For a decent chunk of the population, the greatest gift you could ever bestow upon them are the right tools to stay healthy. From a stylish duffle and respiratory trainer to an innovative sleeping bag meets sauna — here are 14 Christmas gift ideas for the athlete in your life.
Chances are, this operator will already have their own home gym setup. But what they probably won’t have is a gorgeous oak NOHRD VR3 WaterRower ($1,499) that offers an unrivalled simulation of the exercise with its proprietary waterwheel; Northdeer’s 2-in-1 dumbbell/barbell set ($744); or a stunning Technogym Kinesis Personal ($34,800) — the designated “money no object” option in this guide — which allows you to train countless functional movement patterns while elegantly blending into the walls.
To help them kicks it up a notch, the Elevation Training Mask 2.0 ($59) can recreate the sensation of grinding at altitude to strengthen breathing muscles, mechanics, and physical stamina, thanks to its multi-patented dual channel air flow technology and flux valves. It’s lightweight, anatomically designed, and easy to clean.
If your athlete is constantly on the go, fear not, we’ve got you covered. For those commutes between home/office/wherever and the Iron Church or vice versa, we’re prescribing either the lululemon 2-in-1 travel duffle ($239), which can be converted to a backpack, or an Arc’teryx Granville 25 backpack ($370) for the purists.
For a bit of cardio between appointments, or simply as a warm up, nothing beats the award-winning Tangram SmartRope ($80) with its killer design and data insights — LEDs even fire at different times as the rope rotates around you to create the appearance of a single floating display that hovers during your workout. If it’s more traditional cardio they’re after, however, slip on a pair of the Asics Evoride Speed 2 ($220) to increase running speed while enjoying an effortless cushioned underfoot.
On the subject of health analytics, we’ve recently become devotees to the newly-unveiled Samsung Galaxy Ring ($699). Hailed as the “Oura Killer,” this titanium flex three distinct sensors: an accelerometer, heart rate tracker, and skin thermometer. They work in tandem to deliver insights galore about sleep, stress, oxygen levels, workouts, heart health, and if applicable, menstrual cycles. Read our full review here.
Regardless of what kind of athlete you’re buying for, recovery will be paramount. Hence why we also suggest a trusty Hydragun ($399) for their post-workout routine; a surprisingly portable HeatPod Infrared Sauna Blanket ($789) which also provides additional health benefits in the way of natural pain management, stress relief, and by all accounts, an improved ticker; plus the Australian-produced Ritual Ice Bath Tubs (from $139 to $7,900) should cold plunges be up their alley.
The bane of almost every athlete’s existence (and the regular joe, for that matter) is meal prepping. So why not remove that perennial dread with the gift of convenient nutrition? Head over to the Aussie-based My Muscle Chef to send a value bundle (or ongoing subscription) their way.
And finally, for the athlete who has it all, gift them the guarantee of a good night’s rest with the Eight Sleep Pod 4 Ultra Smart Bed ($6,299) — the same used by Formula 1 drivers like seven-time world champion Sir Lewis Hamilton.
With clinical-grade sensors that collect 99% accurate sleep metrics, snore detection that automatically adjusts your position should you be breathing sub-optimally, localised temperature control for sections of the bed, and plenty more… it’s prime wish-list material.
Check out our other themed Christmas gift guides for 2024 below:
