If you haven’t picked out Christmas gifts for your nerdiest fitness friends yet, our 2016 Health & Fitness Gift Guide is here to save the day.
…And if you’re a fitness nerd yourself, you can subtly direct your family members to this post, because we believe you would absolutely love to find these things under the Christmas tree too (I sure would!).
Let’s be honest—how many times have you received gifts that you end up returning, or even worse, never used and left sitting in the back of the closet?
That’s a total waste of money and space.
We promise that our Health & Fitness Gift Guide will only give you really cool gift ideas that pretty much anyone who cares about staying fit, getting strong, and loves challenging themselves will love to use.
Doorway Pull Up Bar
If you really truly want to work on your pull ups, getting a doorway pull up bar for your home is a must.
You can keep your pull up training short by doing a few every time you walk through the doorway, which probably happens multiple times a day.
All those times add up!
Having a pull up bar at home also saves a lot of time, because going to the gym every time you want to do a few pull ups just isn’t realistic. You’re more likely to actually practice your pull ups if you have a bar at home.
Furniture Sliders
Furniture sliders are super cool pieces of equipment that help to take your bodyweight exercises to the next level. They look small and innocent, but wait until you actually use them!
Here’s one example how to set your core and arms on fire by using them.
Gymnastics Rings
Training with gymnastics rings helps to build an insanely strong upper body and core. Ring training may seem intimidating at first, but remind yourself that you don’t have to be able to do insane tricks on day one.
No matter what your fitness level, whether you’re a beginner or more advanced athlete, you’ll gain amazing strength and have a lot of fun when you give rings a try.
Read this post to see how I got started with ring training, and check out this Rings Basic Training program by our friends at GMB Fitness.
Jump Rope
You guys may know that I travel quite a bit, but I never use traveling as an excuse to skip my workouts. Having my jump rope with me makes working out so much easier, no matter where I go.
I never have to stress about finding a gym.
A jump rope is easy to tuck in any bag, and it’s also super affordable. So it’s also one of the best gifts to give your fitness friends when you’re on a budget.
Monkii Bars
Ever heard of Monkii Bars? If not, you should check them out, since they’re a really awesome workout tool especially for those who like to work out outside in the fresh air or for anyone who travels a lot.
The functions of those Monkii bars are similar to TRX suspension trainer or rings, but they’re even smaller and even easier to take with you.
These bars are really easy to tuck in your pocket when heading out to a nearby park for a workout, or again, take them with you when you’re traveling.
Don’t be concerned about those super thin strings—they will hold you!
Parallettes
Parallettes are one of the best tools to help you build really strong core. I use them often to practice L-sits, which really help strengthen the core and also hip flexors, both of which are crucial for doing exercises like pistol squats.
But parallettes are great for also handstands and push ups. Especially if you’re having trouble with wrist strength, you can take a lot of pressure off from them by practicing your handstands and push ups on parallettes.
Resistance Bands
There aren’t too many workout tools that are more versatile than resistance bands. They’re another travel-friendly piece of equipment your fitness friends will absolutely love to get.
Resistance bands are especially great for assistance work: You can build up your strength for pistol squats and pull ups by using them.
I’m a huge fan of Rubberbanditz bands because they’re super high quality and awesome for all sorts of exercises. They’re also offering free shipping throughout the month of December!
Just keep in mind that different colors mean different levels of resistance, so do a little research before purchasing one, to make sure you’re getting the one that is right for you…er, I mean for them.
Massage Gift Card
If there’s one thing that no athlete ever says no to, it’s a good massage. As athletes, our bodies can often be a bit fatigued, and a good massage is an awesome recovery tool.
And if you or your friend is the type of person who has a hard time taking any time off and relaxing, or you’re constantly checking your phone and Instagram… a massage is a great way to unplug and stay away from your phone and computer.
12 Minute Athlete App
If you know someone who doesn’t have it yet, the 12 Minute Athlete App is a perfect economical gift that brings you 185+ HIIT workouts that you can do anywhere.
It includes detailed instructions and video demonstrations of all the exercises. All you need to do is to pick how long you want your workout to be and choose which equipment you want to use.
The app also includes an easy-to-use interval timer and stopwatch so you can do your own workouts at any time. It’s a perfect gift for anyone pressed for time, because your workout is literally done in a few minutes.
If you already have the app, you can take it up a notch and upgrade it to the Super Athlete version to get even more workouts and fun features.
12 Minute Athlete Programs
If you know someone who wants to challenge themselves and take their training to the next level, 12 Minute Athlete workout programs are another great affordable option.
Rock The Pistol helps you to master the ultimate leg strength exercise – the pistol squat.
Pull Up Mastery is for anyone who has always wanted to be able to do pull ups, yet could never quite get it, or for someone who’s plateaued in their practice.
Fitter Faster Stronger is a 90-day program that really helps you to get the leanest, strongest and fastest possible in 90 days.
Fight Ready HIIT Workouts will help get you to get the body of fighters. It’s no secret that they have the strongest, healthiest bodies out there, and you can have one too!
Happy Holidays!
We hope you found some good ideas on what to get for your favorite people for the holidays. If they’re even just a little bit into fitness and bodyweight training, they’re going to appreciate these gifts.
Have a fit and fun holiday season!