Episode 19Dec 19, 2025· 13:16
17 Fitness Gifts That Actually Get Used | Expert Recommendations for Every Budget
About this episode
Tired of buying fitness gifts that collect dust? I asked 17 professionals what they actually recommend, and the results might surprise you. This isn't about the fanciest or most expensive items. It's about gifts that remove barriers and genuinely help people move more.
From budget-friendly resistance bands to splurge-worthy adjustable dumbbells, hydration tools to recovery equipment, this episode covers gifts for…
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Full transcript
00:08
What's up, you guys? Famous Ashley Grant here.
00:09
Welcome to More Movement, Please, the podcast
00:11
where I hope to inspire you to move your body
00:13
more by sharing my story and occasionally the
00:16
stories of others. Let's get into it. So the
00:19
holidays are coming up fast, and I know a lot
00:21
of you are probably scratching your heads trying
00:23
to figure out what to get for that fitness enthusiast
00:26
in your life. Maybe it's your workout buddy or
00:28
your spouse who's always at the gym, or maybe
00:30
it's something that you want to drop hints about
00:33
to other people that you want to get for yourself.
00:35
I get it. I've been there. Well, I've got you
00:38
covered today because I reached out to fitness
00:40
experts and thought leaders and asked them what
00:42
their favorite fitness related product was that
00:45
someone should purchase for a fitness enthusiast
00:47
this holiday season. And you guys, they came
00:50
back with some pretty solid recommendations.
00:51
So here's what they said. First off, I have to
00:57
say, if I say your name wrong, I'm so sorry about
00:59
that. But these were things that were sent to
01:01
me via text. So I don't actually know the correct
01:04
pronunciation of all these names. So I'm going
01:06
to do my best. Bear with me. First up is Julio
01:10
with Invigor Medical. He suggested the Polar
01:13
Loop. And here's what I love about this recommendation.
01:16
Julio says it's a simple band that tracks your
01:18
steps, activity, calories, and sleep. But here's
01:21
the kicker. Unlike some other devices like Whoop,
01:24
you don't need a monthly subscription to get
01:26
your own data. You pay once and you're done.
01:28
No recurring fees eating into your budget. The
01:31
Loop. It gives you a clear picture of how much
01:34
you actually move in a day, and Julio says it's
01:36
comfortable with solid battery life, and it has
01:39
an app that shows if you're really as active
01:40
as you think you are. I mean, that reality check
01:43
alone might be worth it, right? Next up is Brian
01:46
with Motive Training. He recommends the Soulmate
01:49
Kit from the Foot Collective. Now, this one's
01:51
interesting because foot strength and mobility
01:53
are things most of us completely ignore. But
01:56
Brian says they influence everything, how you
01:59
stand, how you lift, how you walk, and how your
02:01
body manages force. The Soulmate is simple, effective,
02:05
and fits right into your daily routine. It helps
02:07
wake up those small muscles in your feet and
02:09
improve balance and control. And Brian says that
02:13
Heidi from that barefoot coach introduced him
02:15
to it, and it's been a game changer for him in
02:18
his training. If you want to give someone something
02:20
that actually improves how they move and feel,
02:22
this just might be it. Next up is Hans with Happy
02:25
V. He suggests a compact massage gun for recovery.
02:29
And y 'all, I can definitely attest to this.
02:31
I love my massage gun. I cannot stress enough
02:34
how important recovery is. And Hans says that
02:37
these percussive therapy devices, they work like
02:40
mini massage guns. And his team has actually
02:42
observed that consistent recovery practices lead
02:45
to decreased muscle pain and better long -term
02:47
commitment to fitness programs. The compact design
02:53
makes them easy to carry, so you can do recovery
02:55
sessions anywhere. Hans does mention it's best
02:58
to use these under the guidance of qualified
03:00
trainers or clinicians, since proper targeting
03:02
requires some expertise. But for recovery, quickly,
03:06
for me, it's a solid pick. I absolutely love
03:08
my massage gun. Next up is Nick Rogers with RealRecall
03:14
.ai. He has a pretty cool suggestion, in my opinion,
03:17
and that is a 360 -degree sports camera. Why
03:20
in the world would you want to give someone who's
03:22
working out a sports camera? Well, Nick says
03:24
that this changes how you record your workouts.
03:27
You can film your entire training session and
03:29
check your form, cut cool clips for TikTok or
03:31
Instagram, all the things. And if you're tracking
03:34
progress and making content, this could end up
03:36
being your most used gift. I mean, how many times
03:39
have you wanted to see what your form actually
03:41
looks like during a workout? Please just do me
03:43
a favor. Don't be that guy or girl that records
03:45
yourself whenever you're around other people
03:47
at the gym because there's nothing more annoying
03:49
than someone who's filming themselves in front
03:51
of other people because nobody wants to be in
03:53
your video. They just don't. So please don't.
03:55
Anyway, for someone who actually wants to film
03:58
themselves, it could be a great gift for that
04:01
person. Next up is Chad with North Shore Sauna.
04:05
He recommends something that I actually wasn't
04:07
expecting, and this is recovery sleepwear. It's
04:10
one I've never really thought about. But he talks
04:12
about sleepwear that's made from infrared and
04:14
moisture -regulating material that actually supposedly
04:16
helps your body recover from long training days.
04:19
He said that he found a tensile sleepwear set
04:22
in Japan and was surprised at just how much deeper
04:25
his sleep seemed after those intense strength
04:28
sessions. Chad says that people invest in gadgets
04:30
such as trackers and massagers and supplements,
04:32
but they often will overlook the one thing that
04:35
actually makes a difference over time, and that
04:37
is quality recovery. Good sleepwear regulates
04:40
your temperature and minimizes that toss and
04:41
turn cycle. You wake up, supposedly, without
04:44
stiffness. I kind of think that's brilliant,
04:46
and if anybody wants to get me a set of this
04:48
sleepwear, I'll give you my address. Hit me up.
04:52
Next is Mimi Nugent with Caffe Lee. She is all
04:56
about the soft foam roller from OPTP. Now, there
04:59
are lots of soft foam rollers that you can get,
05:01
but Mimi says that she uses hers for Pilates,
05:03
warm -ups before running, and yoga. She initially
05:06
thought about suggesting just giving someone
05:08
a massage gift certificate, but she says a foam
05:10
roller is more convenient in the long run because
05:12
you can use it at home, on the go, or even at
05:15
the gym. Both provide muscle recovery benefits
05:17
and improve blood circulation, but with the foam
05:20
roller, you create your own kind of muscle care.
05:23
Mimi typically targets her lower body after high
05:25
-intensity workouts, or she'll use it to massage
05:28
her calves for better running performance. And
05:30
I should probably check this out for myself,
05:31
because y 'all, I know I've complained about
05:33
it before, but I get the worst, the worst calf
05:36
pain after some of my workouts. Next up is Runbo
05:41
Lee with Magic Hour. He also recommends getting
05:44
a 360 sports camera. He said that it showed him
05:47
how capturing a move from every angle helps sports
05:49
athletes and just fitness peoples in general
05:52
spot small details that they would otherwise
05:55
miss. Plus, he says that it lets you create videos
05:58
that get your community excited. It's not just
06:00
about improving your skills. It's all about sharing
06:02
your full picture. Next up is Josiah with Plasthetics
06:07
Plastic Surgery Marketing. He gave a client a
06:10
Fitbit charge over the holidays and said that
06:13
it got them thinking differently about their
06:14
health. The EDA sensor doesn't just count steps,
06:17
it shows how your body reacts to stress. That
06:20
one feature started new habits for their client.
06:23
Josiah says that it's sleek enough for everyday
06:25
wear, but it's not like some bulky sports watch.
06:29
If you're looking for something that handles
06:30
both fitness and stress management, Josiah says
06:33
that this one actually does the job. It's specifically
06:35
the Fitbit Charge 6. And I'll leave a link in
06:38
the show notes to everything that I'm talking
06:39
about here in this episode. Next is Rob with
06:42
Osprey. And y 'all, I have to first tell you,
06:44
full disclosure, I love my Osprey backpack. I
06:47
used it whenever I backpacked through Europe
06:48
a few years ago. It was absolutely fantastic.
06:51
I absolutely love my Osprey backpack. And Rob,
06:54
I'm going to hit you up because I would love
06:55
to get some more backpacks. It is a fantastic
06:57
quality backpack. And he says it's the ultimate
06:59
gift for any fitness lover who enjoys the outdoors.
07:02
And he does admit he's biased because, hello,
07:04
he works there. But whether it's hiking, trail
07:07
running, or a weekend in nature, a properly fitted
07:09
backpack, it really can make a world of difference.
07:12
It distributes weight evenly, and it makes it
07:14
easier to stay hydrated and prepared. If the
07:17
outdoors and staying active are important to
07:19
the person that you're giving a gift to, a quality
07:21
backpack that will last a lifetime is truly a
07:23
great choice. And again, I got to say, whenever
07:26
I used a backpacking through Europe, it was really
07:29
helpful. The way that it felt on our backs, it
07:31
didn't feel so much like we were carrying something
07:33
heavy. It was absolutely wonderful. Next up is
07:36
Jan with Camping La Salle. He runs a campsite
07:39
by the GR 34 trail, and he sees it constantly
07:42
that there are guests with hydration packs, and
07:44
they have a much better time when they have a
07:46
hydration pack. They can pull out their camera
07:48
for a photo without stopping to dig for a water
07:51
bottle, and it just keeps the day flowing. So
07:53
he highly recommends getting a hydration pack.
07:55
And hey, you can even put it in your Osprey backpack.
07:57
Rob, seriously, you got to hit me up. We got
07:59
to talk. And here's the thing. If you're looking
08:03
for a gift for a hiker, having a hydration pack
08:06
could be something that... the hiker in your
08:08
life will actually use every single time they
08:10
go out. Next is Brandon with Cellphones .ca.
08:13
He says that the Apple Watch Ultra is the one
08:16
he'd actually buy for himself. He's tested out
08:18
all kinds of different tech for years, and this
08:20
one, he says, tracks his heart rate and his sleep.
08:23
Plus, you can see text without pulling out your
08:25
phone. The setup was a bit of a headache, he
08:28
admits, but... Now it works so well with his
08:31
iPhone that he says he doesn't even take his
08:33
phone on his runs anymore. If you want to get
08:35
serious about fitness without going off the grid,
08:37
he says this is the watch to get. Next is Andre
08:40
with Medicaid. He goes with the Garmin Fitness
08:44
Watch as his top pick. He uses the Garmin wearables
08:48
and he finds that their health insights are valuable
08:50
for tracking training and recovery. And he also
08:52
feels confident in their data handling as a regulated
08:54
company. And this really matters whenever you're
08:57
worried about privacy and data security. And
08:59
honestly, that's something we should all be thinking
09:01
about more. And P .S., I know this episode is
09:03
a little bit longer than most of the normal episodes
09:05
that I've been sharing, but I kind of feel like
09:08
because it's, you know, it's about the holidays,
09:11
right? We got to talk about all these fun Christmas
09:12
presents. That's why I'm still sharing it. Next
09:16
up is Amy with Interactive Counseling, and she
09:18
keeps it simple and says that you should get
09:20
a really good yoga mat. Amy works in mental health,
09:23
and she's seen it so many times that people with
09:25
a new mat, suddenly they're getting excited about
09:27
doing their morning stretches at home. It helps
09:29
them unwind. And if you find one that's just
09:32
comfy and won't let your feet slip, it can be
09:35
something that will really help you do more than
09:37
just get your stretch on. Next up is Tlaib with
09:40
Same Day Supplements. He is an NASM certified
09:44
nutrition coach, and his favorite gift for any
09:47
runner is a Garmin 4Runner. He says that it's
09:50
the one tool that actually changed how he trains.
09:53
The GPS accuracy, heart rate tracking, and recovery
09:56
insights make every run more intentional. And
09:58
he says it's not just about go out and hope it
10:00
feels good. When he travels and switches routes,
10:03
the 4Runner actually keeps his pacing honest
10:05
and helps him stay consistent even on the days
10:07
that he has low motivation. He also says that
10:10
the battery life, it's so much better than most
10:12
smartwatches. So you're not having to charge
10:14
it before every single run that you do. Next
10:17
is Rory with... Equipoise coffee. I think that's
10:20
right. I think that's how you say it. I'm not
10:22
actually sure. But anyway, this coffee company,
10:25
he recommends getting a durable insulated water
10:28
bottle with tracking markers for daily hydration
10:30
goals. And I actually really agree with this
10:32
one because I've talked about it in previous
10:35
episodes. You've got to stay hydrated. It supports
10:37
your energy, your recovery, and your overall
10:39
performance. And for fitness enthusiasts that
10:41
have a high quality portable water bottle, it'll
10:44
actually encourage you to be consistent and mindful
10:46
throughout your workout. And giving someone a
10:48
tool that actually promotes healthy habits, it
10:51
shows thoughtfulness and it helps recipients
10:53
maintain both fitness and daily wellness routines.
10:57
Okay, two more and then we're done, I swear.
10:59
Next is Paul with Higher Fitness. He swears by
11:02
resistance bands. He says that the good resistance
11:06
bands are the game changers. They're what people
11:08
use when they can't get to the gym. And I can
11:10
attest to this. I've actually used resistance
11:12
bands everywhere from, you know, While I'm standing
11:15
in my kitchen to in a hospital room whenever
11:18
I was watching my mom recover from surgery. So
11:21
he says that resistant bands are really important
11:24
because it's the one thing that you can actually
11:26
stick with because you can use them anywhere
11:28
and get a full body workout. They're a great
11:30
starting point for anyone who's serious about
11:31
working out at home. Finally, last but not least,
11:35
is Dan with Tress Wellness, and he picks adjustable
11:37
dumbbells like the Bowflex Select Tex. Dan says
11:40
consistency usually breaks down when schedules
11:43
tighten and the gym feels like a trek. But these
11:45
weights, they bring an entire dumbbell rack into
11:48
your home or your office while occupying almost
11:50
zero floor space. You get a full range of resistance
11:53
without cluttering your living space, making
11:55
it easy to get some quick reps in between calls
11:57
or other tasks. They ensure that you'll never
12:00
miss a small weighted workout. So there you have
12:04
it, guys. 17 incredible recommendations from
12:07
real fitness experts. Everything from wearables
12:09
and recovery tools to simple but effective equipment
12:11
that can transform someone's fitness journey.
12:14
Whether you're shopping for a seasoned athlete
12:15
or someone who's just starting out on their fitness
12:17
journey, there's something for everyone, in my
12:19
opinion, on this list. And the thing is, the
12:22
best fitness gift is the one that's actually
12:24
going to get used. So think about the person
12:26
that you're shopping for. What would make their
12:27
fitness journey actually easier? What would help
12:30
them stay consistent? And what would they actually
12:32
be excited to use? And hey, if you're that fitness
12:35
enthusiast that's dropping hints for your own
12:37
wish list, there is no shame in that game. I
12:40
do it all the time. Onwards and upwards, my friends.
12:42
Have you worked out today?
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