The 12 Best American Gifts for the Fitness Enthusiast in Your Life, Vetted by a CrossFit Coach | Life and style
APeloton has learned the hard way that no one wants to come downstairs on Christmas morning to find a stationary bike under the tree they didn’t ask for. But give someone a gift that supports workouts they already love, and you’ll seem emotionally in tune, not virtually.
I spent nearly a decade as an editor at two fitness magazines, where I tested hundreds of sports bras, sneakers, and protein bars. Now I work out almost every day and train with CrossFit. Here’s my short list of fitness gear that has stood up to the tests of sweat and made your workout sessions more fun and comfortable.
Nike Metcon 10 sneakers
I’ve been wearing Metcons since 2018, and I’m currently wearing my fifth pair. The versatile Metcons are my favorite so far: easy to grip and stable enough for heavy squats, and lightweight and springy enough for box jumps. Two tips: Order at least a half size up, and if the recipient likes to run, consider the Metcon Free 6, which has a little more flexibility in the forefoot and foam in the heel.
Magic Molecular Hypochlorous Acid Skin Spray
Our white blood cells produce hypochlorous acid to fight infection – and She can fight Acne, eczema, rosacea and other skin problems too. A friend of mine turned me on to this spray, which she sprayed on her breakout-prone chest after a workout. You can use it anywhere on your body, including your face. the 2 oz bottle It is the perfect size for gym bags and Christmas stockings.
Neoprene all day travel bag
I got a lot of compliments on this five-pocket bag when I used it as a gym bag. The best came in the form of a question from a very stylish friend in his 30s who works in fashion marketing: “Is this Dagny Dover?” (The brand’s doppelganger Landon duffle bag retails for $240.) It’s since taken over a cubby at the gym, but I still use the bag as a carry-on, thanks to a padded laptop compartment and a sleeve that slips over a suitcase handle.
Goodr Circle G sunglasses
I have four pairs of sunglasses, but these are the only ones I wear. No matter how much my face sweated, the grip-coated frames—which are extremely comfortable and weigh just over half an ounce—never budged. Unlike most sports sunglasses, these don’t make you look like you’re wearing a reflective mask over your eyes. And because the flex tires are sturdier than my Warby Parkers, the Goodrs are a favorite for camping trips, hiking, and anything that involves bodies of water.
My beloved Vitamix has been going strong since 2013. I have a Pro Series 750, which has since been discontinued. But if it comes out, I’ll buy the 5200. The 750 can cook soup and make peanut butter, but 85% of the time I use it to make a post-workout protein shake (I Promix Chocolate Serum Isolate loyalists). Although the 5200 doesn’t have the 750’s juice button, it does have its own He does It has a similarly powerful motor, the same hammer blades for crushing ice, and the same seven-year warranty – and is popular among chefs and smoothie lovers.
Powerbeats Fit Wireless Fitness Earbuds
These earbuds are sweat and water resistant, so you can run or walk with them when it’s raining, snowing or humid. In addition, they have a “transparency” mode that lets you hear your music as well as, for example, oncoming traffic. At the gym, hold down the small button on the outside of one of the earbuds for two seconds to switch to noise-cancelling mode, which blocks out whatever is playing through the speakers. You can also touch the same button once to pause or play a song, or double-tap it to skip to the next song.
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Lululemon Energy Longline Bra
It’s hard to find a sports bra that’s supportive without being restrictive, especially if it has thin straps. This person is somehow able to be relaxed, kind, and able to do the job of jumping jacks. The neckline is just right — it walks the elastane line between being too low to have cleavage and too high to wipe sweat from between your breasts — and the underbust band provides more coverage than your average sports bra and prevents the bra from riding up.
LMNT A variety of electrolyte drinks
Most people don’t need that extension Electrolyte unless they sweat heavily for more than an hour. However, if you have an endurance athlete in your life, these super salty, sugar-free powders are the electrolytes to give as a gift. I love the citrus and watermelon flavors, and they’re all delicious enough that I sometimes pour them into my water bottle just for fun.
Bombas Vintage Stripes Half Calf Socks
For a 5-foot-8-inch woman like me, a lot of my workout leggings are basically Capri. To fill the gap between the hem and the ankle, I ditched my no-show socks — which seem to be out anyway, like skinny jeans and side-parts — in favor of these longer socks. They look more interesting than plain white tights but don’t clash with patterned leggings. They are padded, but not so thick that your feet get hot. The half-calf height means you can either knit them or wear them pulled up.
PSO backbone
If you’ve ever tried to foam roll your back, you know that a little thing called your spine tends to get in the way. You can try two lacrosse balls or a tennis ball in a tube sock, but it’s difficult to keep the balls from moving away from the erector muscles, the deep vertical muscles that run on either side of the spine. Enter this Triceratops-like device, which hurts so much when I lie down on it that I recently carried it on vacation for self-massage sessions by the fireplace.
Yeti Rambler Water Bottle
This is what I want in a gym water bottle: a straw lid to reduce the number of times I get dirty fingers where my mouth goes. Leak-proof cap so water doesn’t spill when the bottle is tipped over in my bag. Dishwasher friendly. Double-wall vacuum insulation so cold water stays cold. Large enough capacity that I don’t need to refill the bottle when I’m out and about, but not so large that it’s cumbersome. This Yeti—which I have in neon yellow so I can easily find it on a crowded gym floor—checks every one of those boxes.
Speed Surge Jump Rope 3.0
Nothing warms me up faster than jumping rope: two minutes later, and I’m sweating. The first jump rope I bought was this Training rope From RXSG. But as I got better at the double jump, where you hit the rope under your feet twice per jump, and the speed single, which is basically a speed jump with the rope, I needed something lighter and faster. Someone at my gym let me try out the Surge speed rope, and I immediately bought one for myself. Smoother ball bearings prevent rope ends from rubbing against the inside of the handles, which means less friction. Now I can string up to 50 doubles at a time before my lungs cry, uncle.