Fitness
60 Fitness Gifts Trainers Recommend and Any Active Guy Will Love
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Picking up some new fitness gear is one of the best ways to breathe new life into a workout regimen—or end a months-long hiatus. (Of course, sometimes you just need a new workout. For a fitness program that will bust through any plateau, try THE 21-DAY METASHRED from Men’s Health!)
Whether you’re looking to delight your fittest family member or ramp up your own efforts in the gym, you’ll find more than a few things on this list to get the job done.
And if you’re already on a roll with your workouts, consider this the time to reward yourself for your efforts. Go on, you’ve earned it.
THERE’S NO GIFT more valuable than the gift of good health. And these days there are more tools than ever to help us lead healthier lives while bringing a little fun to the process. But great fitness gifts also have to perform well. Whether you lace them up, lift them, or use them to recover after a big workout, the best fitness gifts must stand the test of time and deliver.
Our team of fitness editors and certified personal trainers here at Men’s Health know that fitness doesn’t stop at the gym either, it’s a lifestyle. And it can extend beyond the home to the city park, trail, mountain—the list goes on. It incorporates any number of worthwhile physical activities, from weight-lifting and rowing to running and cross-training, which is why the best fitness gifts have to be versatile and functional.
Below you’ll find a list of health and fitness-based gear—from dynamic wellness tech gifts to state-of-the-art recovery modalities—that has something for any individual looking to get stronger. And whether you’re buying a Christmas gift, a gift for that special man, or something for yourself, one of these picks will fit the bill.
Read on for the best fitness gifts for men in 2024.
SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells
Great home gym gear needs to be versatile as you only have so much space to work with. These adjustable dumbbells are ideal for at-home use, offering 10-90 pounds per dumbbell, convenient holders, and a smooth weight adjustment mechanism. We’ve used these for years, and for the price they’re an excellent piece of equipment.
Pod Cover
We aren’t exaggerating when we say that the Eight Sleep can change lives. Several of our editors run warm and have struggled to get comfortable during sleep, and that can greatly affect recovery. The Pod Cover 4 allows you to personalize the climate in your own bed and create an optimal, restful environment—whether that’s a chilly, camping-like feel or a cozy cacoon. There are some new updates with the recently released Pod Cover 4, which is an amazing piece of tech. But if you wish to save a few hundred dollars, we’ve also used the Pod Cover 3 for years before with no complaints.
Jump Rope
Looking for a great stocking stuffer for your fitness-minded friend or family? Or perhaps yourself? This sleek-looking rope is the perfect piece of gear to wrap easily or throw into a bag. The workout with a jump rope can be fun and incredibly effective. You can’t go wrong with this piece, which is simple and durable.
Read More: Best Jump Ropes
Infrared Sauna Blanket
Not everybody has room or the resources to put a real infrared sauna in their house, and going at the gym can be tedious despite all the great benefits. A sauna in the form of a sleeping bag, this is the ultimate gift for the fitness person who loves a deep relaxation session in between physical activities. This infrared sauna blanket soothes, is great for your skin, and helps the body recharge fully and efficiently.
Outwork
We’re big fans of these understated and clean-looking cross training sneakers from Nobull, a favorite brand for athletes of all kinds. This pair always performs, and is durable enough to face the most brutal workouts. Propulsive with tons of support, they sit atop these stylish gum outsoles.
Interval Timer and Stopwatch
This is one of those small pieces of gear that’s a game-changer, yet many don’t have anything like it. This timer allows you to calibrate your training sets and rests, helping you keep good pace. Being able to use this, clipped to your clothes, instead of your phone keeps you focused and dialed in, so that you can make the most of your gym time.
G-VEST+
This high-functioning weighted vest distributes weight evenly and is great to throw on before a strength and conditioning set or just some added resistance as you knock out a core workout. It’s one of our all-time favorites, combining function and efficiency, as mentioned in our most recent Home Gym Awards.
WalkingPad Z1 Folding Under Desk Treadmill
Getting your steps in is so in right now. But not everyone has the luxury of time to get out for a leisurely walk each day. This under-desk walking pad requires no assembly and tracks key metrics like elapsed time, distance covered, speed, and calories burned, ensuring your special someone stays on top of their fitness goals without missing a beat at work.
Read More: Best Under Desk Treadmills
WH-CH520 Wireless Headphones
Great for the active soul who loves to go to the gym but maybe doesn’t love the gym’s playlist, these workout headphones are here to help. They fit great, standing up to all the movement of a good workout while offering some top-grade acoustics. That’s enough to pump anybody up.
90-Day Challenge Bundle
Shock the arms. Chisel the abs. Welcome to the 90-day bundle.
4.0 with 12 Month Subscription
Fitness trackers should be as comfortable as a good pair of running shoes or your favorite hoodie. Whoop is all about comfort, while setting you up with all the necessary fitness info to maximize your routine. According to Fitness Director Ebenezer Samuel, C.S.C.S., Whoop delivers in-depth tracking of your workout intensities, letting you know when you’re ready to go hard and when you might want to consider (but don’t need to) taking it easy. For less than $250, you can gift the device, wristband, and a 12-month membership to anyone in your life (including yourself).
Read More: Best Fitness Trackers
AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)
Some ear buds are superior when it comes to tuning into a playlist or podcast while working out. Here’s a great example, touting a snug fit, great acoustics, and sweat resistance. The connectivity that comes with Apple devices is unmatched, and great for gym sessions when you want to listen to music, podcasts, and catch up with friends on the phone.
Normatec 3 Legs
Recovery comes in many forms and for those looking for the most robust approach, it’s hard to beat the Nomatec3. With customized compression, this device has become trusted by some of the top athletes in the land to replenish fatigued joints and muscles.
Read More: Best Compression Boots
Yonder Water Bottle
Make drinking water all the easier and more enjoyable with this standout pick from Yeti. It’s made to be ultra-light, indestructible, and 100% leakproof (no seriously, the cap stays on lock tight).
Read More: Best Water Bottles
Eli Schmidt
Athletic Greens
Fitness requires fuel, and because of everyone’s active lifestyle it can be difficult to get all the required nutrition. Here’s a great gift to keep that active person feeling great, an elixir of greens packed with minerals, nutrients and vitamins. You may help them kickstart a new healthy habit.
Ultra Personal Blender
The blenders from Nutribullet are a game changer and have been for years. This new model is a strong upgrade from previous versions, which means that no matter what your friends or family have, this is a level up. For people who don’t have a smoothie maker in their life, you will be giving them the gift of healthy, fresh smoothies made in minutes.
Read More: Best Portable Blenders
Multi-Functional Power Rack
Here’s a frame for the fitness freaks out there. It’s a proper power rack set up with dip handles and j-hooks for all those gym exercises. With a 1,000-pound weight capacity, it’s not messing around. This is the perfect pick for anyone starting to get into those big fundamental lifts, and is very durable for the price.
Core Hooded Runner
Part of a great workout involves feeling good during it. That’s an easy thing to knock out with this exceptionally cozy hoodie from Alo Yoga. The jersey-like fit is sharp and ideal for moving in unison with the body. It’s also comfortable enough to rock outside of the gym as well.
Forerunner 265 Running Smartwatch
This fitness smartwatch is ready for the adventurous lifestyle, set up with solar charing capabilities and an earthy band. It’ll track your health, coach you through hikes and trail runs while offering superior navigation technology and all your favorite music for on-the-go inspiration.
Revive
These recovery shoes are much more stylish than other options on the market, and they were created in collaboration with a sports podiatrist, so the science behind them is sound. Coming from a running shoe mold, they also make fantastic travel shoes or leisure shoes that you can get wet. The excellent breathability makes them that much more comfortable after a sweaty workout or run.
Read More: Best Recovery Shoes
Eli Schmidt
Matte Black Boxing Gloves and Focus Mitts
We all need a healthy way to blow off steam and release physical stress, and boxing is a great solution. For anyone who goes to boxing classes on the regular, having an extra pair at home, in the car, or at the office can be the difference between making it to that class on time or not. Plus, boxing gloves get sweaty, so they need to be replaced often.
Read More: Best Boxing Gloves
Interval Short
Running is all the more enjoyable in a good pair of shorts. This option gives you a knitted interior for added support, a higher cut so as not to impeded those working legs and flex fabric that moves in harmony with the runner.
Ring 4
This ring does it all, delivering intelligent sleep, vitals, and activity tracking info to the wearer in useful ways. It’s a great and fairly discreet (and stylish even) way to monitor your vitals and foster better wellness routines. We wrote about how much we love the previous gen of this device here. Keep in mind: The first month of membership is complementary, but each month thereafter will cost $5.99.
GR1
The GR1 may look like any old backpack, but in reality it’s also an awesome piece of training equipment. Rucking, the practice of carrying weight in a pack for long distances, has long been used by the military as a fitness test. This bag is specially designed with pouches where you can put weight plates to turn it into proper rucking equipment.
Read More: Best Backpacks
5 Pack Men’s Active Quick Dry Crew Neck T Shirts
Don’t just have one favorite fitness shirt when you can have one for every day of the week. This bargain bundle of crew neck tees is ideal, as they dry quickly and feel great even in the throes of a cross-training session or long jog. Those who train know that people who workout go through clothes quickly, and you can never have enough shirts for the gym.
Retailer
Commercial 1250 Incline Treadmill
This treadmill brings the hilly slopes that really work your legs to your home. The ten-inch pivoting touchscreen is a nice touch and the built-in trainer adjusts to your running approach via Bluetooth.
Pull Up Bar
For anyone who has put up a pull-up bar in their own home, there is always a lingering fear that the unit is going to get ripped out the wall and leave you getting injured. This one’s frame is welded together so that there is extra confidence in the piece while you are pushing (or pulling) yourself to the limit. The other bonus is the multiple grips available to work out different muscle groups.
Read More: Best Pull-Up Bars
City Sweat Jogger
These joggers are so comfortable you’ll have to have them forcibly removed when it’s finally time to give them a wash. The terry fabric is soft and stretchy and the tapered fit is sharp enough you could almost pull them off at a work meeting (especially if it’s virtual). They’re also available in 3 lengths, meaning you can choose one tailor-made for anyone in your life.
Ice Barrel 300
The winter is a great time plunge for strengthening your immune system and supercharging your recovery after hot gym sessions indoors. Cool it way down with this recovery barrel. It’s made of durable recycled plastic and the foam insulation keeps things cold. It’s hip-high so getting in and out is easy and while you’re chilling, there’s even a small seat to keep you in position.
Read More: Best Ice Baths
Rower
Row whenever you want to with this sleek rowing machine. You get on-demand water workouts with pros and the sensation is about as good as the real thing (minus the sometimes foul weather). The design is extremely ergonomic and it folds up nicely when not in use.
NÜOBELL 80LB Adjustable Dumbbell
The Nuobell strikes the perfect balance between dependable performance and an authentic dumbbell experience. Consider these a level up from lower price-point adjustable models. Despite a couple of minor scratches, they have demonstrated remarkable durability even with consistent heavy usage, too.
Monica Dzik/ Sally Berman
Men’s Tree Runners
Did you know walking shoes need to be replaced every 300-500 miles? For most people, that means a new pair is needed every six to 12 months. Fortune favors the prepared, so why not gift the next walking shoes in your loved ones’ rotation? These Tree Runners from Allbirds are some of the best we’ve ever walked in, and it’s also an all-time best-seller without our readers.
Reign Workout Shirt
A true training shirt, this top wicks moisture like a champ and looks great while you are putting in work at the gym. The saddle seam shoulder reduces chaffing and the range of motion is ideal for the active souls out there.
Read More: Best Workout Shirts
All-in-One Suspension Training System
Strength training sounds expensive. What, with the many gadgets and towering machines at play. Turns out, you can get a killer workout in without breaking the bank through this suspension training system. The resistance levels can be fine-tuned and the user can target just about all of the muscle groups.
HRM-Pro Plus
Be good to your heart. Here’s a great gift for the fitness figure who likes to go hard, within reason. Compatible with a numberof workout devices, including Garmin watches of course, the strap is comfortable and offers important data for endurance go-getters especially. There’s a reason we included this one in our Best Heart Rate Monitors story.
Hardcover Fitness Journal
In this day and age of too much technology, this trusty and durable journal makes for a great way to keep track of your training and bring yourself into the moment. As a gift, you can’t do much better in regards to value, both monetarily and spiritually. This is a way for people to keep their mind in the workout.
Men’s Health MVP Premium Membership
Maybe we’re biased, but we think our MVP Premium Membership is a total slum dunk for any fitness lover or beginner. With unlimited access to Men’s Health digital content and a weekly newsletter loaded with exclusive tips on fitness, nutrition, and mental health, they’ll stay ahead of the game. Plus, they get access to fitness challenges, nutrition plans, a print magazine subscription, AND, most importantly, a library of 450+ streaming workout classes on the All Out Studio app. This is the gift that keeps on giving.
Reaction Training Platform
Fitness is more fun when you can turn it into a bit of a game, just ask pretty much every athlete out there. This training platform appeals to our most basic instincts (you know, attraction to bright lights, a competitive grudge with your workout buddy), making that core-busting set or agility training drill all the more entertaining.
Essentials Pickleball Paddles Set
Here’s a great gift for the pickleball enthusiast and newbie alike. Simply put, these paddles handle like a charm, with an ergonomic handles and a composite hitting surface that strikes hard while feeling soft on the hands. The travel bag included makes this a set that can be taken on the road for fitness and fun.
Freestanding Punching Bag
The active body on your list doesn’t have to be a boxing nut to enjoy a good punching bag. This freestanding tool is great for all levels, a prime stress-reducer and great way to work on hand-eye coordination. This is a great pick to pair with the boxing gloves and mitts we included earlier in the list.
Peloton Guide
A handy bit of tech indeed, this device turns your television into your own personal trainer. That’s excellent news for those who like to get their sweats in at home, preferably to a virtual session that streams so clearly it feels like you’re all working out together in the same room.
Crest Cotton Tank
Does he like to lift? Perhaps he just likes hoops or another arm-heavy activity like tennis. Well, gift him the ultimate tank with this seamless option. Breathable, lightweight and offering a slim fit, it’s the sleeveless shirt he’s always dreamed of.
Theragun Mini 2
The smallest tool in the Theragun arsenal, the mini massage gun packs a serious massage in a slight frame. It offers three speeds, a trio of attachments, and the battery life is also killer, offering the same 150-minute capacity as full-sized models. We’ve tested this nifty gadget over and over again, traveling with it all over the world.
Philip Friedman
Fast and Free Men’s Run Hat
Designed with the runner in mind, this running hat includes a built-in headband for sweat absorption and a flexible build. The bill keeps the glare at bay while the reflective details are nice for being seen when the workout happens before the sun comes out (or after it goes down).
Men’s Metcon 9 Training Shoes
These workout sneakers are the ultimate shoes for your next WOD, offering a strong platform for heavy-weight moves like deadlifts and squats, and just enough flexibility to get through box jumps and a quick sprint, too.
$149.99 at dickssportinggoods.com
Active Outdoor Wet Wipes
Sure, a trusty old towel can do the trick at the gym but these wet wipes are much better (and more sanitary). And they’re designed to go well beyond the traditional workout sphere, on backcountry adventures and long days on the ski slopes. Biodegradable and moisturizing, they’re frankly better than that old gym towel.
Airbike
As with a lot of home gym equipment, you often get what you pay for. Case in point: This flagship exercise bike from Assault Fitness. The Airbike Classic stands out with a wind-resistance setup that offers a full-body cardio workout, and when seated, the extra-padded, oversized seat makes for a comfy ride.
Luka Duffel
This overachieving duffel is extremely lightweight and comes with nine pockets. Great for gym, work or travel, the bag has a separate compartment for shoes and sweaty gear. Plus, the padded aesthetic is incredibly on-trend.
Cloudmonster
A great running shoe can be just as functional as it is stylish, making it just as appropriate for Sunday errands as Monday sweat sessions. Shocker, we know. Thanks to those hollow CloudTec capsules in the outsole, this pair of Cloudmonsters is propulsive, with great response that can handle the abuse of the pavement. Looking badass is just the cherry on top.
Cast Iron Kettlebell
A good kettlebell is accessible, with a great grip area and the durability to outlast even the most intense workout sessions. This one does that and more, 25-pounds of goodness that won’t corrode and can be held easily with one or two hands.
Read More: Best Kettlebells
Yoga Block
Build a better yoga session with this block duo. It’s a great tool for perfecting certain poses and increasing your flexibility and balance. They’re soft to the touch but firm enough to withstand the weight and pressure of a strenuous yoga session. Buy a pair if you are thinking of adding some stands to the equation.
6-Month Alo Moves Subscription
Gift the instruction without making them leave their house with this vast subscription. There’s a class for every level of fitness, spanning the gamut from mindfulness to yoga. It’s a gift that literally keeps on giving, at least from a mental and physical health standpoint.
Premium Large Exercise Mat
Set up your workout space right with this padded exercise mat, ideal for yoga, stretches, weight training, and anything else you can think of. It’s massive compared to a standard yoga mat, meaning it’s great for any home workout do-er, but especially those bigger guys who can never seem to fit all their limbs on a standard-size mat. We also love that it’s truly grippy, unlike most yoga mats that turn into a slip-and-slide when sweat starts dripping.
Hypervolt Go 2
Recover efficiently with this clever device. While it looks like a hair dryer, the Go 2 tackles tightness and sore muscles with a hyper-percussion, extremely soothing massage. This updated version of the Hypervolt is even lighter, making it perfect for recovery on the go.
YQXCC 4 Pack Cooling Towel
It’s hot out there. And even when it’s not—in an air-conditioned gym or during the colder months —everyone heats up while working out. These cooling towels offer instant satisfaction and can dial down the core thermometer, meaning no overheating and a quality refresh.
MacroPillow Tab Running Sock
Ah, the sock, the oft-overlooked key to a great run. These running socks are built for the joggers of the world, offering great support and the layer you need between your feet and your favorite running shoes. They cushion and cradle in equal parts, making the run all the more comfortable.
Clifton 9
Full of bounce and verve, these stylish runners from Hoka are great. There are scores of color choices, the design is award-winning, and your feet will love the company of unrivaled cushion and solid heel support. From pro ultrarunners to occasional joggers, this shoe is one of the most widely loved models on the market right now.
Read More: Best Hoka Running Shoes
ADV SKIN 12 Unisex Running Vest
This running vest for him or her caters to the long-distance type. Set up with a pair of hydration flasks, it allows the wearer to water up with ease while training for that substantial race. It’s aerodynamic and slim, meaning it won’t weight you down.
HYDRATE Sticks
Everyone serious sweat deserves serious hydration to replenish the electrolytes and minerals your body needs to thrive. This hydration formula from GOODONYA tastes more like lemonade than a nutrition supplement, and it’s made with only 1 gram of sugar per ready-to-go stick.
Foam Roller
If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly recovery gift than a massage gun, nothing beats a trusty foam roller. I mean, sure, recovery gear’s gotten all fancy in recent years, but this humble little roller is as functional as it gets. We love that this one is just $40 and is compact enough for easy storage but large enough to use on larger muscle groups like the back and glutes.
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