accessories, there’s a seemingly never-ending pool of gifts to choose from. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with a roundup of the best gifts for triathletes to suit all budgets.

Before you splash the cash, we’d recommend asking them if there’s a particular piece of kit they need.

Are they training for an endurance event and would a fresh supply of energy bars be eagerly devoured? Or is a special birthday or anniversary coming up and they’re in the market for a new triathlete watch? Or perhaps a cosy new dryrobe to warm up after an cold water swimming session would be appreciated?

We’ve also included inspiring adventure books, swimming art prints and running hats which are ideal for stocking fillers.

• Best gifts for swimmers
• Best gifts for runners: 18 treats to keep them training
• The best gifts for cyclists: 19 present ideas for bike enthusiasts

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. That’s 12 months of world class coaching and training advice for triathletes of all levels.

Best gift ideas for triathletes

SEALSKINZ Waterproof Cold Weather Unisex Beanie Hat

Warm-up after cold water swims with this cosy waterproof beanie hat by SEALSKINZ. The unisex design comes in a range of colours and has a breathable, micro fleece lining.

Can also be worn on easy cold winter runs or simply when out walking the dog. Check out our round-up of running hats for more ideas.

The Triathlete’s Training Bible

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.

For more book ideas, see our list of the best books for triathletes or the best adventure books.

Giro Syntax MIPS helmet

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. For more helmet recommendations check our list of the best road bike helmets.

Le Col Hors Categorie II bib shorts

Our tester was a big fan of these Le Col bibs in our list of the best 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.

Triathlon Nutrition: Learn how to fuel! course

An online course can be a great gift for anyone who wants to improve their performance and get a better understanding of their own body.

This one is designed for triathletes and, over a one-hour video, reveals how to create a race-day nutrition plan, choose the right carbohydrates for training, racing and recovery, and even calculate your sweat rate to adjust your fluid intake.

Smartwool Seamless Racerback Bra

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.

Find more sports bras for running in our round-up.

Owala FreeSip Water Bottle

These are just a handful of the colour options available when you buy Owala’s trending insulated bottle.

The USP of this brand’s design is its two-in-one lid. You can use the built-in straw or tip up the bottle to ‘swig’ through the wide mouth opening, so it’s a versatile choice for both workouts and day-to-day use.

Zone3 Strap Back Swimsuit

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!

• Check out more swimming costume reviews with the best women’s swimsuits.

Premax Chamois Cream for women

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.

• Here’s a round up of our other top picks for anti-chafe creams.

Shimano Ultegra PD-PD8000 pedals

If the triathlete you’re shopping for wants new road bike pedals, you’re unlikely to go wrong with the Shimano Ultegra PD-R8000. 

While not the most exciting present, Shimano’s second-tier pedals are justifiably extremely popular with road cyclists and scored 90% in our review. 

Garmin Fenix 7 Solar

• £599.99 (without solar) / with solar, £689.99 

If you’re looking to splash the cash and treat the triathlete in your life, then the Fenix 7 Solar triathlete watch by Garmin is worth considering.

The Fenix 7 Solar is an impressive watch, with an AMOLED display, a plethora of new endurance training features and a decent battery-life that is charged up by the sun. It doesn’t come cheap, but this is a premium watch designed to last.

Check out our full review of Garmin Fenix 7 Solar here.

Polar Vantage V2 Multisport Watch

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.

• For more ideas and an in-depth review of the Vantage V2, here are the best triathlon watches reviewed.

Brooks Hyperion Max 2

We really liked these neutral, well-cushioned shoes that will double up for racing and training.

Running shoes may seem a bold option as a gift. But if you know the size and preference of the person you’re buying for, the Brooks Hyperion Max 2 are a good shout. 

Wahoo Elemnt Bolt

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.

• For in-depth reviews on the Bolt and others, see our best bike computers for triathletes round-up.

Zone3 Neoprene Heat-Tech Swimming Gloves

We think the Neoprene Heat-Tech Swimming Gloves from Zone3 are among the best cold water swimming gloves. Chances are the triathlete in your life will love them too.

They keep your hands warm and dry, so you can continue open water swimming through the colder months. 

Form Smart goggles

• Buy from Form

Used for both pool and open-water, 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. The goggles also went through an upgrade in 2021, which saw a guided workout session feature added to their numerous tech capabilities. Intrigued? Here’s a full in-depth review of the Form Smart goggles.

Santini Delta Pietra cycling jersey

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.

• Check out our top five women’s jerseys reviewed.

Craft Essence bib shorts

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.

• Here’s our reviews of the best cycling bib shorts.

Saris M2 Smart Turbo Trainer

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.

• What to know more? Here’s our full review of the Saris M2 smart turbo trainer.
• We’ve reviewed some of the best turbo trainers around. Read our guide to find the top choices.

CEP Women’s Run Tights 3.0

• Buy now from Amazon

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.

• Here’s some more women’s compression leggings we liked.

Oakley Plazma Sports Sunglasses

This timeless design is compatible with prescription lenses or non-prescription lenses. You can customise your sunglasses 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

Brooks Canopy running jacket

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.

• Here’s our top running jackets for men and women.
• See our full list of the best running gift ideas for more.
• Best swimming watches

Aqua Sphere Fastlane

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.

Complete Nutrition for Competitive Triathlon course

Buy from Udemy (£44.99)

This informative online course includes two and a half hours of on-demand videos, split into 47 lectures covering everything from using carbs and supplements, to calculating sweat rate, understanding male/female physiology and creating a race-day hydration plan.

Hoka Mach 6

The Mach 6 is Hoka’s ‘lightest, most responsive Mach to date’.

A new super critical foam EVA midsole has been added to improve fit and comfort and a creel jacquard upper and an updated internal gusset.

The Mach 6 has a stack height of 37mm at the heel (35mm for women) and 32mm at the forefoot (30mm for women) with a neutral 5mm drop.

Read the full review of the Hoka Mach 6.

Orca Athlex Flow wetsuit

This wetsuit from Orca’s is billed as their ‘most balanced’ suit and our tester found it the perfect balance of flexibility and buoyancy.

It has 2mm neoprene thickness in the arms and shoulders, and mix of proven Yamamoto 39 and 38 neoprene across the build which aids flexibility.

Buoyancy is added by its Aerodome build and air pockets located between the two layers of neoprene and the 4/5mm thickness of the suit in parts of the legs and upper body.

You can read our full review of Orca Athlex Flow wetsuit.

Huub Varman wetsuit

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.

• Here are our reviews of triathlon wetsuits across all budgets.

Zone3 Recycled Thermo-Tech Changing Robe

This changing robe is 100% recycled water and windproof, with a breathable outer and soft fleece lining.

Designed to give lightweight warmth, it is light while still being toasty.

Check our out reviews of the best dryrobe alternatives here.

Robie Dry-Series Long Sleeve

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.

• Check out our top changing robes for open water swimming.

Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag

Lululemon’s Everywhere Belt Bag is proving popular among fitness fans at the moment and is set to be a top gift this year. It’s ideal for keeping your valuables safe if you want to be hands free on the way to workouts without lugging a backpack or holdall around.

Huub TT Bag

Huub’s TT (‘transition three’) bag is stylish and practical with lots of clever features.

It has a 40-litre capacity, a clever mesh foldaway helmet cradle and both wet and dry sections which all prove invaluable during transitions.

There’s a useful bottom compartment for stashing wet or sweaty gear and there are multiple useful pockets for storing drinks and gels.

Comfortable and feels top quality thanks to padded straps and a cushioned back panel.

Read our round-up of the best triathlon bags here.

Huub Safety Buoy

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.

Best novelty triathlon gift ideas

Triathlete novelty mug

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?”

Boot Bananas Moisture Absorbers

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.

Triathlon medal holder

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.

Motivational shoelace tag

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.

Top image credit: Getty Images