Top 10 Gift Ideas for Athletes

September 26, 2022

Whether it be for Christmas, a birthday, a special occasion or just to be thoughtful, gift hunting can be an uphill battle for a lot of people, especially if the recipient isn’t direct with their wishlist. If you’re looking for the perfect gift for someone a bit more on the athletic side then this blog is for you! Here we’ve listed 10 gift ideas that are perfect for athletes, whether they’re professional or recreational, these gifts are perfect for all. 

Sports Jerseys

1. Sports Merchandise - a Fan Favourite

An excellent gift for any athlete is a jersey of their favourite players or teams or other sports-related items. These can include various clothing items, T-shirts, Sweaters, Socks, Hats or Scarfs. You could also look for other household items that display their favourite team, like cups, ornaments, blankets or pillows, just to name a few. Most Athletes love to show off what teams they cheer for, and you can provide them with that means this Holiday season with this suggestion.

One year my girlfriend got me a Toronto Maple Leafs baseball cap, they’re my favourite team, but wearing hats wasn’t my thing. I can’t remember the last time I left the house without that hat on. Athletes almost always have a favourite team or favourite sport, some merchandise from their favourite team is a guaranteed successful present, no matter the occasion. 

Work out apparel

2. WORK OUT APPAREL

Whether you’re buying for a girlfriend, boyfriend, friend friend or whoever else in between, an athlete can always use some good quality workout gear. Tights, tank tops, sweatpants, and even headbands are practical gifts for athletes, and they’re guaranteed to be used. Sportchek and Lulu Lemon are likely the best spots in Canada to shop for high-quality workout gear, and while they might be a little more costly, they’re a worthwhile investment that will last a long time. If you’re giving a gift to someone you don’t know too well or aren’t comfortable buying that person clothes it might be best to stick with gift cards, that way the recipient gets to pick our the clothes they want and you can avoid the embarrassing exchange of getting the wrong size or their least favourite colour. 

Woman running on treadmill

3. SPORTS EQUIPMENT

If you’ve got a couple of extra bucks to spend and you’re looking to spoil one of your loved ones then sporting equipment might be the way to go. Treadmills, weight racks, and Bowflex are just a few examples of sports equipment that might be worthwhile to athletes. While buying something like this will put you at the top of their favourites list, your wallet might not agree with the purchase since sports equipment is usually pretty costly. Make sure if you’re spending all this money that the recipient will actually use the gift, and maybe avoid gifting this to new partners or friends you met a month ago.

4. BOOKS

When not practicing or playing their sports, many athletes like to unwind and relax. There are various ways to do this, but reading a book is one of the most popular ones. Athletes might like to read about sports, healthy habits, or something totally unrelated to their fitness. Make sure you know the person you’re buying for and get a book on a topic that they might like whether it’s fiction or non-fiction. 

5. HOME GYM EQUIPMENT

Home gym equipment is perfect for any athlete, as having a set of weights or any gym equipment for use in their own home could benefit them greatly. It would allow them to get a workout from home, saving them the time and money to the gym cost. Potential gifts that fall under this category:

  • Weight Sets,
  • Resistance Bands
  • Yoga or Workout Mats
  • Yoga Ball
  • A Water Bottle

6. WIRE-LESS HEADPHONES

Headphones, especially wireless headphones, would also be an excellent gift for an athlete. this tool allows them to listen to music while they are working out, or practicing, giving them that extra push or amount of motivation they may need to get the most out of their workouts.

7. DEODORANTS OR COLOGNE

This is an outside pick and could be one that finds a lot of use by the recipient. Athletes work out often, and this can cause them to sweat and give them an odour. An excellent way to mask these odours is with deodorant or cologne. You can find out what brands they use or find a new one to switch up their style, but regardless it is a good gift for an athlete to have post-workout/exercise.

8. MOTIVATIONAL POSTERS

Motivational posters are a gift an athlete can hang in their rooms or their home gyms to help give them an extra push to go and complete a workout. The posters serve as a reminder for the athlete to continue to work hard and improve themselves and be capable of so much. Also does not need to be a poster, but it could be a calendar or some other tool that shows them motivational messages.

9. HEALTHY RECIPES/COOKBOOKS

A gift for an athlete that they would not expect but could put to fair use is a cookbook or a compilation of healthy recipes. This gift allows the athlete to prepare and cook healthy meals that will help grow and build upon the healthy lifestyle they are already living. This gift only works if the athlete you are gifting it to cook themselves, but it could also be used as the push needed to get them to start cooking for themselves.

10. GIFT CARDS

Gift Cards are an excellent gift for someone who is especially hard to shop for or refuses to give you a definite answer on what they want. A gift card gives the recipient the chance to buy what they want or what they need. There are several stores you can get them a gift card to that would suit their athletic lifestyle. These include:

  • Amazon
  • Walmart
  • Sports Check
  • Foot Locker

There are many items you can get an athlete as a gift, but which you choose depends on the person, if you’re unsure maybe ask your other friends or colleagues. Purchasing a gift for someone, no matter the occasion can be tough to do, but hopefully this article helped you determine the best gift to get for the athlete in your life. 

Looking for an easy way to find pickup volleyball games? Javelin is the easiest way to find volleyball pickups near you!

Latest POSTS