Gifts that make you healthy are the best gifts you can give.
Whether you call them wellness gifts, lifestyle gifts, small fitness gifts or something else entirely, you give someone one of these and you’ve immediately improved their life.
Wellness gifts also happen to appeal to a wide range of potential giftees, making them can’t miss gift options this holiday season.
You know what makes the perfect gift even better? A less-than-ridiculous price tag.
Thankfully, none of the wellness gifts we’re discussing today are going to break the bank.
…and depending on how big your special someone’s socks are, all of them might even qualify as excellent stocking stuffer options.
The 6 Best Wellness Gifts
We won’t bore you with our full process of classifying these items or compiling this list.
They’re small, inexpensive, and are perfect for the wellness-conscious person in your life.
Good as gold, right?
Magnesium Spray
“Train hard” is the phrase that gets all the praise, but “recover hard” is the real MVP. Magnesium in all forms is linked with recovery and relaxation, leading to both very practical and very pleasing effects (de Baaij et al. 2015).
Why we like it
Topical options provide the same benefits as other forms of magnesium while being easier on the digestive system and allowing for targeted application. Magnesium sprays are easy to apply and are much less greasy than magnesium lotions,
Who it’s best for
Your favorite gym rat who is always sore and needs some decreased muscle tension in their life. Even those who aren’t as hardcore about their training will fall in love with magnesium’s pre-sleep relaxation and calming effects.
“Change Plates”
Small-denomination weight plates (“change plates”) are valuable, but oftentimes absent commodities. They allow you to make micro, but consistent strength gains (Suchomel, Nimphius, & Stone 2016).
Why we like them
Setting a new PR is tough business. It’s even harder when you have to do it by hitting 10 or more pounds more than your old max because the smallest plates you have are 5-pounders. Upping the weight be 5 or even 2.5 pounds makes for a much more manageable PR attempt.
Change plates are also very portable, making them easy to pack in your gym bag if your local gym isn’t adequately equipped.
Who they’re best for
The weightlifter in your life who is laser-focused on her progressive overload strength program. The gym newbie will also appreciate not having to jump from using an empty barbell to a more daunting training weight.
BPA-free Water Bottle
On the surface, gifting a water bottle doesn’t seem all that thoughtful…or fun. Most are pretty inexpensive and aren’t too hard to find.
Limiting a friend’s exposure to BPA (and the nasty things associated with it), though, might just be the most valuable gift on this list.
Why we like it
As the name suggests, a BPA-free water bottle is made from materials other than Bisphenol A (BPA). This synthetic chemical is commonly found in plastic products and can disrupt hormone levels (Rochester 2013). In a world full of water bottles constructed of BPA-constructed plastic, one that doesn’t mess with our hormone levels is the obvious option.
Who it’s best for
That buddy of yours who has been using the same water bottle for the past 5 years or for your health-conscious friend who is always looking for ways to reduce her exposure to plastics.
Dry Shampoo
A hair-refreshening product that absorbs sweat without getting your hair wet?! Dry shampoo certainly sounds too good to be true, but its volume-boosting, and time-saving, advantages are all very real.
Why we like it
Finding time to clean sweaty hair isn’t always in the cards, making dry shampoo essential when low on time. It can also simply prevent over-washing, serving as a good alternative between hair washings (Trüeb 2015).
Who it’s best for
Your co-worker who rushes to work immediately after finishing his workouts or your sister who simply doesn’t want to spend so much time washing and drying her hair so often.
Light Dumbbells
Big-time gym bros don’t always need big-time dumbbells. Countless exercises are most effective with lighter dumbbells, making them more appealing to a wider audience.
Why we like them
Lighter-weight dumbbells are beloved by experienced and novice trainees alike. Even those who aren’t as die-hard about their fitness regimen can appreciate holding a pair during casual walks or for toning work.
Who they’re best for
That friend of yours who is putting the finishing touches on his home gym dumbbell set or your grandmother who is just beginning her strength training journey (Fragala, 2019).
Collagen Peptides
Peptides may be all the rage, but collagen peptides have proven themselves to be very effective for quite some time. Easily digestible, collagen peptides are renowned for their positive impacts on recovery, personal aesthetics, and general longevity-enhancing properties.
Why we like them
Collagen peptide use is associated with firmer, more youthful-looking skin as well as thicker, healthier hair and nails (Proksch et al., 2014). They have also been linked with stronger joints and connective tissues, helping to ward off those all-too-common aches and pains (Bello & Oesser 2006).
Many collagen peptide options come in pre-portioned and easy-to-carry packages, making them extremely accessible.
Who they’re best for
Your cousin who has recently gotten on a longevity kick or your niece who likes the idea of harder-to-break fingernails.
Waterproof Gym Bag
The gym-going population isn’t really known for being the easiest on their gym bags. This leads many to opt for poorly constructed inexpensive options. Few of these are made of resilient or resistant material…the exact kind of material you don’t want covering your gear if you get caught in a freak rainstorm.
Why we like it
By default, a waterproof gym bag is made of sterner stuff. In addition to being able to hold up in wet conditions, Tasslon fabric is renowned for combining the “comfort of cotton with the performance of synthetics” (Fabriclore 2023). Gym bags constructed of Tasslon comfortably secure your gear and can even be trusted as your carry-on for a weekend excursion.
Who it’s best for
Your training partner who insists on lugging his gear in an old school backpack or your travel-obsessed niece who has been searching for a combined gym bag/carry-on bag.
Soft Plyo Box
Plyometric workouts are renowned for their ability to develop explosive power, improve general coordination, and for their application to a variety of sports and fitness ventures (Markovic, 2007). Plyo box jumps are the go-to exercise for this style of training, but nothing can derail a workout faster than a missed rep…and the ensuing busted shins.
Why we like it
The fear of injuring oneself on a box jump is legitimate and we’ll take anything that can be done to minimize it. The soft plyo box is the solution to overcoming this fear, turning any missed rep into little more than a minor inconvenience. Anti-slip PVC provides slip protection and multiple built-in height options allow for expanded functionality and exercise optionality.
Who it’s best for
Your gym BFF who is anxious about landing her first box jump or your uncle who has scuffed his shins one too many times during metcons.
Benefits of Giving Wellness Gifts?
As we finish up, it’s important to point out the positive effects wellness gifts can have on you (the giver). By our count you’ve selected:
A thoughtful gift for your grandma who is just starting her fitness journey.
The perfect gift for your aunt who is looking for something to help her wind down at night.
And a practical gift for your co-worker who is always a bit flustered after returning from her lunch break.
…and because none of these wellness gifts require you to max out your credit card, you can confidently order all six and call it a day.
Nothing feels as magical as giving the perfect gift…although finally finishing your holiday shopping is a close second.
Now that is personal satisfaction money can’t buy!
References
Bello, A. E., & Oesser, S. (2006). Collagen hydrolysate for joint health. Current Medical Research and Opinion, 22(11): 2221–2232.
de Baaij, J. H. F., Hoenderop, J. G. J., & Bindels, R. J. M. (2015). Magnesium in man: Implications for health and disease. Physiological Reviews, 95(1): 1–46.
Fragala, M. S., et al. (2019). Resistance training for older adults. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 33(8): 2019–2052.
Markovic, G. (2007). Does plyometric training improve vertical jump height? British Journal of Sports Medicine, 41(6): 349-355.
Proksch, E., et al. (2014). Oral collagen peptide supplementation and skin elasticity. Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 27(3): 113–119.
Rochester, J. R. (2013). Bisphenol A and human health. Reproductive Toxicology, 42: 132–155.
Suchomel, T. J., Nimphius, S., & Stone, M. H. (2016). The importance of muscular strength in athletic performance. Sports Medicine, 46(10): 1419–1449.
Taslan fabric. (n.d.). Fabriclore. Retrieved from https://fabriclore.com.
Trüeb, R. M. (2015). Shampooing frequency and hair/scalp health. International Journal of Trichology, 7(4): 173–175.
