Best Customized Medals for Marathon Runners – Our Picks

Alright, I’m not gonna lie-I was a little skeptical about how good a photo medal could look, but this thing blew me away. Uploading the image was dead simple, and the engraving came back crystal clear, right down to the tiny details of my running buddy’s goofy race face. The medal itself has a surprising weight that makes it feel legit, and the stainless steel doesn’t cheap out like some of the zinc alloys out there. The ribbon is wide and soft, no scratchy neck irritation after 20 minutes of wearing it. Honestly, I’ve seen finisher medals at major marathons that don’t look this good. If you’re celebrating a first-time marathoner or commemorating a PR, this is the ultimate high-five in medal form.

The customization interface requires a pretty clean, high-contrast photo to avoid blurry output, so your late-night, low-light selfies might not cut it. Also, the metal tends to show fingerprints, so keep a cloth handy for the awards ceremony.

For a keepsake that actually captures the emotion of race day, this photo-custom medal is the absolute gold standard-runners will cherish it long after the blisters heal.

Look, not every race needs a bespoke, engraved trophy. For my annual neighborhood turkey trot, this bulk pack was a lifesaver. You get 30 identical, decent-looking gold medals with ribbons already attached, which saved me hours of fumbling with string. The backs are completely blank, so I grabbed a silver Sharpie and scrawled the year and event name in 30 seconds. For less than a buck a medal, the value is off the charts. The medals have a satisfying weight-they’re hollow but don’t feel like toy prizes. And the three ribbon colors let me separate first, second, and third place easily. Runners were seriously stoked to get any hardware at all.

The gold finish is thin-after a few sweaty wearings, I noticed some faint rubbing. Also, the ribbons are on the shorter side, so they might not fit over bulky winter running hats.

If you need a budget-friendly, no-frills medal solution for large events, this bulk pack is a practical pick that still brings smiles.

I’ve ordered dozens of customized awards over the years, and Eunigem’s process is refreshingly painless. Punch in your text, pick a logo, and in about a week a box of shiny, heavy medals lands on your doorstep. The aluminum has a nice metallic ping when you tap it-none of that plastic knock-off sound. At 3 inches across, it’s a big, proud medal that hangs perfectly on a wall rack. I used these for a local half marathon, and runners kept asking where we got them. The ribbon is generously long and the V-neck clip makes it easy to put on. For under seven bucks per customizable medal, it’s a steal.

The engraving area is limited to about two lines, so long event names get squished. And the aluminum can get minor scuffs if you toss them around in a box.

This is your go-to for affordable, good-looking custom medals that make your race look legit without the premium price tag.