The best fitness gifts for exercise enthusiasts: massage guns, fitness trackers, foam rollers and more

Finding a unique gift for the exercise enthusiast in your life can require a fair bit of imagination. We all know the perfect gift when we see it, but with so many fitness products to choose from (and only so much patience), separating the gimmicks from the gift-worthy is no simple task.

Luckily, we’re here to help you out. We’ve revisited all of our expert-recommended fitness guides to bring you a selection of the best gift ideas guaranteed to go down a hit with your exercise-loving friends.

We’ve included everything from budget sports tech to the best home gym essentials, all spanning a range of budgets and activities. So, whether you’re shopping for an ultra-running spouse or a yoga-loving friend, our fitness gift guide has something to suit every type of sporty recipient. Check out our full round-up below.

The best fitness gifts at a glance:

• Best massage gun: Theragun Mini
• Best gift for yoga lovers: Liforme Original Yoga Mat
• Best exercise mat: Fable 4mm Pro Grip Mat
• Best gift for early risers: Lumie Bodyclock Spark 100
• Best foam roller: Core Balance Medium Density Foam Roller
• Best budget sports smartwatch: Samsung Galaxy Fit 2
• Best heart rate monitor: Garmin HRM-Pro Premium Heart-rate Monitor
• Best kettlebell: Bowflex SelectTech Adjustable Weights and Dumbbells
• Best gift for endurance sports: OTE Super Gel
• Best sample box gift: MyProtein Mydiscovery Box

The best fitness gifts

Best massage gun for gifting: Theragun Mini

Great for travelling

A great gift for all types of sports, the Theragun Mini is a super lightweight and compact massage gun that’s ideal for a powerful deep tissue massage on the go.

If you have a generous budget to play with, you can’t go wrong with the Theragun Mini. Measuring just 21cm tall and 18cm wide, it’s the perfect massage gun for slinging in a gym bag or taking on trips abroad. Theragun’s massagers are also tried, tested and endorsed by a number of elite athletes, including Liverpool and England football player Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Best gift for yoga lovers: Liforme Original Yoga Mat

Recommended by yoga teachers

Whether you’re shopping for someone who’s recently started doing yoga or they’re already a pro, this mat comes recommended by our experts for its ability to help with balance.

When we asked two yoga teachers to recommend their favourite brand of yoga mat, both of them said Liforme. While their mats are on the more expensive end in comparison to others available, our experts say the Liforme Original’s unique grip and alignment system helps with balance and assists in your flow when transitioning between poses. All Lifeorme’s mats are also PVC free and biodegradable, making them a sustainable purchase.

Best exercise mat for gifting: Fable 4mm Pro Grip Mat

Made from sustainably-sourced materials

Made from sustainably-sourced natural tree rubber, this biodegradable exercise mat would make a great gift for an eco-conscious family member, friend or colleague who enjoys working out at home.

Not only is the Fable 4mm Pro Grip Mat more sustainable than your average exercise mat, but it also comes recommended by one of our fitness experts who says its additional length and width help you to get the most out of your workouts. Its grippy upper layer also helps to prevent slipping, while the natural rubber material provides a comfortable and supportive base for performing exercises.

Best gift for early risers: Lumie Bodyclock Spark 100

For a more peaceful start to the day

Mimicking the rising of the sun to wake you up gently, the Lumie Bodyclock Spark 100 would make the perfect gift for someone who exercises first thing in the morning.

In our guide to the best alarm clocks, one of our sleep experts describes sunrise lamps like the Lumie Bodyclock Spark 100 as “the best way to awaken in the morning”. This one features a rise setting that starts 30 minutes before your alarm time and slowly brightens to wake you up peacefully. It also features a fading sunset effect for winding down at bedtime and preparing your body for sleep.

Best foam roller for gifting: Core Balance Medium Density Foam Roller

Great value

An unglamorous gift, but one that’s sure to go down well for sporty friends (particularly runners, swimmers and cyclists) in need of a deep tissue massage after working out.

This foam roller comes recommended by one of our physiotherapy experts, who says that closed-cell, medium-density rollers such as this are the most durable and long-lasting for regular use. The smooth texture on this roller also helps to create a standard pressure across your muscles, meaning it’s suitable for all kinds of exercises and stretches.

Best budget sports smartwatch: Samsung Galaxy Fit 2

Great value

If your loved one’s fitness tracking needs are modest, you’ll struggle to find a better value, no-frills smartwatch than the Samsung Galaxy Fit 2.

An affordable gift for someone who’s new to fitness, the Samsung Galaxy Fit 2 is a slim and stylish watch that’s ideal for recording daily step counts and tracking activities, including walking, running, swimming and cycling. It also has a battery life of up to 15 days, which is impressive considering the size of the device.

Best heart rate monitor: Garmin HRM-Pro Premium Heart-rate Monitor

Suitable for a range of sports

The perfect buy for someone who enjoys cardio, the Garmin HRM-Pro is one of the most reliable gadgets for recording your heart rate and other metrics both on land and in the water.

The Garmin HRM-Pro tracks real-time heart rate data, as well as running metrics such as stride length, which you can use to help improve your form. It also has a water rating of 5 ATM, meaning that it’s designed to withstand water depths of 50 metres. It is also compatible with a range of smartwatches, including Garmin and Apple smartwatches.

Best kettlebell: Bowflex SelectTech Adjustable Weights and Dumbbells

Space-saving design

Ideal for performing compound exercises at home, this kettlebell has six interchangeable weight options ranging from 3-18kg, all of which are housed in one compact design.

This kettlebell would make an ideal gift for anyone that’s building up their home gym but is limited on space. The rotary dial on the top of this kettlebell allows you to easily switch between weights and perform a variety of whole-body workouts. We call this the best versatile kettlebell in our best kettlebells article.

Best gift for endurance sports: OTE Super Gel

A practical but thoughtful gift

To ordinary civilians, a pack of OTE energy gels would be a pretty awful present, but for long-distance runners, cyclists and swimmers, they’d make both a practical and thoughtful gift.

Used by elite athletes such as the Brownlee brothers, these high-carb energy gels contain 40g of carbohydrates in each sachet, which is around double the amount you’d expect to find in a typical gel. OTE’s Super Gel is also made with natural flavourings and comes in berry or tropical flavours. We call it the best high carb energy gel in our best energy gels for smashing your fitness goals article.

Best sample box gift: MyProtein Mydiscovery Box

Test a range of products at once

A selection box for gym-goers, the MyProtein Mydiscovery Box contains a range of samples, including pre-workout shots, protein bars and whey.

This gift is a great gift for a family member or friend who uses protein supplements. With this selection box, they can try a range of MyProtein’s products without having to commit to buying a whole pack of bars or tubs of protein which can be costly.

If you would like to read more expert-recommended fitness round-ups, check out our Fitness page for a full list of recommendations, including the best resistance bands, the best kettlebells, and the best dumbbells, recommended by personal trainers.