As Peloton learned the hard way, no one wants to come downstairs on Christmas morning to a stationary bike under the tree that they didn’t ask for. But give someone a gift that supports the workouts they already love, and you’ll seem emotionally attuned, not presumptive.
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 nearly every day and coach CrossFit. Here’s my short list of fitness gear that has stood up to my sweat tests and made my workout sessions more fun and comfortable.
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Nike Metcon 10 workout shoes
I’ve been wearing Metcons since 2018, and I’m now on my fifth pair. The versatile 10s are my favorite Metcons yet: they’re grippy and stable enough for heavy squats, and lightweight and springy enough for box jumps. Two tips: order them at least half a size up, and if your recipient likes to run, consider the Metcon Free 6, which has a little more forefoot flexibility and foam in the heel.
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Magic Molecule Hypochlorous Acid Skin Spray
Our white blood cells produce hypochlorous acid to fight infection – and it can battle acne, eczema, rosacea and other skin issues too. A friend of mine turned me on to this spray, which she spritzes on her breakout-prone chest after working out. You can use it anywhere on your body, including your face. The 2oz bottle is the perfect size for gym bags and Christmas stockings.
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Quince All-Day Neoprene Duffle Bag
I got a lot of compliments on this five-pocket duffle when I used it as a gym bag. The best came in the form of a question from an extremely stylish 30-something friend who works in fashion merchandising: “Is that a Dagne Dover?” (The brand’s doppelganger Landon duffle retails for $240.) I’ve since taken over a cubby at the gym, but I still use the bag as a carry-on, thanks to its padded laptop compartment and a sleeve that slips over a suitcase handle.
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Goodr Circle G sunglasses
$25 at Amazon $25 at GoodrI have four pairs of sunglasses, but these are the only ones I run in. No matter how sweaty my face gets, the grip-coated frames – which are super snug and weigh just over half an ounce – never budge. Unlike most sport-specific sunglasses, these ones don’t make you look like you’re wearing a reflective visor over your eyes. And because the flexible frames are more rugged than my Warby Parkers, Goodrs are my go-to for camping trips, hikes and anything involving bodies of water.
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Vitamix 5200 blender
$299.95 at Amazon $449.95 at VitamixMy beloved Vitamix has been going strong since 2013. I have the Pro Series 750, which has since been retired. But if and when it ever kicks 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 post-workout protein shakes (I’m a Promix chocolate whey isolate loyalist). And while the 5200 doesn’t have the 750’s smoothie-specific button, it does have a similarly powerful motor, the same ice-crushing hammermill blades, the same seven-year warranty – and a cult following among chefs and smoothie lovers.
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Powerbeats Fit Wireless Fitness Earbuds
$199.95 at Amazon $199.95 at WalmartThese earbuds are sweat- and water-resistant, so you can run or walk in them when it’s raining, snowing or humid. Plus, they have a “transparency” mode that lets you hear your music as well as, say, oncoming traffic. In the gym, hold the little button on the outside of either earbud for two seconds to switch to noise-cancelling mode, which blocks out whatever’s playing over the loudspeakers. You can also touch the same button once to pause or start a song or double tap it to skip to the next song.
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Lululemon Energy Longline Bra
$68 at LululemonIt’s hard to find a sports bra that’s supportive without being restrictive, especially if it has delicate straps. This one somehow manages to be comfortable, cute, and up to the task of jumping jacks. The neckline is just right – it walks the elastane line between being so low you have cleavage and so high you can’t wipe the sweat from between your boobs – and the underbust band offers more coverage than your average sports bra and keeps the bra from riding up.
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LMNT Electrolyte Drink Mix Variety Pack
$22 at LMNT $23.99 at AmazonMost people don’t need to supplement with electrolytes unless they’re sweating heavily for more than an hour. With that said, if you have an endurance athlete in your life, these super-salty, sugar-free powders are the electrolytes to gift. I’m partial to the citrus and watermelon flavors, all of which are tasty enough that I occasionally pour them into my water bottle just for fun.
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Bombas Vintage Stripes Half-Calf Socks
$14 at Dick’s Sporting Goods $15 at BombasOn a 5ft 8in woman like me, a lot of workout leggings are basically capris. To bridge the gap between hemline and ankle, I’ve ditched my no-show socks – which, like skinny jeans and side parts, are apparently out anyway – in lieu of these taller ones. They look more interesting than plain white socks but don’t clash with patterned leggings. They feel cushioned, but they’re not so thick that your feet get hot. And the half-calf height means you can either scrunch them or wear them pulled all the way up.
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Pso-Spine
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 could try two lacrosse or tennis balls in a tube sock, but it’s hard to keep the balls from shifting away from the erector spinae, those deep vertical muscles running alongside either side of your spine. Enter this triceratops-esque device, which hurts so good when I lie on it that I recently toted it along on vacation for fireside self-massage sessions.
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Yeti Rambler Water Bottle
Here’s what I want in a gym water bottle: a straw cap to minimize the number of times my grubby fingers cross-contaminate where my mouth goes. A leakproof lid so water doesn’t spill when the bottle inevitably tips over in my bag. Dishwasher-friendliness. Double-wall vacuum insulation so cold water stays cold. A capacity large enough 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 the crowded gym floor – ticks every single one of those boxes.
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Surge 3.0 Speed Jump Rope
$33.99 at Elite Jumps $44.99 at TorqueNothing warms me up faster than jumping rope: two minutes in, and I’m sweating. The first jump rope I ever bought was this training rope from RXSG. But as I got better at double-unders, in which you whip the rope under your feet twice for every one jump, and speed singles, which is basically fast jump-roping, I needed something lighter and faster. Someone at my gym let me try their Surge speed rope, and I immediately bought one for myself. Smoother ball bearings keep the ends of the rope from rubbing against the inside of the handles, which means less friction. Now I can string together up to 50 double-unders at a time before my lungs cry uncle.
