Gifts For Hard-Charging Trail Moms

Skip the edible bouquet, get the adventurous mother in your life something that she’ll be psyched to use.

Gift Card For Your Local Running Store

Small businesses are hurting right now, and buying a gift card to your local running store can help them out during a tough time. Many running specialty stores do precision fittings and gait analyses, so treat your special lady to the best pair of shoes she’ll ever buy with a gift card. Or, consider supporting an independently owned store like the Go Far shop in Boulder, CO.

Merrell Antora X Trail Sisters Trail-Running Shoes 

The standout feature of Merrell’s Trail Sisters collab is the cosmetic design. Trail Sisters is an organization that supports women in trail running,  and its founder, Gina Lucrezi, hand-picked Colorado-based artist Sarah Uhl for her propensity to draw in bright, bold colors.

One of few female-focused trail shoes, the Antora features Merrell’s proprietary Q-Form 2, a compression-molded cushioning designed specifically for women’s feet. Wider hips make tend to make women pronate more starting at the knee, so the Antora’s design puts cushioning throughout the shoe to help maintain a better alignment throughout the stride.  Air cushion pods in the heel dampen the impact from the initial footstrike to reduce rolling outward (supination) and softer EVA foam in the forefoot fights pronation (rolling inward) when you toe-off. The result is a stable and comfortable ride and lightweight. This is a great shoe for all the trail-slaying moms out there.

An Adventure Vest

There’s nothing better than a fresh vest for the start of adventure season. Designed in collaboration with ultra-legend Stephanie Howe, the VaporHowe 4L vest is designed specifically for women. Adjustable straps on the front can be specifically fit for any runner’s body, and second-skin-like construction minimizes chafing on the move. Two flasks with straws in the front make sipping a breeze while leaving plenty of storage on the back and sides for snacks, poles and layers. For a four-liter vest, this bad mamma jamma sure can go the distance, but for extra hard-charging moms, you might consider the 16L version as well.

Trail Sisters Onesie

This adorable onesie is the perfect gift for moms of hard-chargers in training. Start em’ young, it’s never too early to train the youngsters up for epic trail adventures.

Osprey Poco Plus Child Carrier

This is the Cadillac of child carriers.  A Fit-on-the-Fly™ adjustable hipbeltt makes it a cinch to fit, and extra storage on the main body and hipbelt, and a zippered compartment large enough to stash a diaper changing kit for long adventures. A deluxe padded cockpit with soft contact surfaces, an anatomic fit and ventilated side panels means your kiddo will be riding in style. With full aluminum suspension, you’ll hardly notice the load. This pack lets you take your whole pack out on weekend adventures.

Running Coaching

Let’s face it. Mom-ing is a full-time job, and it can be tough to balance with additional work and a full training schedule! Give your mom the gift of coaching to help her take her training to the next level. Here’s a directory of highly-qualified female coaches who can work with the adventurous woman in your life on a schedule that works for her. Each coaches’ approach is different, so be sure that she finds the right fit for her!

Comfy (and Cute) Running Shorts

These cute floral shorts are functional and flattering. The yoga-pants like waistband means they won’t ride up, slip or pinch. Lightweight fabric makes these duds as light as air, and feature a cute, moody floral print. These are the ultimate adventure shorts for any mother runner.

A Trail Running Retreat

Crunched for time? There’s no better last-minute treat than a trail running retreat. Run Wild Retreats focuses on women’s specific trail running retreats with an emphasis on mindfulness and community. There are retreats for runners of all ability levels, from complete novices to advanced adventurers.  Each trip is led by experts and includes top-notch accommodations and gourmet food along the way. Each itinerary offers a different type of wellness experience chosen specifically to support your recovery and stress-reduction during the retreat. Gift a trip to a unique trail running destination like Iceland, Ireland or Telluride, and give the hard-working mom in your life the gift of a little time off.

A Tote Bag

For busy moms on the go, this nifty tote transforms into a backpack for all her trail running togs. A mesh pocket can let things breathe, while the body of the tote can carry shoes and all your trail running gear to and fro. Gym bags don’t have to be gross, and this bag is the perfect size to stash under a desk for a lunchtime getaway.

A DIY Gift Bottle

Give a gift she’ll definitely use. For the VERY time crunched among us, grab a water bottle and fill it with either relaxing bath salts or the trail fuel of your choice. Once she’s used all the lovely bath bubbles or gels, she has a very cute water bottle! Makes a great addition to the local running store gift card, mentioned above.

Environmentally Friendly Yoga Mat

Support your mother, as well as mother earth with this Manduka Eko Lite mat is made from biodegradable, non-Amazon harvested tree rubber. This sturdy mat won’t tear or stretch and is a great way to elevate your mom’s yoga practice. The closed-cell design is antimicrobial, so that it won’t’ smell and is more durable. This gift mat makes the perfect add-on to your mama’s ashtanga.

Zoë Rom is Assistant Editor at Trail Runner , host of the DNF Podcast and a trail running coach. She enjoys podcasts and pizza.