10 Triathlete Gifts Under $25

Tri Gifts Under $25 - Take note, family and friends of multi-sport enthusiasts! Here are 10 gifts that every triathlete will appreciate:

No-brainer Brand Items
1. Lickety Split Transition Mats ($24.95)
Much easier to tuck into the tri bag than a full beach towel, and neoprene makes it easier to clean. Also they’re available in bright colors and include a spot for you to write in your name, so you can find your spot quickly.

FuelBelt Gear (recently named to the 2007 Inc. 5,000 list of fastest growing companies!)
It’s getting dark much sooner now, so don’t forget to stock up on reflective gear. FuelBelt has two great products under $25 to get you some attention:

2. Headlamp ($23.95)
New design, is OSFA and lightweight. Adds visibility for both runners and others on the road.

3. High Visibility Vest ($21.95)
Offered in Red, White, or Neon with Silver reflective trimmings. A staple for any winter or evening runner, or anyone who’s running in the elements (rain, snow, etc.)

Swim Accessories
www.speedo.com is offering free shipping with no minimum spend by entering coupon code speedo124 at online checkout. No off-season training program is complete without cool pool toys for swimming drills, either:

4. Speedo Jogbelt: $24.95
5. Power Paddles: $19.99

Sports Nutrition
6. 1week/1month supply ($15-$25 depending on the athlete)
Speaking of “FUEL” you can’t go wrong with stuffing the stockings with PowerBars, Gu, and other electrolyte mixes. If you get the chance, raid your fellow triathlete’s pantry and find out which brand they use. Rei sells PowerBar products, and ClifBar products are readily available online and at most sporting goods stores.

Educational Investments
7. Digital Subscription to Triathlete Magazine: $12.00*
*Okay, so the real subscription for 1year is $29.95 but if you get yourself one, you can get your fellow triathlete a digital subscription for only $12 more!

Want to add a more personal touch? There’s more legwork involved with this, but like any good training program your efforts will pay off:

Christmas Apparel-ing:
8. Overstock.com has a Bally Total Fitness Sauna Suit for only $12.99!
This Mylar-space suit would be the perfect gift (IMHO) to give to the triathlete who may have been taking himself a bit too seriously. If nothing else, check out the picture on their site!

But seriously, you can’t go wrong getting a solid Dry-fit T-shirt and/or running hat at any major sports apparel retailer. Pearl Izumi, Brooks, TYR, Zoot, and similar online stores can offer some fantastic clearance deals. When in doubt, choose the smaller size, though. We may have fattened up over Thanksgiving, but we plan to lose it again come springtime.

Flattery is King
9. Purchase Official Race Photo $15-55
Steps involved:
1. Find out which race(s) your triathlete did this year
2. Navigate to the race website, to find out who did the official race photography
3. To stay under budget you can buy a 5x7 photo and then frame it yourself.
4. To splurge, you can add $5-35 and order the photo as a framed certificate-style pic, and in the case of Ironman races even order your favorite triathlete’s photo on a box of Wheaties!

10. Personalized Photo Calendar ($12.99-$29.99)
You can use your Shutterfly, Kodak Share, Snapfish or whatever other photo sharing application you’ve got, to create an inspirational training calendar for your favorite athlete. If you know which race(s) the triathlete plans to do, stick a few pics in there of those races on their respective months (i.e. The Wildflower in May, Escape from Alcatraz in June, Ironman Races in July-November, etc.). Aren’t into photo sharing online? No problem; simply take your pics over to the nearest Walgreens, Staples, or Wolf Camera and get 'er done there. Ad pics of yourself and any others who will be part of your athlete's support network!

Happy Shopping,
Jen Killian

Links:
FastTransition.com
Speedo.com
REI.com
Overstock.com
Shutterfly.com, Snapfish.com
triathletemag.com
trisports.com/clothing