2025 Holiday Gift Guide for Walkers
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It’s that time of year again: the time when your family starts to ask what you’d like for Christmas. I always struggle with this one because I’m a pretty simple woman with a very simple wish list. All I want is a week-long girls’ trip with my BFF to some tropical all-inclusive resort and Rosie, the Jetsons’ robot housekeeper. Also…Dunkin gift cards.
I know that I’m not alone here—so, months before the holiday season, I start searching for great gifts for people who love to walk and who might not be able to swing that all-inclusive girls’ trip. I’ve got plenty of great gift ideas here (and keep an eye out for my reviews of a number of things on the list!)—but if you need more, check out some of my past gift guides, too!
HANDY GEAR FOR WALKERS
Cold Comfort for Sore Ankles
For me, ankle pain and stiffness are just a part of life—because I was born with an ankle condition. So I spent a lot of time trying to balance ice packs on my sore ankles. Whether you live with sore ankles like I do—or you’re dealing with an injury—TheraICE’s ankle sleeves make it easier to ice those ankles. Just pop them in the freezer for a couple of hours and put them on like socks—and you’ve got cold comfort without fighting with ice packs (or bags of frozen peas).
A Safe Place for Your Walking Shoes
Back when I was a Thirty-One Gifts consultant, I ordered a bunch of their cheap drawstring bags—and ever since the first time I used them to pack shoes in my suitcase, I’ve never looked back. Now, whether I’m packing for a volleyball tournament weekend or just throwing some shoes (and/or recovery sandals) in the walking bag I keep in my car, these shoe bags are one of my favorite things. They’re inexpensive but so very handy.
Washing Protection for Your Favorite Delicates
I keep a basket full of mesh laundry bags handy for walking gear washing day. They’re great protection for sports bras, headbands, gloves, and more.
A Bag That’s Made for Your Water Bottle
Whether I’m out on the trail or running errands, I will always have a water bottle of some kind with me. And the HydroBag fits my water bottle and all of my other necessities, so all I need is one cute crossbody. It’s so handy—and I get so many compliments! (Check out my review!)
It wasn’t that long ago that you needed both a lot of space and a lot of money to be able to bring your walking inside on cold, rainy days. Treadmills can be bulky and expensive. But for around $100, you can pick up a walking pad that will fit in any small space and hide away when you’re not using it. It may not have all of the bells and whistles of a high-end treadmill—but I rarely used the bells and whistles on my old treadmill anyway.
WINTER NECESSITIES
I love my rechargeable hand warmers. They keep my fingers from getting frostbite on wintery walks. But this updated version is so cool! They’re small enough to fit in your pocket, they’re magnetized to stay together, and they even include a flashlight, so you’ll have one handy for evening walks.
Maybe you live in a place where the sun shines all year. I do not. I live in the Midwest, where winters can be long and painfully gloomy. And while I get plenty of sunshine on my walks during other seasons, I sometimes need a little extra boost during the winter. This light therapy lamp is a great way to battle SAD during those gloomy winter months.
Skip the AirPods!
It can be awkward to layer headbands and earbuds and sunglasses for walking. These wireless headphone headbands will keep your hair out of your face on your walk while playing your favorite playlist or podcast!
SELF-CARE NEEDS
Morning walks can be tough if you’re too tired to get up and get moving. And if you’re struggling to get a good night’s sleep, you might need a new pillow! The Marshmalloo pillow is an absolute dream: soft and cool and cushy. It feels like sleeping on one of your kid’s Squishmallows—just without the annoying limbs to smack you in the face. I traded my old feather pillow for a firm Marshmalloo, and I’ve slept better ever since!
If you need more than just a new pillow to help you sleep, the TheraICE Sleep Mask could give you the extra help you need. Not only will it darken any room at any time of day—but the cooling gel can soothe your tired eyes, too.
A Great-Smelling Shower (or Bath)
After my daily walk, I love stepping into the shower to cool off (or warm back up, depending on the season) and relax my tired muscles. It’s even better when I’ve got great-smelling products to help me feel refreshed after those miles on the trail. That’s why I love the lemon bath and shower gel from Steve’s Cleaners. Not only is it clean, gentle, and non-toxic, leaving my skin feeling soft and hydrated, but the real lemon extracts can brighten my mood on even the gloomiest of winter days. An added bonus? At just $20 for 3 10-ounce bottles, it’s an incredibly affordable treat.
A Breathing Boost for Sniffly Days
My bath and shower gel makes for a refreshing, uplifting experience—but when you’re feeling sniffly, these shower steamers will help you breathe again. Just pop one in the shower, and the hot water will mix with these peppermint and eucalyptus shower bombs to clear those sinuses right up.
Post-Walk Massage for Your Feet
After a spa-like post-walk shower, you can treat your tired feet with this foot scrubber mat. Not only will it help to clean your feet, but it’ll give them a nice, refreshing massage, too!
I don’t know about you, but I don’t have the time (or the energy) for extensive routines. These are things I did when I was in my 20s. Now, thanks to this HedgeLeap perfume lotion, I love being able to get a fresh, long-lasting, perfumey scent in a lotion that also makes my skin glow.
STOCKING STUFFERS
If you have long hair, you probably have hair ties everywhere. My hair is usually up in a ponytail—and, even then, I often have a few more around my wrist, just in case. Are they cute? No. But they’re functional. But these packs of hair ties from K’lani actually double as cute, stylish jewelry. They come in so many different colors and themes, so you can find the perfect one for every style and occasion.
As the days get shorter and shorter, it’s nice to have fun ways to stay visible on those evening walks. These scrunchies will tame your hair and keep you visible. Plus…how fun are these? They’re practical and playful—and that makes it the perfect addition for any long-haired walker’s gear bag.
On-the-Go Makeup
I’m all about multi-tasking and keeping things simple. If you need to run some errands after your walk, Palladio’s I’m Blushing 2-in-1 Cheek and Lip Tint will help you look like you actually care about how you look at the grocery store without any fuss at all. You can keep it in your walking bag for touch-ups at any time.
Headrest Hooks
I’ll admit that my car is quite often a mess. I have snack bags and walking gear bags and race day bags…and they just end up tossed in the back seat, where I can rummage around to find them back. These headrest hooks will keep everything within reach—and easy to find back.
There have been times when I’ve been out on a walk with a friend, and it’s gotten dark sooner than we expected. Those are the times when a tiny flashlight like this one would come in handy. You can easily fit it in your pack without it taking up too much space or adding to the weight. And then it’s there if you need it.
Deodorant for Your Walking Shoes
Especially in the hot, sweaty days of summer, your walking shoes might end up smelling…not so great. But these activated charcoal odor absorbing bags can help to keep your car from smelling like stinky, sweaty feet after a long walk.
In my family, we rarely leave home without a power bank—because you never know when your phone will start running low. Spoiler: it’s usually at the most inconvenient time. I love that this one has all of the cables you’ll ever need built right in—so you don’t have to pack the power bank and the cables.
I hope that this collection gave you plenty of ideas for your own holiday wish list—so you’ll end up with some great goodies to open on Christmas morning (because while we understand that the joy is in the giving and not the receiving, it’s still nice to open a thoughtful gift or two, too!)
Do you have anything special on your holiday wish list this year?
