Athletes are among the easiest people to find. We can never have too many socks, and we also need a lot of things — things to keep track of our workouts, things to entertain ourselves and things that help our body recover. In my spare time I am a cross-country skier and trainer, with drawers full of hardware that I have tested on the road.
Now, for my day job at Engadget, I’ve put together a list of sports gift ideas that includes some things I own and some items I want. And don’t worry, even though I have a clear bias for running, it should work just as well for other types of athletes, from cyclists to yoga enthusiasts. A word of warning: I do not advise buying sneakers from someone. It is best to offer you a gift certificate in a specialized sportswear store and have a professional evaluate your gait and type of bow.
Athleta Mask Made to move
A very 2020 gift for athletes: a mask for outdoor training. I love the Made to Move mask by Athleta for women, whose nose bridge and adjustable ear hooks make it the most comfortable option I’ve tried. It is sold in a three-pack to in two color themes: warm red and purple, cold blue and black. For a unisex alternative, this Under Armour mask looks promising (just choose the right size). I also like the look of this adjustable mask. You only have two sizes to choose from here; less chance that you are wrong.
Beats Powerbeats Pro Headphones
I recently reviewed a handful of wireless drive headphones, and the Beats Powerbeats Pro is the set I want to buy for myself. The design of the hook behind the ear is comfortable and sturdy, while the built-in controls are easy to master, in part because they are the same on the left and right earbuds.
The main disadvantages are that the design of the ear hook was not always comfortable to wear with sunglasses, and the powered cover is relatively heavy. (It is also charged via a Lightning cable, which is less of a problem for iPhone owners.) Even if your gift is not an iPhone user, the headset will respond to voice commands from all the main assistants: Siri, Alexa and Google.
Jabra Elite Active 75T
My other first choice in this guide for wireless training headphones was the Elite Active 75T from Jabra. Although its integrated controls are initially more confusing than the Powerbeats Pro, the 75t has a discreet in-ear design that fits better with city clothes. Apart from the design, which is available in six colors, I was impressed by the 75t with its compact and lightweight powered cover, which promises a longer battery life than most competitors. I also found that the company’s HearThrough technology balanced audio playback well by letting in ambient noise, which made outdoor running safer. Like the Powerbeats Pro, it works with Siri, Google Assistant and Alexa. As a bonus, the 75t recently received active noise reduction through a firmware update.
Hyperice Vyper 2.0
We athletes have a love-hate relationship with our foam rollers. They hurt to use, especially after a delinquent training, but you know what hurts the most? Continue to train with tense muscles. This cordless roller from Hyperice is similar to a traditional model,
but contains a 40-watt motor, which allows athletes to relax stubborn muscles more easily. Hyperice says that vibration therapy allows users to regain 40% more freedom of movement than they would have done with a simple foam bearing. That is, if your gift ever runs out of battery, it can still use the Vyper as a regular roll.
