10 of the best fitness gifts this Christmas
Treat the endorphin junkie in your life to one of these kit upgrades. By
Finding the perfect Christmas gift for friends and family isn’t always easy — but if they like to lead an active lifestyle, you might want to swerve the usual chocolates and booze and opt for something sporty instead.
From weights they can use in the living room, to seamless leggings that fit like a glove, we’ve scoured the options to find a variety of exciting and useful Christmas gifts for the gym bunny or fitness fanatic in your life.
Whether you’re on a budget or you’re keen to splash the cash, help them to reach their fitness goals in 2020 with one of these prize pressies...
1. Under Armour women’s ColdGear reactor performance jacket, £105 (was £150), underarmour.com
Make those early morning runs slightly less arctic by adding this snuggly jacket to their kit. It’s made from a lightweight fabric that promises to be ultra-comfy and is designed to conserve body heat while also allowing for maximum mobility. The best part? Thermal pockets to keep hands nice and toasty.
There’s no better feeling than a box-fresh pair of trainers. These shoes from Cloudswift have special foam cushioning tubes in the sole that give a springy and responsive ride from the first toe-off. The shoe comes in a variety of colours; our favourite is the rust hue with orange laces.
3. Focus dusty pink 7/8 leggings, £16.80 (were £28), loveleggings. com
With a seamless design and flattering high waistband, these budget-friendly leggings look just as good as some of the more expensive options on the market. They’re made from a sweat-wicking fabric that has a ‘second skin’ fit, providing the ultimate support during those bendy squats and rows.
There’s a lot you can do with a kettlebell. Whether you swing it, row it, pull it or lunge with it, it’s probably one of the most versatile pieces of equipment going. This one from Domyos is a great mid-weight that can add an extra burn to a home workout — and won’t take up too much space in the cupboard.
Boxing is one of the most exhilarating forms of fitness going. What’s not so great though? Rocking up to your local gym and having to stick your hands into a pair of sweaty gloves that have been worn a thousand times already. There’s no law that says you need to have your own, but if you know someone who’s thinking of getting on the bags this year, do them a favour and invest in a pair they don’t have to share.
6. Fabfitfun subscription box, from around £38.88 plus shipping, fabfitfun.com
If you like the idea of bundling up a variety of little gifts for a friend but don’t really know where to start (or don’t have the time), this subscription box will do the hard work for you. Fabfitfun’s winter box is packed with eight to 10 products (expect skincare, candles, makeup and other treats) with a total worth of over £150. You can buy a one-off box, or sign them up for a subscription of four seasonal boxes.
7. New Balance accelerate 5 inch running shorts, £9.99, sportsshoes.com
Is it just us or does men’s workout gear tend to be a bit bland? If you know a super stylish guy, treat them to a new pair of gym shorts that don’t look like everyone else’s. These roomy ones have an elasticated waist to keep everything in place and a blue outer shell that’s sure to look the part.
If you’ve ever tried to squeeze your gym kit into a bulging tote bag, you’ll know that a sturdy and practical backpack is one of the best pieces of kit you can own. This one from Adidas has space for all the essentials and is big enough to fit a laptop too.
Some protection for the hands can be really important when you’re getting into weights — they can help stop callouses forming and allow for a better grip on the bar. With a padded micro-fibre palm, these training gloves absorb slippy moisture and provide an all-important barrier between you and the equipment.
This handheld massager can bring relief to tight muscles after a hard gym session, which helps the body recover faster. Simply run it over the targeted area and the pulse head will jackhammer away knots and niggles. It has six attachments to provide different massages to relax and rejuvenate — whether you simply want to loosen up your shoulders or really go to town on tight calves.