Do you have a sporty someone on your gift list?
As somewhat of a minimalist myself, I’m always looking for gifts that my loved ones will enjoy and use, not just another trinket or thing to add clutter to their lives. Athletes go through a lot of gear and resources throughout the year, so gifting things they can put to use is a great way to support their training and performance.
I’m Angie, Registered Dietitian and sports nutrition expert. I help athletes find easy and delicious ways to eat well so they can get the most out of their training and perform and recover their best. I have a pretty good peek into the lives of athletes because I work so closely with them and am a lifelong athlete myself. So, while I have zero advice about the best makeup contouring products or stiletto heels, I’m a pretty darn good resource for gifts for athletes that will make their sporty little hearts sing.
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Let’s go shopping!
Gear Gifts for Athletes
One thing that seems common across all types of athletes that I work with is that they love their gear. If they are training year-round, it is likely they will burn through this gear and always appreciate fresh, new replacements. Check out a few of my tried and true favorite gear items below.
Amphipod Hand Held 20 oz Water Bottle
I used to suffer through runs without carrying water or electrolyte products because I absolutely hated carrying anything. That all ended when I tried this ergonomic, grasp-free model that slips right into the palm of my hand, providing hydration without encumbering my run. The runner, hiker, or generally outdoorsy athlete on your list will be better hydrated with this gift.
And psst, if you need ideas about hydration formulas to put inside, check out my blog on Electrolyte Supplements for Athletes.
Noxgear Tracer 2 – Multicolor Illuminated, Reflective Vest for Running or Cycling
Do you have an athlete who trains before sunrise or after sunset? This gift will keep her more visible while training in the dark – safety first! Weighing only 6.5oz, your athlete will forget she is wearing anything extra at all, but distracted drivers will be alerted of her presence from a half mile away.
Lighting Ever LED Rechargeable Headlamp
A budget-friendly option for the runner, hiker, dog-walker, or camper on your list. At just 2.85oz, it is easy and light on your athlete’s head and will illuminate a path as they log their miles.
Smartwool Thermal Merino Reversible Cuffed Beanie
Many athletes who dislike outdoor winter training simply don’t have warm enough gear. We lose about 7-10% of our body heat through our uncovered heads, so adding this beanie is a great way to conserve body temperature. This thinner, softer merino wool beanie is a comfortable and stylish unisex gift to keep your favorite athlete’s noggin warm through even the coldest winter training sessions.
Hoka Mach 6
My favorite running and training shoe of all time just had to make the list. Good training shoes make a great gift for that athlete in your life. Even if they have “too many shoes” (as if!), there is nothing like a fresh, bouncy pair. The Mach 6 is a lightweight neutral running shoe that can double as an everyday running shoe as well as a race shoe. Available in men’s and women’s sizes and a slew of cool colors this holiday season.
Finis Swim Fins
Great for the aspiring or expert swimmer who wants to improve their kick technique and speed. Mine have endured thousands and thousands and thousands of yards, and they have held up fantastically. You can’t beat this little gift of swim speed for the price.
Speedo Pull Paddles
Another wonderful training tool for your favorite swimmer, using pull paddles helps to increase swim power across all strokes. Available in a variety of sizes to ensure the perfect fit.
Xterra Velocity Blue Swim Goggles
I’ve worn dozens of different goggles over the years, and Xterra goggles are the most consistently comfortable and provide the best visibility, particularly for triathletes and open-water swimmers. I love the blue lenses for indoor swimming, and the mirror versions are absolutely fantastic for bright, sunny, open-water swimming.
Food Gifts for Athletes
Food gifts are particularly great for that person on your list who seems to have all the gear they could possibly need. Athletes often appreciate food items that make their busy lives easier, so food gifts can be a slam dunk.
Seabear: Ready-to-Eat Variety Pack
Gift an athlete some delicious, ready-to-eat, boneless, skinless fish that is portable and requires no refrigeration. Flavors in the variety pack include Smoked Lemon Pepper Pink, Smoked Sockeye, Pink, Smoked Idaho Trout, and two Sockeye. I know firsthand how delicious this is because when I received it as a gift, I thoroughly enjoyed each and every bite –- it didn’t last long!
Lummi Island Wild: Lummi Yummy Trial Box
The Lummi Yummy Trial Box is great for any athlete looking to regularly include some high-in-omega-3, wild-caught salmon into their lives (ahem, this dietitian thinks that should apply to all of us). There is no commitment with this box, but your athlete could always start a subscription if they enjoy the 12 flash-frozen, individual filets delivered to their doorstep.
Righteous Felon Beef Jerky Variety Pack
Athletes always appreciate portable, non-perishable, gluten-free, high-protein goodies. The locally sourced, pasture-raised meats in this variety pack are a big upgrade over average convenience store jerky. Fun flavors, like Teriyaki Balboa, Seoul Survivor, and my favorite, Truffle-O Bill, will awaken your athlete’s tastebuds while helping them recover.
Nuts.com Nut and Dried Fruit Snack Box
Individually-portioned and nutrient-dense packs of almonds, walnuts, cashews, or sunflower seeds, along with dried fruits like apricots, pineapple, banana, and raisins, are a big yum! These snack packs are perfect to toss in a gym bag, desk drawer, or backpack to fuel your favorite athlete – they won’t squish or spoil, and the combo of carbs, protein, and fat makes these a balanced snack that is always ready.
Bobo’s Seasonal Oat Bites
I often recommend snack bars for busy athletes because they are individually packaged, don’t need refrigeration, can be eaten on the fly, and provide immediate energy for training or competition. Bobo’s Oat Bites are always a top choice, and the seasonal flavors of gingerbread, pumpkin spice, pecan pie, and peppermint brownie make festive and tasty athlete gifts.
If you are looking for additional snack ideas for athletes, check out my post: What are Healthy Athlete Snacks (and Why You Need Them), According to an RD.
Tech Gifts for Athletes
Do you have a data-driven athlete on your list? It is not uncommon for young and mature athletes alike to be interested in heart rate, speed, cadence, and power output data from their training sessions. These gifts can be pricey, but I thought I’d include a few for anyone looking to splurge.
Garmin Forerunner 955 GPS Smartwatch
The bright, full-color display has an excellent battery life – up to 15 days in smartwatch mode – and provides a full picture of your health. With built-in wrist heart rate and the ability to provide daily sleep and training readiness scores, it feels like a little personal trainer on your wrist. A splurge gift for the fitness enthusiast who likes to know as much data as possible after every workout. Retails around $439.
Garmin Vivoactive 5 GPS Smartwatch
A more budget-friendly model with many of the same features as higher-end Garmin smartwatches. Device storage, battery life, and activity profiles are more limited than the Forerunner models, but this is still an excellent choice for any athlete on your list. Retails around $249.
Hyperice Normatec Go-Calf Recovery System
Targeted massage for fresh legs on the go? Yes, please! Based on the same science-backed technology that powers the original Normatec system, these portable calf sleeves deliver air compression to the calves to increase blood circulation, reduce pain, and improve recovery.
Retails around $399.
Service Gifts for Athletes
Massage gift cards
One thing you can count on with hard-working athletes is that they are often sore, and a massage gift certificate will be a welcome treat. Hershey locals, I can’t recommend Emerald Springs Spa enough. They have the most welcoming staff, and the massage therapists are absolutely top-notch. I am a regular customer, and the 60-minute therapeutic massage (a steal at $103) keeps my overworked muscles loose and ready for more training.
Pedicures
Oof, have you checked out your athlete’s piggy toes? If they are runners, cyclers, soccer players, or participate in anything with stinky shoes, chances are their feet could use some TLC. Athletes whose feet are on display, like gymnasts and swimmers, might appreciate a fun nail polish, but all athletes will benefit from the relaxation and foot pampering that comes with a pedicure. Hershey locals, I love Happy Nail and Spa on Chocolate Ave for their clean and cheerful salon and deluxe pedicure priced at $42.
The Gift that Keeps on Giving
If you read all the way to the end, I hope you found some cool gift ideas for the athlete in your life. And I hope it goes without saying that all your athlete really needs is the gift of you, so if these don’t fit into your budget, don’t sweat it.
How about a freebie?
Many athletes in Pennsylvania often get their nutrition sessions covered by their insurance at 100%. Feel free to share my information if you or the athlete in your life could use personalized nutrition recommendations for the upcoming year.
Use this link to request an appointment now.
Just like it takes hard work and training to reach your full athletic potential, sometimes you need to practice using food to support your training and recovery. Come work with me, and I’ll get you feeling like a sports-fueling savant in no time.
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