Buying gifts for gym lovers can be tricky.
Not because there’s a shortage of ideas—there are countless lists of fitness gifts for men and women online.
The issue is, most of these guides are filled with fluff: flashy gym bags, trendy yoga mats, and other gimmicky gear that serious gymgoers wouldn’t look twice at.
But the gifts in this guide are different.
Here, you’ll find practical, high-quality fitness gifts the gym lover in your life will actually use—and love.
- The 25 Best Gifts for Gym Lovers for Christmas 2024
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The 25 Best Gifts for Gym Lovers for Christmas 2024
Skip the guesswork this holiday season. This list of gifts for workout guys and gals has everything you need to find the perfect present for your favorite fitness fanatic.
1. A Fitness Book from Michael Matthews (From $24.99)
Whether you’re shopping for fitness gifts for men who are serious about building muscle, ladies looking to get in the best shape of their lives, or a mom or dad interested in learning the fundamentals of strength training, I’ve got a book for you.
Here are a few of my most popular works:
2. BFR Bands ($11.70)
While it might sound gimmicky, lots of research shows that adding BFR training to heavy traditional sets can increase strength more than heavy training alone.
These bands from BFR Bands are perfect for the job, making them a great gift for gym lovers—females looking to build a bigger butt or guys trying to add size to their “bis,” for example.
3. Ozeri Digital Food Scale ($14.95)
Food scales make an excellent gift for gymgoers serious about meal prepping. This one from Ozeri is sleek, simple, and accurate. It comes in a variety of colors and is impressively reliable, too—I’ve used mine for several years without a hitch.
4. Accu-Measure Body Fat Caliper ($14.99)
Using calipers to estimate body fat percentage can be hit or miss, but the measurements themselves are invaluable. If skinfolds get thicker over time, you’re gaining fat; if they’re getting thinner, you’re losing fat. That’s all you need to track your progress effectively.
This Accu-Measure caliper, endorsed by the World Natural Bodybuilding Federation, is user-friendly, accurate, and affordable. Basically, it’s one of the best gifts for gym lovers—male or female—who want to keep tabs on their progress.
5. Rogue Wrist Wraps ($15)
Wrist wraps are a must-have for weightlifters serious about lifting heavy weights safely. They support your wrists while bench and overhead pressing and take some of the strain off your elbows in the low-bar back squat.
These heavy-duty wraps from Rogue stand out as one of the best fitness gifts for Christmas. They’re comfortable, affordable, and available in various colors and lengths, so you can find the perfect style for whoever you’re buying for.
6. WOD Nation Adjustable Speed Jump Rope ($14.99)
Jumping rope not only burns a ton of calories, it improves your hand-eye coordination and gives you nearly endless new challenges in the form of new jumps, faster or slower speeds, and so forth.
The WOD Nation jump rope is versatile, durable, and an excellent fitness gift for men or women looking to boost their cardio game. It also works well as a stocking filler or as part of a workout gift basket.
7. Camelbak Eddy+ Water Bottle ($19.97)
Reusing single-use water bottles isn’t just unhygienic, the chemicals that leach from the plastic after several uses may be detrimental to your health.
The Camelbak Eddy+ water bottle offers a safer, more sustainable solution. It’s free from harmful chemicals, easy to carry and clean, and available in a variety of colors to match any style.
8. Freshware Meal Prep Containers (from $19.99)
To prep meals effectively, it helps to have containers that are easy to store and safe for the freezer, dishwasher, and microwave.
Freshware’s meal prep containers are a great gift for gym lovers who take dieting seriously. They check all the above boxes and even feature two compartments to keep your main and side dishes separate.
9. Liquid Grip Liquid Chalk ($19.99)
Sweaty palms can make holding onto a barbell or dumbbell challenging. Chalk solves this problem by absorbing moisture and increasing friction between your palm and the handle.
Liquid Grip’s liquid chalk is easy to apply and far less messy than traditional chalk. That’s why it’s my top pick—and a standout gift for the workout guys and gals you’re shopping for.
10. Dead Wedge Deadlift Jack ($22)
After a heavy set of deadlifts, most people just want to catch their breath.
But if your gym doesn’t have a deadlift jack, you’ll likely spend much of your rest period wrestling plates on and off the bar, which drains energy you need for your next set.
Enter the Dead Wedge Deadlift Jack—a simple but invaluable gift for gym lovers. It lifts the plates an inch off the ground, making loading and unloading a breeze while keeping the bar steady.
The result?
A quicker, safer, and less exhausting deadlift setup.
11. Pioneer Leather Lifting Straps ($29.00)
Weightlifting straps tether a barbell, dumbbell, or machine handle to your hand, allowing you to train with heavy loads without your grip giving out.
These straps from Pioneer are as plush as it gets: made in the US with top-quality leather, reinforced with robust box-X stitching for durability, and incredibly comfortable once broken in. They’re the perfect gift for men who workout hard and women who take training seriously.
12. Legion Supplements (From $29.99)
Supplements might not be as essential as some claim, but the right ones can help you lose fat, build muscle, boost workout performance, and enhance recovery.
Here are some of the most popular options:
13. Draper’s Strength Resistance Bands (From $26.79)
Looking for a workout gift for your mom or dad? Resistance bands could be just the thing. They’re a versatile training tool, perfect for beginners who prefer training at home.
These Draper’s Strength bands are durable and come in sets of 3-to-6 bands, so you can always find the right band for the job.
14. Fat Gripz ($29.95)
Having vice-like grip strength is more important than you might think. It enhances athletic performance, helps build Popeye-esque forearms, and is even linked to a longer, healthier life—making it a thoughtful fitness gift for dad, mom, or anyone looking to stay strong and active as they age.
One of the easiest ways to make big gains in the grip department is to attach some Fat Gripz to the bar or dumbbells next time you do pull-ups, chin-ups, or rows.
15. Legion Apparel (from $39.99)
You’ve put in the work to build a body you’re proud of—why not wear clothing that shows it off?
If that sounds like you, Legion’s apparel line is exactly what you need. Will it help you hit new PRs? Maybe not. Will it help you look great while trying? Absolutely.
16. Ader Fitness Fractional Plates ($43.89)
Fractional plates allow you to progress in small increments, which is vital as you inch closer to your natural ceiling for muscle and strength gain.
The Ader Fitness fractional plates are an excellent fitness gift idea. They’re made from high-grade steel and calibrated to within 0.1-to-1% of their advertised weight, so they’re as accurate as they are durable.
17. Rogue Dip Belt ($65)
Dips are one of the best exercises for building bigger pecs, triceps, and shoulders, but they’re tough to load without the right gear. That’s where a dip belt comes in.
The Rogue Dip Belt is a little pricier than other options, but it’s worth every penny because it can handle more weight than any other belt of its kind and it’s easily the most comfortable dip belt I’ve used.
18. Stoic Knee Sleeves ($75)
Knee sleeves help your knees feel more stable and supported during heavy leg exercises, like squats, deadlifts, lunges, and leg press.
These Stoic knee sleeves are a great gift for gym lovers because they’re highly supportive, comfortable, and built to last, which is everything you want from a knee sleeve.
19. Pioneer Cut 10 mm Powerlifting Belt (From $89.95)
A weightlifting belt is a fantastic gift for men and women who work out because it boosts performance on key exercises like the squat and deadlift.
Unlike most belts, which adjust in one-inch increments, the Pioneer Cut weightlifting belt has a unique prong buckle that allows you to adjust the belt in half-inch increments—a detail that means your belt always fits snugly and offers the perfect amount of support.
The Xero HFS is a versatile shoe designed for everything from gym workouts to hiking.
Its standout feature, however, is its performance as a minimalist running shoe. It’s lightweight enough to mimic the barefoot experience yet durable enough to protect your feet on the road.
21. SABO Deadlift PRO Shoes ($109.99)
These shoes from SABO are the perfect gift for a gym lover who likes to deadlift.
Their non-compressible soles maximize force transfer into the floor, the wide toe box adds comfort, and the minimal stack height positions you closer to the barbell, helping you lift more weight.
In the current political climate, sourcing them can be challenging (SABO is a Russian company). Nevertheless, you can get them in the US and across the world through stockists such as MAX Barbell.
22. Adidas Adipower III Weightlifting Shoes ($230)
Weightlifting shoes are a boon for squat performance.
They have noncompressible soles that give you a rock-solid base during squats. They also have a slightly elevated heel (0.5-to-1 inch of elevation) that allows you to keep your chest upright while squatting deeply.
The Adidas Adipower III is one of the best fitness gifts for men and women serious about lifting because they’re durable, comfortable, and look great—everything you want from a weightlifting shoe.
23. GORUCK Rucker 4.0 Rucking Backpack ($255)
The GORUCK Rucker 4.0 is the ultimate ruck pack.
It’s durable, versatile, and features extra handles so you can use it for a variety of exercises, as well as lumbar support for added comfort during long rucks. It’s a practical and thoughtful gift for gym lovers who enjoy outdoor training or weighted walks.
24. Kensui EZ-VEST MAX V2 ($279.95)
Most weighted vests are too light, hard to adjust, or don’t work with standard weight plates. But the Kensui EZ-VEST Max V2 solves all these issues.
Its innovative design lets you load up to 300 pounds, so it’s perfect for adding extra resistance to bodyweight exercises like pull-ups, dips, and squats. If you’re looking for a fitness gift for men and women serious about strength training, the Kensui vest is an excellent choice.
25. SMRTFT NÜOBELL 80 LB. CLASSIC ($745)
A good set of adjustable dumbbells is an excellent investment if you train at home. They let you perform a wide range of exercises while costing less and taking up far less space than a full set of dumbbells.
I recommend the SMRTFT NÜOBELL 80 LB. CLASSIC dumbbells because they adjust from 5-to-80 pounds with a quick twist of the handle, come with sleek storage cradles, and are well-balanced, so they feel like lifting a traditional dumbbell.
Scientific References +
- Yasuda, Tomohiro, et al. “Effects of Blood Flow Restricted Low-Intensity Concentric or Eccentric Training on Muscle Size and Strength.” PLoS ONE, vol. 7, no. 12, 31 Dec. 2012, p. e52843, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0052843.
- Fry, Christopher S., et al. “Blood Flow Restriction Exercise Stimulates MTORC1 Signaling and Muscle Protein Synthesis in Older Men.” Journal of Applied Physiology, vol. 108, no. 5, May 2010, pp. 1199–1209, https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.01266.2009. Accessed 10 Apr. 2020.
- Raj, Sean D. “Bottled Water: How Safe Is It?” Water Environment Research, vol. 77, no. 7, Nov. 2005, pp. 3013–3018, https://doi.org/10.2175/106143005×73893. Accessed 18 Apr. 2019.
- Fan, Ying-Ying, et al. “Effects of Storage Temperature and Duration on Release of Antimony and Bisphenol a from Polyethylene Terephthalate Drinking Water Bottles of China.” Environmental Pollution, vol. 192, 1 Sept. 2014, pp. 113–120, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749114002000?via%3Dihub, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2014.05.012. Accessed 26 May 2020.
- Chapa-Martínez, C.A., et al. “An Evaluation of the Migration of Antimony from Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Plastic Used for Bottled Drinking Water.” Science of the Total Environment, vol. 565, Sept. 2016, pp. 511–518, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.04.184. Accessed 27 Sept. 2019.
- Bohannon, Richard W. “Grip Strength: An Indispensable Biomarker for Older Adults.” Clinical Interventions in Aging, vol. 14, 1 Oct. 2019, pp. 1681–1691, https://doi.org/10.2147/CIA.S194543.
