What a year it’s been, huh? 2020 has definitely felt like a never-ending shit show, and no one’s been immune to its challenges. The holiday season this year has extra special meaning, reminding of us everything that we have, the struggles we have overcome, and what really matters in the grand scheme of things.
Whether you want to take this opportunity to treat your loved ones to something special or you just don’t have the time or mental bandwidth to even think about gift shopping, I’m here with several gift guides to help you out, as well as previous years’ guides: 2019, 2018, 2017 (Parts 1: Stocking Stuffers, 2: Gifts Under $25, 3: Gifts Under $50, 4: Gifts Over $50), and 2014.
I also have more gift guides to come, including for the Guys, the Beauty Maven, the Work-From-Home Warrior, and more!
My Finds for the Fitness Fanatic:
1. Athleta Speedlight Tank
$44, Athleta.com, 8% cash back from Rakuten
This is quickly becoming one of my favorite tops for working out. It has chafe-free seamless fabric and side-ruching for a textured look, as well as grippers on the inside hem to it stays put no matter how you move. I also love the short sleeve and long sleeve Speedlight tops.
2. Skullcandy Method Bluetooth Wireless In-Ear Headphones
$36, Amazon.com
These wireless earbuds are winners in my book for a few reasons — they actually fit my small ear holes and stay put during runs and workouts, has up to 10 hours of battery life and charges quickly, and is sweat and waterproof. And the price can’t be beat for the sound quality.
3. Ready to Run: Unlocking Your Potential to Run Naturally by Kelly Starrett
$20, Amazon.com / Black-owned bookstores to support
Unleash your running potential, improve mobility, and help prevent injury with 12 standards to work towards, mobility exercises, and tactics to turn weaknesses into strengths and accelerate recovery. I personally have dealt with multiple injuries this year (2 from running) — a labral tear in my hip, shoulder tendonitis, and chronic hamstring strain. This book gives me the tools to stay mobile, healthy, and prevent future injury.
4. Bombas Compression Socks
$18, bombas.com
I love these compression socks so much I just ordered another pair (they’re 20% off right now!). I wear these both during long runs or runs that are especially taxing, like sprint workouts, and for recovery after a tough run. They feel amazing on my feet and calves, with a 15-20 mmHg compression level (medium strength), arch support, and a seamless toe. They’re supportive enough for traveling, sports recovery, and mild swelling. They come in 3 sizes for a perfect fit. Plus, for every pair purchased, a pair of socks is donated to homeless shelters.
5. Beautycounter The Clean Deo Minis
$49, beautycounter.com (15% off with free shipping on orders of $50+ until Nov. 29th)
These four mini deodorants are the best aluminum-free deodorants I’ve tried. They actually do a better job of keeping my armpits stink-free than my conventional Dove anti-perspirant, and I love the scents, especially Clean Rose (which smells more fresh, almost citrusy, than flowery). The formula neutralizes odor and glides on effortlessly for an instant refresh, in four scents: Soft Lavender, Fresh Coconut, Clean Rose, and Crisp Sequoia.
Perfect for the friend who loves to try the latest and greatest in clean beauty or the family member who’s always on the go, this set comes with mini trial and travel-friendly versions of the refillable, full-size versions coming in January (you can get the full-size Crisp Sequoia right now in the Counterman Fresh Essentials gift set).
6. Oiselle O-Mazing 3/4 Tights
$85, oiselle.com
What drew me to these leggings is the innovative pocket design — the entire waistband is one big carrier for all your things (keys, phone, snack, lip balm, ID, cash, and more!) on a run, bike ride, or walk. I think you can never have too many pockets! Durable and secure bar tacks spaced throughout the waistband keep everything in place. The Nyelle Compression (nylon/spandex) fabric is soft, durable, and comfortable.
I love that this is a woman-owned company committed to a threefold mission: make great product, improve the sport of running, and build the sisterhood, as well as protect athletes’ rights, women’s rights, and to make room at the table for smaller companies such as Oiselle. Their charitable giving programs, such as Bras For Girls Program, Every Mother Counts, and Girls Gotta Run in Ethiopia, they look for ways to help girls and women embrace sports as a lifelong pursuit and calling.
7. Athleta Made to Move Masks
$25 for set of 3, athleta.com / $12 for 10 filters sold separately (8% cash back on Rakuten)
I love the performance material of these masks, as well as the double layers with a pocket for filters. It has a moldable fit around the nose and cheek bones and feels comfortable. It has served me well during my strenuous physical therapy sessions this year. The ear loops are adjustable (crucial for those with small heads like me!). It includes a strap that connects to the ear straps so you can wear it around your head instead (no more sore ears!).
If these are sold out, the pleated Everyday Non-Medical Masks (set of 5 for $30) are great (but only 1 layer instead of the 2 that the M2M masks have), and there’s a new one, the Activate Mask (set of 2 for $40), that I just purchased and can’t wait to try out. There are also girls’ sized masks available as well.
8. Whoop Strap 3.0
$30/month membership (strap is included), whoop.com
I’ve been using the Whoop Strap for the past several months, and I love it! I love seeing all the data that it collects, from my sleep quality to my Heart Rate Variability (HRV) each day. I purchased it mainly because I wanted to track my sleep (insomnia has been a life-long struggle) and to monitor my recovery status so that I could listen to my body better and see how different things affect my ability to recover as I age. I’m a perimenopausal 41-year-old, and I don’t recover as quickly or as easily as I did 10 years ago.
The app tells you in real time how you slept, how recovered you are and if you should push yourself in your workout or rest, trends in resting heart rate, and more. The Sleep and Strain Coaches give you tips on how to improve your analytics for better performance. The strap has a 5-day battery life and comes with an external battery for charging on the go.
Membership includes access to the WHOOP app and community. Join teams with friends, family, and like-minded fitness enthusiasts and see how you compare to other members on the leaderboards.
9. Thrive Market Membership
$59 for one year, thrivemarket.com (1% cash back on Rakuten)
Thrive Market is an online, membership-based market making the highest quality, healthy and sustainable products available for every budget, lifestyle, and geography. Thrive provides 25-50% off retail prices on 6,000+ organic, non-GMO, and sustainable products that can be filtered by 70+ dietary and lifestyle needs, including the low-FODMAP diet that I’m on. Plus, you’ll receive members-only deals, rewards, and free full-size product gifts with purchase. To help make healthy living accessible for everyone, they match every paid Thrive Market membership with a free one for a low-income family, student, teacher, veteran, or first responder.
10. FlipBelt Zipper Running Belt and Water Bottles
$36, flipbelt.com (belt) / $9-10 each (water bottles) Buy multiples or a bundle for more savings.
The FlipBelt Zipper is comfortable and carries everything you might need while exercising or traveling – phone, keys, ID, cash, medical devices, and more. Coming in sizes from XXS to XXL and in nine colors, it stays securely in place without bouncing or shifting. It’s moisture-wicking and quick-drying with a zipper pocket and 3 open access points with just enough width to fit even larger phones with cases (even passports!). You can secure your keys with the sewn-in clip and place valuables inside the zipper pocket.
The curved BPA-free water bottles come in 2 sizes – 6 oz. and 11 oz. They are specifically designed to fit in Flip Belts, but I’ve found that the smaller one fits in the side leg pocket of my leggings perfectly and is so comfortable that I forget it’s there (unlike other bulky hydration packs I’ve used in the past).
You can find other running accessories from FlipBelt, including secure wallets, pepper spray, personal alarms, clip-on lights, reusable bib holders, and more.