Buying lifting-related gifts for the man in your life can be overwhelming. Barbells and dumbbells make great gifts, but what if your guy doesn’t need them or doesn’t have the space for them? Gym clothes and sneakers are safe choices, but what if you’re looking for something more special?
Here are seven unique gift ideas that your fitness-loving guy will appreciate.
1. A Sign for His Home Gym
If the man in your life works out at home, a sign or banner is a great gift that can spruce up his home gym.
This whiskey barrel head steel plate sign is an especially unique sign that can add a touch of sophistication to any home gym. If your guy doesn’t have a home gym, he can hang it in his living room, bedroom, or man cave to show off his passion for lifting weights.
2. NOHrD Tria Trainer
Another sophisticated gift idea is the NOHrD Tria Trainer. With a sturdy wood frame, this three-in-one trainer is sleek enough to blend well with most indoor furniture but strong enough to support heavy lifting.
It’s an ideal gift for any guy who doesn’t have a separate room in his house or apartment to turn into a gym. It won’t stick out like a sore thumb in his living room like a traditional weight bench. Six different types of wood are available, so you can choose whichever color works best with the rest of your furniture.
3. Weightlifting Lessons or Tickets to a Weightlifting Seminar
Even though many people use the term “weightlifting” to describe any activity that involves lifting weights, weightlifting is a sport in and of itself. It involves two highly technical movements – the snatch and the clean and jerk.
If the guy in your life has expressed interest in learning these two lifts, consider buying him lessons or paying for him to attend a weightlifting seminar. A weightlifting coach will be able to break down each lift for him and teach him proper form so he can train safely without getting injured.
Many professional weightlifters and weightlifting coaches hold in-person seminars throughout the year. You can also sign him up for online training sessions.
4. A Hand Gripper
A hand gripper is a tool many lifters don’t consider buying for themselves, but it’s something your guy can use often. Hand grippers improve grip strength, which can help him with exercises like deadlifts, pull-ups, bent-over rows, and bench presses.
Some hand grippers are available in various strength levels. If you’re unsure which one to get, start with the lowest one. Hand grippers can be deceivingly hard to use, especially for those not used to grip training. You can also get him hand grippers in a few different strength levels, so he has more options to choose from as his grip gets stronger.
5. Callus Shaver
The knurling on barbells and dumbbells can cause calluses on the hands of men who lift weights. To help your man keep them under control, consider a callus shaver like the SandBar.
You can choose from four kits with an 8” or 4” callus file, protective cases, jumbo- or mini-sized salves, and silicone scrubbers to clean the files. An 8″ foot file specifically made to soften calluses on the feet is also available.
Each callus file kit is available in several different colors, so you can make your gift more personalized and special.
6. Mobility Tools or Subscriptions
You’ve likely heard your guy complain about achy, tight muscles after a long workout. Mobility exercises are a great way to help with this, but many lifters don’t take the time to do them.
To make it easier for the guy in your life to stick with a mobility routine, gift him with a subscription to a mobility service like GoWOD. GoWOD creates customized routines based on each individual’s weaknesses, so it can help your man work on mobility in the areas he needs to improve the most.
If stretching isn’t your guy’s thing, he may prefer a foam roller like the Therabody Wave Roller. It comes with Bluetooth technology that connects to the Therabody app and allows him to create personalized warm-up and cool-down routines.
7. Lifting Tape and Chalk
Your guy will appreciate small lifting accessories like tape and chalk, especially if he’s a powerlifter, CrossFitter, or Olympic weightlifter. They make great stocking stuffers, and since he probably uses them often, he’ll enjoy having some extras to keep in his gym bag.
Only some gyms allow powdered chalk, so consider liquid chalk if your guy works out in a commercial gym. It’s less messy and doesn’t leave residue on gym equipment, so gym owners are likelier to allow it.
Buying gifts for a guy who enjoys lifting weights isn’t always enjoyable, especially if he doesn’t have room for large pieces of equipment or doesn’t need them. The gifts above are things he may not realize he needs but will surely use often once he receives them.
