Upgrade your significant other’s fitness toolbox this Valentine’s Day. Equip them with the hottest fitness gadget or the coolest workout gear, or finally sign up for that Pilates class you’ve both been planning to join. After all, what better way to say you care than to give the gift of health?
Here’s a list of gift ideas for fitness buffs.
Fitness tracker
Probably the handiest of fitness gadgets today are fitness trackers, those wearable bands that track your day-to-day activities, including your sleep.
Fitness trackers monitor your heart rate, calorie burn, steps, distance, elevation and goals. Data easily synchs with your phone app. Hottest brands in the market include Jawbone Up, Fitbit Force, Misfit Shine and Withings Pulse.
Fitness trackers were all the rage during the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show that this year, industry leaders such as Garmin and Polar launched their own called Vivofit and Polar Loop. Some brands also offer them in clips and clasps, with options to wear them as wrist bands and necklaces. Available abroad, although many local online merchandisers are already selling them.
Foldable bike
It’s a bike you can literally take anywhere with you, even when you have to make a quick stop for groceries. Just fold it, leave it at the baggage counter, and you’re good to go. You’ll never have to worry about parking anymore. They’re lightweight, and are easy to lug around and stow away. Available at ROX, Tryon and Lifecycle.
Juicing gift certificates
It’s a megadose of nutrients from organic vegetables in a bottle. How convenient is that? And they actually taste good, too. Two juicing companies offering GCs are Juju Cleanse, with certificates that come in denominations of P100, P500 and P1,000; one-day and three-day packages; and Detoxify Bar, P1,350 for a day package.
Workout sessions
The chances of exercise programs succeeding significantly increase when you exercise with a workout buddy. This February, some outfits offer special promos. Vivian Zapanta Pilates Studio is throwing in two additional free sessions for those who will buy two semiprivate packages of eight sessions each.
At Options Studio Valero and BGC branches, sign up with a friend this February for 10 semiprivate sessions and get a 25-percent discount. Online shops such as Deal Grocer and Groupon also allow you to purchase workout sessions for yoga, Pilates, TRX, crunch boot camps and more as gifts.
Workout videos
Workout videos come in handy when you don’t have time to brave the traffic to get to your gym, or for people who would rather exercise in the privacy of their homes. Hot videos right now are Zumba, Piloxing, Insanity Workout, P90X and Jillian Michaels 30-Day Shred. And if your partner is into video games, there’s a new Zumba game for Wii Fit and Xbox 360.
Running shoes
If s/he loves to run, you can’t go wrong with Newtons. These eye-candy shoes are lightweight—some models are even ultralightweight—and responsive. Other hot running shoes are Brooks, Adidas’ Adizero Adios Boost, Skora and Berghaus. Available at Toby’s and Runnr.
Great Scott
Feel good and actually look good in these Adidas apparel by New York-based designer Jeremy Scott. These are the luxury sportswear and streetwear vision of the designer that focuses on bold colors, fabrics and intricate prints. Women’s Originals Jeremy Scott Arrow Wedge Shoes and other apparels are available at Adidas.
Compression tights
These won’t make you a better athlete, but it sure will make you feel a lot better the day after, say, a long run. Wearing compression tights significantly reduces muscle soreness and fatigue, so that you can bounce right back to training faster. For people who train or who exercise regularly, recovery rate matters. Available at Runnr.
Garmin Forerunner
Buy only for someone who is very passionate about running. They’re not cheap. Garmin is the authority on tracking your runs. The classic GPS running watch Forerunner measures distance, pace and heart rate, and provides the motivating feedback you will need to get you through your program. Other GPS running brands include Timex Ironman, Polar, Suunto, Adidas miCoach. Available at Adidas, ROX, Runnr and Toby’s.
Kettlebells
If you’re boyfriend (or girlfriend) is ripped like s/he’s been Photoshopped, he will appreciate the Go Fit Contoured Kettlebell. The unique contoured shape is ergonomically designed to wrap around the wrist and forearm, giving a much more comfortable experience. Available at Move Fitness Lifestyle Store.
Polar heart rate monitor
This is the old-school heart rate monitor, and the reason it’s still around is because this little gadget is still among the most reliable heart rate monitors in the market. It records your exercises and your calorie burn based on your sex, weight and age, and beeps when your heart is working too hard. Available at Toby’s and Runnr.
Basketball shoes
If you’re going out with a Filipino, chances are he loves basketball. Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose’s latest design offer is the D Rose 4.5 signature basketball shoe. This shoe offers a lightweight, flexible and cushioned ride. Other models include Dwight Howard 4S, Kyrie Irving Hyperdunks, Griffin Jordan Super Fly 2, LeBron XI. Available at Adidas and Nike.
Hydration belts/bags
It keeps you hydrated, and some models have enough room for your phone, ID, keys and money. Better models even hold gel packs and have toggles to hold your race number. Brands worth checking out include Fitletic, Fuelbelt and CamelBak. Available at Toby’s, Runnr, ROX.
Yoga apparel
This Coco yoga apparel comes in sets of four shorts or bandeaus, in white, maroon, black, gray and navy. If your girlfriend is not comfortable showing skin, the set of shorts will serve her well. You can also opt to get yoga mats and socks. Available at Move Fitness Lifestyle Store.
Boxing gloves
This one, from Titans, also comes in pink. Choosing the boxing gloves is critical to one’s performance. A more popular boxing glove is Everlast. Available at Olympic Village, Move Fitness Lifestyle Store and Toby’s.
