LIL Gift Guide (Holiday 2015): For Fitness Lovers

Good morning friends! Do you want to hear something crazy?

Christmas is just about two weeks away! No, I’m not kidding. In an effort to help you get that something special for the special someones in your life, I’m continuing on with this year’s Holiday Gift Guides. Today I am excited to share a list of goodies for the fitness enthusiast on your holiday shopping list.

Previous 2015 LIL Gift Guides include:

• Gift Ideas For Him

• Gift Ideas For Her

 

There’s a lot to cover, so let’s get right to it.

Here’s what I would suggest this year!

 

• upgraded sports bras

When is the last time you replaced your sports bras? Chances are, the girl you are shopping for hasn’t done so in a while, either. I have been able to try out a variety of brands over the years, and I constantly rotate the between a handful of styles.

// CALIA Double Strap Bra // Lorna Jane Comic Sports Bra

Check out some of my go-to bras!

(scroll and click to shop)

 

• durable athletic sunglasses

Is the fitness lover you have in mind a runner or someone who enjoys staying active outside? If so, then they need athletic sunglasses. (Here’s why!) It’s important to look for a reputable brand with quality UV/UAB protective lenses. Also, polarized is best.

Oakley has a fabulous selection of athletic sunglasses. I also like O’Neill (these and these are similar to mine) and Nike!

 

• pullover jacket or hoodie

Pullovers are great for layering for any activity. From yoga to running to running errands around town, I always have a spare jacket or hoodie with me. Since I’ve moved up north, however, they have gotten thicker. My favorite cover-ups have a front zip at least a quarter of the way down, and I almost always go for styles with thumbholes.

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You can find a good pullover at almost any sporting goods store. Occasionally, I will see some great deals stashed into discounted retailers like Marshalls or TJMaxx. Nordstrom Rack always has a good inventory of brands like Nike, Reebok, Adidas, Asics, and New Balance.

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If you’re looking for quality and don’t mind spending a little extra, lululemon, , Lorna Jane, and The North Face usually have the best variety. Two of my all-time favorite hoodies are this Reebok Cowl Neck Sweatshirt (ridiculously comfortable) and this PUMA French Terry Sweatshirt (love the kangaroo pouch inside!).

 

• athletic socks

Anyone who wears sneakers on a regular basis would appreciate a good pair of athletic socks. If you ask me, that’s something you can never have too many of. My favorite kinds are no show with the tabs on the end to prevent rubbing and blistering. For running, my go-to brand for socks is Brooks, and Bombas (<- affiliate link) is right up there with them for everything else!

They’re thick, comfortable, moisture wicking, and I love that Bombas has a mission to give back. For every pair purchased, one pair will be donated to someone in need!

 

• filtered water bottle and/or blender bottle

Anyone who is in and out of the gym will put a refillable water bottle to good use. Extra points if it has a built-in filter, because who knows where some of that gym water comes from. I have been eying  and this Brita Bottle for years!

Brita Bottle // CamelBak Groove // Blender Bottle

Shaker Bottles are great for those who drink protein shakes! We have two at home, and they’re the only thing that really mixes up my protein powders when I add them to milk or water. There’s nothing worse than drinking a chunk of protein powder, am I right?

 

• leggings, crops, and capris

Leggings are always a good idea. Long, cropped, solid, patterned, high wasted, I love them all. If you aren’t sure where to start or what the person you are shopping for might like, might I suggest something in the middle?

lululemon wunder under // CALIA moto tights (I’m obsessed) // Lorna Jane support tight

It’s fun to shop the crazy prints and mesh materials, too!

(all Lorna Jane)

My other go-to brands for leggings include CALIA // // lululemon // Reebok // Fabletics

 

• foam roller

Foam rollers are an essential part of stretching and workout recovery. Using them frequently can have the same results as a deep tissue massage! If the fitness fanatic you’re shopping for doesn’t already own one, they should.

(Real quick… foam rolling, also called self-myofascial release, uses deep compression to literally roll out fixed knots or muscle pains that develop in deep tissue.) The hard cylinders come in all different sizes and intensities. There are even gridded ones to trigger pressure points. (Intense, but awesome!)

I have this high density roller at home, and I can’t stress the importance of anyone working their body having one to use at home enough. You can find them at local sporting good stores, or I’d recommend , , or this one (for the seasoned roller) online.

 

• non-slip headbands

There’s nothing more annoying than your hair falling down and into your face while working out. For this reason, I always sport a headband if I know I’m going to be running or doing a class that requires a lot of jumping or intense movement.

(pictured)

If that’s the case, non-slip headbands are the way to go. They’ve come a long way over the years, and my favorites are lined with velvet on the inside. There are so many stylish designs to choose from!

The best brands I’ve found include Bic Bands // Sparkly Soul // BradyBands

 

• puffer vests

This may be exclusive to those living in colder climates, but puffer vests are amazing to layer over fitness apparel. They’re great to throw over a thin jacket or long sleeve shirt to go to and from the gym, and they are comfy and practical to wear on long walks and runs.

lucy Winter Warrior Vest // The North Face Aconcagua Vest // CALIA Knit Vest

I’ve acquired quite the collection over the last three years, and my top personal picks include this lucy vest (via zulily) and the CALIA vest you see above. If you’re looking to stick to more of a budget, check out and C9 by Champion (via Target)!

 

• gym bag

If there’s one thing an active gym goer uses more than anything, it’s a gym bag. Do they have one they love? I’m currently using this CALIA quilted bag, and it’s awesome.

I’ve also heard great thing about Fivesse gym bags. There are compartments for everything, including a secret yoga mat pouch in the back! If I were on the hunt for a new one, I would look here, here, here, and here.

 

If you’re shopping for a runner, these posts might be helpful!

• Gift Ideas For Runners

• Gift Ideas For Winter Runners

 

More Ideas:

» gift a year’s subscription to Health magazine

» replace their favorite gym or running shoe (you can usually type in the style and size into an Amazon search and find them for a steal if they’ve been out for a while!)

» activity tracker or fitness watch (Polar Loop 2, FitBit, Garmin)

» get an iTunes gift card or gift a subscription to enjoy Spotify Premium or Pandora One for uninterrupted workout playlists

» a yoga mat (extra points if you pick one with straps like this one)

» workout DVDs (Jillian Michaels, Insanity, P90X, Cathe X-Train)

» treat them to a spa service like a massage and/or pedicure

» a gift card to a sporting goods store (Sports Authority, DICK’s, etc.)

» a gift card to an athletic shoe store (Finish Line, Nike, Adidas, etc.)

» a gift card to health stores (The Vitamin Shoppe, GNC, etc.)

» earbuds! I have sworn by Koss (Fit Clips) for years and years

 

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I hope this list helps you as you set out to look for thoughtful gifts for loved ones. Please feel free to share some of your gift ideas for fitness lovers in the comments below.

 

Happy Shopping!

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. The LIL Gift Guide series features items I genuinely want to share with you, and have possibly even purchased myself. Please understand, however, that affiliate links are included. As always, I truly appreciate your support! <3