Welcome to Metropolitan Mama’s Christmas Gift Guide for Athletes (young & old). Below you will find clothes, shoes, toys, gear, games, and accessories that athletes are bound to love for Christmas 2021.
Whether your gift recipient plays team sports (soccer, basketball, volleyball, etc) or enjoys pursuing solitary athletic endeavors (swimming, cycling, running, hiking, etc), you're bound to find great gift ideas below.
32 Degrees has great athletic and lounge apparel options at affordable prices for both men and women. These solid-color basics are equally great for a morning walk, a game of soccer at the park, or relaxing around the house post-workout. Best of all, you can find many 32 Degrees branded items at your local Costco! Pick up some socks, boxers, and bras for stocking stuffers also!
Pictured: Women's Cotton Tech Pullover Hoodie & Jogger Set, Women's Cool Long Sleeve Hooded T-Shirt, Women's Cool Relaxed T-Shirt, Women's Cool T-Shirt Dress, Men's Cool Sleep Pant, and Men's Cool Sleep Short.
Slam X is the latest and greatest backyard game for kids, teens, and adults! Three or four people play at once in this fast-paced volleyball-inspired game, but it's easy to rotate in players if you have a larger crowd! In other words, Slam X is ideal for families, schools, churches, or youth groups.
A quick way to describe Slam X is that it's like Four Square with a net! One person stands in each zone. Zone 4 is the scoring zone. All players compete to occupy zone 4. To start, zone 4 serves to zone 2. Zone 2 can return to any player. Players have one hit to return the ball. Zone 4 scores 1 point when players fault. When a player faults, they return to zone 1. Remaining players rotate forward. When the player in zone 4 faults, all players rotate forward and no points are awarded. Be the first person to score 12 points in Zone 4 to win!
Originally designed for public safety professionals and FBI Training, 5.11 Tactical has now also moved into the fitness and outdoors markets. In essence, 5.11 Tactical offers clothing and gear for anyone who wants to move comfortably. We've come to expect thoughtfully-designed apparel from this brand - well-placed pockets, sturdy stitching, and flexible materials.
Pictured: Alpha Flex Long Sleeve Solid Shirt, Women's Stratos 1/4 Zip, Nora Short, Chambers Beanie, Norris Low, and EDC-K USB Keychain.
A premium snow sled is the quintessential gift to find under the tree! This durable 4-foot sled is big enough for two riders and will last multiple winter seasons. This is truly a "premium" sled with a padded seat, handles, and a hand-pull strap.
For sophisticated style on and off the tennis court, shop for the whole family at Fila. We're especially loving this season's casual, comfy classics in blue and white. Fila offers a robust collection of clothing and accessories for tennis, pickleball, volleyball, basketball, running, and a variety of other fitness endeavors.
Pictured: Girls' Core Double Layer Short, Girls' Core Short Sleeve Top, Girls' Core Fullback Tank, Men's Axilus 2 Energized, Wild Card Short, and Essentials Short Sleeve Top
If you love a runner, you will want to get well-acquainted with the Nathan Sports brand. Find all kinds of clothes and gear to help keep your runner comfortable and at the right body temperature - regardless of the thermostat outside. While many of the apparel pieces are stylish enough to wear for everyday life, they are also full of features that runners will appreciate - such as well-placed pockets, finger holes, and breathable materials.
Pictured: Men's Rise Short Sleeve Shirt, Men's Tempo Quarter Zip Long Sleeve Shirt, Men's Tour Jacket, RunLite Pack, Women's 365 Hooded Long Sleeve Tee, Women's Dash Short Sleeve Tee, and Women's Temp Quarter Zip Long Sleeve Shirt.
For the avid outdoors-woman, consider a high-quality backpack by Gregory Mountain Products. The Deva 60 is exactly what she'll need for desert, mountain, or forest adventures. Specifically designed for a woman's body, the Deva 60 offers custom-fit suspension, a 3D foam breathable back panel, 3D Air hipbelt, a dual layer bottom panel for added durability, sunglass quickstow system, a water bottle holster for one-handed access, and an included daypack. Gregory has thought of everything! There's even a zippered bottom sleeping bag compartment and fitted raincover. She'll be prepared for any kind of weather or obstacle.
The best swimwear for athletes are pieces that are both modest and comfortable enough to offer a wide range of movement. All three of our girls are athletes so when they request swimsuits, they typically prefer items that allow them to stay active without worries of pinching, riding up, or falling off. Most requested items include rashguards, board shorts, and supportive tops. UV Skinz has plentiful offerings in that category.
Pictured: Women's Island Board Shorts, Women's Quarter Zip Crew Sun & Swim Shirt, Women's Short Sleeve Sun & Swim Shirt, and Women's Active Swim Bra.
Comfortable, rugged, and well-made hiking boots make all of the difference when hitting the backroads and trails of city, state, and national parks. Irish Setter is a brand that doesn't mess around when it comes to footwear. They offer supportive, sturdy shoes for both work and outdoor adventure. For 2021, we're featuring the Canyons - a waterproof boot with a memory foam insole and a Vibram® sole. Traction is where it's at! Available in men's size 8 to 14.
Umbro has been a premier name in soccer apparel, footwear, and gear since 1924. From shirts and shorts to cleats and shin pads and goalie gloves, Umbro has what your soccer player needs. Offered in size 6 (kids) through adult, you can find items for athletes of all ages.
Pictured: Sala Ct, Neo Swerve, Girls Woven Checkerboard Short, Girls Active Capri, Girls Colorblocked Performance Tank, Women's Checkerboard Doublelayer Short, Men's Long Sleeve Training Top, and Women's Boxy Tee.
For an affordable present that the whole family will love, consider the Bashminton Set by Toysmith. This set comes with two oversized rackets and one washable, bouncy birdie ball for hours of backyard play.
Anyone who enjoys seeking adventure at night will appreciate a new flashlight or hands-free headlamp. Whether your gift recipient is an avid hiker, climber, runner, or hunter, he or she will make good use of a well-made light by Fenix.
The Fenix PD36 TAC flashlight is a super compact LED flashlight that's under 6 inches in length and comes with a pocket clip. With 3000 powerful lumens of light, this tiny handheld apparatus makes a big impact. For added convenience, it also includes a USB type-C cable so that you can charge the battery using your wall adapter.
For those who prefer to work with both hands free, The Fenix HP25R V2.0 is a rechargeable work headlamp that has a runtime of 400 hours on low mode or a 2-hour runtime on the turbo 1600 Lumen output. The 60° tilt mechanism allows you to direct light exactly where you need it!
Shhh! Did you know that 1 in 3 women experience bladder leaks during their lifetime? Often incontinence occurs during athletic activity - jumping, squatting, or running can all be culprits. Help the woman in your life to move and compete without worries, thanks to Speax! This innovative underwear brand allows women to stay dry and comfortable for hours without added bulk.
Winter is a great time to re-stock your favorite athlete's closet with warm weather running attire options! These comfortable basics by ASICS will have him or her pining to go out for a run at the very first inkling of spring.
Pictured: Men's Match 7 Inch Short GM, Men's Match GPX Tee, Women's Fujitrail Skort, and Women's Race Sleeveless.
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Some of the products in the list below were sent to us to try. Other products are ones that we purchased ourselves or were given by family members and friends. Know that I will always provide both the pros and cons of each featured product. You are welcome to send any follow-up questions to me via twitter (I’m @stephsheaffer).