The Best Fitness Gifts for Every Kind of Exercise Enthusiast
$168 at Amazon
Theragun Mini (2nd gen)
A compact and powerful mini massage gun
$37 at Amazon
Triggerpoint Grid 1.0 foam roller
Space-saving foam roller
A fitness-themed gift is a great way to show someone you care. If you know someone who’s a gym rat, getting them something related to their favorite hobby is a sure bet. Or maybe you’ve got a loved one who’s looking to take charge of their health in the new year and needs some clever tools to help them stay on track. No matter who you’re shopping for, you’ll find some great ideas below on our list of the best fitness gifts in 2024.
When it comes to exercise equipment, there are a lot of options to choose from. We’ve curated a list of the best fitness gifts available that will appeal to a wide range of tastes and preferences. Most of the fitness gifts below can work for pretty much anyone — whether they’re gym newbies or experienced workout warriors. Scroll on to see some of our editor-approved fitness gifts that your friends and loved ones will enjoy, no matter their fitness goals.
Amazon If your gift recipient is in need of a blender that doesn’t take up much counter space, the Nutribullet Ultra is a solid choice. It’s Nutribullet’s latest model and it has a quieter motor, and instead of just the option to automatically blend, you can also pulse your mixture. The blending cups are now made of Tritan Renew, which is a recyclable and BPA-free material. The new blade is made to reduce blending time, which is helpful when you’re in a rush to get out the door. Similar to former Nutribullet cups, these are portable, dishwasher-safe and shatter-proof.
Giselle Castro-Sloboda/ CNET The Theragun Mini (2nd generation) is a great choice if you know someone who’s always on the go and wants a quick massage before their workout or while traveling. The second-gen Theragun Mini is quieter than the original Mini, and is 20% smaller and 30% lighter. It also has three attachments to choose from. Don’t let its size fool you either. This massage gun has three speeds ranging from 1,750 to 2,400 percussions per minute. It also has 12mm of amplitude, which is deep for a mini massage gun. Another plus is Bluetooth, so you can connect it to the Therabody app.
The Theragun Mini is the right size to throw into your gym bag, backpack or purse. It comes with a soft travel pouch so it stays extra protected in your bag. It’s the perfect gift for the friend or family member who’s serious about their post-workout recovery.
TriggerPoint If a massage gun isn’t in line with your budget, a foam roller is another good way to help with sore muscles. The Triggerpoint Grid 1.0 Foam Roller is one of my favorites because it isn’t too big (only 13 inches long) and it’s durable. I bought one many years ago and it’s still holding up.
Foam rolling is an inexpensive way to reduce muscle tightness and increase your range of motion, which is also good to do before a workout. If you’re shopping for a friend or family member who likes to train like an athlete, they’ll appreciate this gift for recovery after each workout.
Hyperice The Normatec Go is Hyperice’s portable air-compression wearable device designed to boost circulation to your legs to help your muscles recover faster, reduce any swelling and improve your performance. What I love about this product is how lightweight and easy it is to use at home and carry on the go. Unlike the full-body Normatec boots, these only cover your calves, and there’s no need for additional hoses or attachments as you recover after a day of activity or being on your feet. All you have to do is press the control unit found on the sides of the Normatec Go and you’re on your way to quick relief.
The Normatec Go can also be connected via Bluetooth to the Hyperice app (available for iPhone and Android phones), which gives you access to preselected air compression routines. It’s made to be used on the go, which is a nice alternative to the full-fledged Normatec boots. This would be an ideal gift for anyone who’s looking for additional ways to recover post-workout or for someone who travels frequently and needs a therapeutic way to decompress.
Nobull Nobull’s Trainers made CNET’s best weightlifting shoes list because they’re stylish and versatile at the same time. You can tell a lot of thought went into designing a weightlifting shoe that does it all. If someone on your list likes to spend their time in the weight room or at CrossFit classes, they’ll appreciate these shoes. Choose from a variety of patterns and colors.
James Martin/CNET The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is the rugged outdoors watch made with athletes in mind. It offers a customizable action button, fall and car crash detection, ECG, temperature sensor, dual-frequency GPS and built-in LTE. The top-notch heart rate sensor is a favorite among runners, cyclists and outdoor exercisers because of its accuracy.
This heavy-duty watch added some new features with this year’s model, like a brighter screen and a double-tap gesture function, and the Siri function works faster, thanks to the new S9 chip. The Ultra 2 is bound to be a favorite among those who enjoy serious athletic activities and other sports where precise accuracy is required.
Read our Apple Watch Ultra 2 review.
Giselle Castro-Sloboda/CNET If you’re looking to give the runner in your life a new pair of running shoes, you can’t go wrong with New Balance’s Fresh Foam X 1080v12. New Balance’s 1080 series have been my go-to for running marathons, half marathons and even for casual runs. I’ve tried various versions of the 1080s, and they’ve all served me well during all distance runs.
The v12 is the latest version and offers the most cushioned Fresh Foam midsole foam yet. I tested these out while pregnant and it remains one of my favorite overall running shoes. I’d recommend this shoe for the serious or casual runner who has a wide foot and needs the extra support — or prefers more support. According to some reviews, this style runs big, so if you’re planning on buying a pair for a friend, be sure to size down from their normal size.
Read our picks of the best running shoes for women.
Beats Giselle Castro-Sloboda/ CNET The ShakeSphere impressed me with its ability to provide a smooth protein shake, so it’s no surprise CNET named it the protein shaker with the best design. The capsule looks like a grenade and can hold hot or cold beverages. And it’s not just a shaker — this multiuse bottle can also be used as a flask or thermos. The unique design is shaker-ball free and instead uses centrifugal force to mix protein powder and liquid. It’s provided some of the smoothest shakes I’ve ever made with a protein shaker. And bonus points: The spout is designed to be drip-free.
Another unique feature is that ShakeSphere can puree soft fruits like bananas or berries, if you’re looking to make a smoothie without a blade. Based on my experience, I’d recommend using fruit at its ripest point — otherwise you’ll end up with chunks of it in your drink. If you have a friend who enjoys drinking protein shakes regularly, you can’t go wrong with a ShakeSphere protein shaker.
James Martin/CNET If you’re shopping for someone who has been eyeing a smartwatch and has an Android phone, they’ll appreciate the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6. This smartwatch is durable, with a long battery life and a big, bright screen. This time around, the Galaxy Watch 6 brought back the rotating bezel, which helps you navigate the menus and change settings. This smartwatch has a sensor configuration which reads your heart rate, skin temperature and bioimpedance (to measure body composition).
Another exciting feature it has is the Smart Things Find, which locates your phone if it goes missing using a GPS. For something that costs around $300, you’re getting a good deal for a top-of-the-line smartwatch, and it’s compatible with Android phones, unlike Apple Watches.
Read our Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 review.
SPIbelt If you’re shopping for the outdoorsy person in your life, a running belt is a good option. The SPIbelt expands to hold your phone, keys, credit cards and more. Runners can benefit from this belt because it’s bounce-free, so it will stay in place during all distances. Plus, you can extend this belt to fit most waist sizes, ranging from 25 to 47 inches. (If you need more room, a belt extender can be purchased separately.)
A bonus is that this belt doesn’t just have to be for training runs. Hikers and casual walkers alike will enjoy the SPIbelt since it’s a good hands-free alternative to a backpack to store their belongings.
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