Prices as of 11/26/2022. I review products independently, but I may earn affiliate commissions from buying through links on this page.

Yoga Mats

Yoga mats are a staple of all workouts. At a minimum, they provide some grip and padding while stretching. The grip is what makes them popular for workouts like yoga, pilates, and HIIT where having a solid grip with the ground is important.

Budget Option: Gaiam Yoga Mat & Carrying Sling ($21)

This basic yoga mat is a great starting point. Gaiam is a well known brand of affordable yoga equipment. It comes in pretty colors to liven up any space. The carrying sling helps when on the go, so the yoga mat doesn’t unravel as it’s being carried.

Gaiam Yoga Mat & Carrying Sling

Splurge: Society6’s Yoga Mats ($39)

The best thing about society6’s yoga mats is that there is a design for everyone. It’s the same quality as yoga mats found on Amazon (it’s no Manduka or Lululemon), but the design options make it feel special and personalized. With 100s (if not 1000s) of designs to choose from, it can be a bit overwhelming, but searching for the imagery, colors, or vibe you want will help narrow it down. The designs are printed on one side of a white mat. I bought mine in 2020, and I love it! The design did start to fade in high-use areas, so I would recommend buying a lighter design like the Smoky Mountain National Park Sunset Layers II that I have.

Society6 Smoky Mountain National Park Sunset Layers II Yoga Mat

Light Dumbbell Set

When first starting to workout, light dumbbells are challenging. Having a few sets of light weights will provide variety in workouts so the appropriate level of difficulty can be achieved.

Budget Option: J Fit 3/5/8 lb set ($37)

I bought this set maybe 8 years ago, and I’m still using it. It’s still in great shape after continual use, with the only damage to the weights being from a foster dog who thought they were toy bones! These dig the job, and the stand helped me keep them out of the way and organized.

JFit 32 pound dumbbell set

Splurge: Pottery Barn’s Neutral Colors Dumbbells 2/5/8 lb sets ($130)

For those who love their spaces to be beautiful, this line of dumbbells from Pottery Barn is perfect. The neutral colors give them style, and the coating makes it comfortable to grip. They are definitely a splurge at over $4 per pound, but that’s what makes it a great gift—it’s something that your loved one wouldn’t want to spend the money on, but that they would absolutely love.

Pottery Barn Neoprene Dumbbells

Fitness Trackers

Fitness trackers can help someone new to working out stay on track. They offer reminders to keep moving. They gamify working out, moving around, getting the heart pumping, and quality sleep. Maybe most importantly, they connect people who are staying active with friendly competition. They’re a great way to encourage lasting habit change.

Budget Option: Fitbit Inspire 2 ($50)

Fitbit has one of the biggest names in fitness trackers for the past 10 years. Because of that, they have a wide user base, and it’s easy to find a friend who also has a Fitbit that you can connect with. The Inspire 2 is not the newest or fanciest model, but it tracks the key metrics without being overwhelming. Personally, I prefer trackers like this to full-on smart watches because they are more focused!

Fitbit Inspire 2

Splurge: Garmin Venu Sq2 ($250)

Garmin’s smart watches do a lot that others don’t. They are made with exercise in mind, and have features built around many different modalities of exercise. They go beyond just tracking steps and heart rate, and make it easy to track everything related to exercise. Want to track your strength workout? It will automatically track how many reps you’ve done. Looking to improve at golf? There are tons of features to help. It is purpose-built for exercise, and it shows from the amount of thought that they put into the features.

Garmin Venu Sq2

Shoes

Altra Escalante 3 ($140)

So many people are walking around in shoes that are too tight across the foot. Altra is a running show brand that builds shoes around how feet actually are shaped. Feet are straight up and down, there are curves and the balls of our feet need more room. The Escalante has a moderate amount of cushion and an awesome toe box. I suffered from extremely painful plantar fascitis, and physical therapy didn’t help me nearly as much as my first pair of Escalantes. After that, I refuse to go back to the bigger shoe brands

Altra Women’s Escalante 3

Splurge: Under Armour Flow Velociti Wind 2 Running Shoes ($160)

This is the shoe for runners who want personalized feedback on their gait. These bluetooth-enabled shoes can connect with the popular MapMyRun app to give feedback and coaching on running. For people who are unsure if they’re running with correct form or want to have guidance, this is a cool option. They do warm that connectivity with MapMyRun expires on 12/31/2023!

Under Armour Flow Velociti Wind 2 Running Shoes

Water Bottle

Splurge: Mobot Grace Foam Roller Water Bottle ($50)

I’m going right into the splurge with this one. This is a perfect gift, because it’s a bit of a novelty: it’s a foam roller and a water bottle combined! It’s the perfect way to have a foam roller on the go, and release those muscles wherever they might need it. Add hot water or cold water to adjust the temperature of the foam roller too!

Mobot Grace Foam Roller Water Bottle – light colors

Mobot Grace Foam Roller Water Bottle – additional colors