The 17 best gifts for gym lovers, picked by a fitness expert
With Christmas less than two weeks away, it’s time to focus on gift shopping. But what should you buy for the gym lover in your life? The standard sweater or scented candle might not be enough, and finding a gift that complements their passion can be really daunting if you’re not used to an active lifestyle. The best fitness gifts are those that show you understand and support their dedication to self-improvement. They should either improve their training, optimize their recovery, or simply make their gym life a little more efficient and enjoyable.
Confused? Don’t worry. We’ve put together a list of the 17 best fitness gifts, blending practicality, innovation and a touch of luxury to help your favorite athlete improve their workout routine in the new year. You can trust us here: we’ve been in the fitness industry for over a decade now and know a thing or two about what makes a great fitness gift. With these ideas, you can take the guesswork out of it and give your loved one something they can actually use.
Anna Gora is a health editor and product reviewer at Live Science, as well as a certified personal trainer, nutritionist, and fitness trainer with nearly 14 years of professional experience. A gym enthusiast and avid hiker, she is always looking for new and exciting ways to help people improve their health and physical performance.
Massage Guns and Recovery Tools
Forget basic foam rollers: the real game changers when it comes to post-exercise stiffness and muscle knots are percussion massage guns. These powerful handheld devices deliver targeted percussion therapy (rapid pulses or vibrations to muscles), helping to relieve soreness, increase blood flow and improve range of motion after intense workouts. If your loved one trains hard for a sporting event and/or tends to suffer from DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness), getting them one of the best massage guns will show that you care as much about their rest and well-being as you care about their efforts.
Running headsets and sports headphones
Every fitness enthusiast knows that a good soundtrack can turn a good workout into a great workout. Noise-canceling headphones are a perfect gift for a gym lover: they will block out the noise of weights, distracting conversations and disappointing gym playlists, fully immersing them in their own hearing zone and helping them perform at their best. Make sure the earbuds are completely sweat-proof, with a customizable fit and good battery life and, most importantly, that they’re compatible with your recipient’s phone.
Be careful, if your fitness enthusiast is more of an outdoor exerciser than an indoor exerciser, they might prefer one of the best bone conduction headphones instead. They have an open-ear design that allows for situational awareness, making them a better choice for runners and hikers. It’s also the only type of earphone that can be used underwater – if your loved one is a swimmer or triathlete, they’ll surely appreciate it.
Gym essentials: gym bags, water bottles and towels
An active lifestyle is expensive, and not just because of the high costs of gym membership. The devil is in the details: you might need a reusable water bottle to hydrate between sets, a towel to wipe away sweat from cardio machines, an ultra-grippy yoga mat to help you intensify your Pilates sessions, a gym bag to keep all your items in one place… The list goes on. That’s why gym essentials make fantastic gifts. If you can get your fitness-obsessed loved one something that will help them cut the costs of staying in shape, they won’t be disappointed.
Activity trackers: smart watches, skipping ropes and swimming goggles
It’s not just Garmin watches and smart rings: These days, fitness trackers come in all shapes and sizes, from innovative digital jump ropes that count your jumps to smart glasses that measure your stroke rate and other vital stats as you do laps in a pool. Choosing the best fitness tracker for your loved one can be a daunting task, but it’s worth it. Gym enthusiasts love tracking their workout efforts and will always appreciate a gift that helps them make sense of their fitness stats and identify areas for improvement.
Fun fitness gifts: games and trinkets
Fitness gifts don’t have to be serious, quite the opposite. Ironic gifts are an especially great option if your loved one already has every possible sporting item or is in dire need of some workout inspiration. This Christmas, make them smile with a fun musical boxing machine, fitness board game, or set of weight plate coasters.
