24 gift ideas and stocking-fillers for runners this Christmas – from Girls on Hills and our brand partners. Discount codes are included, to help you find a bargain!
1) Girls on Hills Gift Voucher - £10-£170
Obviously no runner should start 2023 without exciting plans! Our gift vouchers can be purchased via our website and can be redeemed against any course or adventure weekend with us (in Scotland, N Wales or Lake District). They can be purchased for both men and women, as they can be used for bespoke guided adventures (individual/group running or hillwalking days) on a date of your choosing. If you would like a voucher for a different sum from those sold on our website, just drop us an email at info@girlsonhills.com and we'll sort that for you! Gift the gift of adventure this Christmas!
2) HARVEY Ultra map - £11
These wee maps are perfect stocking-fillers. Light, tough and waterproof, they can be purchased for a wide range of areas of interest to runners and hillwalkers. They fold down so small that you barely know you have them with you. We have NEVER managed to tear or wet-out any of these maps and would 100% recommend them to anyone looking to explore the hills and trails of the UK. They cost only £11 each and there are some pairs/sets available too. For 10% off use our discount code WORKTOG10!
3) Petzl e+LITE® - £26.99
Back-up your main headtorch with this fab little emergency headlamp. It's super tiny, really light and gives 40 lumens of brightness. It comes in a lightweight case and can be stored for ten years and still be ready to go! It's not something you would choose to use for hiking/running in the dark but it is something that we keep in our packs all winter without really knowing it's there. We find it gives that bit of extra confidence, knowing that you're equipped should you need to signal for help or if your primary headtorch fails. Don't leave home without one this winter!
4) Coros Apex 2 - £419*
We have been using the Apex Pro all year and are excited about the new upgrade. The Apex 2 is a bit smaller and lighter than the Pro and a little less battery life (but still 45 hours of GPS use!) The new models have a more durable exterior, a redesigned GPS antenna for stronger performance, an enhanced navigation experience and next-generation optical heart rate sensor. The long battery life, a signature of Coros watches, has been a game-changer for us. Since using them, we've never had to worry about our battery running out - tracking ultra distance events, challenges and back-to-back work days without the need to recharge. We link ours to Strava and to FatMap and our runs pop-up there instantly. It's the first time we've used a watch with on-screen mapping capabilities and it's been a really positive experience. We've found the Apex Pro intuitive to use and reliable, and it's functionality is better suited to mountain running (compared to other brands we've tried). You can up your game even further by pairing the Apex 2 with the new Coros Pod 2 for precise, real-time training metrics.
5) TEKO eco RUN ENDURO 2 - £15.95
We have just started running in eco RUN 2.0 merino ENDURO running socks and we are loving their feel! As soon as you put them on your notice the superior fit and the comfort of a design that is all about how the runners' foot works. They don't rub or crumple and they feel breathable too. What we really like about these socks is how eco-friendly they are. As runners we can sometimes go through a lot of socks but these award-winning socks are renowned for being super durable as well as made from chlorine-free Merino wool and Econyl (from recycled and regenerated Ocean waste like fishing nets). Use our discount code GIRLSONHILLS and feel good about these socks in more ways than one!
A selection of Girls on Hills favourite items from our supporting brands
6) Gin Bothy Christmas Tasting Box - £25
Girls on Hills's Bothy Runs are sponsored by the Gin Bothy and our runners have loved sharing a nip of these delicious gins which are infused with natural botanicals from the Angus glens. A female-led business, the distillery produces festive wee tasting boxes at this time of year. Containing both full strength and liqueur gins, the Christmas Tasting Box provides a set of tiny bottles for a festive celebration. You can drink these neat or add a tonic, a bit of fizz, and hot ginger ale in the Gunshot Gin for a wee mulled toddy in front of the fire - yum! Sign-up to their newsletter for a 10% discount on your first order.
7) inov-8 TRAILFLY ULTRA G 280 - £165
We run in inov-8 shoes all the time - and have done since long before we started Girls on Hills. Frankly, we've used and abused most models and thought we'd seen it all. So we were thrilled to discover that the latest innovation (FLYSPEED, a nitrogen-infused midsole) makes a really noticeable improvement! We have been training and racing in the TRAILFLY ULTRA G 280 since they were released and love their bouncy feel. They are light and comfortable and they turn downhill running on hard/unforgiving surfaces into a joy. Great cushioning and tons of springy rebound that makes yoou feel fast and light on your feet - and frankly we all need a bit of that after the festive season! Use our dicount code for GOH15 for 15% off!
8) FATMAP Explore subscription - €29.99
Step-aside Strava and dubious phone navigation apps, FATMAP is the #1 app for mountain sports! Used by elite mountain athletes across the world, FATMAP Explore is a membership that allows you to download tophographic maps to your phone - for the whole world (not just the UK!) See the terrain around you in 3D, visualise your route, plan your adventure, export or import a GPX file and discover routes around your current location. FATMAP can connect to your watch/device, uploading your run to your activity profile in super fast time (then play it back as a flyover!) A real favourite of ours at Girls on Hills though, are the varied overlays that help visualise important information like aspect, gradient, snow depth, flats or elevation. They can even highlight slopes prone to avalanche! Inexpensive and super versatile, we think this would make a great Christmas gift!
9) Goodr OGs running sunglases - £30*
Who said you couldn't be red-faced, shiny and covered with snot or mud and still look totally awesome? Goodr promise that their shades will keep the sun out of your eyes, stay in place while you run, and ultimately make you look like an original gangster - and we agree. Simple, effective and completely outrageous, we love these affordable shades. The OGs are light and comfortable and have such weird names that whenever things get tough out on the trail, you can ponder what is all means to pass the time - it's the perfect mind-boggling distraction. With non-reflective technology and polarized lenses for UV protection, these are the ideal running accessory for a Christmas stocking! (Ps. we just love a Swedish Meatball Hangover).
10) Dexshell Waterproof Running Lite Socks - £26
Working with Dexshell has made Girls on Hills winter trail running courses possible! Primarily designed for running in wet conditions, we have found that these socks are also perfect for running in snowy or slushy conditions which would otherwise make running in trail shoes massively painful - if not impossible after a time! The same can be said for very windy cold weather where the wind blows through your shoes and turns your toes to ice. These socks are both warm and comfortable. The Porelle membrane gives a waterproof but breathable performance and a drirelease inner manages the moisture. In very wet conditions you won't feel completely dry, buy you won't feel the cold/flushing associated with passing through water either. We have these Running Lite socks on our mandatory kit list for winter trail running courses and believe that they massively increase the conditions that you can feel comfortable running in across the autumn and winter months.
11) SILVA Lakes Traverse from Ourea Events - £159
If you're going to enter your first 100k ultra in 2023 make it this one. The route crosses the whole Lake Distrcit, traversing Ennerdale, Borrowdale, over Grasmere Common, past Grisedale Tarn, through Patterdale, over Kidsty Pike and along Haweswater into Shap (100km and 3,500m)! It's a challenging yet beautiful route and is a great stepping stone for the bigger SILVA Northern Traverse. We'll be at the race in 2023 and will also be running a preparation/recce weekend on the 4th and 5th March in Grasmere, to cover self-navigation techniques and recce a section of the route with you. We'll practice night running together and demo some useful kit from sponsors SILVA (who will supply you a 30% discount code). You can ask us all your questions and feel 100% prepared for race day. Enter before 01/01/23 for the early bird price. Don't fancy it? Enter your unsuspecting partner!
12) Girls on Hills branded buff - £12 incl postage
Everyone loves a Buff right? Well this one is obviously the best and only one you really need! Branded with our Girls on Hills logo, take your Buff everywhere you go and send us photos of it's adventures. Help us spread the Girls on Hills joy of trail running to more women! Better than an orange in the bottom of your stocking.
13) Mountain Fuel FeelGoodBar and Sports Jelly Pack - £14
We love the simple message behind Mountain Fuel Products - 'no fancy claims, just proven results'! We've been using these jellies since 2018 and haven't looked back. We buy their products and they do work! We find the jellies more palatable and easy on the stomach than other gels we've tested. Our favourite is the cola with caffeine (it seems to have some magical boosting abilities!) The selling-point with the FeelGoodBars is the crumbliness - you don't have to chew, so can get it down you , even when your body isn't keen. Ideal for ultrarunners! This taster pack would be a great wee gift for anyone still on the look-out for an energy gel/bar that really works for them!
14) SILVA Expedition 4 compass - £34.99
Expedition 4 is the favoured compass of outdoor enthusiasts who need top level functionality. It is therefore the compass we recommend for our SILVA Navigation Essentials courses and makes up our demo equipment pool - so if you join one of our courses, you'll get to try one out before buying. The full-size base plate and romer scales are useful for advanced micronavigation technqiues. We'll be using this compass on our new SILVA Navigation Improver courses in 2023 (all attendees get a 30% discount from SILVA too!) Give your loved-one the best version of this timeless navigation aid and explore more in 2023. Use our discount code GOH10 for 10% off.
15) Personalised training plan written by Nicky Spinks - £160
Elite fell runner and inov-8 athlete Nicky Spinks joined our team as 'coach' last year and now offers personlised training plans via our website. Suitable for any level of trail running or racing, to include ultra-distance events or 24-hour rounds (no set-up fee). On top of her inumerable credentials, Nicky is a certified Coach in Running Fitness (CiRF) with the Fell Running Association and trains groups, clubs and individuals for specific goals. She is committed to supporting grassroots projects and has a passion for encouraging women to aim-high and achieve their goals. Nicky has many years of successful coaching experience, training athletes for various competitive events such as the CCC, UTMB, Everest Trail Race, Celtman, Race to the Stones etc. Find out more about Nicky and how the 16-week training plans work HERE.
16) Mountain King Skyrunner Ultra running poles - £119
These poles are the lightest on the market! They are also our go-to poles for everything from trail ultras to skyrunning. You have to hold them to believe just how 'super-ultralight' they are. They are collapsible into 4 sections and have a 100% carbon tube (made in the UK!) They have a simple design and fold down to a short length, so are ideal for those looking to save space and weight in their pack. The assumption with a carbon fibre pole is that it will have poor durability, however we have used the same pair since 2018 and have only broken one pole (by stepping on it halfway up, wearing boots and crampons!) so I would call them pretty durable! The bonus is that these poles are also easy to repair (if you do damage a section) and are very afforable compared to other top-end products on the market. A Christmas bargain that will make your running more efficient in 2023! Use our code MKGirlsonHills22 for a discount!
17) Vertebrate Publishing book selection - £12.95- £20
Inspiration takes a different form for different people, so we've curated some titles to help you on your own running escapades and adventures in the hills (inlcuding Running Adventures Scotland and 1001 Running Tips, in which you will spot some of our comments and photos!) Perfect stocking fillers! Sign-up to the Vertebrate Publishing mailing list and save 25% off your orders!
18) Harrier Mini Runners First Aid Kit - £8
Pop one of these in your loved-one's stocking and you can be sure that next time the mandatory kit list says 'basic first aid kit', they will have it covered! Compact, lightweight, packable and waterproof, this little red treasure chest contains 22 essential first aid items especially for trail and fell runners. Everything you need for a race or a solo day on the hill! We like to pop this in our bag and feel confident we have all the basics with us. This year everyone on our Trail Skills for Ultrarunners weekend received one of these kits in their goodie bag, and we think everyone should have one! Harrier is a great brand, making affordable and quality gear - and having fun along the way. Check-out their full range this Christmas!
19) inov-8 VENTURELITE hiking jacket - £230
Here in Glencoe we get some of the wettest and wildest weather the UK has to throw at hill runners and walkers! In these darker months of the year we need something more robust than the usual lightweight running jackets. Also, our exploits are a blend of fast-hiking and fell running - and we're not the only ones! The VENTURELITE hiking jacket is bright, stylish and most importantly functional. It's roomy enough to layer-up and have a good-size hood. It's fully adjustable and we're loving the refreshing colour choice. Although it's designed for hiking, don't let the name mislead you - this is a great winter/mountain running jacket too and we'll definitely see you coming in this one, whatever the weather! Use our dicount code for GOH15 for 15% off!
20) Body Glide - £14.99*
Apply freely and generously! We use Body Glide anywhere where skin rubs together, like thighs, the underside of arms or between toes. The balm creates an invisible barrier and guards against hot spots and chafing but can also be used to reduce chapping from harsh weather. We often get asked about recommendations for good running bras or vests that don't chafe - but often the answer is a good lube or balm such as this. Sometimes even your most tried and tested kit will rub in unusually hot or wet weather. No more bra-strap or nipple chafing for 2023 - now that's a gift!
21) The Munros, Scottish Mountaineering Press - £30
The fully revised 4th edition of the Scottish Mountaineering Club’s original and best-selling guidebook The Munros describes the best routes on Scotland’s 282 mountains above 3,000ft. It is the ideal compendium of routes for hill-walkers or fell runners and an essential companion for anyone hoping to 'compleat'! The book is both a practical guide for planning your next adventure, as well as a source of inspiration for future big days or mountain link-ups. Something to while away those hours on the sofa this Christmas! The dates for our 2023 Munro Bagging 101 courses are already up, so if you're looking to get started on the ultimate summit bagging challenge, then check these out!
22) Mountain Hardwear Lamina Eco sleeping bag - £182.71*
This is a great bag for camping adventures where comfort, practicality and ethics are key but packable size isn't so important. The Lamina Eco is a lightweight synthetic sleeping bag with a spacious cut. The thermal Q fill and integrated draught collar give good insulation (down to -1C). The real plus points for us though are the practicality of a washable, durable bag in a wet British climate (synthetic bags are often more practical and easier to look after than down bags) and the eco-friendly manufacturing (all fabrics are made of recycled fibres). Like this bag, you can feel smugly whiter than white this Christmas! Currently discounted 15% direct from Mountain Hardwear.
23) HARVEY Mazzle (Ben Nevis and Glencoe) - £24.95
A fun little gift for the map connoisseur this Christmas. The Ben Nevis & Glen Coe MAZZLE is a full colour jigsaw based on the HARVEY Superwalker map, so that you can dream and examine our rugged mountain terrain in the dark winter evenings - while looking forward to your weekend with Girls on Hills in 2023! If you have a map-geek in the family, check out our navigation skills courses or book a 1:1 guided day to brush-up your map-reading skills with us! For 10% off use our discount code WORKTOG10!
24) Petzl NAO® RL - £127
Designed especially for trails and ultra-running! The NAO® RL is a rechargeable headtorch that boasts a whopping 1500 lumens of brightness and weighs-in at only145 grams! Building on the design of the IKO/Core it has a comfortable and easily adjustable headband. It's so light and comfortable that you won't even know you're wearing it. REACTIVE LIGHTING® optimises the burn time by efficientcy savings on brightness. Use the lock function to avoid accidentally turning on the lamp in your vest or to lock lighting settings during your activity. Run longer and brighter this winter with this innovative new relase from Petzl.
*Sponsorships and products gifted to Girls on Hills by 2Pure
Wishing you a Happy Christmas (and an adventurous New Year!) from the Girls on Hills team!
