Velo Holiday Gift Guide for Gravel Cycling

Park Tool Emergency Tire Boot

Just below this, I have a micro tool to help get the valve stem out to swap in a tube. Often when you find yourself in that spot on a gravel ride, it’s because of a slash in the tire. To fix that you’ll need not only a tube but also a tire boot of some kind. You should carry a few dollar bills for this purpose but I also carry these boots from Park Tools. It’s cheap insurance and a great gift.

Swiss+Tech Micro Tool

Gravel bikes deal with the worst conditions possible for tires and sometimes that means tubeless can’t seal something. When that happens you might be swapping in a tube and needing to remove the valve core. The nut that holds that on can be impossible to get loose by hand. This tool is basically a tiny set of pliers (technically there’s also screw drivers but it’s mostly pliers) that is easy to carry with you on a ride. Folded up they are just under two inches and will save you from an emergency call but also last for years sitting in a pack unused. Most cyclicists have a multi-tool but most multi-tools don’t have pliers.

Park Tool VC-1 Valve Core Tool

Continuing to roll with small flat repair pieces, sometimes you’ll find that your valve core is leaking a bit. To fix it you need a valve core tool of some kind. Often you’ll have another one in a valve cap or some kind of multi-tool but this one is cheap and better than most. I bring it with me and use it around the house.

Banana Boat Sport Spray Sunscreen Refill

Long days in the sun are bad news for health. We all know this but when out on a bike it can be a hassle to stop and apply sun protection. It’s even harder when you are wearing gloves. My workaround is spray sunscreen but typically that’s tough to bring with you on a ride. This Banana Boat option solves the problem because it will work in any spray bottle. I pour it into 5ml bottles that cost $6 for a 10-pack and now I’ve got something for a day’s riding. Grab some sunscreen and some bottles and you’ll have a perfect gift for long summer days spent on a bike.

Hydrapak Breakaway Surge 30oz Water Bottle (2 pack)

Water bottles are generally a forgettable item but they shouldn’t be. The Hydrapak Breakaway Surge is simply better than other options. It has a valve that allows you to leave it open without any leaking and it’s available in a 30oz option that’s perfect for backcountry excursions.

Fierce Hazel Weatherproof Cycling Wallet

Many modern gravel bikes have storage in the downtube. It’s a great feature for flat repair but riders who bounce between a gravel bike and a road bike might prefer an option that won’t leave them stranded with flat repair back home in the other bike. This piece will fit everything in a jersey pocket so it’s always with you on whatever bike. It’s also waterproof and it comes from a small woman owned company.

BonkBreaker Gummy Energy Chews

An important part of any nutrition plan while riding is variety. Sometimes you’ll want to drink calories, sometimes chew something that has some crunch, and other times you want something like this that is easy to eat but does provide some mouth feel. BonkBreakers are from a small company and a woman who rides hard. There’s passion in these and they work. This is a great gift for anyone who loves long rides.

Tailwind Endurance Fuel

Endurance athletes need fuel. It’s a great gift because it’s an ongoing, never ending, need. The only question is what fuel makes sense. For some people drinking calories is an excellent way to get them in and in that category, Tailwind is my favorite choice. It’s a reasonable price, it tastes good, it’s high calorie (or low depending on what you put in) and it won’t upset your stomach. My favorite flavor is Mandarin.

MapMy MVP

Every rider loves new gear—but training tools that make you ride smarter? That’s a win. MapMyRide MVP serves up custom plans, real-time coaching, ride metrics, and route creation so you can get more out of every mile. From Saturday coffee rides to century prep, it keeps the motivation high and the progress real. It’s an affordable, practical gift that helps any rider—from weekend cruisers to serious roadies—make every mile more rewarding.

Stinner Titanium Bottle Cage

Gravel bike, road bike, carbon, round tube… it doesn’t matter. No matter the bike, a titanium bottle cage is the perfect accessory. It’s beautiful and timeless.

Specialized Body Geometry SL Footbeds

I sometimes hesitate to recommend something that’s very specific but I’m doing it in this case. I struggled with foot pain myself for a decade, these insoles solved it. As a gift you’ll have to contend with the high, medium, and low arch options but the medium, or blue, is a good guess for most people and most people will benefit from good insoles in any cycling shoes.

Dynaplug Micro Pro Tire Plug Kit

Tubeless tires are great but sealant isn’t fixing some of the holes a sharp rock can create. When that happens, your next line of defense is a tubeless tire plug and Dynaplug is the best you can buy. I’ve carried these for years and the Micro Pull is a good choice for a gravel bike where you might need a few tools to make it all work.

Rab Cirrus Hut Slipper

Is there any holiday gift more classic than slippers? I don’t think so but instead of picking just whatever slippers, get something from a brand that makes cycling gear. These are great around the house but I also love them for times when I drive to the ride and want to take off my shoes for the ride home. Bikepackers will also be a fan of the packability that makes them a good choice for wearing around the camp.

Prestacycle TorqRatchet GO Lite

Everybody should have a multitool of some kind with them. Unless someone is brand new to cycling, they probably have something. This one is better. The reason it’s better is because it’s smaller, has an integrated torque wrench and it’s easily expandable. Instead of some kind of hard to use contraption with tools that fold out, this is just a tiny ratchet that takes standard hex bits. There are 9 bits included but adding more requires only buying some bits and a longer bit holder.

Suunto Sonic Bone Conduction Headphones

Time on a gravel bike allows for taking in the beauty of the outdoors. Sometimes on long rides you might also want to listen to music or podcasts. Even if that’s what you choose to do, you don’t want to close yourself off from the outside world. Bone conduction headphones make it so you can still stay aware but also have music. If you decide to turn them off for a while you don’t have to stop and take them off or worry about losing them, it’s just an easy to press button. Of the available options, Suunto Sonic is just as good as more expensive options but at a great price. Fun colors are a bonus.

Topo Designs Mountain Hydro Hip Pack

Many gravel cyclists prefer not to wear cycling jerseys. Those same cyclists often still need to carry gear that would go in jersey pockets. The solution is a hip pack and Topo Designs makes some of the best. The Mountain Hydro Hip has room for an extra bottle, great style, and the light interior makes it easier to find small things. You can carry some serious gear in this if you need to.

Topo Designs Mountain Shirt

There’s nothing that marks this as a cycling specific item but I’m still including this as a great gift idea for a gravel cyclist. I’ve been wearing it on a bike and it works really well despite that lack of bike specific branding. Off the bike it’s also a nice heavy jean shirt that’s sure to last a very long time. It also gets a nod because a denim shirt just feels like it matches a gravel bike vibe. Pair it with the Topo designs hip pack to really drive home that vibe plus add usability on a bike.

MAAP ALT_road Glove

These are long finger summer gloves specifically designed for epic adventures. That’s the whole pitch really. They are tough enough to hold up to sliding on dirt, if that were to happen, and the light padding keeps your hands comfortable over long miles without creating hot spots. The palm is a synthetic leather and the back lets air through. Check the other colors and you might find a deal.

Trek CHRGtime Charging Station

Modern cycling, even gravel bikes, involve a lot of electronics. That also means a lot of charging those electronics. I used to have lights, headunits, bike batteries, and my watch stashed to charge all over the house. Half the time I’d spend 30 minutes trying to remember where I last put something. The Trek CHRGtime solves that problem. It’s not a must-have but it’s a great gift that solves a small problem by providing four sections, a single plugin to power everything, and a lid.

Silca Elettrico Ultimate Mini Inflator

Silca has a reputation for making the very best pumps you can buy and now that we are in the age of electric pumps that still holds true. There’s a bunch of electric pumps on the market. They are all loud and feel cheap. The Silca Elettrico isn’t like that. Instead it’s a solid block of aluminum that feels good to touch and is noticeably quieter. There are two versions and while this one is a bit bigger it allows you to dial in an exact pressure. It’s great for bringing with you on a gravel ride where you need to adjust pressure along the way or it’s great at home before a ride.

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Theragun PRO Plus

Long days on gravel demand recovery that works as hard as you do. The Theragun PRO Plus delivers. The most advanced recovery device available, it combines five powerful, science-backed therapies in one: deep muscle percussive massage, heated percussive, near-infrared LED light, vibration, and cold therapy (sold separately). It helps relieve pain, improve mobility, and speed up recovery so you can ride stronger, longer. Smart features include biometric tracking, guided breathwork, and an easy-to-read LCD screen that walk you through step-by-step routines. The percussive therapy targets deep muscle soreness after long climbs, while heat and LED light improve circulation and flexibility for faster results.

Ornot Merino Gravel Sweater

There’s obviously no such thing as a “gravel” sweater but this Ornot piece is still a great gift for a gravel cyclist. It’s fitted, has a back pocket perfect for stashing keys on a ride, and easy to care for. I love this kind of nod and wink that says I’m a cyclist even though I’m not wearing bike gear.

JoeBlow Tubi 2Stage Floor Pump

Setting up a tubeless tire is not complicated as long as you have the right tools for the job. A floor pump is an important one of those tools. Most of the time tubeless specific pumps use a chamber you pressurize. It works fine as long as everything is perfect. When it’s not perfect you do the work to pressurize the canister then watch it do nothing before you do it again. The Tubi 2Stage isn’t a complicated piece of equipment. The only real innovation is that it flows more than double the air of most pumps. It’s enough to set tubeless tires without issue but it’s also great for high volume, low pressure, gravel tires. I’ve used this floor pump for years and there’s nothing better on the market.

Velocio Hydration Pack

For whatever reason road cyclists don’t generally use hydration packs while gravel cyclists often do. Maybe it’s the lack of refill option in the backcountry but whatever the reason, the Velocio Hydration pack is a great option for adding an extra 1.5L of water plus more storage space. The sizing helps make sure that it doesn’t bounce around when the path gets rough. Excellent for both day adventures and gravel racing.

Zwift Annual Membership

It’s winter when you are reading and most people in the US are either already moved to indoor cycling or will move there soon. A great gift option is a year membership to Zwift where indoor riding is a lot more fun. Obviously this is great for the off-season but even in the summer there’s good reason to ride indoors if you are short on time, or maybe want to race, and now Zwift gives credit for your outdoor rides in the game. This is the kind of gift that lasts longer than the day you give it.

Jumping to our best cycling smart trainers might also be worth it if you are considering something along these lines. Some of the trainers even come with a Zwift membership.

Feedback Sports Modular T-Handle Kit

Every cyclist needs a great set of hex wrenches. The typical L-shaped is an option but T-handle wrenches are far more convenient. Typically the problem is that they are also harder to store. This kit from Feedback Sports solves that by allowing you to separate the two pieces and put them into the included tool roll. They are great in tight spaces, have a precision cut end so that you don’t strip bolts, and there’s torx here as well. This is every size you need for a bike.

MAAP ALT_Road 2.0 Jersey

Let’s be honest, road and gravel cycling distinctions are as much about the bike and where you ride it as they are about fashion. Different kinds of bikes have a different culture and different fashion. The MAAP Alt_Road jersey is still on the racy side but it’s cut a bit looser and the details are focused on gravel style. It still has a just right fit though and all the performance you’d expect from a well known brand like MAAP. For most people this will be a bit of a luxury purchase and that’s what makes it a perfect gift.

Smith Seeker Sunglasses

I always think one of the best types of suggestions for a list like this gift guide for road cycling is the kind of gift that’s cycling adjacent. The Smith Seeker glasses are great on a gravel bike but they are also great off the bike. I love that they come with a cord to hold them around your neck and I love the style. These are a great gift that has a wider use range.

Insta360 X5 360 Camera

If you know someone that wants to share their rides with others, this is the absolute best action camera for use on a bike. I’ve spent years testing different options and nothing beats this. If you want to hold it the candybar shape makes it easy even on rough gravel roads. If you want to chest mount it then the ability to reframe later means you never capture footage staring at the ground. There’s also a ton of good accessories for shooting cool video that looks like a drone is following a rider. You can read a bit more in my Insta360 X5 review.

HOVERAir X1 Promax Follow Drone Camera

Any of my review videos that include scenes of me riding come from the HOVERAir X1 Promax. It’s another one of those things that’s so cool it seems impossible that exists and actually works. It does though. It will fit in a jersey pocket then launch whenever you want and fly behind, over, ahead, beside you while it records beautiful quality footage. It will dodge trees and it’s perfect for really taking in the majesty of a beautiful vista. This is a game changing piece of equipment for creating cycling content.

Garmin Venu X1

Cyclists who aren’t runners don’t really need to wear a watch while working out. You’ve got a headunit on your bars. On the other hand, only having metrics from your headunit doesn’t give a full picture of your training and recovery. If you stick with Garmin for both a watch and a bike computer then the two will hand off data seamlessly so that it looks like a single unbroken stream in Gamin Connect. That still leaves a watch choice though and I find the X1 is the perfect option for cyclists. You can run with it but it’s not the best running watch. Instead it’s an excellent smart watch with a big screen that’s easy to read notifications on and tons of battery life. It also has the performance metrics, like training status and body battery, that matter off the bike. Even better, it looks nice as a watch and doesn’t feel too sporty when paired with nice clothes.

Garmin Rally XC210 Power Meter Pedals

As a rider if you want to ride farther, or ride faster, the absolute best way to do that is to start training with power. There’s no single investment that will improve your skills more than having that info. The Garmin Rally XC210 are the best class when it comes to power meter pedals and you can even swap the pedal bodies to put them on a road bike. I you are looking for a gift that truly invests in someone’s passion, this is it.