The 40 Best Fitness Gifts for Your Athletic Friends
Health & Injuries.
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If you’re close to an athlete, be they a runner, yogi, or self-described gym rat, it may feel like finding them a gift is impossible. After all, they seem to have everything they need, right?
While this may be true on a large scale—you don’t need to at Jenson USA to a runner, for example—chances are there are gaps in their rotation of accessories that make each workout a little more tedious than necessary. The real challenge, then, is figuring out what they need.
While we don’t know what kind of equipment your fitness-obsessed friends are rocking already, there’s a good chance one of the gifts below will help them solve some nagging problem they didn’t even know they had. From neat gym accessories, to convenient memberships and comfy recovery gear, these items provide the perfect balance between thoughtfulness, value, and usability—no cheap mugs or tacky t-shirts here!
Looking for something run-specific? Check out our top gifts for runners.
This little gadget uses guided meditations and vibrations to help gym-goers find some peace and mindfulness—everything from breathing exercises, to daily meditations, to meditations specifically for athletes. It also tracks stress and progress overtime, which can help make mindfulness a habit instead of a brief relief.
This mat may be uncomfortable at first, but it can help speed up recovery, reduce stress, and improve circulation for that special fitness fanatic in your life. They can lay on different parts of their body, or even stand on it while they work once they’re accustomed to using it.
Similar to the doubly priced Apple Watch, this Fitbit has a minimalist design and comes in a few different color options. It tracks heart rate, activities, sleep, and more, and its sleek design will make you want to leave it on all day.
Pamper hard-working feet with this heated foot massager. It has a detachable, washable foot cover, and can fit feet up to a men’s size 12. We love a fitness gift that also promotes self care.
If the athlete in your life is looking for a more thorough readout of their health stats, now could be the time to splurge and get them a performance running watch from Garmin—the Kleenex of running watches. This gadget not only tracks runs with impressive GPS accuracy, but it also keeps track of all kinds of vital health stats, from heart rate and blood oxygen to training readiness and sleep quality.
Hyperice Hypervolt Go 2 Percussion Massager
This percussion massager really hits the spot—hundreds of times over and over, to be exact—after a grueling workout session. It comes with multiple head attachments for varying levels of pressure, and the speed is also easy to adjust.
Don’t let its cool, casual design fool you—this shoe’s here to work. It’s an all-round gym trainer, so it can lift heavy, sprint fast, and flex comfortably with all of your athlete’s cross-training workouts.
Commuters and casual bikers will love this pack. It’s great for storing a few small necessities, and it protects your phone while keeping it on display. It also has a touch-friendly screen guard, so your fit friend can still use their phone as they ride.
There’s nothing worse than drinking a warm protein drink—ask your gym-dweller friends if you don’t believe us. This bottle keeps your drink cold all day with double insulation, and it has an attached agitator that keeps your drinks properly mixed. It also won’t rattle around while you drink it.
Athletes take fueling seriously—it can make or break a workout. But finding fun recipes isn’t quite as easy as counting macronutrients, which is why our cookbook makes a thoughtful gift for any fitness enthusiast who’s growing weary of chicken breasts and rice. It’s packed with 150 recipes, all of which will give your athlete something to look forward to after an intense session.
If you don’t have a lot of space for gym equipment, TRX trainers are a great way to get in an intense full-body workout without the need for heavy, clunky machines—all you need is a fixed tethering point, such as a tree branch or support beam, to use as a counterweight. These bands don’t provide the same resistance that, say, a weighted gym machine would, but it’s plenty for working the underutilized muscles in your core.
Nathan TrailMix Plus Hydration Belt
Whether your fit friends like going for jogs around the neighborhood or weekly hikes, this fanny pack holds all the essentials—including water—so they can trek with their hands free. This hydration belt in particular stands out from the pack because, on top of having space for two bottles, it comes stock with two insulated ones.
If you know a nutrition fanatic who loves to start the day with a green smoothie, this blender is a great pick. They’ll love whipping up their concoction in its personal-size cup, and they’ll surely appreciate the 1200-watt motor that can handle ice, frozen fruit, and fibrous veggies with ease.
This yoga mat from Manduka is only a millimeter and a half thick, which makes it great for traveling—it can roll up to fit perfectly in a carry-on while still leaving room for your other away-from-home essentials, and you can even fold it up in a pinch. It’s not the most supremely cushioned mat on the market, but it’s certainly better than the hardwood in your Airbnb.
Daylight is still waning, and sometimes it’s just not possible to get in a run while the sun is shining. This headlamp will keep your athlete safe by lighting their way, and it’s easily adjustable, even with gloved fingers (or numb ones).
A great way to get in a workout indoors, the NordicTrack Commercial S22i Studio Cycle allows them to take classes, go on virtual rides, or simply turn the pedals and get some energy out. And for your friend who loves boutique fitness classes, this bike also comes with a free 30-day trial of iFit, a series of live and on-demand classes in which iFit Trainers automatically adjust your resistance, incline, and decline for a more immersive experience.
This e-bike is great for leaving the car at home and riding to work or school, which might be a New Year’s goal for the fitness lover in your life. It has a top speed of 28 mph and a rack for hauling your stuff, and it even comes with a built-in LCD display that shows your speed, battery capacity, and other metrics. Plus, it’s built to the IPX4 water-resistant standard, which means it can withstand water splashes and light rain from any direction.
Class Pass is an app that allows members to book workout classes and gym passes all across the US. For someone who travels frequently, this fitness gift can make or break their ability to get in their workout.
Apple AirPods Pro
These earbuds are noise-cancelling and sweat-proof, making them a great pick for when you want to zone in on your workout. They also pair quickly with your devices so you can get straight into your run.
Chamois Butt’r GoStik Anti-Chafing Stick
If you’re looking for a stocking stuffer that will get some chuckles as well as plenty of use, there’s no anti-chafe stick quite like this one from Chamois Butt’r. It’s no secret that chafing is the real bad guy of running, and having a quick and easy means of preventing it can make any run longer than a few miles feel significantly more bearable. All you have to do is apply this stick to areas where you chafe regularly, and you’re good to go for hours.
Adam Schram is an Assistant Editor of Commerce at Runner's World, Best Affordable Running Shoes Bicycling and Popular Mechanics, too. A lover of all things outdoors, Adam's writing career comes after six years as a bike mechanic in his hometown of State College, PA. His journalism experience is steeped in cycling and running gear reviews, and he's also a published creative nonfiction and satire author. When he's not writing, riding, or running, you can catch Adam at home mixing cocktails, watching Star Wars, Shoes & Gear.
Before joining Runner's World, Gabrielle Hondorp spent 6 years in running retail (she has tested top gear from shoes, to watches, to rain jackets which has expanded her expertise—and her closets); she specializes in health and wellness, and is an expert on running gear from head-to-toe. Gabi began her journalism career as a Digital Editorial Fellow for Runner’s World and Bicycling Magazine, and has since advanced to a Runner's World Editor specializing in commerce. She has a double degree in English and Media and Communication from Muhlenberg College where she also ran cross country and track.
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