Gift Ideas For Women Who LOVE Workouts & Wellness

The end of the year is quickly approaching, and there’s no time like the present to tick any last-minute holiday gift shopping off of your ever-growing to-do list.

But what do women who love to Sweat want this festive season? We’ve rounded up the best gift ideas we know she'll love (because WE would love them).

Activewear

From gym leggings to a new pair of fresh sneakers, you just can’t go wrong with activewear.

When buying activewear for someone else, keep form, function and their personal style and preferences in mind.

• Moisture-wicking fabrics are always a good shout, but especially important for sweaty people or high-intensity workouts

• If they're always in leggings, go for leggings. You know they love them. Even if you think they'd look amazing, this is probably not the time to go rogue with a pair of booty shorts.

• If you always see them in a particular brand, try to get something from there. That way if they need to exchange it, you know they'll be able to find something they love.

• If you're looking at workout shoes, consider how they train. Shoes designed for running, HIIT and weight lifting are all quite different!

• For the Pilates princess in your life, grippy socks make a great gift.

• Always get an exchange voucher to be safe, or gift a voucher for their fave brand!

Fitness wearables

Wearables have been having a moment for a while, but health-tracking technology is now better than ever, with watches, smart rings and bands on the market that measure everything from sleep quality and stress levels to heart rate variability and ovulation. The days when a device only tracked your steps are long gone.

With features and prices varying across different brands and devices, opt for one that suits your budget with the functionality, features and style that will best suit her, her lifestyle and what she cares about.

Home gym equipment

If you know someone who has traded in the gym for at-home training or is about to begin their fitness journey in their lounge or garage, think about how you can help them level up their home workout space before the new year begins. 

We asked the amazing Sweat Community for their best home gym tips, and there were plenty of gift suggestions in there. If they’re in the early stages of setting up a space at home, then resistance bands, a good quality yoga mat, skipping rope, adjustable dumbbells or other free weights are all amazing options.

Unique training equipment

Sometimes a good gift is as simple as thinking about their favourite training style. If they love boxing, a new pair of gloves or hand wraps would make an awesome present. If they’re all about the benefits of strength training, wrist straps are a great choice, while hand or bar grips are an epic accessory for the woman who is smashing out muscle-ups or practicing her toes-to-bar.

Know a Pilates lover? You’ve got lots of options, such as ankle or wrist weights, a Pilates ball, Pilates ring or floor sliders. For your yogi friend, you could go for a bolster, blocks or straps.

A gym membership

This one comes with a huge caveat. You must ONLY buy someone a gym membership if you know it's something they want and you've either had a conversation about it or heard them talking about it. Gifting a gym membership can quickly become a horror story if they interpret your thoughtfulness as a suggestion that they need to exercise more.

If it's something they've recently discussed with you and you know they want one, a gym membership can be an amazing, generous present.

A gym bag

After something a little less pricey but incredibly practical? A good gym bag that can fit all of her workout essentials is a great choice.

If you really want to splash out and treat the new gym-goer in your life, you could also fill the gym bag with a few essentials for her workouts - think things like a drink bottle, sweat towel, nice socks, hair ties, padlock, dry shampoo or small toiletries bag.

A pair of headphones or a speaker

A good pair of headphones or a Bluetooth speaker can be a game-changer if she doesn't already own one.

For headphones, we always recommend cordless (who wants to get tangled up in wires in the middle of a set), but the exact type depends on how and where they like to train.

• Noise-cancelling headphones can be amazing for the gym or home, but if you’re buying for someone who loves to get sweaty while running, walking or cycling outdoors, bone conduction headphones are a great option as the technology allows your ear canal to hear other sounds so you can remain aware of your surroundings.

• Over-ear headphones are great for training styles that don't involve much jumping around, like walking or weightlifting. For runners or HIIT lovers, we recommend earphones that hook over the ears or have a band around the neck to keep them in place.

While headphones are great for working out at the gym, in public spaces or when you’re on the move, if the person you’re buying for works out at home but doesn’t have a quality speaker, a Bluetooth speaker is also a great gift idea that they’ll be able to enjoy for long after their workout ends.

Kitchen goodies

Make mealtimes a breeze with a blender or airfryer, some nice non-stick cookware, or surprise them with the gadget they’ve been eyeing up on TikTok for months. Top up their supply of supplements, or for the ultimate foodie you could put together a hamper of delicious snacks!

A gratitude or goal-setting journal

There are some beautiful journals out there designed for goal-setting or creating a daily gratitude practice. They can make incredibly thoughtful gifts.

A great book

What you get up to on your rest days is just as important as consistent training, and for the Sweat Community and our trainers, unwinding with a great read is a good place to start. If they love to cook, head straight to the recipe book section instead! We also LOVE Britany's list of her favourite reads.

A treatment voucher

This is a surefire way to make someone happy. A voucher for a massage or a facial is a luxurious gift if you know someone who would appreciate some time to unwind, de-stress and indulge themselves, or you could find a wellness centre in their area that offers infrared saunas, contrast therapy or hot pools.

Recovery gear

If you’re gift hunting for someone who is all about maximising their recovery (or struggles with tight muscles!), consider buying them some recovery gear to add to their at-home gym setup. 

Handheld massage guns can improve blood flow to an area of the body, promoting recovery after intense activity or injury, while foam rollers and massage balls can help alleviate delayed-onset muscle soreness and give you a similar self-myofascial release, without the hefty price tag. 

Relaxation & sleep support

For a little R&R at home, how about a heat pillow, a weighted blanket, some Epsom bath salts or a beautiful scented candle? You can also give them the gift of sleep with a gorgeous sleeping mask, sleep pillow spray, or help them get up on the right side of the bed with a daylight alarm clock. 

An insulated drink bottle

Is there anything worse than finishing a particularly challenging circuit or workout than reaching for your drink bottle, taking a big gulp, only to find your water is warm? Gross. Grab her an insulated water bottle. It's something she'll use every day!

Remember: the best present is your presence

While we wanted to take this opportunity to round up some great gift ideas for the Sweat Community, we also know that for many, the festive season can be a tough time due to the cost-of-living crisis.

If you’re under financial stress this holiday season, remember the best present you can give is your presence, and there are still plenty of low-cost and free ways to spread the joy this time of year. Grab a coffee or meal together, go for a walk, or just enjoy hanging out.