Best Graduation Gifts For Runners 2022

Help your graduate prepare for their future while supporting their love of fitness with the best graduation gifts for runners.

Student-athletes can always use more gear, and managing your studies while making time to run or exercise is no easy feat. Your graduating runner has put in the hard work, and now it's time to celebrate.

Whether their next step is higher education or into the job market, we’ve compiled our favorite gift ideas to help you figure out what to buy for your grad who likes to run.

• goodr Sunglasses
• Sprints Hat
• Garmin Venu 2 Watch
• Hydro Flask 21oz Water Bottle
• Feetures Elite Light Cushion Socks
• Aftershokz Aeropex Headphones
• rabbit EZ Tee Short Sleeve
• Hyperice Hypervolt GO 2
• Birkenstock Arizona Birkibuc Sandal

[This article is part of our 2022 Gift Guide for Runners. See all the best gifts for runners by price, category and more. Can’t make up your mind? No worries. Check out our gift cards for a gift that keeps on giving.]

From runs across campus to coffee with friends, great style is easy to achieve with goodr’s lineup of fun and affordable sunglasses. These running sunglasses are no-bounce, no-slip and most pairs come with polarized lenses.

Every runner needs a reliable running hat. As fun as they are functional, Sprints Hats let them show off their personality with cool designs and patterns so they look good while they train hard.

They’ll never be late to a class or meeting again. The Garmin Venu 2 blends sleek style with performance to give them all the benefits of a smartwatch, including wrist-based heart rate monitoring, GPS tracking, and more. Plus, the watch syncs with your phone for notifications and music, and it lets you track your blood oxygen levels, stress and sleep to give you a fuller picture of your health.

If you gift your runner the Hydro Flask 21oz Standard Mouth, they’ll likely own it for life. But not just because they come with a lifetime warranty. These insulated water bottles are built like tanks and can keep beverages cold for up to 24 hours or hot for up to 12 hours.

Don't let your grad get caught wearing two different socks on laundry day. Runners can always use more socks, and the Feetures Elite Light Cushion No Show Socks are one of the best running socks out there. These high-performance socks are anatomically designed for the perfect fit that hugs their arches and never slips down the back of their running shoes.

Aftershokz Bluetooth headphones have an open-ear design and use bone conduction technology so they can safely run and still hear their surroundings, like cars and other pedestrians. The Aeropex Headphones have a lightweight and comfortable fit with nothing going inside or over the ears to distract or annoy them. So your grad can run, work and commute while enjoying music, podcasts, audiobooks and phone calls all day long.

The rabbit EZ Tee is so soft and comfortable that they might forget they’re wearing it. Sweat-wicking, fast-drying and available in plenty of different colors, the EZ Tee makes it easy to pick out a running gift for your grad. We loved it so much that it made it onto our list of the best running clothes!

Hyperice Hypervolt GO 2 Runners are constantly dealing with tight and sore muscles. The Hyperice Hypervolt GO 2 is like gifting a lifetime of free massages. Small and compact, this portable percussion massager is perfect to throw into one of the best running or gym bags so they can warm up and recover on the go. The small design is perfect for the small space of a dorm room or first apartment too.

Birkenstocks are practically part of the uniform for high school and college students across the country. But they’re also loved by runners who wear them as active recovery sandals. The Arizona Sandal’s classic style goes with just about any outfit (including socks and sweatpants), while its legendary footbed cradles the heel and supports the arches for all-day comfort.

How We Picked the Best Gifts

With more than 45 years of experience, Fleet Feet is the expert in running (and gifting). What makes the perfect gift for a runner comes down to the personal experience, goals, preferences and style of that runner. At Fleet Feet, we have been helping runners pick out the right gear for decades, so we know a thing or two about making picking out the perfect gifts for them.

We use a combination of real-life use, quality of materials, seasonal trends and our own top-seller lists to pick out the best gifts. With all that in mind, we picked gear that lived up to our personal (and professional) expectations. Plus, as people who live and breathe running, we know what we would like to unwrap ourselves.

Standing Behind Our Picks

We picked the best gifts based on what we think will work for the most people in the most situations. If you buy a gift from us and you don’t love the way it looks, fits or performs, bring them back within 60 days for a full refund.

Plus, we offer free shipping on all orders over $99 on fleetfeet.com, and we’ll match a lower price from a qualifying retailer. That’s our Happy Fit Guarantee.