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Stop sweating out your last-minute gift-giving for your friends and family who are into fitness. While they may already know their workout routines and favorite exercises, many worthy gifts still fit perfectly with their next challenge. That said, remember that they likely already have a favorite clothing brand, water bottle, and sneakers for hitting the gym, so steer clear of staples and look closer to products that fill a specific niche. The goal is to buy the item that someone might have their eye on for a long time but can’t quite pull the trigger on getting for themselves.
Staying ahead of what’s trending in the gym and for home workouts is your sweet spot, and we’ll help you stay in the know with this list of the dozens of the most impressive and more importantly, effective fitness gifts that are available this year. New fitness products flood the market every year, so finding ones that live up to the hype requires a closer look. We spent time scouring through old and new gear to build our list of gifts with only items that are worth their salt.
What to Consider
There are several things to consider when buying a fitness gift for the workout fan in your life. First, consider what they already have or what they have been complaining about needing lately. Is their favorite pair of leggings worn out? Grab them one with high-tech, sweat-resistant material. If they’re still listening to tunes on a crappy pair of wired headphones, choose a new pair of Bluetooth earbuds. If they always seem to be sore, an at-home massaging device is a must.
It’s also important to remember the type of exercise they do. A pair of running shorts will be much more beneficial to a marathon lover than a weightlifter. Similarly, shaker bottles and lifting gloves are better suited for gym rats than trail runners.
How We Selected
The items in this list are chosen from a mix of personal editor reviews, popularity, and fitness trends on TikTok. We picked several products and narrowed them down based on our personal experience with them and product reviews from buyers. The final list includes products that fill several different needs, are great for any fitness level, and come at multiple price points. So, whether you’re buying for someone just entering the fitness world or a bona fide enthusiast, there is a gift here for them.
A reusable water bottle is a great gift, but how about one that cleans itself? The LARQ bottle uses UV light to kill bacteria living in the bottle in just 60 seconds. The bottle even self-cleans every two hours, so there’s no need to continually press any buttons. It will keep their water hot for up to 12 hours or cold for up to 24 hours.
Cryotherapy is a wellness lover’s favorite for soothing sore muscles, and this rollerball works as a handheld cryotherapy device. It delivers cold and heat relief and fits easily in your hand. If you want to use it cold, simply store it in the freezer for at least an hour. If you want to use it hot, place it in a bowl of hot water for 5-10 minutes.
Reviewers note that the ball stays cold for a long time, even after you’ve started working it around your body. You can use this anywhere, including on the face, so it’s a great tool to keep ready to go in the freezer whenever you need it.
Ease into this acupressure mat over time. First, try laying on it for five minutes with clothing on, acting as a barrier. Then, work up to using it directly on your skin for even more relief. This set comes with a pillow so you can get full-body pressure relief to help realign the spine and soothe muscles after going hard in the gym.
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A Protein-Packed Meal
Hamilton Beach Sous Vide Style Electric Egg Bite Maker
Eggs are a valuable source of protein for those seeking to build muscle. Your loved one deserves better than egg bites from the local coffee shop, so why not gift them this nifty egg bite maker that allows them to quickly prepare their post-workout protein-packed meals at home?
In addition to making egg bites, the device can also make poached and hard-boiled eggs in minutes — perfect for those who like to change things up.
Massage guns are great for tough recovery after seriously going hard with the weights. But sometimes you just want to relax and get a more soothing massage that won’t make you scream out in pain. This personal shoulder massager slips over the shoulders and features different kneading and pulsing modes that can include heat if you need even more relief. Your muscle-clad friend will love it.
The Fitbit Charge 5 has a new design, a brighter screen, and upgraded health and fitness-tracking features. Previously reserved for Fitbit’s fitness watches, the Charge 5 now has an EDA stress monitor and an ECG monitor for monitoring heart health.
It’s the perfect fitness gift for someone who doesn’t want a bulky tracker watch but still wants solid info on their overall health.
Cardio lovers, rejoice! With this fitness gift, your recipient can jumpstart that workout routine right away. It has comfortable nonslip handles — one with an LCD screen to see your jumping data. Plus, you can connect it to the Renpho Fit app, which analyzes and tracks your workout data, like calories burned and accumulated jump time, so you can reach your fitness goals.
Protect their hands while they lift weights with these workout gloves. Made with breathable and flexible material, this pair of weightlifting gloves will spare their hands from chafing and blistering and provide crucial traction as they lift even if they have sweaty fingers. It comes in multiple sizes and has an adjustable closure for a comfortable, secure fit.
Get your steps in while you work with this nifty treadmill. You can fold the handrails down to walk while at a standing desk (or when you don’t want them there at all) at a max of 2.5 mph, or you can put the handrails up and get up to a brisk jog or run at a max of eight mph.
Sure, there are a hundred fancy new devices from which someone can track their fitness. But sometimes, old school is best. Writing down workouts can help someone better spot patterns and measure progress — and it’s an easy way to cut down on distractions in the gym. This notebook comes in nine different colors and has pages for logging your exercises, number of sets, and workout goals.
Effective strength training requires knowledge of the body, and this book tells you everything you need to know about your muscles while they’re in action.
Over 75 exercises are included with easy-to-digest explanations and tips, along with colored illustrations depicting exactly which muscle groups are targeted during a specific exercise. Help your recipient create a foundational base of knowledge that they can immediately put into practice.
What is a breathing necklace, you ask? This ingenious tool helps you be more mindful as you breathe during meditation or to slow your heart rate after an intense workout. Simply inhale through your nose, hold your breath, and exhale slowly using the breathing tool. It won’t rust or fade over time because it’s made with high-polished stainless steel.
Speaking of sweat sessions, this towel is perfect for cooling down or staying cool during and after workouts. To activate it, wet it, wring it out, and snap it a few times to ensure it gets cold. The water evaporates, pulling heat away from the body and lowering your temperature.
Best of all, it stays cold for up to 2 hours, so it’s great for outdoor workouts.
If you can’t gift someone your presence on the run, make it easier for them to take their furry friend. This leash is adjustable to fit most waist sizes and has a support mechanism designed for medium to large dogs. The pulling force is divided between both sides of the belt, so there’s no added strain on the lower back.
If your gym enthusiast friend hasn’t already gotten this for themselves, chances are it’s high on their wish list. The Theragun percussion therapy device is one of the most coveted items in gyms and recovery studios. It activates muscles and relieves tension to help someone recover from a tough workout faster. This three-speed Mini is way more affordable than past versions and still delivers the same soothing results.
Don’t let the cold weather keep you from running. This anorak from REI Co-Op is lightweight enough to keep tempo in but strong enough to break wind around you and keep warmth in your core. If the temperature rises, there are vents and zippered openings to let out body heat.
Replace their old-school bathroom scale with this smart scale. Yes, it accurately displays weight using full-surface sensor technology, but it’ll also give insight into your overall body composition, with information like heart rate, body fat percentage, BMI, body water percentage, metabolic age, and muscle mass that can be useful in achieving your fitness goals.
You can also sync your data with the MyVitals app for extra motivation. Its sleek black design will also complement any bathroom aesthetic.
An at-home gym isn’t always realistic, but sometimes one piece of multi-functional equipment can do just the trick. These dip bars have a pretty small footprint, but they pack a big punch since they can be used for tricep dips, push-ups, pull-ups, and ab exercises. Basically, it’s an at-home workout wonder that saves you a trip to the gym.
Ditch your noisy, stinky shaker bottle for this one from Bolde. The Bolde bottle’s stainless steel construction prevents odor absorption and bacteria buildup, making it a more hygienic choice. The best part? The mixer is attached to the lid, so you can mix silently.
It also provides 36-hour insulation and has a bottom compartment ideal for storing pre-workout and protein powder (consider your gym bag spared from a powdery mess).
We are obsessed with the Kettle Gryp, and trust us — it makes the perfect fitness gift. Create a custom kettlebell at home (or on the go!) with this orange device that simply clamps around any standard hand weight. It’s lightweight, too, and a total breeze to take just about anywhere.
Tom Price is a Reviews Editor for Popular Mechanics, and also contributes to Runner’s World, and Bicycling. He has previously covered product reviews, startup news, and even professional wrestling. In his free time, he enjoys watching pretentious TV, low-brow movies, and exercising for beauty, not health. If you are interested in exploring more of his work, check out his website.
Michelle Rostamian is a freelance beauty, wellness, and lifestyle writer with over 12 years of experience in the industry, with a focus on commerce. She has bylines at Allure, InStyle, PopSugar, Marie Claire, The Zoe Report, People, and more.
Elisabeth Narine is the Associate Editor, Reviews at Best Gifts Hub, where she spends her time interviewing experts and scouring the internet for the best gift ideas for every occasion. Her work can also be found on BuzzFeed and Forbes Vetted. She uses her love of shopping, pop culture, and cooking to help guide her search for the perfect gift.