With Christmas less than two weeks away, now is the time to focus on gift shopping. But what should you buy for the gym enthusiast in your life? The standard sweater or scented candle may not cut it, and finding a gift that complements their passion can be truly daunting if you are not versed in an active lifestyle. The best fitness gifts are those that show you understand and support their dedication to self-improvement. They should either enhance their training, optimize their recovery, or simply make their gym life a little more efficient and enjoyable.
Confused? Do not worry. We have curated a list of the 17 best fitness gifts, blending practicality, innovation, and a touch of luxury to help your favorite athlete level up their training routine in the New Year. You can trust us here — we have worked in the fitness industry for more than a decade now, and know a thing or two about what constitutes a great fitness gift. With these ideas, you can skip the guesswork and give your loved one something they will truly make use of.
Anna Gora is a health writer and product reviewer at Live Science, as well as a certified personal trainer, nutritionist and fitness coach with nearly 14 years of professional experience. A dedicated gym rat and passionate hiker, she is always on the lookout for new and exciting ways to help people improve their health and exercise performance.
Massage guns and recovery tools
Forget basic foam rollers — the real game changers for post-exercise stiffness and muscle knots are percussion massage guns. These powerful handheld devices deliver targeted percussive therapy (rapid pulses or vibrations to the muscles), helping to alleviate 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 struggle with DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness), giving them one of the best massage guns will show that you care just as much about their rest and well-being as you do about their effort.
- More buying advice: Theragun vs Hypervolt: Which is best?
Running headphones and sports earbuds
Every fitness buff knows that the right soundtrack can turn a good workout into a great one. Noise-cancelling headphones are a perfect gift for a gym lover — they will block out the clanging weights, distracting conversations and underwhelming gym playlists, immersing them fully in their own auditory zone and helping them achieve their best. Make sure that the headphones are fully sweatproof, with a customizable fit and a good battery life, and, most importantly, are compatible with your intended recipient's phone.
Mind you, if your fitness lover is more of an outdoor than an indoor exerciser, they may 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. They are also the only headphone type that can be used underwater — if your loved one is a swimmer or triathlete, they will surely appreciate it.
Gym essentials: Gym duffle bags, water bottles and towels
An active lifestyle is not cheap, and not just because of the steep gym membership costs. The devil is in the details: you may need a reusable water bottle to keep you hydrated between sets, a towel to wipe out your sweat from the cardio machines, an ultra-grippy yoga mat to help you step up your Pilates sessions, a gym bag to keep all your bits and pieces in one place... The list goes on. This is why gym essentials make for fantastic gifts. If you can give your fitness-obsessed loved one something that will help them cut the costs of keeping fit, they will not be disappointed.
Fitness trackers: Smartwatches, skipping ropes and swimming goggles
It is not just Garmin watches and smart rings — these days, fitness trackers come in all shapes and sizes, from innovative digital skipping ropes that count your jumps to smart goggles that measure your stroke rate and other vital stats when doing laps in a pool. Choosing the best fitness tracker for your loved one can be a daunting task, but it is worth the effort. Gym lovers love to keep track of their workout endeavours, and they will always appreciate a gift that helps them make sense of their fitness stats and identify areas for improvement.
- More buying advice: How to choose the best smartwatch for your loved one, according to an expert: The ultimate Christmas gift guide
Fun fitness gifts: Games and trinkets
Fitness gifts do not have to be serious, quite the opposite. The tongue-in-cheek presents are a particularly good option if your loved one already has every possible gym item available, or if they are in dire need of workout inspiration. This Christmas, bring a smile to their face with a fun music boxing machine, fitness board game or a set of coasters shaped like weight plates.
