June 25th, 2018 | Updated on January 18th, 2019
If you’re stressing about what to get your buff and fit friend or relative for an upcoming birthday or holiday rest easy because we’ve got you covered with this guide full of gifts perfect for the gym rat in your life.
We bring you a range of ultra useful products that’ll fit your buddy’s active lifestyle.
We’ve included everything from practical accessories like blood flow restriction bands and a handy gym shaker bottle, to grenade shaped bar grips that will improve grip strength and sweat activated t-shirts designed to motivate.
Build the panty dropping chest, guns, and back muscles you’ve always dreamed off by working out with the push up training system. The specially color coded wooden board helps you keep proper form as you sculpt your body like Michelangelo.
Product Review: this is nothing but a template for push ups, you could easily do the exercises without this product, BUT if you are a beginner like me this is the best you can get!
It forces you to do the exercises with proper form and posture! which is something many beginners like me struggle when changing from being a potato to an active person.
I am happy to share that I can now perform at least 5 push ups of each variation, which does not sound that much but for someone that struggled with even knee push ups, I consider it an improvement. Get One…Price is- $49.95
Maximize your workout while looking like a serial killer with the elevation training mask. Training with the mask simulates the conditions of high altitudes, creating pulmonary resistance that strengthens your diaphragm, ultimately increasing your stamina and lung capacity.
Product Review:I was a little bit skeptical of how much this mask would help me out but I needed to get my aerobic endurance built back up in a hurry for a Marine PFT test (3 mile run.) I hadn’t been running and maintaining my physical training like I should and had my work cut out for me.
First few uses: Pain. If you want to get an idea of what it’s like to breath with this on, go to your bedroom and plow face first into your pillow.
Now that you’ve done that, tape it to your face and go run. You really can adjust this mask to be that difficult to breath through.
Seriously, this thing sucked getting used to and took a little bit to find out how to fit in on my face just right so that it doesn’t move around.
After normal use: After using this for a little while, finding the right fit, and putting the right airflow level on it for your needs I found this mask to be pleasantly unbearable.
What I mean by that is it really forces you to push yourself. The important thing to remember about this is that it doesn’t remove any oxygen from the air, it simply makes your body work harder to breath.
You will definitely struggle to breath and I found myself having to walk much more than I was comfortable with. I felt like I was performing poorly.
I did however commit myself to sticking to it and had to use serious will power not to pull the mask from my face while walking. Get One…Price is- $44.99
3. Full Body Resistance Training Suit
This full body resistance training suit proves that you don’t need an expensive gym membership to get a heart-pumping workout. After strapping the lightweight harness, the extending rubber bands will provide added resistance to your entire body.
Product Review: I would give this five stars, but the chafing is near the back of my knees was unbearable. Also, started getting it in my elbow area too. I’m 140lbs 66″ so not a big guy to begin with. It’s a great tool for HIIT. Available Here…Price is- $239.00
4. Grip Strength Builder Wraps
Get those Popeye-like forearms you’ve always wanted when you begin working out with the grip strength builder wraps. The grips double the width of lifting bars, allowing you to maximize your workouts so that you see gains in record time.
Product Review: I waited a long time to purchase these. For several years, I have been training in my garage gym. I have gotten great satisfaction out of making my own equipment and salvaging garage sale items.
I made an axle bar out of 2 inch pipe and dumbbell handles out of inch and a half pipe, for the purpose of thick grip training.
I am even guilty of cutting up an old pool noodle and duct taping it to the pull up bar on my power rack.
About a year ago, I purchased a ceiling mounted multi-grip pull up bar and I use it on a daily basis.
One of the things that I thought it was missing, was the option of a fat grip. So, I recently splurged and ordered the “Fat Gripz” to fill that void.
They are a perfect fit and a great addition to my training and my forearms are sore as hell !! Oh and if you haven’t tried the pool noodle thing…don”t waste your time. Get One…Price is- $35.00
Fire your expensive personal trainer and get in the best shape of your life using these exercise flash cards as your guide. These fitness themed flash cards come with detailed illustrations of various workout techniques you can perform anytime, anywhere.
Product Review: I bought this as a gift for my girlfriend. She gets off late and rarely have time to make it to the gym, so I got these to help her accomplish her fitness goals.
I started using them for when I couldnt make it to the gym myself and its not just for women. These cards help me keep my core tight, and has detailed descriptions on how to do each exercise.
Its also great to do with a partner. Highly recommend for moms or people that cant make the gym or pay for gym membership! Get One…Price is- $19.95
Push yourself to the limit like the man of steel when you workout with the Superman compression shirt. The shirt will motivate you to workout with such intensity you just might be able to leap tall building in a single bound while looking like a attention whore gym asshole.
Product Review: I first bought the original Superman alter ego shirt and then I saw THIS piece of beauty and immediately had to have it. Great fit and awesome quality, that’s what you get when you buy Under Armour. I bought the Venom alter ego the other day too. Getting more soon. Get One…Price is- $54.99
7. Speed Resistance Training Parachute
Improve your acceleration on the field by working out with the speed resistance training parachute. It features a 360 degree rotation belt and a free motion ring in addition to a quick release buckle so you can unhinge yourself mid-sprint.
Product Review: This training chute is awesome for sprinters training for speed. Definitely makes you generate more force in each stride to overcome the resistance.
The only problem I have with this parachute is the waist strap. Really? You guys couldn’t provide a real shoulder strap attachment. That’s pretty disappointing because the shoulder straps are superior in training to increase speed. The waist strap will get the job done, but won’t maximize the use of the parachute on your sprinting form. I purchased a separate shoulder strap attachment which is not very good, but not expensive. Still better than the waist strap.
Still, I would recommend this chute. It is not huge (which is a necessity as some athletes think) and it provides resistance as it should. I took one star away for the waist attachment. Available Here…Price is- $27.95
This revolutionary fitness accessory is the pinnacle of gym towel engineering. It features a magnetic clip, universal zipper, 4″ x 15″ pocket, a touch sensitive mesh, anti-fall sleeve, and even a gym-side / skin-side so you’ll only let your skin touch one side of the towel.
Product Review: Great for working out! And it arrived much faster than expected! Get One…Price is- $34.00
9. Convict Conditioning Workout Book
Get the rock hard body of a convicted felon without worrying about getting shanked in between sets by reading the “Convict Conditioning Workout” book. You’ll learn all the secrets of unleashing your own raw power and brute strength using limited equipment.
Product Review: This is a classic bodyweight training manual. Moreover, it’s different than any other you’ll likely read. It’s written in a colorful, easy reading style with no pretense.
According to the author, an ex-convict, “The average gym junkie today is all about appearance, not ability. Flash, not function. These men may have big, artificially pumped up limbs, but all that the size is in the muscle tissue; their tendons and joints are weak.
Ask the average muscleman to do a deep one-leg squat-ass-to-floorstyle-and his knee ligaments would probably snap in two. What strength most bodybuilders do have, they cannot use in a coordinated way; if you asked them to walk on their hands they’d fall flat on their faces.”
This is an extraordinary book about functional bodyweight training. By functional I mean you are taught to be strong for everyday life — not muscular for the sake of appearance.
Like the author, I’ve seen beefy guys and gals at the gym walking ahead of me looking like they could hardly move because they had so much muscles on their legs. They walked like a fat person whose thighs rub against each other. Not a pretty sight. Get One…Price is- $8.49
10. Strength Training Beginner’s Book
Learn the building blocks of how to sculpt the body of your dreams by following the tips found in the Strength Training Beginner’s book. This top ranked fitness book instructs you on the do’s and don’ts of weightlifting so you can maximize workouts and get results faster.
Product Review: This is one of my all-time favorite books, and started me on the path of strength training through compound lifts. I’ve even evangelized it to others, including both friends and parents.
One of the best quotes of the book, which I still reflect on when demotivated to go to the gym: “A weak man is not as happy as that same man would be if he were strong.”
The reason I give 4 stars, though, is due to the author’s way of communicating his belief system; many times in the book, Rippetoe will dismiss alternative exercises or forms of performing an exercise out-of-hand, without providing any reasoning, only harsh words.
Such discussion may come off as authoritative to some, but it can feel a bit like promoting intellectual insulation.
13 people found this helpful. Get One…Price is- $28.45
Ensure you’re getting results by tracking your workout’s effectiveness using this LED smart jump rope. This high-tech rope comes with embedded LEDs that display fitness data – such as calories burned and your jump count – in mid-air as you work out.
Product Review: I watched a family member exercise with this amazing jump rope. The Smart Rope counts jumps and shows them in real-time with a futuristic LED display that appears right before the jumper’s eyes.
While it’s a slick, and probably motivating feature, I tried it and felt like I might trip (I didn’t) if I jumped for a long time as I watched the display.
the jump rope has specially designed handles and the rope rotates inside them as you jump. Naturally, it also speaks Bluetooth – what device doesn’t today?
Using a Bluetooth connection to the Smart Gym app on your smart phone, you’ll see all of your fitness stats—like calories burned, time elapsed, and goals reached.
The app even lets you connect with friends for extra motivation or to spark a jumping competition. I wonder if the app can track if you get so engrossed in watching the display that you tangle your feet in the rope and trip.
It you like to jump rope and you like to track your exercise stats, you probably won’t find this expensive. Get One…Price is- $89.99
12. Heart Rate Monitor Wristband
Keep an eye on the old ticker as you perform your daily physical activities by wearing the heart rate monitor wristband. It tracks your heart rate, workouts, and calories burned and displays them on a convenient OLED display.
Product Review: Full disclosure, I ordered the Fitbit Charge HR only after I gave up on Jawbone fulfilling my preorder for the Up3 and once I realized the Fitbit Surge was like having a VCR strapped to your wrist.
Further complicating my decision was the reviews that were all over the place on Amazon. Either people loved it or they thought it was the biggest piece of crap ever.
I am writing this review to try and offer a realistic perspective for those looking to buy the Fitbit Charge HR.
First, disregard the reviews from all the “personal trainers” and “hardcore” gym goers out there.
It’s amazing how everyone becomes a trainer or gym rat when reviewing a piece of workout equipment. Wrist based heart rate monitoring is still in its infancy and if, and I stress if, you are so hardcore that a possible 5-10 beat variation is so critical then you need to stay with chest based HR monitoring for awhile.
The Charge HR isn’t for that. Not to mention, I haven’t seen that it is off like others have said. I was skeptical and I have a Garmin Running GPS watch with a chest HR strap and I see the two being pretty consistent. Available Here…Price is- $101.00
Get more out of your workouts by outfitting your dumbbells with these grenade bar grips. These performance enhancing attachments instantly fit over any dumbbell bar, pull up bar, or kettle bell to alleviate wrists and elbow joints while increasing your strength.
Product Review: Good quality and gives a different feel of grip training compared to “bar type” fat grips, especially the thumbs.
This wil probably give me the improvement I am looking for for rock climbing grip strength. Get One…Price is- $20.99
Sculpt the body of your dreams from the comfort of home by outfitting your door with this doorway workout station. It sets up in a snap and comes with a full dip station, abdominal station, and a pull and push station for a total body workout.
Product Review: Best doorway exercise I have ever used, but they need new manufacturer, proportions are a bit off, the back support density was off, I had to do added work, skimming and trimming the plastic excess to get it to fit, the screws are cheap and will tear internally, I didn’t get one rubber handle, not that big of a deal, however was a hassle to put together, use own tools, also don’t tighten anything fully until later, don’t be discouraged It’s highly effective tool. Get One…Price is- $199.99
15. Blood Flow Restriction Training Bands
Train in a whole new way by using these blood flow restriction occlusion training bands. They reduce oxygen supply to the muscles to pre-fatigue slow twitch muscle fibers while enabling fast twitch muscle fibers to respond quickly – resulting in lean muscle growth.
Product Review:
I have always had a hard time getting a workout on my biceps. As I got older, the elbow joint got some arthritis so my muscle is stronger than the joint, making it even harder to work out the muscle.
I got this about 1 month ago after reading about blood flow restriction exercise. Initially I had a hard time getting on. However, after seeing the recommended video in the email I got, I tried using the hand on which the band is being placed to pull the loose end and the free hand to adjust the buckle.
I can get the band on so tight now, it is sometimes to tight and uncomfortable, so I have to loosen it some. With this, I seem to be getting a better muscle workout with some immediate postmuscle edema and arm circumference at the end of workouts, but I have not noticed any DOMS yet or increased arm circumference on days between workouts (still only 14 inches flexed, but I only used a month so so far).
Definitely only use light weights with these on. You don’t want to damage your body. I do like the thickness and resistance of the elastic bands.
I tried buying 2 inch elastic from Amazon to try to make my own, but they are not as elastic. Get One…Price is- $37.97
This zippered workout belt keeps all your belongings right by your side without creating bulk or hindering performance while you’re exercising. It’s made from moisture wicking Lycra and comes with four spacious pockets ideal for storing your phone, cash, and keys.
Product Review: I like the belt for anything up to a 7 or 8 mile run. The material is very comfortable, the sizing is okay but as everyone says if you’re on the lower edge of a size then go down.
Where I have an issue is that the seams are coming unstitched. There’s an inch or so to one side of the zipper pocket between the big lock stitch at the end of the zipper and the vertical line of stitching that closes off the pocket that pulled out after 2 or 3 runs.
Additionally I can see stitching loose on all the non-zipped pockets at the lock stitching. THis isn’t as big a deal, some thread pulling is to be expected if you actually use those openings, I use flip belts own water bottle in mine.
All in all this zipper version flip belt isn’t made to the standards as the original flip belt I bought a few years ago which has thousands of miles on it and minimal wear and tear showing. Get One…Price is- $29.89
