With the holiday season upon us, I created a gift guide based on a very informal poll of runners. Here are head-to-toe ideas for the runner in your life:

– Beanie: The most important pieces of clothing when running in cold weather are a beanie and gloves. The beanie keeps the head warm and traps in body heat. It also keeps the ears warm, and a good one will keep sweat from dripping down your face. Spend money on quality instead of going with the cheaper alternative.

– Sunglasses: These are a must for anyone who runs on snow. The glare from the sun reflecting off snow fields in places such as Bear Creek Regional Park is miserable if you are not wearing sunglasses. Polarized lenses are best, but anything is better than running without eye protection.

– Phone accessories: These days, most people run with their phones. Some take it along for emergencies, some are afraid of missing an important call and some want to listen to music. Regardless of the reason, there are many phone-holding armbands that allow runners to secure a phone and exercise without noticing its presence.

– Hydration system: A backpack hydration system, such as a CamelBak, is good for those who enjoy long runs. While some prefer to carry bottles or wear water bottle waist packs, a more comfortable, hands-free option is a CamelBak. The backpack fits snugly and allows one to drink through a tube easily without slowing down or pulling out a bottle.

– Heart-rate monitor: Many runners like to use these devices to gauge their level of intensity while training. Using science-based methods, runners are able to adjust intensity and workload through heart rate. Many coaches uses heart-rate-training methods, and numerous books have been written on the subject.

– GPS: A lot of runners like to collect data. The best way to collect running-related data – total distance run, pace, average pace, elevation gain, etc. – is to run with a GPS device. The Garmin Forerunner is probably the most popular GPS watch for runners.

– Gloves: Now that it’s getting colder, it’s time to pull the gloves out of the closet or buy new ones. Good gloves that keep fingers warm during winter months are ideal. A combination glove with a mitten over the fingers is the best option for extremely cold days when it’s almost impossible to keep fingers warm.

– Energy bars: Runners are notorious for watching what they eat. My go-to energy bars are Kate’s bars (katesrealfood.com). Kate’s bars are seriously a pocket meal. The Stash Bar, for example, packs 270 calories with 36 grams carbohydrate and 9 grams protein – the ideal 4:1 ratio for recovery.

– Tights: These come in all shapes and colors. Women seem to prefer style, color and patterns while men seem to prefer looser fitting (nonspandex) tights and solid colors. Obviously, the most important part is keeping warm.

– Ice spikes: It’s an ideal gift for those who run outside regardless of weather. These are especially nice if your runner likes to train on trails that tend to stay icy all winter – such as Barr Trail and trails in Cheyenne Canon Park and trails in Cheyenne Mountain State Park. The spikes add valuable traction and make falls less likely.

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Manning is a former member of the U.S. Mountain Running Team and a math teacher at Fountain Valley School. Read his columns on the first Thursday of each month in Out There.