The 40 Best Gifts for Gym Lovers and Health Nuts from Nobull, NordicTrack, and More
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As the holiday season quickly approaches, people are once again trying to find 2023’s best gifts for gym lovers to give to the man in their lives. It can be difficult to find something he doesn’t already have that he’ll be psyched to unwrap and start using right away, especially if he’s the type of guy who buys himself gifts on Amazon throughout the week.
Thankfully, Men’s Journal has put together a complete list of the very best gym gifts for men who love personal fitness and being active. We’ve considered all things fitness-related here: workout equipment, apparel, high-end water bottles, recovery tools, and so much more that make excellent gifts or stocking stuffers for guys who run to gym rats.
Most importantly, we considered the heavy price tag that can sometimes come with buying fitness gear and made sure to recommend a variety of products that are reasonably priced, many being gifts under $50, so that your holiday shopping doesn’t break the bank this year. However, we doubt anybody would hate to receive a luxury multi-person sauna or a complete home gym as a gift.
Even after the holidays are over, keep this list handy. Not only is it full of great Christmas gifts for fitness lovers, but these are also perfect Father’s Day or birthday gift ideas for gym guys.
The Best Fitness Gifts for Men of 2023
It’s tough to get a good chest workout without a reliable weight bench, and this adjustable one by Flybird goes from 90 degrees down to -30 with an easy-click system to allow for flat, incline, decline, and shoulder presses. You can also use it for countless other exercises like one-arm rows for the back and seated dumbbell curls. It’s the perfect gift for gym lovers who aren’t always able to get to the gym. We like this particular bench because it’s more affordable than most of its competitors, has an 880-pound load capacity, and is easy to fold up and store at home when not in use.
[$170 (was $200); amazon.com]
Nike makes workout shoes for every kind of athlete—including serious lifters. The brand’s Metcon line is marketed to CrossFitters, but it will work wonderfully for anyone who does big lifts like squats and deadlifts or dynamic exercises like box jumps and agility drills. The Metcon 9 sports a Hyperlift plate for a solid heel to push off when squatting and a rubber wrap around the mid-foot for durability and lateral support. Of all the gifts for gym bros, this is one they’ll love.
[$150; nike.com]
Cold tubs are all the rage these days among fitness diehards and runners for their recovery and sleep-enhancing benefits. This best-selling cold plunge tub on Amazon is compact (34-by-30 inches), with a 320-liter capacity and a six-layer insulation system to strike the ideal temperature for maximum cryotherapy effects. It assembles quickly and has a convenient drainage system for emptying. It’s also portable—fold it up and take it anywhere you want.
[$130 (was $190); amazon.com]
The best fitness gifts for men are those that the recipient will be stoked about the first time he opens it up and will use it over and over for many years. Exhibit A: The kettlebell. Anyone who loves training but gets bored of standard dumbbells and barbells will love one (or two, or a set of five). This cast iron bell from Amazon is your standard fare, and that’s the whole point. This should be your gift of choice for something that looks badass and manly in a home gym, is cost-effective, and will last an actual lifetime. Sure, you could get a kettlebell that’s colorful and rubber-coated, but cast iron looks so much cooler. We recommend the 35-pound bell for most guys.
[From $19 on Amazon; amazon.com]
The best t-shirts for the gym these days are being made by Nobull, a fitness brand that currently has partnerships with the CrossFit Games and the NFL. Guys who work out are picky about their t-shirts—more want one that’s great to train in and highlights the hard-earned muscle in the arms and shoulders. The Nobull Tee delivers a flattering cut, a lightweight performance material, and flatlock seams to minimize chafing during workouts.
[$38; nobullproject.com]
It’s an accepted fact that having your favorite music blaring in your ears makes for better workouts and running sessions. These Skullcandy noise-canceling headphones are wireless, comfortable, and perfect to wear while exercising. The 22-hour battery life can get you through weeks of grueling cardio workouts on a single charge, and you can hook it up to an iPhone or Android device to access your gym playlist.
[$100 (was $135); amazon.com]
A blender is a no-brainer gift for health nuts who love their smoothies or protein shakes for breakfast, after workouts, or whenever. Full-size blenders can be a pain for daily use since they require cleaning both the blending container and the cup you pour it into. However, with a personal blender, the container is the cup, which means minimal clean-up. This Ninja blender offers great bang for the buck with a robust 1,100-peak-watt motor that rivals many higher-priced, full-size blenders. Use the Auto-iQ programming feature to take the guesswork out of blending time, then remove the cup, attach the spout lid, and take your shake anywhere you want.
[$80 (was $100); amazon.com]
Feet that are screaming after a long day of working out, running, or both need a pair of recovery sandals. Oofos is a leading brand in this new category, and their slides feature a patented footbed with arch support that reduces exertion to give your dogs a break and help your lower body recover faster. They come in a ton of colors and sizes and feel amazing on the feet. Run-of-the-mill slides by big box brands aren’t backed by podiatric science—these are.
[$60; amazon.com]
This Gatorade water bottle is the perfect fitness gift for any gym bro, runner, hiker, or recreational athlete on your list. It’s got double-wall vacuum insulation, a non-slip Gator-Skin grip that feels great in hand, an easy-open and close drink-thru cap, and a carrying loop you can clip to your bag. It’s available in four colors (black, green, red, and white) and features the iconic Gatorade Thunderbolt logo.
[$35; amazon.com]
A great gift for guys who work out, the Oakley Corridor tops our list of the best sunglasses for fitness in terms of both performance and value. The Corridor was engineered for runners but is also well-suited for intense outdoor fitness routines. Its semi-rimless design is so light you hardly notice you’re wearing glasses, and the sport nose pad and ear socks minimize bobbing and slippage.
[$194; amazon.com]
An old-school medicine ball is the perfect piece of equipment for the guy who likes to do whole-body, functional exercises and has some room..
