Moms deserve appreciation every day of the year, but Mother's Day allows us to show them just how much they mean to us. A little present never hurt anyone, and today's collection has something for every budget and every activity we promote at the store.
Tennis, pickleball, running, and recovery—we've got it all, and hopefully, by the end of this article, we'll have helped you come up with the perfect token of appreciation. You can also check out all the products we discuss on our Mother's Day collection page.
Pickleball
Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in North America, so it's only natural that we begin our gift guide here, and with summer just around the corner, it might be time to break in a shiny new paddle. A quick disclaimer before we make our suggestions: The best way to choose a new paddle is to demo it. We have a wonderful demo program at the store, so feel free to use it, but we also have some great paddles we think could do the trick.
Who doesn't like a bit of colour on their paddle? Pickleball companies are finally starting to design with personality, and the Six Zero Double Black Diamond Cherry Blossom and Vatic Pro Prism Flash have beautiful pink and purple accents. Both are also fantastic paddles; the Double Black Diamond is thermoformed, so it produces plenty of power and spin, and the Prism Flash is a more control-oriented, traditionally molded paddle. They also both feature a shorter, hybrid shape, which gives them great maneuverability while maintaining stability.
The Volair Mach 1 Forza Kevin Yates edition also has a feminine twist with flashy hot pink accents detailing the carbon face and edge guard. This one is 16.5 inches long, so a bit tougher to handle than the Double Black Diamond and Prism Flash, but more advanced players will love the power and spin potential it provides.
Tennis
We can't forget about tennis! As hot as pickleball is right now, tennis will always be Rackets & Runners' (tied for) first love, so we've gathered a couple of rackets that are most popular for women. Again, we recommend you demo, but here are our two cents.
Lighter, more powerful rackets can help generate easy power on the court, and the Wilson Ultra 100L and the Yonex Ezone 100L are some of our most popular in that category. They weigh 280 and 285 grams, respectively, so they work well for most levels, particularly intermediate and advanced women.
Beginners may prefer a lighter racket, and the Pure Drive 100 Lite is a great option. Its lower weight makes it slightly easier to handle and generate power and depth with, but otherwise, it has similar properties to the Ezone and Ultra mentioned earlier.
Court Shoes
We highly recommend you take to the court with a pair of court-specific shoes, and yes, that goes for tennis and pickleball. Without proper footwear, you're losing out on performance, but more importantly, you're running a higher risk of injury due to the less laterally stable nature of runners and trainers.
Since they're played on similar courts, tennis, and pickleball shoes are interchangeable. The New Balance 996 v5 and Asics Solution Speed FF3 fit that criteria very well—both easily come in under the 350 gram weight and have soft, flexible uppers for comfort.
New Balance 996 V5 All-Court
women's
You can use these two shoes for tennis as well, but many players will appreciate some more support and stability. In all its iterations, the Asics Gel-Resolution has been a fan favourite in this category, and the current Resy 9 is excellent and even a little lighter than we've come to expect. New Balance also makes a good supportive shoe in the CT-Rally, and if you want to show some love to one of the most electrifying women on tour, Coco Guaff has her signature, "Coco," which is also fantastic.
Running Shoes
Moving away from the court now, let's turn our attention to running. Spring is the perfect time to go out and stretch your legs on some longer runs, and high-cushioned premium running shoes are the best footwear for that.
Each company makes its own version of the high-cushioned runner, and the Asics Nimbus 26 and Brooks Glycerin 21 are two staff favourites. If you prefer a slightly firmer, snappier ride, Hoka's Bondi has become a classic, and it's done exceptionally well for runners coming back from injury and really anyone who spends a lot of time on their feet. It still has plenty of cushioning but with a little more support and structure.
ASICS Gel-Nimbus 26 Running
women's
Brooks Glycerin 21 Running
women's
Lifestyle
A long run is satisfying on its own, but running with music adds a layer of fun and extra motivation that many runners can't do without.
You do want to be careful while listening to music through a pair of headphones. Especially if you're running in the city, you must stay aware of your surroundings. Shockz constructs their earphones to fit around the ear and transfer sound with vibrations through the bone. It's a unique experience but certainly keeps you in touch with your surroundings.
We recommend the newer Open Fit for a more seamless fit or the Open Run Pro for added security.
You should also be very careful as you transition into the bright and sunny outdoors this spring. Since they haven't seen the sun for sixty thousand years over the winter, your eyes could be truly blinded by the light, so you should consider a pair of athletic sunglasses. Goodrs are our pick for both fashion and function, and they've got a style for everyone in the Mach G, Circle G, and OG.
Socks
I can't stress enough how much a premium pair of socks has completely changed my comfort experience in any shoe. I haven't gotten a blister since I started working at Rackets & Runners — they may come at a premium price, but they're worth every penny. Even in terms of durability, they last ten times longer than cheaper socks, so as long as your washer and dryer choose to have mercy, their value will sort itself out in the end.
Premium socks come in all different shapes and sizes. Some will prefer ultra thin no-shows like the Feetures Ultra Light and Elite Lights, and others will appreciate the plusher feel of something like the Balega Hidden Comfort.
To reduce any risk of chafing, especially on the tennis court, go for something higher cut like the Feetures High Performance Cushion Quarter. As the name suggests, these also have a softer feel than the super thin Feetures mentioned earlier, which tennis players tend to prefer.
Recovery
After all these athletic endeavours, it's time to recover. Drink some water (out of your Hydroflask Standard 21 or 24), and walk around the house in your super comfy Oofos sandals; your feet have earned it.
Oofos Oolala Thong Sandal
women's
Rackets & Runners Run Club
We also just wanted to mention that we have a store Run Club for running and walking. For running, any level is welcome—from learn to run to experienced runners coached by the wonderful Lara Peno, whom you can learn more about here. Our summer/fall program starts in June and can make a great gift for the mom who loves to run or wants to get back into it.
Hopefully, our Mother's Day guide will help you pick out the perfect gift. There's a little something for everyone, but at the end of the day, just remember to show them a whole lot of love. They deserve every bit and more!
View our full Mother's Day Collection.