What does a fitness fanatic want for Christmas (other than rock-solid abs)? Whether you’re buying for a gym bunny who loves a gruelling Hiit session or a yoga fanatic who hits the mat to unwind, we asked a selection of top trainers and fitness devotees for their gift picks.
We’ve made the job of getting them something they’ll love that little bit easier by tracking down the best gifts for the chronically active. From kit that makes you want to workout to tools that help tired muscles afterwards, read on for all the present inspiration you need.
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The best gifts for fitness fans
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Brain fuel
More Fuel You by Renee McGregor
£13.46 at the Guardian Bookshop £9.33 at AmazonEryn Barber, a running, strength and conditioning coach, says: “This book is a great way for recreational athletes to learn about nutrition for running and endurance. Renee has a lot of clinical experience working with endurance athletes.”
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Perfect beats
Coros heart-rate monitor
£68.99 at SportsShoes £69 at AmazonBarber also suggests this Coros heart-rate monitor. “It’s incredibly accurate, so you can monitor your progress and see if your cardiovascular health and performance are improving – and it doesn’t aggravate or chafe.”
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Go with the flow
Oversize organic T-shirt
£35 at Actively ConsciousTo look the part but feel comfortable going from a gym class to lunch or work, Barber loves this T-shirt from Actively Conscious. “The oversized fit is ideal for a flow style class such as yoga or pilates.”
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Get a grip
Weightlifting straps
£10 at Bear Grip £12.60 at GymsharkFor someone who loves working out with weights, trainer Dalton Wong recommends lifting straps: “They help reduce strain on your wrists and hands, and improve your grip strength, which can help you lift heavier.”
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Comfy leggings
Lululemon Align leggings
From £64 at Lululemon £90 at Net-a-Porter“I spend my working day in fitness clothing, so it’s essential that I’m comfortable,” says Alex Tinney, founder of Flex Pilates. “I want the feeling of a second skin instead of ‘holding me in’. Lululemon is an investment, but the quality is incredible. The Align leggings saw me through the whole of pregnancy.”
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Pilates page-turner
Caged Lion: Joseph Pilates and His Legacy by John Howard Steel
£12.98 at Abe Books £12.95 at AmazonTinney is also dying to read this book on the German physical trainer and writer Joseph Pilates. “It’s been on the reading list for ages.” Great for a pilates fan interested in the history of the practice.
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Band aid
Two-metre resistance band
£9.49 at Yoga MattersTinney also recommends a pilates resistance band. “It’s versatile and compact,” she says, “so can be taken away to the gym or on holiday. It adds support and challenge, and can be used with the majority of pilates mat exercises.”
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Upper-body blitz
Climbing peg board
£59.95 at MirafitFor fitness coach Dan Roberts, home fitness equipment is top of the wishlist. He rates a peg board as “it’s a far more interesting and challenging option than a standard pull-up bar – great for bouldering training, or for those of us hoping to maintain or improve climbing skills, grip strength or pull-up prowess.”
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Bag it up
Training sandbag
£64.99 at Cerberus £64.99 at eBayRoberts also recommends a 60kg sandbag. “The iconic red Cerberus ones are my favourite – you can drag it like a sled, do a clean and press lift, suitcase walk, squat, throw it over your shoulder – it’s a really fun way of training, plus sandbags fix muscular weaknesses and provide functional strength that barbells and dumbbells can’t replicate.”
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Stick to this
Extreme extra-wide training grips
£29 at Fat Gripz £29.99 at AmazonRoberts often suggests Fat Gripz to clients. “Add these to any barbell, dumbbell or machine handle, and it makes everything harder. The wide grip means you’ll use a more open hand position, which develops a stronger grip and forearms with every rep. It’s particularly good for improving deadlifts and pull-ups. The blue ones usually work best for women, and for men, the super-wide orange ones.”
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Training aid
Magnetic phone holder
£19.99 at Amazon“I see most of my clients via Zoom, and when they’re at the gym, they all use this product,” says Roberts. “Gym equipment is always full of iron, so you can stick your phone to it using the magnet at eye level. It’s a useful gadget, whether you’re using your phone to learn techniques from YouTube, or being live coached by someone like me.”
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Sweet relief
Pulsio Air massage gun
£69.99 at Pulsio £69.99 at DecathlonKira Mahal, personal trainer and founder of MotivatePT, trains four times a week, so she describes herself as “obsessed with recovery, because when it goes smoothly, I get more out of each training session. This pocket-size gadget is a dream for any muscle soreness after a session.”
For more, read our guide to the best massage guns
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A soothing soak
Serotonin soak bag
£40.49 at HealfNeal’s Yard seaweed and arnica bath salts
£13.60 at Neal’s Yard £17 at Ocado“Once a week, after an intense workout, I take a bath instead of a shower to promote recovery and relaxation,” says Mahal. “It helps my muscles relax and a great night’s sleep always follows. I always opt for bath salts containing magnesium and natural oils.”
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Studio style
Lounge flared trousers
£64 at Tala £64 at AsosReversible tank top
£34 at Tala £34 at AsosSometimes clothing can be a great workout motivation. “I like to wear outfits that make me feel put together and coordinated,” says Mahal. “I’m not sure if it’s purely psychological, but I feel as if I perform at my highest level when I’m wearing the workout clothes I feel comfortable and stylish in. I love this set by Tala because of its colourways – I’m building my capsule wardrobe with lovely neutral tones at the moment. I also love to support female-founded brands like this one.”
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Lift off
Speed rope
£20 at SGF £24.99 at KitboxIs there a simpler piece of exercise kit? Daniel Davies, features editor at Men’s Health UK, says this skipping rope is “light, fast and doesn’t cost the earth. Perfect for mastering ‘double unders’, it’s a favourite of CrossFit aficionados.”
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Fitness tracker
Whoop One 5.0 activity tracker
£169 at Healf £169 at John LewisDavies recommends the Whoop One 5.0 activity tracker for anyone wanting to get healthier in 2026. “It’s a behaviour changer,” he says. “I doubt anyone who owns one hasn’t avoided that extra drink or skipped a late-night snack for fear of being reprimanded by tomorrow’s sleep score!”
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Shoes to choose
Training shoe
£130 at Rad“Your foam-cushioned running trainers have no business being used on a lifting platform or anywhere near a squat rack,” says Davies. “Rad One V2 are versatile training shoes that can weather any workout – running, lifting or Hiit.”
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From gym to office
Kit bag
£116 at Stubble & Co £145 at Batch LDN“If you need a bag that can take you from the gym to the office, inconspicuously blending into either setting, this is big enough for all my training and work gear, has a padded pouch for my laptop and a separate lined compartment for gym clothes, which, after a sweaty workout, the public needs protection from,” says Davies.
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Steady as she flows
Yoga bricks
£22 a pair at YogamattersYoga instructor Hannah Barrett says these yoga bricks, made from sustainably harvested cork, “last for years and bring a natural, grounded feel to any practice”.
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Sustainable calm
Refillable candle
£22.50 at Pott Candles“This year I’m leaning towards gifts that encourage rest and ritual,” says Barrett. If you want the same for your yoga practice – or life in general – she suggests refillable candles from Pott. “I love the idea that you keep the handmade ceramic pot for ever and simply refill it when it runs out. It’s beautiful, sustainable, and feels like a daily act of calm.”
