10 Gifts for the Person Who Basically Lives at the Gym (All Under $75)

Walk into any gym right now and count the Owalas. It's not just hype. The FreeSip lid lets you either sip through the built-in straw or tip it back and chug from the spout, and that turns out to matter a lot between sets. The push-button lid locks shut, so it can ride loose in a gym bag without leaking, and it keeps water cold through a long session. With more than 140,000 ratings, it's one of the most loved bottles on Amazon. Mine has survived two years of being dropped on rubber floors.

Every lifter has a shaker that's seen things. The BlenderBottle Classic is the one to replace it with: a 28-ounce bottle with the little stainless steel whisk ball that actually breaks up clumps of protein and creatine. It's cheap, it doesn't leak, and with over 168,000 ratings it's the shaker most people end up buying again and again. One family of five uses theirs every day and says they've stopped having the smell problem other shakers gave them.

If they deadlift, row heavy or do shrugs, their grip is probably the first thing to quit. Straps fix that. These loop around the wrist and the bar so they can finish the set their legs and back can still handle. The Gymreapers pair has neoprene padding where it sits on the wrist, which makes a real difference on heavy days. Owners say they've stuck with them over gloves and other straps, and one says they let them shrug heavier with better form. I didn't think I needed straps until I tried a friend's, and I bought my own that week.

Most gym people want a massage gun, and most will never spend the money on one. This mini version hits the sweet spot. It's small enough for a gym bag, with an all-metal body, four heads, and a speed setting that adjusts itself to how hard you press. It comes in a hard carrying case, and owners say it charges quickly. One reviewer had a knot in their neck so bad they could barely move, and credits this little thing with getting them on a plane two days later.

The GRID is one of the most recognizable foam rollers out there, and there's a reason it's lasted. The textured surface digs into knots in a way smooth rollers don't. One owner who'd used a basic roller for years says the GRID finally got into the tight spots they'd been missing. It's firm without being punishing, and at 13 inches it fits in most gym bags. Mine lives next to the TV and gets used more than the remote.

For the gym person who travels for work, or who skips the gym when the weather turns, a good band set is a lifesaver. This one comes with five color-coded tubes (10 to 50 pounds each, stackable up to 150), plus handles, ankle straps, a door anchor and a carry bag. It's enough for a full workout in a hotel room or the living room. Reviewers say it's well made for the price, and people use it for everything from warm-ups to physical therapy exercises.

Here's my favorite move for a gym person: buy them a good bag and fill it with a few other things from this list. The Fitgriff has the two features that matter most, a separate shoe compartment and a wet pocket for sweaty clothes, so the clean stuff stays clean. The zippers have pull loops that are easy to grab, and the small size fits neatly in a standard gym locker, according to one owner. It comes in multiple sizes and colors, which makes it easy to match to the person.

A speed rope is the best-value cardio tool there is, and this one has been a gym favorite for years. The steel cable spins fast, and the length adjusts to the person, so it works whether they're 5'2" or 6'4". Owners who do CrossFit-style workouts say it's quick enough for double-unders, and boxing fans use it for conditioning. It's the perfect stocking stuffer for someone who's always looking for a quick finisher at the end of a workout.

Gifting protein sounds unromantic until you realize how much gym people spend on it. Gold Standard is the safe bet: it's one of the most-reviewed wheys on Amazon, with close to 50,000 ratings, 24 grams of protein a scoop and a huge range of flavors. It mixes easily in a shaker (see #2), and plenty of owners stir it into oatmeal and yogurt too. It's tested for banned substances, which matters if they compete.

Plenty of gyms don't allow regular chalk because of the mess. Liquid chalk is the workaround. A couple of drops rubbed into the palms dries in about 30 seconds and leaves a solid layer of grip without white dust all over the floor. Owners say it noticeably improves their hold on bars and handles, and it doesn't rub off on clothes or equipment. It's a tiny gift, but every lifter I know is happy to get it.