Are you looking for a present for your fitness-obsessed mate? Or maybe you just want to treat yourself – meet our favourite fitness gift ideas of the year
If you, your friends, or loved one are as obsessed with fitness as we are, you are going to LOVE this list of the best fitness-related gifts that you need on your gift-list (or wish-list) this Christmas. From training bands to training shoes, these products will seriously upgrade yours or someone else’s fitness regime.
For the Insta-obsessed: MyProtein Pilates Stretch Bands
If you’re in tune with the Insta-sphere you will be hoping and praying for a resistance band set under the Christmas tree this year. The resistance band trend has taken on a new life this year thanks to Instafamous stars such as Alexia Clark and Madalin Giorgetta showing us the amazing gains we can get with them. Pilates Stretch Bands are longer and have more slack and are gaining ever more popularity – attach them to gym equipment for serious isolation workouts or actually try doing Pilates with them. The pack includes a light (blue band), medium (grey band) and a heavy (black band) resistance so you can progress from band to band depending on your strength and flexibility. We love these bands for their portability – if you’re away from the gym for a holiday there is now no excuse not to keep up your training.
Available for £11.00 from MyProtein here.
For fit kit queens: HPE Clothing Subscription Box
Okay, we know this subscription service doesn’t come cheap but if you’re thinking about treating yourself this Christmas, this clothing range is one to seriously consider. Don’t want to take our word for it? Well, Alessandra Ambrosio, Adrianna Lima, Ashley Graham, Jenson Button, Nicole Scherzinger, and Kourtney, Kim and Khloe Kardashian are all fans of the brand and have been spotted sporting it out and about. This subscription service is a great way to build up a collection of on-trend workout pieces, or you can buy a one-off box as a treat (because we don’t all have wallets like the Kardashians). Your box comes with a pair of leggings, a sports bra and a top and you can choose from a selection of style choices including street style (light-weight ‘urban chic’ designs), essentials (all the basics for your intense workout sesh) and best of (what it says on the tin – featuring the brands best-selling designs and the best technology).
For the busy gym-bunny: Sweaty Betty All Sport Backpack
This gym bag not only looks gorgeous, it’s also the most stylish and yet super practical gift you’ll give this year. Sweaty Betty says it will take you from Barre to a bar without a problem and we can believe it. We are already picturing ourselves sporting this backpack with our favourite gym kit and our best post-work drinks attire. Sweaty Betty says the lightweight scuba fabric makes it uber easy to carry about with you all day, while we’re massive fans thanks to the many essential pockets and compartments (12 in total) that have been added to keep kit and valuables separate (not to mention the handy strap that helps you attach your yoga mat).
Available for £75 from Sweaty Betty here.
For stylish sporty types: Ted Baker Water Bottle, Pink Quartz
Fab for anyone on a mission to save the planet, this sleek stainless style bottle pops easily into your handbag. Double-insulated, it’s suitable for both cold and hot drinks and promises to keep your drink of choice warm or cold for up to 12 hours (making it ideal for the daily commute too). While there are many BPA-free options of water bottle kicking about these days, choosing stainless steel over plastics will you help to avoid consuming chemicals that seep out of the product. And on the less functional front, you’ve got to admit that this bottle is gorgeous. The hexagonal-shaped lid makes this one statement gym kit essential – the perfect Christmas pressie for that friend who turns her nose up at plastic bottles.
Available for £26 from John Lewis here.
For the ultimate fitness junkie: Nike Metcon 3 Metallic
Featured in our fashionable AND functional trainer guide, this pair of Nike trainers has the Healthista seal of approval. If you know a woman (or a woman) with a love of hardcore gym workouts (and glitter), these are the trainers that are begging to be under the tree this year. Launching from Nike last month, these trainers will give you a sparkly transition to the new year in the gym or on the dance floor. Nike says the shoe is up for assisting you through the most gruelling and demanding of workouts, from wall exercises and rope climbs to sprinting and lifting.
A drop-in midsole is firm in the heel and softer and more flexible at the forefoot of this shoe which Nike says will give you the stability you need for training, as well as the cushioning you need for short runs and, thanks to its carefully designed firm rubber heel, it’s especially good for stability during explosive lifting. Flywire cables lock your feet down securely while mesh on the heel and ankle helps to keep you cool. Heel clips help reduce drag during wall exercises and sticky rubber in the forefoot which helps you grip onto surfaces. On top of that, the textured rubber wraps around the midfoot are made to keep the shoes durable and intact during rope exercises. Phew! Is there anything this oh-so-gorgeous and yet oh-so-technical shoe can’t do?
Available for £114.95 from Nike here.
For technophobes: Fitbit Alta HR
We’re big fans of wearable tech but some gadgets are just a little bit more difficult to understand than others. The Fitbit Alta HR was released earlier this year and is the perfect Christmas gift for your technophobic mum or anyone that needs a simplified version of a fitness tracker. The tracker automatically tracks your steps, calories and distances and when the Healthista team tested this tracker they loved how easy it is to download the app, pair with your phone and use. There are absolutely no buttons on the device, everything is done automatically or via your phone and for all those fashion-forward fitness-lovers, the band is interchangeable. We loved that we didn’t even have to input exercise into the map manually but when we tested the tech on a run, the Fitbit automatically tracked our exercise. A great way to motivate your friends, loved ones (or yourself) to get those 10,000 steps in daily in the new year.
Fitbit Alta HR is available for £109.99 from Boots here.
For travelling yogis: Lululemon Reversible (Un) Mat
We know you’ve seen Lululemon yoga mats a million times before (at all your favourite yoga classes) – but don’t tell us this isn’t the PERFECT Christmas gift for your yoga-loving loved one. And what’s even better is that this mat is ideal for those friends that can’t go anywhere without their mat. It’s perfect for yogis that are running across town to classes or insist on keeping up their morning sun salutations on every day of their holiday as it’s super light and easy to pack away. The mat is simplistic in design, sweat wicking and moisture-absorbing. Even looking at it is inspiring us to practice.
Available for £38 from Lululemon here.
For the musically motivated: Beoplay H5 Wireless Earphones
Beoplay is a brand that is known for the gorgeous aesthetic of its speakers, earphones and headphones. These metallic pink wireless earphones stay right on brand and promise not only to pump you up mid-workout but also pimp up your athleisure-look. In our view, this makes them the perfect Christmas gift – super functional and beautiful to unwrap. Plus the brand boasts that these earphones are seriously comfy. The cable connecting the two earpieces is encased in braided textile and is moulded directly inside the rubber to prevent dirt and sweat from interfering with the delicate electronics and making it feel comfortable against skin. But the best bit is the next-level tech. Unlike most, these earphones have a variety of sound profiles that can change depending on your activity – they say you don’t want the same sound when you’re working out, commuting and listening to podcasts. Simply download the app and adjust the tonality and sound staging of the earphones – seriously cool.
Available for £159.99 from Amazon here.
For the tech-savvy: QardioBase 2
Some friends might be offended about getting a set of scales for Christmas but not your health conscious tech-loving friend – she’ll be jumping in the air (and onto the scales) at the news she gets to try out this cool piece of tech. Gone are the days when we jumped on a scale and cried over putting on weight – with the #GirlGains trend taking off and strength training movements gaining speed, it’s not enough to know your overall weight. We now need a full breakdown of body composition – muscle, fat, water and bone so that we can accurately track our progress. That’s exactly what this sleek set of scales does. It can be programmed to recognise each family member when they step on and even has a pregnancy mode for mums to be. Big, bulky scales can be a bit of an eyesore but the QardioBase design is elegant and simple which we think makes it a pretty addition to a bathroom floor – it’s definitely on our Christmas list.
Available for £129.97 from Amazon here.
For the friend that loves a winter run: Sweaty Betty Swifty Run Cap
We’re big fans of British brandSweaty Betty here at Healthista. It’s not just their yoga gear that is out of this world – they’ve got some pretty slick running kit too. If you’re buying for someone that loves outdoor running all year round, this Sweaty Betty running cap is a winning gift choice. The sleek running cap isn’t just designed to keep the sun off your face in summer but is a seriously handy piece of kit when you’re running in wet, drizzly weather. An elasticated strap and adjustable strap makes this piece super comfortable and a secure fit (no blowing off in the wind, thank you). Reflective accents on the peak, side and back make running over winter that much safer by making you much more visible in the dark.The best bit? With the athleisure boom this cap isn’t just limited to your outdoor run but converts into a statement steet style piece. Fashionable and functional – tick.
Sweaty Betty Swifty Run Cap is available for £20 from Sweaty Betty here.
Best stocking fillers for fitness obsessives
Better You Magnesium Body Butter
Your fitness loving friend will be seriously grateful for this gift after her more hardcore workouts. Not only will it smooth out and soften your skin but rub it into tired and worn-out muscles and it will soothe your aches and pains, sending you quickly to sleep (magnesium also has proven soporific effects when it’s absorbed through the skin). It’s also been described as therapeutic for psoriasis, eczema and other skin conditions.
Available for £9.95 from Healthista Shop here.
Boxing is the biggest new fitness trend for women right now. From Ed Sheeran’s Shape of You music video (the clips see the crooner and his fighting-fit love interest training in a boxing gym) to the flurry of boxing boutiques that have opened up across the country, it’s clear that the sport is the trend of the moment. A key component? Getting your skipping right. This Adidas Skipping Rope is the perfect stocking filler for anyone keen to get ahead in this sport in 2018.
Available for £4.32 from Argos here.
Methylsulfonylmethane (or MSM for short) is a naturally occurring organic mineral derived during the earth’s rain cycle and is an essential component in the formation of healthy collagen, elastin, cartilage and keratin – the body’s ‘building blocks’. This product is ideal for anyone over exercising and going hard on their joints. Add half a teaspoon to water, juice or a smoothie twice a day and make the most out of this nutritional form of sulphur. Not only is it a great way to supplement a hardcore fitness regime but it’ll help keep skin bouncy and hair strong and supple – win!
Available for £9.95 from Healthista Shop here.
Everlast Ankle and Wrist Weights
A gift that will take bodyweight workouts to the next level. These ankle and wrist weights are ideal for strengthening and toning muscles in your arms and legs. Everlast say their design is super comfy and has a secure feeling fit – we say this is one seriously well priced way to add weight. Each weight adds an extra two kilograms and works with your natural movement. Stocking filler priced and sized, we are big fans.
Available for £9.99 from SportsDirect here.
Decathlon DomYos Anti-Burst Fit Ball
This fitness ball on a budget is the perfect stocking filler for any fitness lover that is working on rehabilitation – just remember not to inflate it before you put it in the stocking. Use it for stretching, toning, working out and even for posture (use it as a chair). The ball is anti-burst but if you do manage to pop it, it’ll go down slowly – boring for the kids but key to avoiding injury. Is your friend really a fitness obsessive if she doesn’t have a bouncing fitness ball taking up space somewhere?
Available for £5.99 from Decathlon here.
More Christmas gifts
10 best experience gifts this Christmas
15 best healthy gifts for him this Christmas
15 best health gifts for foodies
15 best gifts for beauty junkies
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