Best strength training equipment
BowFlex SelectTech 552 adjustable dumbbells
These are a solid set of adjustable dumbbells that are highly rated and great for anyone living in a small space. You can adjust their weight from five to 52.5 pounds each, and the dial that changes the weights is easy to use. These weights are great for leg exercises and come with a storage tray for when they’re not in use.
Peloton Cross-Training Treadmill
The Peloton Cross Training Series Tread is the essential at-home workout experience, combining elevated equipment, fun and challenging workouts, and personalized cardio insights to keep you motivated. With a variety of cardio and strength workouts — including pilates, yoga and more – plus recommendations tailored to your goals, it’s easier than ever to make progress on your running, walking and strength goals.
Tempo Move starter home gym
This compact smart home gym is small enough for a cozy apartment, and its cabinet, which houses the weights, resembles a piece of furniture that blends seamlessly into the space. The set comes with smart plates and workouts can be viewed via the Tempo app on your phone or streamed on your TV. Plans start at $49 a month, depending on which features you choose, like more weights, a workout mat or freestanding touchscreen.
Nobull Outwork Training Shoes
Nobull’s Outwork trainers made CNET’s best weightlifting shoes list because they’re stylish and versatile at the same time. You can tell that a lot of thought went into designing this weightlifting shoe that does it all. If someone on your gift list likes to spend their time in the weight room or at CrossFit classes, they’ll appreciate these shoes and you can choose from a variety of patterns and colors.
Best wearable fitness tech
Oura Ring 4
The Oura ring is a smart ring that tracks sleep, stress levels, heart rate and menstrual cycles. It also records workouts, tells you how well-recovered you are, predicts your ideal bedtime and gives you data on your heart health, among other things. What I like about it is that it’s a discreet wearable, blending in as a regular ring you can wear daily. Plus, in my experience, it lasts a few days before needing a recharge.
Read our Oura Ring 4 review.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8
If you’re shopping for someone who has been eyeing a smartwatch and has an Android phone, they’ll appreciate the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8. This smartwatch is durable, with a long battery life and a big, bright display. This time around, the Galaxy Watch 8 offers a first-of-its-kind health sensor that can measure antioxidant levels in the skin. It also has a sensor configuration that reads your heart rate, skin temperature and bioimpedance (to measure body composition).
Another great feature is Smart Things Find, which uses GPS to help locate your phone if it goes missing. For something that currently costs about $330, you’re getting a good deal for a top-of-the-line smartwatch, and it’s compatible with Android phones, unlike Apple Watches.
Read our Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 review.
Fitbit Charge 6
The Fitbit Charge 6 made our pick for best all-around fitness tracker and for good reason. It’s chock-full of fitness and health features, like sleep tracking, an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) app and live heart rate monitoring during workouts. You can use it with your iPhone or Android, and we love its battery life of four to five days. Although you’ll get many features from this Fitbit without a subscription, you’ll get even more with the Premium one, which costs $10 a month.
Read our Fitbit Charge 6 review.
Apple Watch Ultra 3
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is the newest watch in Apple’s lineup and comes with the addition of 5G and satellite connectivity, which gives you an extra layer of protection when you’re off the grid. This rugged watch is designed for adventures and round-the-clock health tracking. It offers a customizable action button, fall and car crash detection, ECG, temperature sensor, dual-frequency GPS and built-in LTE. The top-notch heart rate sensor is a favorite among runners, cyclists and outdoor exercisers because of its accuracy. It’s bound to be a favorite among those who enjoy serious athletic activities and other sports.
Read our Apple Watch Ultra 2 review.
Best fitness accessories
Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds
CNET named the Beats Fit Pro the best new wireless sports earbuds with ear hooks. These second-gen earbuds received a significant upgrade over their predecessors, including an improved design and the more powerful Apple H2 chip. Fitness fanatics will appreciate the popular ear hook design, so they remain secure in your ears no matter how sweaty your workout is. If you’re shopping for a friend or family member who takes their workouts seriously and likes to break a sweat, these earbuds come highly recommended.
Read our picks of the best earbuds and headphones for working out.
Calpak water bottle holder
Water bottle holders let you go hands-free when commuting or going for a walk, while still carrying the hydration you need. Calpak’s holder has an insulated interior in the water bottle compartment to keep your drink cool, plus an elastic drawstring to keep your bottle in place. On the outside are pockets to hold your phone, keys and other essentials. It also comes in a variety of colors and patterns, from classic black to limited-edition florals.
Dagne Dover Dakota neoprene backpack
This is a stylish backpack for those who commute to work and then hit the gym or vice versa. It can fit workout (or work day) clothes and has plenty of compartments to fit your phone, tablet, laptop and other accessories. The neoprene material makes it water-resistant and it comes in several colors, including black and mauve.
SPIbelt running belt
If you’re shopping for the outdoorsy person in your life, a running belt is a good option. The SPIbelt expands to hold your phone, keys, credit cards and more. Runners can benefit from this belt because it’s bounce-free, so it will stay in place during all distances. Plus, you can extend it to fit most waist sizes, ranging from 25 to 47 inches. (If you need more room, a belt extender can be purchased separately.) A bonus is that this belt doesn’t just have to be for training runs. Hikers and casual walkers will enjoy the SPIbelt because it’s a good hands-free alternative to a backpack to store their belongings.
Best recovery tools
Theragun Mini (3rd gen)
The third-gen Theragun Mini is a great choice if you know someone who’s always on the go and wants a quick massage after their workout or while traveling. Don’t let the Mini’s size fool you. This massage gun has three speeds, ranging from 1,750 to 2,400 percussions per minute. It also has 12mm of amplitude, which is deep for a mini massage gun. Another plus is its Bluetooth capabilities, so you can connect it to the Therabody app.
The Theragun Mini is the right size to throw into your gym bag, backpack or purse. It comes with a soft travel pouch too, so it stays extra protected in your bag. It’s the perfect gift for the friend or family member who’s serious about their post-workout recovery.
Theragun Prime Plus massage gun
If you’re looking for some heat therapy with your massage gun, look at the all-new Theragun Prime Plus. Its science-backed heat therapy can help with things like reducing soreness and relieving pain. It also includes three extra attachments to help various muscle groups. And the Theragun Prime Plus will also work with other Theragun attachments, including the Cold Plus attachment and Vibration Plus attachment, which are sold separately.
Hyperice Normatec Go
The Normatec Go is Hyperice’s portable air-compression wearable device. It’s designed to boost circulation to your legs to help your muscles recover faster and reduce any swelling. What I love about this product is how lightweight and easy it is to use at home, as well as carry on the go. Unlike the full-body Normatec boots ($699), these only cover your calves, and there’s no need for additional hoses or attachments as you decompress after a day of activity or being on your feet. All you have to do is press the control unit found on the sides of the Normatec Go and you’re on your way to quick relief.
The Normatec Go can also be connected via Bluetooth to the Hyperice app (available for iPhone and Android phones), which gives you access to preselected air compression routines. It’s made to be used on the go, which is a nice alternative to the full-fledged Normatec boots. This would be an ideal gift for anyone who’s looking for additional ways to recover post-workout or for someone who travels frequently and needs a therapeutic way to decompress.
Best flexibility and mobility tools
DynaPro exercise ball
This stability ball comes in various sizes and can easily be added to your workout, physical therapy or yoga routine, among other things. Plus you can always sit on it when it’s not in use.
Coobons Fitness Fabric mini resistance bands
These mini resistance bands are a great and very affordable addition to any workout. They come in three resistance levels and are also easy to clean. Fitness buffs will definitely appreciate getting them as a gift.
TriggerPoint Grid 1.0 foam roller
Foam rolling is an inexpensive way to reduce muscle tightness and increase your range of motion, which is also good to do before a workout, especially if a massage gun isn’t in line with your budget. The TriggerPoint Grid 1.0 Foam Roller is one of my favorites because it isn’t too big (only 13 inches long) and it’s durable. I bought one many years ago and it’s still holding up. If you’re shopping for a friend or family member who likes to train like an athlete, they’ll appreciate this gift for recovery after each workout.
Stakt foldable yoga mat
This yoga mat isunique because it’s foldable, unlike others that you have to roll up. This helps it keep its shape better and makes it easier to slide under a bed or couch for storage. The material is also thicker and makes it more versatile than others on the market, because you can use it for other types of exercise. It also doubles as a step stool for incline-decline exercises and can be used as a yoga block. The compact and adjustable Stakt Weights are a nice touch too if someone is just starting to add strength training to their regimen and doesn’t have a lot of space to keep extra weights around.
Best nutrition and wellness tools
ShakeSphere protein shaker
The ShakeSphere impressed me with its ability to provide a smooth protein shake, so it’s no surprise CNET named it the protein shaker with the best design. The capsule looks like a grenade and can hold hot or cold beverages. And it’s not just a shaker — this multi-use bottle can also be used as a flask or thermos. The unique design is shaker-ball-free and uses centrifugal force instead to mix protein powder and liquid. It’s provided some of the smoothest shakes I’ve ever made with a protein shaker. And bonus points: The spout is designed to be drip-free.
Another unique feature is that ShakeSphere can puree soft fruits, like bananas or berries, if you’re looking to make a smoothie without a blade. Based on my experience, I’d recommend using fruit at its ripest point — otherwise you’ll end up with chunks of it in your drink. If you have a friend who enjoys drinking protein shakes regularly, you can’t go wrong with a ShakeSphere protein shaker.
ProMix Nutrition Protein Puff bars
These are some of ProMix’s best-sellers because they’re healthier versions of Rice Krispie Treats and make for good on-the-go snacks. As far as macros go, they have 15 grams of protein and are 150 calories per bar, and they’re made with only naturally sourced sugars and no artificial coloring or flavoring. Some of my favorite flavors include vanilla, strawberries and cream, and blueberries and cream.
Nutribullet Ultra personal blender
If your gift recipient is in need of a blender that doesn’t take up much counter space, the Nutribullet Ultra is a solid choice. It’s Nutribullet’s latest model and has a quieter motor than previous models. The new blade is made to reduce blending time, which is helpful when you’re in a rush to get out the door. The blending cups are now made of Tritan Renew, which is a recyclable and BPA-free material. Similar to former Nutribullet cups, these are portable, dishwasher-safe and shatter-proof.
