Christmas Gift Ideas for the Fitness Nut in Your Life

Everyone has a fitness nut in their life. Maybe it's your sister who runs religiously or your buddy who loves to flex his muscles but everyone knows someone who loves to workout. It may seem difficult to shop for these people as you may only be able to think of big-ticket items like home gyms and treadmills. Here is a list of unique fitness items for any budget sure to please the fitness nut in your life.

Bosu ball ($99.99)

Once only found in therapy clinics you can now find Bosu balls in fitness centers everywhere. The uses of a Bosu ball are endless and the type of person who can benefit from the use of one varies greatly. Physical therapists have patients stand on the ball while performing other activities for balance while football players use them for squats and push ups. This is a very neat piece of equipment that any fitness nut would love to have in their home gym.

Free standing punching bag ($89.99-$119.99)

Fighter or not, everyone loves to wail on a punching bag now and then. The benefit of the free standing bag over the hanging heavy bag is the ability to move it without putting holes in your ceiling. You simple fill the base with sand or water and empty it to move. These bags are made mostly of plastic and are great gifts for youth or people interested in their fitness uses. It is not recommended to give a free standing bag to an experienced fighter or a large man, as they are known to break with repeated heavy use.

Perfect push up ($39.99)

Your brother or husband may have already mentioned these as they have been all over the TV lately. The Perfect Push Up is a rotating handle for push ups that sits on the floor and was designed by a retired marine. These handles rotate as the user presses up, placing more emphasis on the forearms and shoulders than a traditional push up. If you can find the TV ad, you may be able to get a steal for $19.99.

Adjustable dumbbells ($49.99-$399.99)

This is an excellent tool for a fitness nut who may not have much space for a home gym or doesn't have the time or resources to go to a gym. Adjustable dumbbells offer a variety of exercises to the user because of their ability to change weight by moving a pin. Simple set the pin in the dumbbells to anything from 2.5 lbs up to 50 lbs to do a variety of exercises from bicep curls to lunges. They tend to store in a very small space and are ideal for college dorms or apartments. Cheaper adjustable dumbbells can be purchased at discount retailers and don't always go up to 50 lbs. The most expensive ones are the Bowflex SelectTech Dumbbells.

Medicine ball ($14.99-$64.99)

Once reserved for athletic training facilities medicine balls are becoming a common fitness tool in gyms across America. Their interchangeability is what makes them so attractive. Athletes like to use medicine balls for dynamic plyometric exercises like throws and presses while gym goers tend to utilize them in their ab routines. Price of balls depends on weight from 3 lbs up to 30 lbs. There are also high quality leather balls that tend to be more expensive.

Weighted vest ($49.99-$79.99)

The athlete in your life will love the benefits of a weighted vest. Usually weighing about 20 lbs these vests can be worn during almost any athletic activity. Soccer, football, basketball and baseball players can wear the vest during sprints to increase speed. Boxers can wear one while working the bag or doing push ups and hikers can wear one for general fitness. The difference in price is generally decided by weight and where you buy your vest.

Pedometer ($14.99-$49.99)

These nifty little devices are becoming all the rage among seniors and people trying to lose weight. Pedometers are small - about the size of a watch - and count how many steps you take throughout the day. It has been recommended by many health experts that diabetics and overweight people wear pedometers and work on adding more steps in their day. Pedometers can be as simple as counting steps, but upper level models come with added features like heart rate monitors.

Grip strengthener ($4.99-$29.99)

Many athletes could benefit from an increase in grip strength. Climbers, weightlifters, boxers, martial artists and wrestlers tend to rely on their grip strength in sport the most but almost any fitness nut would love to receive a gripper. A nice small gift or stocking stuffer could be a gel gripper or small hand gripper and can go all the way up to the Captains of Crush grippers, considered by many to be the best grippers in the world and the standard for basing grip strength. Most men can't close a #2 the first time, so it is recommended to buy a #1 for full closures and a #2 to work toward. Anyone who has never used a gripper before should begin with the Trainer.

Hopefully you'll find something here that the fitness nut in your life would love. With all of the new gadgets coming out every day it can sometimes be difficult to separate the "gizmos" from the useful equipment. Whether you are shopping for your parents, children, friends or family I'm sure you'll be able to find something for everyone here. Good luck, and happy holidays!