Show the health and fitness enthusiasts in your life how much you care this holiday season with gifts they'll love.
Rower Petra Amara -- owner of the blog Rowing Crazy -- suggests, "Putting together a nifty little workout box for your friends and family and filling it with exercise self-care items can elevate their workout while ensuring they are well protected."
She plans to include weight-lift gloves, which protect the hands when lifting weights, rowing and hitting with bats. She says the gloves also help the wearer maintain grip and form for better hand coordination, which can help them avoid injuries.
Amara is also including sugar-free electrolyte drinks. "Physical activities mean sweat; it's important to hydrate and refresh your electrolytes to avoid nausea, muscle spasms and more," she says.
Read on for more gifting ideas for health and fitness lovers.
*Light the Way
For a cycling enthusiast or a pedaling commuter, consider giving bike lights. A Wirecutter review suggested the Cygolite Metro Plus 800 USB headlight, which retails for $56 and is bright, easy to use and waterproof. They also recommended the Cygolite Hotrod 50 taillight, which is $28 and easy to mount.
*Get Smart
Wearables, including fitness trackers and smart watches, can track your steps, heart rate, weight, stairs climbed, sleep and more. TechRadar.com ranks the Apple Watch SE ($269) as the No. 1 smartwatch, followed by the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 ($249.99). When it comes to fitness trackers, the Fitbit Luxe ($143.99) is top-ranked, followed by the Fitbit Charge 4 ($98.95).
*Healthy Snacks
Fuel your friend's workouts with healthy snacks. Make your own gift basket featuring protein bars, fruit, electrolyte drinks and more. Or sign your pal up for a subscription snack box like Fit Snack. Their monthly subscription dubbed "wellness in a box" features healthy nibbles hand-selected by a nutritionist and sourced from local businesses. A one-month subscription is $30.90.
*Stay Hydrated
Help the fitness lover in your life stay hydrated by giving them a reusable water bottle.
New York Magazine rounded up the best-reviewed reusable water bottles sold on Amazon.
The top-rated bottle is the Nalgene Tritan Wide Mouth 1 Quart BPA-Free Water Bottle, which is affordably priced at $11.99. Buyers praise the bottle for its durability, style, wide mouth and ease of cleaning. They say the best stainless steel water bottle with a screw-top lid is the S'well Stainless Steel 17 Ounce Water Bottle, which is $34 and keeps drinks cold all day.
*Supplements
Exercise fans want to maximize their performance and boost their wellness. Supplements may help them reach their goals. For example, turmeric is anti-inflammatory, and research shows beet juice may improve exercise endurance and performance.
*Yoga Mats
The yoga fan in your life will appreciate a new yoga mat. Prevention.com suggests choosing a mat that has lots of grip. May Flanagan, founder of Global Green Family, a website for environmentally conscious consumers, suggests the ODODOS eco-friendly yoga mat, which is nonslip, resistant to tear and has a flexible double layer. Plus, the underside is made of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), a material that's environmentally friendly.
*Get Personal
Book a consultation session with a personal trainer. The American Council on Exercise, a nonprofit organization that certifies exercise professionals and health coaches, says working with a personal trainer can increase motivation and teach safe, efficient exercises. Find an ACE pro trainer in your area on their website https://www.acefitness.org.
*Give a Good Night's Sleep
Soothe the body and help promote a good night's sleep with a weighted blanket. Men's Health says the blankets can help speed athletic recovery. Research indicates weighted blankets -- which can weigh 5 to 30 pounds -- may help you sleep better, especially if you have conditions like anxiety, depression, restless leg syndrome or insomnia.
These blankets feel like a full-body hug. For a weighted blanket that's not too heavy or light, choose one that's 10% of the recipient's body weight. Prices for these blankets can range from $30 to over $100.
Fitness gifts are fun to give, but don't forget the gift receipt. The recipient may have a preferred brand, product or style.
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