Fitness Gift Guide – the 2020 Edition

We’re in the home stretch of 2020, people! Things are definitely looking up for 2021 with the hope of a vaccine on the horizon, but there’s no doubt life is going to be weird for a while longer. An interesting effect of the pandemic has been the way people have turned to fitness as an outlet, yet my industry has been turned upside down. I’ve become adept at training and teaching classes via Zoom and FaceTime. My favorite hiking and running trails have become packed with people. Meanwhile, the gym stays relatively empty. All those new exercisers make me optimistic, though, and this fitness gift guide is for the 2020 version of the fitness lover!

There are gifts for runners and outdoor exercisers who are going to tough out the winter conditions. Gifts for the stay-at-home fitness lovers who have been steadily building their home workout spaces. And there are some fun things that anyone into fitness will love. Browse for a friend or loved one, or find something to treat yourself! Happy Holidays!

Fitness Gift Guide for Runners

1. A running windbreaker like this one is a must. It’s a light layer that won’t overheat you, and it’s weatherproof to keep you warm in the elements.
2. This Under Armor layer I wear often. Their coldgear running apparel is sweat-wicking, and warm.
3. I have used a FlipBelt for years, and I rarely run without it. It keeps your phone, keys, and fuel safely stashed without bouncing around as you run.
4. If you’re going to keep running outside, reflective gear like this lightweight vest is necessary. Days are shorter, and even with the best intentions, you can find yourself running in the dusk or dark.
5. I loooove my Garmin Vivoactive. I received this as a gift after a long time of running sans technology. It motivates me and keeps me on track.
6. Vermont’s mask mandate exempts runners and cyclists. I still feel safer and more responsible having something I can quickly pull up if I’m near people. This buff from the etsy store SmittyLettering was sent to me as a gift by the owner. I LOVE it. It keeps my neck warm, and it doesn’t feel like I’m suffocating when running with it over my nose and mouth.
7. Spandits recently released their Mantra line, which offer a wide waistband and seaming, to make them more comfortable and flattering. You can get them in tights, thermal tights, or fleece-lined Icelandic tights. I’m an ambassador, so use the code SPANDITSLOVE at checkout for 10% off, just check my name in the ambassador dropdown!
8. This Trailheads hat is a cap, with the brim protecting you from rain and snow, but it’s also a hat that keeps your ears warm.
9. Vermont-based Darn Tough socks are great for running in New England winter. Try no-show socks, or go for the crew for extra ankle warmth.

Fitness Gifts for Outdoors

1. Spikes are an easy way of giving yourself traction, just by slipping them over your running shoes. I have a pair of Kahtoola nanospikes, which work great!
2. These Trailheads gloves are what I wear nearly all through the winter. They’re warm and have the touchscreen fingers. When it’s really cold (like under 10 degrees), I layer them with mittens.
3. I wanted a pair of snowshoes for a long time. Two Christmases ago, my partner bought me a pair of Atlas running snowshoes. They’re super lightweight and they keep me enjoying outdoors all winter long.
4. If you’re skiing or snowboarding, or just get extra cold, ski pants like these will keep you toasty (and waterproof!).
5. Spandits Icelandic tights are what I wear for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, or feeling toasty warm and looking cute at home.
6. I have to stay true to my Aussie roots and include sunscreen in a fitness gift guide! The sun is still no joke in the winter, especially if you’re out in the snow and getting the reflected rays as well. Sunscreen balms in a stick form give you added protection against wind-chapped skin.
7. I love a long puffy coat in the winter so I basically feel like I’m cocooned in a blanket. When you’re active outdoors, though, you need a shorter coat so you can move. (Pro tip: you can always layer an athletic skirt over tights to keep your butt warm!)

Gifts for At-Home Workouts

1. Ahhh, the great dumbbell shortage of 2020! Believe it or not, you can still find dumbbells back in stock. This set of neoprene weights is (at time of publishing!) still available. These are perfect to supplement your at-home workouts. Lighter weights are great for online fitness classes, where you’re doing more of an endurance workout.
2. On Thanksgiving Day, I did a morning online yoga class, but I had left my yoga mat at work. I tried to get traction on my bedroom rug, and as my feet slipped around in poses, I made a mental note to include a mat in my fitness gift guide!
3. Yoga blocks are great to have for balancing poses, or if you’re working your way to more flexibility.
4. I have an inexpensive bluetooth speaker I use a lot in my classes. When the world shut down, I brought it home with me. My partner spent the first few weeks of stay-at-home researching better speakers. While I was skeptical it was worth that much more money, I begrudgingly admitted this JBL FLIP 5 speaker sounds amazing.
5. When you want to lift heavier, and go up in weights, adjustable weights are what you need for home. They take up so little space for the versatility of having extra weights available. (And yes, still in stock right now!)
6. Recovery like foam rolling is a key part of keeping yourself flexible and injury-free. Check out this guide on foam rolling, and get yourself an inexpensive high-density foam roller.
7. May I introduce one of my favorite fitness tools? My Body Sculpt classes feature these sliders for lower body and core work. All my participants love to hate them.

Fun Gifts for Fitness Lovers

1. I am a big fan of goodr running glasses. They’re inexpensive, super cute and fun, and they actually stay put and feel comfortable when you’re running.
2. This super-cute Spandits tote is a fun gift for a runner when she’s not out running!
3. Wonder Woman is such a bad-ass! If you have a Wonder Woman in your life, this tumbler tells her how you feel with an understated logo.
4. Or, you could go all BAM! POW! with this cool bright red water bottle with Diana Prince in all her glory.
5. Erica Sara is a talented jeweler, a super fit mama, and a lovely human. Her fitness jewelry like this pretty charm necklace is a perfect gift.
6. You know I love Rise Run Retreat, and the founder Sarah Canney has gone mostly virtual this year. A gift certificate to put towards a retreat experience that is life-changing would be an amazing gift.
7. Maybe it’s coffee, maybe it’s wine by the campfire…whatever this enamel mug is holding, it’s still professing your love of running.

No matter what you celebrate, or how different your winter and holiday season is looking this year, I wish you all peace, love, and most importantly health. May 2021 be a bright beacon of a year for us all!

Editor’s note: Some of these links are Amazon affiliate links, so if you buy through these links Fine Fit Day gets a referral fee at no cost to you…thank you for supporting the blog!