It's that time of year when everyone starts rolling out Christmas Gift Guide posts so here's mine! These are all items I've tried myself and thought were useful, fun or quirky. This year, what with moving house and being a little financially stretched, I wanted to share some 'budget' Christmas present ideas so all fifteen of these suggestions are £40 or under.
Happy shopping!
Christmas Gift Guide for Fitness and Outdoor Lovers
*15 present ideas under £40*
- Hunkemoller Caro E Elite L3 Sports Bra* from £30
This sports bra looks gorgeous - I love the mesh on the back! It fits really well, and is meant to offer enough support for high intensity activities. I've only worn it for Spinning and Yoga at the moment, so will have to see how it gets on with running but it's really comfortable.
- Fox Ripley gloves* from £22
Cycling in the winter you definitely need gloves! Freezing fingers is one the first things that can put you off heading out, and can even be dangerous if your hands are too numb to grip the brakes properly. These gloves have comfortable, warm and padded, and have conductive thread on the thumb and index finger so you can still use your phone as well.
- Sunrise Windrush sunglasses* £29.95
Sunglasses with interchangeable lenses are so useful for cycling as you can protect your eyes from the wind/dust/flying insects but still make sure you have good visibility whether its bright or low light. These ones come with a small cloth case and have rubber arms which are good for delicate ears.
- Secret London Runs* from £16
I love the concept of this! A guided running tour around London led by a local expert - you can opt for different themes including gin, London Pride, street art, beer, famous London women and sexy secrets of the City! I'm actually joining the Yule Jog 5k on 18th December with a friend and I can't wait - we'll be taken around the Christmas lights of London at a leisurely pace finishing with a Santa hat and festive snack included, perfect.
- Sweaty Betty trainer liners from £20
You can never have too many socks! From trainer liners to big woolly fluffy ones I have a pretty full sock drawer, but proper sweat-wicking and cushioned designs are vital for running and working out to avoid the dreaded blisters. I love the Christmassy gold slogans on these ones too.
- S'well Bottle from £35
I've had my S'well bottle for ages now and it is always in my handbag - I carry a bottle of water with me most places, and particularly in the summer this was a godsend. Made from stainless steel the bottle keeps cold drinks cool for 24 hours and hot drinks hot for 12 hours! I just put water in mine, but it's great to drink cold fresh water rather than something that's a bit lukewarm. Plus the colours they come in are so beautiful - I want to buy the whole range!
- VARTA Slim Power Bank* from £26.99
I am a huge fan of VARTA products and have numerous headtorches, portable lamps and hand torches from this fantastic brand. They also do a great selection of portable power packs, which are so handy for bloggers on the go, or if you're on a camping trip or festival weekend. This particular power bank is their ultra slim version which can charge two devices at once, and has enough power to charge your phone five times!
- Walco MOVePAK Mobile Handlebar bag* from £36
This super useful handlebar bag is great if you're just going out for a short ride and don't want to carry a backpack or larger pannier. It attaches onto your bike frame with velcro straps and has two zipped pockets, as well as a detachable phone pocket with a clear plastic cover that touchscreens will work through. You can even transform it into a waist pack when you reach your destination!
I've run this race for the last three years, and in 2018 will be on the other side of the event in my new role at Human Race. Without being biased though, and with the experience of having taken part previously, I can honestly say it's one of my favourite ever races! Penguins, polar bears, closed roads, fantastic atmosphere and the BEST medal. Do it.
- Decathlon nature hiking t-shirt* from £7.99
I love Decathlon and am lucky enough this year to be part of their new Blogging Community - however, I would definitely still buy things there even if not, particularly these gorgeous t-shirts! I love the different outdoor slogans - they're perfect for our Lake District camping trips, and I'm sure I'll be picking up the other colours very shortly. The fabric is also quick drying, moisture wicking and has a slight stretch so is great for active adventures.
- Fitish mug* from £9
This is basically me to a tee! Likes getting active and eats healthily most of the time, but won't say no to a slice of cake or a glass of wine. Or a cup of tea, which this fab mug is perfect for. Check out the other designs on the website for some more great gift ideas too.
- Thermonet BUFF* from £22.50
I have quite a collection of Buffs now, but they are such versatile products and can be worn in so many different ways for loads of different activities. The latest release is the Thermonet range which is designed for people looking for a really warm but lightweight buff option - it's four times warmer than regular microfibre - and can be used to offer maximum protection from cold during outdoor activities.
- Decathlon cycling helmet* from £16.99
While wearing a cycling helmet may not be the law yet, I never ride without. With that in mind, why not make it a funky coloured one?! This Decathlon design is compliant with all required cycling safety standards, and is fully adjustable for a secure and comfortable fit.
- Grenade Carb Killa bars* 12 pack from £29.88
Being active means fuelling your body correctly, and protein is key to feeling fuller for longer and repairing/building muscle quicker. I'd heard a lot about Carb Killa bars but hadn't tried one until recently - what can I say, yum! They don't have that chalky taste a lot of protein bars tend to have, and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough is very moreish!
- Jolly Christmas Jumper* from £33.50
I couldn't finish up without including a novelty Christmas jumper and this 'Cycling Home for Christmas' design is amazing. It's a sweatshirt rather than a knitted jumper so could potentially be part of your activewear - why not pack to throw on after that 5k Santa Dash you have planned next month? The other designs are equally hilarious, definitely take a look.
What's on your Christmas list this year?
Beki x
NB: Items with an asterix were sent to me for inclusion but as always all opinions are my own.
Nice list 😀 I can't actually think of anything I really want for Christmas. I'm going to the States though for a few weeks then and I think I'll just do some shopping there, for myself and my family. I can't think ahead right now and don't want to lug presents across the ocean with me!
Thanks Lina 🙂 I think that's a good plan as well, definitely don't want to pack more than you have to!
There's some great ideas there, I always struggle to know what to get people or what to ask for so a list like this is great. Thanks for the ideas
Those jumpers are very funny 🙂