It’s hard to believe it’s already time to start thinking about holiday gifts! Finding the perfect gift can be stressful, but we’ve got you covered. We’ve updated our team’s list to reflect 2022 gifts for athletes . Whether they’re a runner, play a team sport, hitting the gym, hiking, cycling, love pilates, or signed up for their first triathlon, your active friends and family members will love these items. And hey, if you see anything you like for yourself, you just might want to send this to your loved ones so they have some ideas of what to get you!
Gifts for athletes
Hydro Flask Water Bottle
If they don’t already have a go-to water bottle, anyone with an active lifestyle will get a ton of use out of an insulated & durable Hydro Flask!
Headphones
Whether you need music or are listening to podcasts, a good pair of headphones is essential for anyone who spends time working out or on-the-go. Upgrade your loved ones to a pair of wireless ones from Jabra, Apple, or Beats.
Yoga Mat
Many people have gotten used to at home exercise in one form or another. This Gaiam Essentials thick yoga mat provides the perfect amount of cushion.
Fanny Pack or Cross Body Bag
For an on-trend gift for athletes that’s eco-friendly too, check out this Athleta convertible cross-body waist bag that’s made from recyclable materials. Kelly wears last year’s version just about everywhere whether headed to the gym, grocery store or out to a casual restaurant!
Touchscreen Gloves
These New Balance lightweight touchscreen gloves are lightweight enough for outdoor activities while still keeping your hands warm, even when you’re using your devices.
Muscle Rollers
A classic foam roller is great for rolling out knots and achy muscles or for more targeted relief the stick gets those places that are really bugging you with more intensity and attention. There are fancier foam rollers out there, and also ones that are lower quality and lose their shape and effectiveness quickly. The one we linked is a trusted option.
Theragun
Take home massages to the next level with Theragun, a percussion massager that gets in deep to relieve muscle pain. It’s recommended by physical therapists! There is also now a mini version as well as the “wave solo” a lower cost vibrating massage ball that’s great for everything from your back to your feet!
REI gift card
If in doubt, an REI gift card always does the trick for apparel, shoes, gear, and pretty much anything else your active friends and family members could want.
Gifts for runners, cyclists, and triathletes
Socks
Runners and cyclists can literally never have enough socks, so you can’t go wrong by surprising them with some high quality ones.
For cyclists: Pearl Izumi PRO Tall Socks in men’s or women’s
For runners: Saucony Men’s Ventilating Performance No-Show Socks or Balega Blister Resist Quarter Socks For Men and Women
Arm warmers
As the weather cools down, a good pair of arm warmers is an essential – and having an extra pair is alway a godsend when one is in the wash.
For cyclists: Louis Garneau Arm Warmers
For runners: New Balance Compression Arm Warmers
Bike bottles
Cyclists can always use an extra bottle, and these hilarious condiment pun bottles will make anyone smile.
Camelbak hydration vest
For distance runners and avid hikers who want access to water on-the-go, the Camelbak Circuit vest is a great gift. With a 1.5 L reservoir plus pockets for additional water bottles, it makes staying hydrated easy.
Garmin watch
A bigger ticket item that any runner, cyclist, or triathlete would be thrilled to receive, the Garmin Forerunner provides detailed training stats as well as smartwatch functionality.
Gifts for College Athletes
Freezable lunch bag
For college athletes who frequently bring meals to campus, this freezable Pack-it lunch bag is perfect for keeping food fresh.
Travel pillow
Student athletes will love this untraditional neck “pillow” that will keep them comfortable during long bus and plane rides to away competitions.
Sleep mask
For any athlete who needs to catch some extra z’s, this comfortable 3D sleep mask is extremely effective for travel, afternoon naps, and dorm environments.
Grocery gift card
Many college athletes have a tight grocery budget, so why not give them a little extra spending money with a gift card to use at their local grocery store? If they have one nearby, we recommend Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods for great convenience products and pre-made options for athletes (note that TJ’s only issues gift cards in-store). We’ve found some student athletes to shop more at Target or Aldi, too.
College Kitchen Essential Splurges
If you’re buying for a college athlete who loves spending time in the kitchen or just really needs the food prep help, check out these 10 College Kitchen Essentials and our 3 Splurge Items.
Gifts for the Culinary Inclined
Cookbooks
For family members and friends who love trying new recipes, we highly recommend these cookbooks that were created with sports performance goals in mind:
- Fuel Your Body by Angie Asche, MS, RD, CSSD
- Run Fast. Eat Slow. by Shalane Flanagan & Elyse Kopecky
- The Runner’s World Vegetarian Cookbook by Heather Mayer Irvine
Or this one for easy weeknight meals that come together in one pot, pan, or skillet:
Air Fryer
Air fryers open up a whole new world of possibilities in the kitchen! For anyone who loves new kitchen gadgets and hasn’t gotten on the air fryer train yet, we recommend the Ninja Foodi series so you can get more functions for the spend. There’s an 11 in 1 air fryer – steam cooker combo option as well as a 5 in 1 indoor grill – air fryer.
Instant Pot
Crockpot meals are great, but for anyone who struggles with planning ahead the Instant Pot is a major time saver! We recommend the original 6 quart Instant Pot for most recipes, although there’s also a 3 quart option for small batch cooking.
Cuisinart Food Processor
With the ability to shred, chop, slice, puree, knead, and emulsify, a Cuisinart food processor takes meal prep to the next level. Kelly has been using hers at least once a week for close to 10 years now!
Stocking stuffers
Bars & Fueling Products
Bars and fueling products are one of the most practical gifts for athletes and make the perfect stocking stuffer! Some of our top picks include Clif bars, Picky bars, Bobo’s Oat bars, Rx bars, and PROBAR. For athletes that need intra-workout fuel, we love CLIF BLOKS Energy Chews,Nature Nate’s Honey Packets, Skratch Powdered Sports Drink, and Honey Stinger Waffles.
Arnicare Gel
Another great stocking stuffer, Arnicare gel is a homeopathic remedy for muscle soreness and bruising that has research backing it for pain relief. Even better, it doesn’t leave you sticky, burning and smelling strongly of mint like other similar products do.
What do you think are the best gifts for athletes? Any favorites that you’ve given or received? Let us know in the comments!
