9 of The Best Gifts for HYROX Athletes, According to An Elite 15 Competitor

HYROX, the functional fitness competition that's spreading across the globe like wildfire, has no shortage of fans. So, odds are, if you're a fitness enthusiast yourself, someone you know and love is training for a HYROX event. If you're looking to find a gift for the HYROX athlete in your life, it can be a little overwhelming — after all, the race itself includes a good amount of equipment. That's why we chatted with competitive HYROX athlete, Ryan Kent, who helped us narrow down a list of the best gifts for HYROX and hybrid athletes. 

"Of course there are the HYROX essentials, like wall balls, sandbags, kettlebells, that kind of thing," says Kent. And don't worry, we'll get into those items below. But, in addition to the traditional HYROX gear, Kent also recommends some multi-purpose gifts for athletes that might surprise you. Read on to explore his top picks of HYROX gift ideas that athletes of all levels will love.

HYROX Equipment List

Before we jump into the gift ideas, let's do a quick recap of the HYROX equipment used in competition, as well as the distance or reps associated with each: 

• Ski Erg — used for 1,000m ski 
• Sled — used for both 50m sled push and 50m sled pull 
• Rower — used for 1,000m row 
• Kettlebells — used for 200m farmers carry 
• Sandbag — used for 100m lunges
• Medicine Ball — used for 100 wall balls 

Ryan Kent's top 3 HYROX gift ideas

Squat Rack

"There are so many different things you can do with it. You can obviously do squats, but you can also do rack pulls, bench press, all the all the strength exercises that are going to help improve your ability to do the [HYROX] stations themselves."

If your athlete is building out their home gym setup, a squat rack is a must. REP has three to choose from, including the PR-4100 which mounts on the wall and folds up for easy storage if your athlete is short on space.

Plyo Box

"Another one would be a plyo box," says Kent. "I love doing box jumps and burpee box jumps because it helps my explosiveness. I also love doing step-ups on plyo boxes, too, just to really strengthen my legs."

REP's plyo box offerings include a great 3-in-1 Soft Box (which comes in three different sizes), an Adjustable Plyo Box (which is great for small spaces or taking on-the-go), and more traditional 3-in-1 Wood Plyo Boxes (which are super sturdy and come in four sizes). 

Dumbbells

While Kent acknowledges that the HYROX lineup includes kettlebells, he thinks a more versatile gift (that can still be used as HYROX training equipment) would be a great set of dumbbells. 

"Whether it's a farmers carry or dumbbell shoulder press, I like doing dumbbell movements because it forces your muscles to work in isolation versus always using a barbell," he says. "If you're always doing bench press with a bar, your body learns how to lean on the other side to kind of make up for any any deficiencies, but when you when you're doing it with dumbbells, it really forces each muscle to work on its own."

REP has a ton of dumbbells to choose from, including an adjustable set for those who are short on space, and the always-popular rubber-coated hex dumbbells. 

More gifts for HYROX athletes

Whether you go big with an ERG or pair a few smaller items together to make an awesome athletic care package, there are tons of ways to surprise the HYROXer in your life. Just remember, if you're gifting anything weighted you should make sure you know your athlete's division so you can get the appropriate weight. 

Medicine Balls — From $54.99

100 wall balls await your HYROX athlete, so getting them a medicine ball is a really great way to help them prep from just about anywhere (well, anywhere with a wall!). The women's open uses a 9lb ball (training with REP's 10lb ball will help them feel extra strong on race day) and the men's open uses a 14lb ball. You can even add on a wall ball target to complete the gift.  

Sandbags — From $44.99

Sandbags are awesome for functional strength training, especially for your HYROX athlete who will need to lunge with one for 100m. REP sandbags are durable in design and customizable in weight — athletes in the women's open will need to carry 22lbs (REP size small) and men's open and mixed teams will need to carry 45lbs (REP size medium). They also come in seven different color options so you can cater to your athlete's aesthetic. 

Kettlebells — $74.99 or $114.99 (set of two)

While Ryan Kent is Team Dumbbell, there's obviously something to be said for training with the actual HYROX equipment your athlete will use in the race. The competition uses KBs for the farmers carry — women will need to haul two 16kg bells, while men and mixed teams will need to handle two 24kg bells. These REP bells will help your athlete work on their grip strength and give them a sense of what to expect on race day. 

Liquid Chalk — from $24.99

While HYROX rules and regulations state that competitors may only use event-provided chalk, your athlete might want to practice at home with chalk of their own. We love this liquid chalk, which is less messy than traditional chalk. It's also made with 75 percent alcohol to keep their hands and equipment germ free. 

Push-Pull Sled — $199.99

Ok, this gift requires a bit of room. But, if your athlete has room to spare, a sled is a crucial piece of HYROX training equipment — after all, it's used twice in the competition. REP's sled is made from sturdy steel and is powder coated for maximum grip. Just note that it's sold without plates or straps, so you'll need to add those on or let your athlete pick them out themselves. Another note: women's open division will use max 102kg (including sled) for the pull and the men's and mixed division will use 152kg (again, including the sled).

VO2 Pro Performance Nasal Strips — $21

You've probably noticed athletes of all kinds rocking these strips in interviews and beyond. Kent is no different. "Even if they make me 1% better, I'm down to try it," he says. The jury is still out on whether these strips actually support athletic performance, with most research noting no significant difference in oxygen uptake or VO2 max. That being said, tons of athletes report feeling some kind of improvement when wearing them. This pack from VO2 is widely endorsed and makes a great gift.

Concept2 RowErg — $1,050

Yes, it's a pricier gift, but the Concept2 RowErg is the row erg used in HYROX competitions. With this gift, you're not only setting your HYROX athlete up for success (1,000m here they come!), but also gifting a piece of home gym equipment they can use for years to come for all sorts of conditioning workouts. 

The takeaway

With a little help from a pro like Ryan Kent, finding the right gift for your HYROX athlete is actually easier than it sounds. Whether you're helping your HYROX'er build out their home gym or are bundling an athletic care package, REP has the gear to set them up for success.