Like self-care, fitness is a religion in Los Angeles, which means you're likely shopping for someone who busts their butt to chisel their bod, chases a serotonin high, or just enjoys sweating away last night's shenanigans. Whether that's you, your friends, or family, we've rounded up some of L.A.'s coolest and most futuristic fitness gifts for the holiday season.
Everything on our fitness gift list is either made in (or around) our wonderful city or is by an L.A.-based company. So ditch big-box and stick with the locals this year. Whether you're gifting for gains or trying to convince your workout partner to renew their gym membership, we've got just the thing they need to kickstart their 2022 fitness goals including workout equipment, gym bags, activewear, supplements, and more.
Need more gifting ideas? Check out more from our holiday gift guides.
Theragun Wave Roller
Theragun's Blutooth-enabled Wave Roller combines powerful vibration therapy and an innovative wave texture to deliver the most powerful, efficient, and personalized foam rolling experience we've ever tried. Your over-worked, fitness-obsessed, or generally tightly wound pals will gain literally hours of relaxation and soothed hamstrings, quads, and back muscles with one of these. Shop: Theragun Wave Roller, $149
Core Club Pilates Ring
If 'get it right, get it tight' is on their (or your) 2020 goal list, consider snagging The Pilates Ring from celebrity pilates instructor Amanda Kassar's new line of equipment and app Core Club. Kassar counts Sofia Richie, Marianna Hewitt, and Rita Ora as clients so you can bet your booty the ring was designed with goals of strengthening and lengthening in mind. Pair it with a subscription to Kassar's Core Club app, which offers mat-based pilates classes you can do anywhere during a free seven-day trial or for $34.99 a month after that. Shop: Core Club Pilates Ring, $25
Upgrade Labs Gift Card
What if we told you a gym so advanced existed that you could get in 90 minutes worth of fitness in just 21 minutes? Upgrade Labs, a 6,000 square feet health and wellness center, has made that fitness fantasy a reality. If you're shopping for someone who seemingly has it all, we'd bet they haven't tried an atmospheric cell chamber or an AI-programmed bike. At $55 per session – which lasts anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes – an experience at Upgrade Labs will be a gift they'll keep coming back for. Shop: Upgrade Labs Gift Card, various prices
Popflex Booty Band Set
For anyone who's ever used workout bands, you know how annoying and painful they get when they pinch skin or slip. L.A.-based Popflex – the brand created by OG YouTube fitness influencer and certified pilates and fitness instructor Cassey Ho Vinh, AKA @blogilates — has solved those issues. The brand's new Booty Bands are made with a knitted band construction, making them comfy and secure. We'd go for the celestial Diamond Sky, but there are nine other color schemes to choose from. P.S. Blogilates offers so much other cool stuff to help you get on and stay on your journey, both on their site and at Target. Think workout calendars, gorgeous gold dumbbells, fitness planner printables, and downloadable workout challenges. Shop: Booty Band Set, $32
Sugamat C2G (Cradle to Grave)
Environmental attorney-turned-entrepreneur Brian Shields has done for the yoga community what no other company has – namely, prioritized its environmental impact. Suga Mats are made from recycled neoprene wetsuits, so they're exceptionally durable (neoprene refuses to break down). So far, Suga Mats has diverted 29 million tons of wetsuits from entering landfills. The C2G option is the gift that keeps on giving because if anything ever happens to the mat (it won't), the company will replace it for free. Shop: Suga SugaMat C2G (Cradle to Grave), $99
APL TechLoom Bliss
For those who like sweating and serving steez at the same time, you can always count on kicks from APL, the celeb-loved brand that stands for Athletic Propulsion Labs and was launched by athlete twin bros Adam and Ryan Goldston from their USC dorm in 2009. It took APL two years to develop the TechLoom Bliss, and it's immediately obvious how much thought and care went into them when you slide 'em on. At 6.8 ounces, they're hardly noticeable. And the list of features goes on and on. Shop: APL TechLoom Bliss, $200
Tracy Anderson Fast Forward Cropped Hoodie
Celebrity trainer and fitness icon Tracy Anderson implores wearers of her Fast Forward Cropped Hoodie to set an intention when they slip on this raw-hem piece. We've done that each time and no joke, we're running faster and training harder than ever before. Help your friends feel empowered and elevate their gym wardrobe with one of these in pink, gray, or charcoal. Shop: Tracy Anderson Fast Forward Cropped Hoodie, $80
Ritual Essential Protein Daily Shake 18+
Avoiding the environmental cost of shipping across oceans and animal protein has had us on the lookout for a U.S.-produced protein powder for what feels like forever. Enter: Ritual. The company's vegan and GMO-, soy-, and gluten-free Essential Protein Daily Shake is made traceable (so you know what you're putting in your body) with U.S.-grown peas and is non-GMO. Gift it to some of your more eco-conscious mates (which, hopefully, is all of them) and their muscles with thank you forever. Shop: Ritual Essential Protein Daily Shake 18+, $40
Alo Yoga 7/8 High-Waist Airlift Legging
Workout junkie or not, everyone needs leggings. And this cool girl must-have for slaying office looks (and OOO looks) from Alo Yoga is just the pair they'll live in. Their High-Waist Airlift leggings are made with a micro-performance double-knit Airlift fabric, so it has a second-skin feel that sculpts and smooths. Shop: Alo Yoga 7/8 High-Waist Airlift Legging, $118
Bala Bala Bangles
Not sure what to gift your friend or family member who has a love-hate relationship with working out? Easy, a pair of Bala Bangles. They'll be able to wear them on their wrists or ankles literally anytime. The Bangles are one pound each, so they add a subtle yet noticeable resistance to all movement. They're also available in nine colors like blush and cantaloupe. Shop: Bala Bala Bangles, $49
Los Angeles Times Guide to Hiking in Southern California
Finally, a stocking stuffer that doesn't suck. This Hiking Guide from the L.A. Times features 24 pages of more than 50 routes to trek in SoCal. Good for beginner hikers and veteran hikers alike, the guide is the same size and material as the L.A. Times' standard newspaper. Just press add to cart quickly as it takes 2-3 weeks to ship. Shop: Los Angeles Times Guide to Hiking in Southern California, $10
Outdoor Voices The Exercise Dress
Outdoor Voices is what we wear when we want to look cute and get ready to kick some serious butt at the gym. The label's comfy Exercise Dress now has adjustable straps, a built-in shorts liner with two pockets, and leg grippers. It's perfect for going from the gym to the market without looking like you just sweat buckets. Shop: Outdoor Voices The Exercise Dress, $100
Goodr Bosley's Basset Hound Dreams
This is the kind of shade you'll want to throw this holiday season. From Goodr, a brand that doesn't take itself too seriously (their slogan: "We are recklessly committed to fun…BLAH, BLAH, BLAH sunglasses…"), the Bosley's Basset Hound Dreams glasses were made to stay put while you put in work. Perfect for the runner, cyclist, or beach yogi in your life. Plus, Goodr offers a virtual try-on feature online so you can try before you buy. Shop: Goodr Bosley's Basset Hound Dreams, $25
LA Relaxed Bralette & Shortie Set
List of things we love about L.A. Relaxed: made in DTLA, of vegan materials, in small batches, by people earning fair wages. What's there not to love? Their Sequence Bralette and Soular Shortie combo is athleisure in a cup. They're made mostly from eucalyptus-based Lyocell jersey, so they'll basically turn whoever you gift them to into a tree-hugging hippie – which isn't a bad thing by any means. Shop: L.A. Relaxed Bralette & Shortie Set, $84
Set Active Merch Duffle
Set Active's Merch Duffle is for fitness lovers who want to look super legit at the gym, on the 'gram, and on the go. It comes in three limited edition colors, including Life of the Party (blue), Track Star (red), and Valedictorian (white). So far we've used ours at the gym, on staycations, and as a healthy girl morning routine prop. Set: Set Active Merch Duffle, $50
