Holiday Gifts for Athletes: What to Order and When

People who train are hard to shop for. They already own the shoes, the bottle and the bands, and they're picky about all of it. The good news: the gifts that land are usually the plain ones they use every day. Here's a short guide to what to get, plus the timing that matters most this time of year.

Start with the calendar

Most gift stress is timing stress. Before you pick anything, write down three dates:
1. When you'll hand it over. The holiday itself, a party, or the last time you'll see them before travel.
2. Where they'll be. Home, out of town, or staying with family.
3. When you need to order by, counting back from date 1. That's the next section.

Order-by dates, plainly

The holidays are busy, so don't leave it late. Order by Dec 18 for delivery by Christmas.

Standard shipping is free on U.S. orders over $99 (before coupons and discounts), and every MOSO Black Performance Pillow is over $99.

In Denver: same day

If the person you're buying for lives between Centennial (south) and Westminster (north), timing is simpler. Orders placed by 1 PM MT get free same-day hand delivery, and later orders arrive within 24 hours, except on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. For Christmas, order by 1 PM MT on Wednesday, Dec 23. Same-day delivery also doesn't run on Thanksgiving, New Year's Eve or New Year's Day. Include a phone number so we can text the ETA.

That's useful for the gift you forgot, the host you didn't plan for, or the person who's back in town for one night.

Gift ideas by athlete

No brand names here, just the categories that tend to get used. Ask a training partner if you're not sure of sizes or preferences.

For the runner
- Good running socks. Runners go through them fast.
- A race entry for a spring race. In Denver, that could mean Colfax (Sunday, May 16, 2027, per runcolfax.org) or BOLDERBoulder on Memorial Day 2027, Monday, May 31 (bolderboulder.com). Check registration on the official site first.
- A headlamp or reflective layer for winter's dark mornings.

For the lifter
- A simple paper training log. Some lifters like writing it down.
- Chalk, a good shaker bottle or a gym bag that isn't falling apart.

For the functional-fitness or CrossFit athlete
- Jump rope, grips or tape: small, used, replaced often.
- A heads-up on the calendar: the 2027 CrossFit Open starts with 27.1 on Feb 18 (CrossFit Games). A gift that helps them plan those weeks tends to land.

For the skier or rider
- Hand warmers, a neck gaiter or a good insulated bottle.
- A packing upgrade for ski weekends: eye mask, earplugs and a travel bag.

For the early riser who trains before work
- A sunrise-style alarm clock or a simple analog alarm, so the phone can stay out of the bedroom.
- A good insulated mug for the drive to the gym.

For anyone: something for sleep
Training gets the attention, but sleep is where every day starts and ends. Blackout curtains, an eye mask or a new pillow are gifts people actually use every night.

The gift they use every night

A pillow is personal, so it's a good gift when you know how the person sleeps. Our buyer's checklist covers what to look for. Here's what you'd be giving with ours:
- The MOSO Black Performance Pillow: filled with viscose made from bamboo, blended with bamboo charcoal and tourmaline, and designed to sleep cool. The bamboo charcoal and tourmaline convert your body heat into far-infrared energy, which you don't feel as heat, and reflect it back to your body. It's a cool pillow.
- No polyester in the fill or the ticking, and no microplastics.
- Medium firm with a soft hand, for back, side and combination sleepers. It sits lower than a traditional down pillow and holds a steady height all night.
- Sizes and prices: Standard/Queen 18 × 26 in, $109 (2-pack $169). King 18 × 36 in, $119 (2-pack $179). Charcoal or Silver.
- From Denver: we're a Denver company, and every pillow is assembled and finished in Denver.

A 2-pack covers a couple, or one for home and one for the ski condo.

Make it easy to receive

• Add a gift note. The cart has an "Is this a gift?" option where you can add a note.
• Ship it to them directly, or to you if you want to wrap it.
• Keep the order confirmation. Our refund policy allows a return request within 30 days after receiving the item, if it's unused and in its original packaging, with a receipt or proof of purchase. See the policy for all conditions.

Denver delivery

Between Centennial and Westminster, free same-day hand delivery runs 7 days a week (holiday exceptions above): orders placed by 1 PM MT are delivered the same day, per our shipping policy. Elsewhere in the U.S., standard shipping is free on orders over $99. New customers: HELLOMOSO takes 10% off.

Get the MOSO Black Performance Pillow →

Keep reading: Pillow for Athletes: A Plain Buyer's Checklist · Same-Day Pillow Delivery in Denver · Sleep for Runners

— Team MOSO

FAQ

What do you get an athlete who has everything?
Something they use up or use every day: good socks, small training gear, a race entry or something for sleep.

Is a pillow a good Christmas gift?
It can be, if you know how they sleep (side, back or both) and whether they like a taller or lower pillow. Check the return terms before you buy.

When should I order for Christmas?
Order by Dec 18 for delivery by Christmas. In the Denver metro, free same-day delivery on orders by 1 PM MT, except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. For Christmas, order by 1 PM MT on Wednesday, Dec 23.

Can I add a gift note?
Yes. The cart has an "Is this a gift?" option for adding a note.

Can a gift be returned?
Our refund policy allows a return request within 30 days after receiving the item, if it's unused and in its original packaging, with a receipt or proof of purchase. Start with admin@mosopillow.com.