Give the gift that suits their training.
People always mean well when they give a sporty gift to an athlete, but every one of us has a graveyard where the not so great ones go to die (mine has a novelty shaker bottle shaped like a dumbbell and a squishy foam roller that may as well be a pool noodle). Of course, all were given with love, but it would be better if these gifts were useful instead of wasteful.
Truth is, athletes likely have a few abandoned carts with the things they'd really like to get. Most often these will be more practical rather than clever or novelty items. But if you want to keep the gift a surprise instead of asking, check out this list.
How to Choose the Best Gifts for Athletes
You can narrow down what to get with these three considerations.
- Their sport: Endurance athletes want conditioning and recovery tools, while strength athletes want load, and then more load.
- Their space: A 300-pound rack is a beautiful gift in a garage and a hostage situation in a studio apartment. Do they even have a home gym, or would something for their gym bag be better?
- Their current setup: Fill a real gap or replace something worn out. Nobody needs a fourth set of loop bands. Try to get a peek at what they already have and what might be missing.
If your athlete is more hybrid than endurance or strength, check out our gift guide just for hybrid athletes.
Athletic Gifts Under $50
People underestimate what you can get at this price tier. Small tools are often the ones that get used constantly because they are portable and .
A speed rope is the best conditioning value in fitness, full stop. You can stick it in a carry-on, and it's great for waking up your calves and ankles before lifting, or as a finisher to get a bit of cardio in. Medicine and slam balls are also super versatile for rotational power, wall balls, and throws that all help athletes be, well, more athletic.
Short loop bands easily vanish into gym bags and never come home, so a new set can be useful, especially for warmups, glute and shoulder activation, or for lighter workouts on the road. You'll just want to be sure your pal doesn't already have several sets.
Supplements are practical and can make great stocking stuffers or secret Santa gifts. Athletes who train at 5 a.m. and need a little pep in their step to get going will definitely appreciate some Purist® Pre-Workout to get them moving without risk of a jittery crash three hours later. Endurance athletes will certainly get a lot of use from Purist® Hydration, which can help prevent cramping and keep them hydrated on sweaty or long miles.
Mid-Range Gifts for Athletes ($50 to $300)
Gear in this price range is more likely to make a bigger impact on how someone trains, which can make for a pretty memorable gift.
A weight vest loads up walks, hikes, pull-ups, and step-ups without taking up any floor space. Start around 5 to 10% of body weight and build from there.
Plyo boxes are super versatile, and great for the person who has everything. You can do jumps, step-ups, box squats, dips, and elevated push-ups, with them, and a lot more. Adding plyometrics can help you run faster, jump higher, and improve running economy, so in other words, ideal for athletes.
Read More: 12 Days of Plyo Box Exercises
Kettlebells let your athlete do swings, cleans, carries, and get-ups and is a great tool for someone without a lot of room for equipment at home.
Sandbags move around on ya, so they force you to brace and grip in a way a barbell never will to build core strength, coordination, and balance (and they are weirdly fun).
Sleds are great for building power, plus they get you properly winded without beating up the knees. There's a reason tons of teams use sleds for off-season training.
Purist® Whey Protein has 25g of grass-fed whey isolate per scoop with only four ingredients, plus it's certified safe for sports.
Purist® Creatine Plus is the other easy add. Creatine improves high-intensity performance, training adaptations, and recovery, and it costs so little that skipping it makes no sense.
Premium Gifts for Athletes Over $300
Big-ticket gear is more of a commitment, so be sure to get ceiling height, floor type, and whether the lucky receiver can actually fit the thing before you click buy.
REP® Strive™ Air Bike humbles everyone regardless of sport, and it's also reasonably quiet, so it works for apartment dwellers or early risers.
Strive™ Curved Treadmill runs without a motor, so sprints, sled-style pushes, and walking all happen on the same deck at whatever pace the athlete chooses without having to worry about putting it near a plug.
Adjustable dumbbells are the single best space saver in a home gym because they replace so many single dumbbells. Plus, they save a lot of cash compared to buying them all separately.
A power rack is a major gift, but it'll turn a garage corner into an actual gym where squats, presses, and pull-ups can happen. Plus, they are a lot safer if you lift alone since they have spotter arms.
A barbell is a super useful, long-lasting gift that unlocks a ton of lifts, especially if combined with a rack.
Gifts for Triathletes and Endurance Athletes
Gifts for triathletes tend to go one of two directions, and it's usually the strength side that gets neglected. Strength training is key for middle and long distance athletes, though, as it improves running economy and race performance while protecting VO₂max. An ideal gift for these folks is a set of kettlebells or adjustable dumbbells instead of yet another pair of technical socks.
For cardio, an air bike or curved treadmill are perfect for getting in zone 2 work on days when the weather is garbage (which, in most of the country, means November through March).
Read more: Strength Training For Runners
FAQs
What are good gifts for triathletes?
Good gifts for triathletes are ones that help them build strength or recover. They usually have their swimming, biking, and running stuff already, or have a favorite brand or model they prefer. Adjustable dumbbells, kettlebells, and loop bands are good gifts for the lifting side of training. An air bike or curved treadmill also helps with indoor zone 2 sessions.
What are good gifts for athletic men?
Look at what he trains rather than the category. A weight vest, sandbag, or sled suits someone doing conditioning and field-sport work. A barbell or power rack suits someone chasing heavy numbers.
What are good gifts for athletic women?
Weight vests, kettlebells, and adjustable dumbbells are useful for any athletic woman, and a vest carries a bone density benefit for women as well. Choose a weight range that starts light enough to be usable now and scales up as she gets stronger.
Rachel MacPherson is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Certified Personal Trainer, Nutrition Coach, and health writer with over a decade of experience helping people build strength and confidence through evidence-based training.
This article was reviewed by Rosie Borchert, NASM-CPT, for accuracy.
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