Best Gifts for People Who Work Out: Under $25, $50, $100 and a Premium Pick

“Get them something for the gym” sounds easy until you realize a powerlifter, a marathoner and someone with a rowing machine in the garage want completely different things. So this guide sorts picks two ways: by budget first, then by how the person trains.

Within each price tier you’ll find options for three kinds of people. Lifters spend their time in a commercial gym, so they care about earbuds that handle a loud room and a big bottle that lives on the floor next to the bench. Runners need things that are small, light or useful in the dark. Home and garage gym people have the space for a real speaker and a full-size massage gun.

We haven’t tested these products. They come from maker specs, owner reviews read in volume and our own checks of each Amazon listing. For more ideas by price and recipient, see the Phim Picks holiday gift hub.

Not medical advice. If you have an injury or condition, ask a professional before using a massage gun.

Quick guide: who gets what

• Safe pick for almost anyone who trains: Owala FreeSip
• Runner on a small budget: JLab Go Air Pop+ or the LHKNL headlamp
• Lifter in a loud gym: Soundcore P30i
• Lifter who wants one big bottle: YETI Rambler 36 oz
• Garage or home gym: Anker Soundcore 2 or JBL Clip 5
• Frequent traveler: Bob and Brad Q2 Mini
• Premium gift: Hyperice Hypervolt Go 2
• iPhone user who hates ear tips: AirPods 5

Three questions before you buy

Where do they train? A commercial gym, the road or a garage changes the answer more than budget does. A speaker is useless to someone who only trains at a big-box gym, and a headlamp is only worth it for someone who’s out before sunrise or after dark.

What phone do they use? Earbuds and some features depend on it. AirPods 5 are built around the iPhone. The Soundcore P30i and JLab pair work the same on Android and iPhone.

What do they already own? Most people who work out already have a water bottle and a pair of earbuds. A second bottle can still be welcome if it does something different, like a straw-and-spout lid, but check before you buy a third.

Under $25

JLab Go Air Pop+: best budget pick

For the runner. Plenty of people won’t take nice earbuds on a run or leave them in a locker. A pair this inexpensive is the one they’ll keep in the gym bag without worrying about it. Dual Connect means either bud works alone, and there are three EQ presets. Our wireless earbuds guide covers the step-up options.

Skip it if: they want noise cancelling. None is listed here.

LHKNL Rechargeable LED Headlamp

For the runner who heads out before sunrise. A headlamp keeps both hands free on dark mornings and evenings. This one is inexpensive and recharges over USB, so there are no batteries to keep buying. It’s a lesser-known brand, and its specs are harder to verify than a Petzl or Black Diamond. Our headlamp guide has the brand-name options if you want to spend more.

Skip it if: they only train in daylight or under gym lights. Then it’s a drawer item.

Anker Soundcore 2

For the garage gym on a budget. A garage or basement setup is where a speaker actually earns its keep. Anker claims up to 24 hours of playtime, so it can sit on a shelf for a week of sessions between charges, and the IPX7 rating means a spilled bottle isn’t a disaster. At about 14.6 ounces it isn’t something you’d carry on a run. If you want to pair two, note that the newest version can’t stereo-pair with older units.

Skip it if: they only train at a commercial gym, where speakers aren’t welcome.

$25 to $50

Soundcore P30i by Anker

For the lifter in a loud gym. Commercial gyms are noisy, between the music, the dropped plates and the treadmills. The P30i adds active noise cancellation at a budget level, which takes the edge off. Its case is designed to prop up a phone, handy for anyone who follows a workout video. It works the same on iPhone and Android.

Skip it if: they already have flagship earbuds. This won’t feel like an upgrade.

Owala FreeSip 24 oz: best overall

For almost anyone, and a compact pick for runners. If you’re not sure how someone trains, this is the safest bet. The lid lets you sip through a straw or tip it back and drink from the spout, and a push-button cover with a lock keeps it closed in a bag. Twenty-four ounces is a manageable size to carry, and the long list of colors makes it easy to pick one that suits them.

The lid has more parts to clean than a plain cap, and it’s meant for cold drinks. Our insulated bottle comparison covers the larger options.

Skip it if: they already carry an Owala. Many people do.

TOLOCO EM26 Massage Gun

For the home gym, on a budget. This is the full-size massage gun gift for people who don’t want to spend much. It comes with ten heads, an LED touch screen that shows speed and battery, and TOLOCO claims up to six hours per charge. The body is plastic and feels basic, and the box doesn’t include a wall plug, so check that they have a USB adapter.

Skip it if: they travel a lot. At about 2 pounds, it’s not a carry-on item.

$50 to $100

Bob and Brad Q2 Mini

For the traveler and the runner. A full-size massage gun is bulky to pack. The Q2 Mini is under a pound and palm-size, with five heads, five speeds and a carry case. Owners note that it has less punch than full-size guns, which is the trade for the size.

Skip it if: they have room for a full-size gun at home and never travel with one.

YETI Rambler 36 oz with Chug Cap

For the lifter who wants one big bottle. A 36-ounce bottle means fewer trips to the fountain between sets. The YETI is 18/8 stainless steel with a DuraCoat finish, and the Chug Cap opens with a half-twist. YETI lists it as leakproof, which matters in a gym bag. It’s heavy when full, and the Chug Cap isn’t for hot drinks.

Skip it if: they run with their bottle. It’s too heavy for that.

JBL Clip 5

For the garage or home gym. The built-in carabiner means it can hang from a pull-up bar, a rack or a hook instead of sitting on the floor. JBL rates it IP67 and lists up to 12 hours plus 3 with Playtime Boost. It’s smaller and lighter than the Soundcore 2, so it’s the better pick if they also want to take it outside. We compare it with four other speakers in our Bluetooth speaker guide.

Skip it if: they train only at a commercial gym.

$100 to $200

Hyperice Hypervolt Go 2: best premium pick

For the home gym, as a premium gift. Hyperice is the brand people recognize, and this is a compact model at 1.5 pounds with about three hours of battery, per Hyperice. The company lists it as TSA approved for carry-ons, so it works for frequent travelers too. Reviewers praise the build. The kit is thin, with two heads and three speeds, fewer than the cheaper guns here.

Skip it if: you care more about attachments than the brand. The TOLOCO has more in the box.

Apple AirPods 5

For the iPhone user who can’t stand ear tips. Some people hate the sealed feeling of in-ear buds, especially during long sessions. AirPods 5 use Apple’s open-ear design, add Active Noise Cancellation and Adaptive Audio, and are rated IP57 for dust, sweat and water. The open fit blocks less noise than sealed earbuds.

Skip it if: they use Android. The best features need an iPhone.

Our take

If you don’t know much about how someone trains, the Owala FreeSip is the gift most likely to get used. It fits in almost any gym bag and works for nearly everyone. On a tighter budget, the JLab Go Air Pop+ is a spare pair they won’t worry about losing. If you want to spend more, the Hypervolt Go 2 is the recognizable brand-name pick. For everything else, start with where they train: the gym, the road or the garage.

More gift guides

Our tech gifts under $50 and stocking stuffers under $25 have smaller add-ons, and the holiday gift hub lists every guide by price and recipient.

FAQ

What’s a good gift for someone who works out if I don’t know their routine? A water bottle with a lid they don’t already own, like the Owala FreeSip, is the safest choice. Earbuds are the next best if you know what phone they use.

Is a massage gun a good gift? It can be for someone who’s mentioned wanting one. Check how they’d use it first: the Q2 Mini is for travel and the TOLOCO or Hypervolt are for home. Our massage gun guide compares six models. Anyone with an injury or condition should ask a professional before using one.

Are these earbuds waterproof? Apple rates the AirPods 5 IP57 for dust, sweat and water. Check each listing for the others before you buy.

Have you tested these products? No. These are research-based picks from maker specs, owner reviews and our checks of each Amazon listing.