Holidays bring with them the excitement and stress of gift-giving: you’re on the hunt for the perfect present for all your close ones, and you’re working with a budget, all while trying to stay ahead of the shopping rush. We’ve all got that one person in the family: the fitness enthusiast who can’t wait for their next workout session, and is always clad in athletic outfits. Whether they’re into yoga, high-intensity training, running, or a sport like tennis or pickleball, you can find great gifts for the fitness junkie in your family. It’ll help them train better, stay healthier, and they’ll love you even more for it!
Shoes for the fitness enthusiasts:
Tennis shoes offer incredible support and stability, not to mention durability, because they’re built to withstand the rigors of the game. For that reason, they make for GREAT shoes to run or train in, if you’re looking for that extra bit of support around the heels, or a more locked-in feel around the midfoot area.
For running, you may want to look for a lightweight shoe, and the Lotto Mirage 100 is a great option. They’re light and flexible for a fast and agile feel, and provide strategic support so their feet don’t feel sore afterwards.
The Nike Air Zoom GP Turbo tennis shoe is a very comfortable, very supportive shoe. For high-intensity interval training or weight training, these will be your fitness freak’s best friend. These shoes have a cool sneaker-like modern aesthetic, so they transition from court to everyday use easily!
For indoor sports like racquetball or squash, the ASICS Gel-Rocket 9 Shoes for men and women. They offer shock absorption, top-notch comfort and excellent breathability.
Apparel for the fitness enthusiasts:
Training-specific apparel can be a blessing – with essential features such as moisture-wicking ability, pockets, zippers and cuts that aid unrestricted movement, these pieces can really allow them to make the most of their training sessions. Mesh panels are an added feature to look for.
The Adidas Women’s Aeroready 1/2 Zip Training Top is perfect for the weather. It’s got a fun print, along with thumbholes and moisture-wicking technology to keep you comfortable!
If your friend is more of an indoor person, go for the New Balance Women’s Transform Perfect Performance Tank or Tee. Both are streamlined, super comfortable, and ultra soft. Trust us – these will become your friend’s go-to!
The New Balance Women’s Transform High Rise 7/8 Performance Leggings have power mesh and sweat-wicking technology to keep her sweat-free. The drop-in pockets are an added bonus!
For men, the Cold.Rdy Training Hoodie is a winner! Designed for outdoor training in cooler days, the COLD.RDY technology traps heat to keep him warm during those morning and evening workouts! The pockets and the thumbholes offer convenience.
If he likes to train indoors, go for the Nike Legend Long Sleeve Training Crew or or the Dri-FIT Short Sleeved Top. Both feature Nike’s signature sweat-wicking technology, and offer a comfortable, classic fit for your friend to train without distractions.
The Nike Men’s Therma Training Pant is designed to trap heat, so its perfect for the winter season. Side pockets and moisture-wicking technology make this a perfect pick for the fitness freaks in your life!
Fitness watches for the fitness enthusiasts:
Smartwatches are all the rage these days – they allow you to keep track of your activity and fitness, and they easily sync with your phone for text, phone calls and social media updates. The newest models have also gained notoriety as a fashion accessory, so this one checks all the boxes.
The Garmin Venu SQ Fitness Watch blends everyday style with fitness monitoring – it’s durable, it comes with 20 preloaded GPS and indoor sports apps, it’s water-resistant and it has a remarkable battery life (up to 6 days!). With Garmin Pay, they’ll never have to worry about carrying their credit cards or wallet when they head out for a run.
The Garmin Venu SQ Music Fitness Watch includes all of the above, with the added feature of phone-free listening to music. The music feature accounts for the higher price point than the SQ Fitness watch, but it’s still much less than what you would pay for an Apple Watch.
Read our blog for an insightful breakdown of how the Garmin Venu SQ watches compare to the Apple counterpart.
The Venu SQ watches are the latest model of Garmin’s smartwatches, but there are lots more to choose from.
Activity Tracker for the fitness enthusiasts:
If you’re not quite ready to invest in a fitness smartwatch, and are on the lookout for something that still tracks training and performance aptly, the Polar Loop 2 Activity Tracker is an ideal choice.
It records calories and steps, periods of activity and inactivity, sleep duration, and heart rate while exercising. Your favorite fitness enthusiast can use the Polar Flow app to receive free fitness guidance. The tracker is water-proof, so they can use it when swimming too.
Sport Bottles for the fitness enthusiasts:
Sport bottles are one of the most underrated items in a workout bag! The perfect ones will keep beverages cold or hot for a longer duration (and we don’t mean just mildly cold or hot), are easy to carry, sturdy and very durable. More importantly, they’re more than just for the gym – they’re perfect for work, for school, and for use at home.
The Takeya Stainless Steel bottles fits the bill, and more. The stainless steel bottle features a sweat-free finish for when they’re drenched, a protective bumper for the bottom, and keeps liquids cold for up to 24 hours, and hot for up to 12 hours. The 24-ounce bottle fits neatly inside the side pockets of most bags or backpacks, but the 32 and 40-ounce ones are just as streamlined.
The Hydro Flasks are another great find! Similar to the Takeya water bottle, Hydro Flasks feature a sweat-free finish and a streamlined design. These will keep beverages cold for up to 24 hours, and hot for up to 6 hours. Hydro Flasks are available in the 21, 24, 32 and 40-ounce options, and a variety of gorgeous colors if your friend is picky!
Bags for the fitness enthusiasts:
A good gym bag goes a long, long way. With multiple pockets, separate compartments and a durable and spacious construction, a good gym bag is essential to a fulfilling workout.
The Nike Court Advantage Duffel Bag is sleek and classy. This bag is perfect for anyone into racquet sports, since it can store a maximum of two tennis racquets in a padded compartment. Regardless of its racquet-storage use, the padded compartment will always come in handy for storing your phone, headphones and other electronics safely. More importantly, this duffel bag offers a ventilated zipper pocket for your sweaty clothes so the bag doesn’t start to smell. Its base is coated for protection, so it can easily be set down on the ground in varying outdoor conditions.
The Under Armour Undeniable Duffel is built to last. The UA Storm Technology, a water-resistant finish and abrasion-resistant material make this perfect for outdoor conditions.
There’s a ventilated pocket for sweaty clothes and lots of extra pockets to keep them organized and focused! This duffel bag comes in two sizes (Small, Medium) so you can find the perfect one for the fitness enthusiast on your holiday list!
Yoga Mats for the fitness enthusiasts:
If your fitness enthusiast is a yogi, the Gaiam Yoga mats are a great option. They’re also perfect for simple stretches, at home, in the garage, or the gym. At a thickness of 5mm, these yoga mats are lightweight and portable. The gripping texture on the surface offers excellent traction. The yoga mats are available in lots of different colors too!
Training accessories for the fitness enthusiasts:
These training accessories are the perfect add-ons to your gift!
Sweat-wicking headbands, visors and caps will help them stay comfortable and focused.
The same goes for sweat-wicking socks. Many socks will provide the added benefit of targeted support for feet.
The Feetures Elite Light Cushion No Show Tab socks offer support, sweat-wicking benefits and an ultra-soft material.
For longer socks, check out these crew socks from adidas – with varying cushioning options and lots of colorways, you can find one that best suits your friend’s preferences!
The Thorlo Experia Pro Lite No Show Tab socks are ultra-thick and super comfortable. The tab at the back prevents chafing, and Nano Glide technology prevents blisters by minimizing friction.
And last but not the least, towels to help them stay dry and cool, during and after their training session.
The Babolat Medium Towel is made with 100% cotton and features sweat-absorbing properties. Its 20″ by 36.6″ dimension makes it a gym bag staple.
The adidas Large Logo Towel is soft and absorbent, and features quick-drying abilities. Its dimensions are 27″ by 55″, but it’ll fit easily inside a training bag.
Still unsure of what to give the fitness junkie on your holiday list? When in doubt, a Tennis Express Gift Card is the perfect way to ensure they find exactly what they need or want.