30 Gift Ideas For Triathletes in 2022
If you’re in search of gift ideas for triathletes on your shopping list, it’s a bit of a bad news/good news situation.
The bad news is that, since they’re working to master four different sports—plus their health and nutrition—your triathlete has a pretty hefty inventory of gear they need to train and compete.
But the good news is that this presents a whole ton of great gift opportunities for you to choose from.
Here are 30 gift ideas for triathletes, categorized by their price ranges.
Table of contents
11 Gift Ideas for Triathletes for Under $100
11 Gifts for Triathletes for Under $500
5 Gifts for Triathletes for Under $1,000
3 Gift Ideas for Triathletes for $1,000 and Up
3 Gift Recommendations from Pro Triathlete Skye Moench
11 Gift Ideas for Triathletes for Under $100
If you’re looking for something on the cost-conscious side, there are tons of useful gifts for triathletes for under a hundred dollars.
1. Lock Laces
When you’re in the middle of a race and you’re transitioning from your bike to your run, every second is valuable. That’s what makes Lock Laces so helpful. These elastic laces with a double-eyelet lock advice allow you to tighten and loosen your shoes without tying them.
They work with any shoes and are available for under twenty dollars.
2. Compression Sleeves
For many people, the impact of running—especially after a bike ride and swim—can be tough on their muscles.
Compression sleeves, whether for calves or arms, help to increase venous blood flow through the muscles and boost oxygen and nutrient return to the legs to ease muscle fatigue. It also helps to accelerate the removal of waste toxins and lactic build-up and boosts the lymphatic drainage to reduce swelling and inflammation.
Essentially, they help eliminate a lot of the cramping that can happen while training or racing.
Check out these ones from 2XU that cost between $50 and $80.
3. Triathlon Training and Nutrition Books
Training for a triathlon—whether a sprint or an Olympic distance—is a big undertaking which requires a ton of expertise and knowledge.
That’s why books make such a great gift for triathletes. There are a ton of great options to choose from, but we love The Triathlete’s Training Bible by Joe Friel, Triathlon Training in 4 Hours a Week by Eric Harr, and Strength Training for Triathletes: The Complete Program to Build Triathlon Power, Speed, and Muscular Endurance by Patrick Hagerman.
4. Race Belt
Help your triathlete look and feel like a pro with a race belt that can hold their gels and gummies as well as their race bib while they run.
For around $30, this Orca Triathlon Race Belt with Pockets is a great bet.
5. Transition Mat
During a triathlon, keeping your gear organized and dry in transition is important. Transition mats are perfect for that.
Transition mats with unique colors or patterns also make it easier for your triathlete to quickly identify their transition spot from the hundreds of others that will be around, in turn saving them time during their race.
We like these transition mats from Synergy which cost around $35.
6. goodr Sunglasses
Believe it or not, finding good sunglasses for running is harder than you might think. But goodr's affordable polarized running sunglasses are no slip, no bounce, all polarized, and all fun, making them some of the best running shades ever invented.
With a ton of styles available and most costing under $50, you’ll find a pair to suit the triathlete on your shopping list.
7. Precision Hydration
Even though you’re doing it in water, swimming is still a high-intensity activity. So, it’s important to fuel accordingly.
That’s why Precision Fuel and Hydration’s assortment of resources and products makes a perfect gift to help swimmers stay hydrated during their workouts.
8. Bike Bento Box
Speaking of nutrition, a bike bento box is a great way to keep your gels, hydration, and bars easily accessible during your ride.
These pouches, like this one from Garneau which costs about $25, sit on the frame of your bike by your handlebars, putting all of your energy-boosting items front and center.
9. Body Glide
Triathletes put their bodies through a lot, and that includes friction. From chafing while running and cycling to friction from repeated swim strokes, it can start to add up and create some discomfort. Body Glide products are inexpensive and help prevent rubbing that causes irritation, rash, chafing, blisters, and raw skin and can be a lifesaver for the triathlete on your holiday shopping list.
10. An Open Water Buoy
Many triathletes train in open water and an open water buoy helps them stay visible and safe with an inflatable swim buoy. These small, inflatable flotation devices are brightly colored, making the swimmer more visible in open water, even from greater distances.
These waterproof bags can also act as storage for your keys, phone, and valuables while you swim.
We like the Swim Buddy which goes for between $41 and $62, depending on the model.
11. Headphones
Many triathletes like to listen to music or training programs while in the water, but traditional headphones are most definitely not waterproof! A triathlete or swimmer might love a set of waterproof headphones as a gift.
We love the Aftershokz XTrainerz Open Ear MP3 Swimming Headphones. They're priced at $199 and fit under their swim cap too.
11 Gifts for Triathletes for Under $500
If you’re looking to spend a little bit extra, you can find some pretty incredible gifts for triathletes that cost less than $500.
Here’s what we recommend.
1. Gear Bag
As we said (and as you’ve probably started to realize by now), triathlon is a gear-and-gadget-heavy endeavor. And getting all of your stuff to the course on race day is no easy task.
That’s why having a designated gear bag—one designed specifically for holding everything a triathlete needs for their race—is such an important consideration.
Zoot makes some incredible gear bags ranging from around $150 all the way up to $400. But remember, this is something that will last your triathlete for many races to come!
2. Race Day Shoes
If you’re not a big runner, you might not realize that there are shoes that are intended specifically for race day.
As opposed to everyday run training shoes, race day shoes often come equipped with carbon fiber soles that reduce power loss and allow you to run slightly faster.
The thing about these shoes is that you don’t get as much mileage out of them as you would from everyday shoes—while you might get 300 to 500 miles out of normal shoes, your race day shoes might give you 100 miles, so they need to be used sparingly.
That being said, great race day shoes, like the Nike Air Zoom Alphafly NEXT% 2, which retail for $365, can be a huge benefit to your triathlete on race day.
3. A Great Helmet
Of course your bike helmet is meant to be functional, but it can also be stylish. That’s why we love POC helmets. Starting at around $200, they’re equal parts cool looking and safe. So, while they might not help your triathlete perform better, they definitely give them style points.
4. Cycling Glasses
When you’re cycling, your eyes are constantly battling the elements—from wind to sun and rain. So, having a great pair of cycling glasses is a gamechanger for triathletes, whether they’re training or racing.
If you’re looking for some of the coolest glasses on the market, we recommend the Oakley Sutros which retail for $215 and are available with a ton of different lens options to choose from.
5. Heart Rate Monitor
For endurance athletes, regulating your heart rate is the key to making it through the race. That’s why understanding your heart rate during various degrees of effort during training is also critical to success—in the pool, on the bike, or when you’re running.
Heart Rate monitors are great gifts for triathletes because they allow them to track their heart rate during training and on race day.
If you’re looking for one, it should also be waterproof so it can go with them in the water. And for that reason, we recommend the Garmin HRM-Tri which you can pick up on Amazon for around $110.
6. Handlebar Hydration System
If your athlete is riding a triathlon bike, the odds are they’ll spend a lot of time hunched over their aero bars. So, the less they have to get up out of that position, the faster and more efficient they’ll be—and this includes not having to reach down or back for a water bottle.
XLab offers a ton of different hydration systems that hook onto the handlebars of your bike so that you can sip water on the go without having to adjust your position. They range from around $100 up to a few hundred dollars.
When it comes to gift ideas for triathletes, this is one they’ll thank you for later.
7. Tri Suit
Every triathlete needs a tri suit: it’s the piece of clothing they’ll wear for the duration of their race, from the swim to the bike through the run.
It’s one of the most essential gift ideas for triathletes and, even if the triathlete on your list already has one, it’s a safe bet they won’t mind a new style or color to wear for race day.
Tri suits generally cost between $150 and $350 and, if you’re looking for a high-quality one, we recommend you check out.
You can also find a lot of different brands and options at Triathlete Sports.
8. Smart Swim Goggles
Knowing your swim stats in real-time helps swimmers perfect their form and performance. Augmented reality goggles can provide real-time statistics (like heart rate, distance, and time) directly on the lens, so swimmers can see their performance in the moment and adjust. These are also helpful in open water or outdoor pool swimming.
FORM Smart Swim Goggles are built to last and make a great gift for swimmers who want to improve their swimming skills.
9. Oura Ring
For competitive swimmers, proper recovery is as important as understanding their stats and metrics in the water.
The Oura Ring, which retails for $299 and up, monitors your sleep, activity levels, temperature trends, stress, heart rate, and more so that you can get a clear idea of how well you’re recovering after your hard swim sessions.
10. Theragun
Speaking of recovery, your muscles need some attention after swim training too. In fact, swimming utilizes almost every muscle in your body.
If you want to spoil the swimmer on your list with a great recovery-focused gift idea, check out the massagers and tools from Theragun, which include percussive devices, vibrating foam rollers, and smart muscle stimulators.
11. Buoyancy Shorts
Buoyancy shorts are great for developing your swimming technique ahead of a triathlon, particularly for beginners who are also looking to perfect their running and cycling techniques too. These shorts imitate the effect of wearing a wetsuit, adding buoyancy to the hips and allowing a higher position in the water.
We’d recommend checking out Orca Unisex Buoyancy Shorts as a gift idea for triathletes which you can pick up for under a hundred dollars.
5 Gifts for Triathletes for Under $1,000
The price range between $500 and $1,000 presents a lot of really interesting and exciting opportunities when it comes to gift ideas for triathletes.
Here are some of our favorites.
1. Race Registration
Race registration fees are a recurring expense for triathletes and, over the course of a season, they can really start to add up.
If you want to give a meaningful (and helpful) gift for triathletes, consider covering the cost of one of their races.
In fairness, most races will cost less than a few hundred dollars, but some of the bigger and longer races can cost quite a bit—so we’ve included this in this category as a catch-all.
2. Therabody RecoveryAir Prime Compression Massage Boots
Just like the compression sleeves we mentioned previously, Therabody RecoveryAir Prime Compression Massage Boots work by aiding blood flow: when the sleeves compress, it helps the blood move through your body to your heart so that when they decompress, oxygen-rich blood flows to your leg arteries and in the case of sports recovery, flushes the muscles and stimulates them with similar pressure and benefits to those of a massage.
If you’ve got a serious triathlete on your shopping list, this gift, which costs around $700, will be incredible in helping them recover properly and perform at their best.
3. Triathlon Watch
Multisport watches allow athletes to track every aspect of their training and race, and seamlessly sync up with all of their other important wearables.
The distinction between regular fitness watches and multisport watches is that the latter will actually allow you to race in triathlon mode, switching from swim to transition to bike and run, all with the push of a single button.
The Garmin fēnix® 7 – Solar Edition, which costs around $900, is an optimal gift for triathletes, whether they’re training for their first race or gearing up for their next Ironman.
4. Bike Computer
With a bike computer, your triathlete can track basically everything under the sun: their speed, distance traveled, even the route they’re following. And that makes them a staple gift idea for every triathlete.
Check out the GPS-powered Garmin Edge 1040 which retails for $799.99.
5. Power Gauge Bike Pedals
There’s no doubt about it: triathletes are data obsessed. That’s why they value every bit of information they can get.
Smart bike pedals, like the Garmin Rally RS100, are helpful: they provide real-time power output information, among other details, that can help your athlete monitor and manage their energy output during their training and race rides.
These pedals are available for $849.99.
Garmin has many models of swim watches in different styles and price points. Watches in the Fenix 6 and part of the Fenix 5 line, and the Forerunner 945 & 745 sync with the FORM Goggles, allowing triathletes to see all their info for their open water swim in real-time.
3 Gift Ideas for Triathletes for $1,000 and Up
When you really want to splurge on gifts for triathletes, there are some pretty impressive things you can give for $1,000 and above.
Here are some of our favorites.
1. Bike Box for Travel
Triathlon bikes aren’t cheap. In fact, some cost as much as a used car. So, if your triathlete is heading out of town for a race, keeping that precious cargo safe is a top priority.
Bike boxes are the perfect solution: they allow you to disassemble your bike, pack it safely and travel with it, then unpack and reassemble it ahead of race day.
They’re available as soft cases or hard shells, but we recommend the hard shells for maximum protection.
Check out the Thule RoundTrip Transition box which costs around $1,000 and offers an ABS plastic shell as well as its very own built-in repair stand.
2. Wetsuit
In many parts of the world, outdoor swimming brings with it cold temperatures that can be challenging to withstand.
That’s why a wetsuit is such a perfect gift for outdoor swimmers.
Whether they don’t have one yet or they need an upgrade, there are a ton of great options available at a range of price points.
We love the DeBoer Ocean 1.0, which combines the flexibility of the Flōh wetsuit and a ThermaFur thermal lining that reflects body heat and is designed with an Ocellus pattern for improved visibility to produce the world's first performance thermal wetsuit.
3. Indoor Bike Trainer
In many places, the weather can get a bit unpleasant during the fall and winter months. But that doesn’t mean triathletes want to quit training.
That’s where indoor trainers come in handy: you can set your bike up on them and literally ride indoors, all while connecting with an app like Strava to ride “real” routes on a screen. You can even ride with friends or tackle challenges.
Indoor bike trainers automatically adjust tension to (very realistically) simulate the feeling of climbing hills.
The Tacx NEO 2T Smart Trainer starts at $1,819.99 and offers everything you’ll need (except a cassette). But be warned: there’s also a rabbit hole of add-ons and accessories (like fans and laptop stands) that you might find yourself going down.
3 Gift Recommendations from Pro Triathlete Skye Moench
When it comes to gift ideas for triathletes, you don’t just have to take our word for it. Check out these recommendations from Ironman and Ironman 70.3 champ Skye Moench.
Here’s what she told us.
As endurance athletes, making sure all of our batteries are charged for training is important so we can get the most out of our sessions and have all the data. I’m not just talking about charging our FORM goggles or Garmin, either. I’m also talking about charging our physical and mental batteries!
I’m sharing some of my favorite things that help me stay charged up on all levels.
1. Multi-USB Charging Station
Your gadget-crazed triathlete loved ones can get everything charged at once. No waiting or having to remember to switch gadgets on the outlet, spread out gadgets and cords all around the house on different outlets.
Having this in my home has definitely leveled up my charging game and keeps all my gadgets in one spot.
You can find a basic one for under $30 on Amazon.
2. Cozy Blankets
Help your athlete make the most of their downtime and recovery by staying comfortable (which may also increase their chance of sneaking in some extra nap time).
I personally love my Minky Couture blanket because it’s so soft and snuggly. Plus, who doesn’t want to be swaddled up in comfort after a tough session?
We now have a few of these blankets in our home (thanks to my Grandma), and while my husband and I are big fans, our dog may be the biggest fan and most frequent user.
You can get Minky Couture blankets for under $100.
3. A High-Quality Blender
Give the gift of a good blender for delicious post-workout smoothies.
No one likes a hangry athlete, and a blender can help deliver calories fast. Getting some carbs and protein into your body after a workout is also great for overall recovery.
Personally, I love whipping up a smoothie and packing it full of fruits, veggies, and protein, but you have to have a good blender to slice through frozen fruit.
I have a Blendtec blender, and I love it. But it’s priced around $300, so it’s definitely reserved for only the nicest triathletes on Santa’s list!
The Most Unique Gift for Swimmers
Whether you need the ideal gift for the holiday season, a birthday, an anniversary, or just because, the swimmer on your list would love any of these thoughtful gifts.
The best gifts for swimmers are ones that fit in their gear bag, like the FORM Swim Goggles. You can sync guided workouts directly to the goggles and never have to memorize a program again. It's a gift any swimmer would love and enjoy to help them stay motivated and progress in their training.
