Ultrarunners have a very specific set of requirements when it comes to buying a GPS running watch. Our shortlist of top GPS running watches will help you decide which one is best for you.
Our ever-evolving list of the best trail running shoes for every scenario; whether you run ultramarathons, race 10k's or plan to do a Spartan/Tough Mudder..
The holiday season is upon us already, so soon I know, but don’t worry though because we’ve been hard at work choosing the ultimate Nike running gear gift ideas for men and women. The goal of this Nike holiday gift guide is to make your gifting decisions easier and better informed. Your loved ones are going to love receiving any of these Nike products. Right then, let’s get to it, starting with running and active lifestyle accessories that are great for both men and women.
Use the links below to jump to a section in this Nike running gift guide.
Apple Watch Nike Series 5 (GPS) with Nike Sport Band
The Apple Watch Nike Series 5 (GPS) with Nike Sport Band is probably one of the best gifts you could give someone, or yourself. We love wearing our Apple Watches as they are so good at motivating us to stay healthy. You’ll be able to do many things but these are my favorite:
see how far along you are at completing your daily ‘activity rings’
get reminders to take a break and breathe, as part of Apple’s drive to promote the benefits of mindfulness
see your heart rate measurements taken throughout the day, and even be able to take an EKG to ensure your heart is beating in a regular fashion, something I want to keep tabs on after a recent heart-health scare from my dad.
the ability to connect to Strava to record your runs, hikes, and other sports. You can also play music and receive calls with the watch which is so useful when you’re running!
there are so many more but you’ll just have to wait for my review to find out all those other reasons I love the watch so much.
the Dri-Fit polyester wicks sweat away from your face, I know this because I have a tendency to sweat a lot while running at a high intensity.
I like to wear my caps backward while running and the adjustment strap on the AeroBill Tailwind from Nike Trail is all fabric with no plastic clasps, making it very comfortable on my forehead and fully sweat-wicking.
This hat has strategically placed laser perforations which provides excellent breathability during hot runs.
There’s a reflective “Dri-Fit” decal on the side to help make sure you’re seen during the night.
Lastly, it’s very lightweight so you’ll hardly notice it’s on even if you’re running an all-day ultramarathon.
The Nike Therma Sphere 360 Gloves feature engineered fabric for a lightweight, warm, and comfortable fit. These gloves also have a silicone grip pattern and touch-screen compatible forefinger and thumb that let you use your smartphone on the go, essential when you’re taking those running selfies for Instagram! 🙂
Other reasons to love these gloves include:
A fitted cuff that helps lock in warmth
Dri-FIT technology helps you stay dry and comfortable.
Not all running socks are created equal. The unisex Nike Elite Cushioned No-Show Running Socks are designed for a barefoot feel and feature sweat-wicking technology and cushioning in the places where you need it the most.
There’s also a reflective Nike Swoosh on the outer edge to help make sure you’re seen while running in the dark.
The Nike Joyride Run Flyknit needs no introduction but I’m going to give you one anyway. In my opinion, this is already an iconic shoe that takes me back to when the original Nike Air Max was released. The Joyride Run Flynit running shoes look really funky and many will choose to wear these solely for the everyday active lifestyle but they’re also an excellent road running shoe for fast short distance runs.
Nike is continually updating Joyride Run colorways on their website but there’s usually at least 7 different color options to go for at any given time, so check them all out here.
There are some super cool looking colorways in the women’s version too!
The Joyride Run Flyknit feels strange when you first put them on, and that’s mainly down to the conforming cushioning in the midsole. Tiny foam beads are contained in 4 strategically placed pockets underneath your foot. They compress and adapt to your every step for impressive impact absorption and a stable feel, so this strange feeling underfoot does eventually go away. By the way, when I say they feel strange, I don’t mean that in a bad way, it’s just a very unusual feeling. Anyone who knows me knows that I’m all for unusual, I’ll try everything at least once!
The outsole has extra-durable rubber placed in high-wear zones to increase overall durability while the raised nobs add traction. Excellent impact absorption, good durability, and comfort make these shoes a good choice for those who stand up all day at work!
Fit and Size Details
The Nike Joyride Run Flyknit has been tuned specifically for all sizes but the fit does trend ever so slightly small. I stuck to my usual size and they are snug, but they fit me well. Nike recommends ordering a half-size up for a slightly looser fit.
“No, we didn’t forget about the trails, here are a couple of our favorite Nike Trail running shoes.”
Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 36 Trail
The Nike Pegasus 36 Trail is my current favorite all-round trail running shoe and I ranked it #1 in our ‘best trail running shoes: the ultimate buyer’s guide‘. This is a high-performance trail running shoe that’s so comfortable it feels very much like a road running shoe. I would actually label the Pegasus 36 Trail as a road/trail hybrid, or a door-to-trail running shoe because quite honestly it performs superbly on both surfaces. Contributing to the comfort is the Nike Air Zoom cushioned midsole that provides plenty of protection from sharp rocks too. The Pegasus 36 Trail is also very lightweight at 9.17oz (260g), breathable, responsive, and grippy.
The curved achilles heel support works very well for me as it allows for a little bit of over-striding when running fast downhills, without agitating my achilles.
The Pegasus 36 Trail GORE-TEX is an excellent waterproof trail shoe for winter running, period. It’s a high-performance trail running shoe that feels just as comfortable on the road as it does on the trails, making it a great door-to-trail hybrid running shoe. The Nike Air Zoom midsole provides plenty of cushioning and protection from sharp rocks. It’s also super lightweight, has lots of reflective hits for the safety-conscious, responsive, and very grippy.
I love the curved achilles heel support like with the standard Nike Pegasus 36 Trail listed above. It adds so much additional comfort over long-distance training runs and ultramarathons.
These are unisex shoes so don’t go searching for the women’s version on the Nike site; instead, you will see both men’s/women’s sizes listed like M 9 / W 10.5, for example.
The Nike Pegasus 36 Trail GORE-TEX won an Editor’s Choice Award for their outstanding performance on the winter trails.
The Nike Shield Hooded Running Jacket is a warm jacket for running in the rain. Yes, it’s perfect for those cold winter runs! The Shield Jacket is made with water-resistant ripstop and has a brimmed hood for extra protection from bad weather, and a midweight design for warmth.
It’s not a lightweight minimal jacket but it will keep you very comfortable during short runs when the weather outside is trying to persuade you to stay in. The jacket is breathable too due to the woven mesh fabric lining the underarms sections.
The women’s shield running jacket has a lot more pizazz to it to ensure you’re seen while running during the day, at night, and even from the moon.
Functioning like gussets, the inserts also help with freedom of movement.
One of the cool things about this jacket is the 2-way full front zip which allows customization up or down, in case the temperature heats up and you need extra airflow going inside your jacket to cool you down.
Zippered hand pockets are a good place to secure your phone and other essentials, should you need to and there’s plenty of reflective elements to keep you seen and safe while running at night.
The Nike Sportswear Tech Fleece Jogging Pants have a tapered fit that’s made to move. They feature multiple pockets and breathable, lightweight fabric. I particularly like the large side zipper which has a smaller pocket within for keeping your phone or wallet in place while you’re running.
The tech fleece material feels so soft, is lightweight and definitely keeps you warm on a winter’s day. The elastic waistband with drawcord gives a really snug fit too. These ones are just as good for running with as they are lounging at home.
The Nike Swift Women’s Running Pants are the equivalent to the men’s Tech Fleece Jogging Pants above. You should be able to run freely for miles in these slim-fitting pants. There’s stretch at the hips and sweat-wicking fabric helps to keep you running in comfort, while perforated details add cooling in the areas where you need it like the knees and lower thighs.
The woven twill fabric on the front and back work with stretchy knit panels on the sides for comfort that moves with you. There are two zippered hand pockets to store those essential items like house keys, phone or cash, while the Dri-FIT technology helps you stay dry and comfortable.
The drawcord at the waist is internal so you won’t get any bulging underneath your t-shirt. Oh and there’s reflective detailing to keep you seen and safe while running in the dark at night.
Hey, I'm Alastair. 5 years ago I started Trail & Kale as a way to share the mental & physical benefits that trail running and nature had given me. Since then Trail & Kale has grown to become a thriving blog and community that inspires people to trail run, hike, adventure more, and live a healthy plant-based lifestyle.
Ultrarunners have a very specific set of requirements when it comes to buying a GPS running watch. Our shortlist of top GPS running watches will help you decide which one is best for you.
Our ever-evolving list of the best trail running shoes for every scenario; whether you run ultramarathons, race 10k's or plan to do a Spartan/Tough Mudder..
