The 12 best US gifts for the fitness fan in your life, vetted by a CrossFit coach | Life and style
AAs Peloton learned the hard way, no one wants to go down Christmas morning for a stationary bike under the tree that they didn’t ask for. But give someone a gift that supports the workouts they already love, and you’ll look like you’re listening to your emotions, not your presumption.
I spent nearly a decade as an editor at two fitness magazines, where I tested hundreds of sports bras, sneakers, and protein bars. Now I work out almost every day and I coach CrossFit. Here’s my short list of fitness gear that stood up to my sweat tests and made my workouts more fun and comfortable.
Nike Metcon 10 Training Shoes
I’ve been wearing Metcons since 2018 and am now on my fifth pair. The all-around 10s are still my favorite Metcons: they’re grippy and stable enough for heavy squats, and light and springy enough for box jumps. Two tips: Order them at least a half size larger, and if your recipient likes to run, consider the Metcon Free 6, which has a little more flexibility in the forefoot and foam in the heel.
Magic Molecule Hypochlorous Acid Skin Spray
Our white blood cells produce hypochlorous acid to fight infections – and can also fight acne, eczema, rosacea and other skin problems. A friend of mine introduced me to this spray, which she sprays on her rash-prone chest after working out. You can use it anywhere on your body, including your face. The 2 oz bottle is the perfect size for gym bags and stocking stuffers.
Quince All-Day Neoprene Duffel Bag
I received a lot of compliments on this five-pocket bag when I used it as a gym bag. The best came in the form of a question from an extremely stylish 30-something friend who works in fashion merchandising: “Is that a Dagne Dover?” (The brand’s lookalike Landon Duffel Bag costs $240.) I’ve since gotten a locker at the gym, but I still use the bag as a carry-on, thanks to its padded laptop compartment and a sleeve that slips over a suitcase handle.
Goodr Circle G Sunglasses
I have four pairs of sunglasses, but these are the only ones I run in. No matter how much my face sweats, the grip-coated frames — which are super snug and weigh just over half an ounce — never move. Unlike most sports-specific sunglasses, these don’t make you look like you’re wearing a reflective visor over your eyes. And because the flex frames are sturdier than my Warby Parkers, the Goodrs are my favorite for camping trips, hiking, and anything involving bodies of water.
My beloved Vitamix has been working well since 2013. I have the Pro Series 750, which has since been removed from the market. But if and when it goes off, I’ll buy the 5200. The 750 can cook soup and make peanut butter, but 85% of the time I use it to make post-workout protein shakes (I’m a loyal fan of Promix Chocolate Whey Isolate). And even though the 5200 doesn’t have a smoothie-specific button on the 750, it do have an equally powerful motor, the same ice crusher blades, the same seven-year warranty – and a cult following among chefs and smoothie lovers.
Powerbeats Fit Wireless Fitness Headphones
These headphones are sweat and water resistant, so you can run or walk with them when it’s raining, snowing, or humid. Additionally, they have a “transparency” mode that allows you to hear your music as well as, for example, oncoming traffic. In the gym, press and hold the small button on the outside of either earbud for two seconds to switch to noise-canceling mode, which blocks out anything playing through the speakers. You can also press the same button once to pause or start a song or press it twice to skip to the next song.
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Lululemon Energy Longline Bra
It’s difficult to find a sports bra that’s supportive without being restrictive, especially if it has tricky straps. This one somehow manages to be comfortable, cute, and up to the task of jumping jacks. The neckline is perfect – it walks the spandex line between being so low you have cleavage and so high you can’t wipe the sweat between your breasts – and the underbust band provides more coverage than your average sports bra and prevents the bra from riding up.
LMNT Electrolyte Drink Mix Variety Pack
Most people don’t need to take electrolytes unless they are sweating profusely for more than an hour. That said, if you have an endurance athlete in your life, these super salty, sugar-free powders are the electrolytes to offer. I have a weakness for citrus and watermelon flavors, all of which are tasty enough that I occasionally pour them into my water bottle just for fun.
Bombas Vintage Stripes Mid-Calf Socks
For a 5’8″ woman like me, many workout leggings are essentially capris. To close the gap between hem and ankle, I ditched my no-show socks — which, like skinny jeans and side parts, apparently came out anyway — in place of these taller socks. They look more interesting than plain white socks, but don’t clash with patterned leggings. They’re padded, but they’re not so thick that your feet get hot. And the mid-calf height means you can either scrunch them up or wear them pulled all the way up.
Pso-spine
If you’ve ever tried foam rolling your back, you know that a little thing called your spine tends to get in the way. You can try two lacrosse or tennis balls in a tube sock, but it’s difficult to keep the balls from moving away from the erector vertebrae, those deep vertical muscles that run along each side of your spine. Enter this triceratops-like device, which hurts so much when I lie on it that I recently took it on vacation for fireside self-massage sessions.
Yeti Rambler Water Bottle
Here’s what I want in a sports water bottle: a straw cap to minimize the number of times my dirty fingers cross-contaminate where my mouth goes. A leak-proof lid so water doesn’t spill when the bottle inevitably tips over in my bag. Dishwasher safe. Double-walled vacuum insulation so cold water stays cold. Large enough capacity that I don’t need to refill the bottle when I’m on the go, but not so large that it’s bulky. This Yeti – which I have in neon yellow so I can easily find it in the crowded gym – checks each of those boxes.
Surge 3.0 Speed Jump Rope
Nothing warms me up faster than jumping rope: two minutes later, I’m sweating. The first jump rope I purchased was this training rope from RXSG. But as I got better at double-unders, in which you whip the rope under your feet twice for each jump, and at speed singles, which is essentially speed rope jumping, I needed something lighter and faster. Someone at my gym let me try their Surge Speed Rope and I immediately purchased one for myself. Smoother ball bearings prevent the ends of the rope from rubbing against the inside of the handles, meaning less friction. Now I can do up to 50 double-unders at a time before my lungs scream uncle.
