20 Best Gifts for Student-Athletes: Picks from Top Brands

Everyone deserves a great pair of Bluetooth earbuds, and your loved one will gladly appreciate these sweat-resistant Beats for their secure in-ear fit. They’re handy for exercising, studying, or tuning out bus and plane noise during long-distance away games. This student-athlete gift idea earned high marks from senior tech editor Stefan Vazharov, who relies on these timeless earbuds for their excellent spatial audio.

“The Beats Fit Pro earphones have been among my go-to true wireless sets since their launch for their sleek and durable design, flawless ergonomics, great all-around audio performance, and seamless integration with iPhone and Android phones,” he says.

More:Save Big on Smart Mirrors With These Editor-Vetted Picks

I’m a Fitbit loyalist, but this minimal fitness tracker impressed Cristiano Ronaldo enough to become an investor in the brand. And every soccer — I mean — football fanatic knows CR is picky about what he attaches his name to, so Whoop must be worth considering.

The device is also a buzzy gift idea among student-athletes. Intern Carley Walker is a member of Fordham’s rowing team and recently treated herself to a Whoop device on Amazon Prime Day.

“It was high on my wishlist, especially after seeing how much my fellow student-athletes benefit from it. A close friend of mine loves her Whoop because it helps her manage the balance between work and recovery. Its features, like tracking sleep, recovery, and strain, are incredibly useful for optimizing performance,” she says.

She’s excited about how the journal feature will allow her to monitor how her meal time, hydration, mood, and menstrual cycle can impact her recovery and sleep. “In rowing, where every second counts, understanding these factors can make a significant difference in improving recovery and overall fitness,” she says.

More: Fitness Trackers That Motivate You to Move

As a beauty editor, I’m a big fan of self-care gifts, like bubble baths and body soaks. And tennis great Venus Williams agrees. She curated a collection of Asutra products to promote TLC. One standout from Williams’ selections is the Dead Sea Bath Salts, which comes with mineral-rich sea salts with coconut and chamomile oils. There’s also organic lavender, cedarwood, and marjoram essential oils for additional calming nature and aromatic scents

Walker says this is the exact model her strength coach has, and for added reassurance, it earned thousands of glowing Amazon reviews. This acupressure mat promises to alleviate pain and discomfort—all your student-athlete has to do is lay down on the long mat, which can accommodate their entire back. There’s also a pillow with acupressure points for added comfort and pain relief.

The mat is covered in thousands of acupressure spikes that feel a bit unusual at first, but the sensation will quickly improve after about a minute or two. This meat also heats up for a spa-like feel.

These microfiber cooling towels will be a welcome reprieve from grueling exercise and a much-needed treat to aid a student-athlete’s post-game recovery. They’ll need to soak the towel, wring out excess water, and snap it to activate the chilling sensation that wicks sweat away from the skin.

Each towel can stay cool for up to three hours, and can be used by humans or pets. They’re also practical for anyone’s emergency medical kit as a way to help cool down from fevers, sunburns, or hot flashes.

CR is also a fan of Theragun and in 2021, he became an ambassador for the device. The brand’s current roster of pro athletes include Pao Gasol and James Harden, plus mega soccer club Paris Saint-Germain.

Walker notes that her University’s athletic trainers provide Theraguns for student-athletes to use as needed. “I personally love the Theragun because it effectively loosens up any sore muscles before or after practice,” she says.

And I know the Theragun is a splurge, but I gifted my dad this 6-in-1 model and the device still holds up four years later.

More: Fitness Gifts Active People Will Love

This sport sunscreen is perfect for water sports and those who train outdoors as it has a mineral formula that provides instant broad-spectrum protection.

Think is sweat-resistant for cycling, running, and other HIIT exercises, so your student-athlete can remain confident their skin is protected and remain focused on their training. It is also reef-safe and contains biodegradable and non-toxic ingredients that won’t harm your loved one, coral reefs, and marine life.

Its oil-free formula means it won’t clog pores that lead to blackheads and acne, common summer skincare concerns.

Stick sunscreens are a totally underrated, but are essential for head-to-to sun protection. Dermatologists advise using scalp sunscreens because they can be used on the part, hairline, or bald heads without any mess. They can also be applied to the face and body as needed, but given their small size, you’ll have to restock quicker than using a large body sunscreen.

Walker is a big fan of Sun Bum products, and this stick sunscreen combines four types of active ingredients for broad-spectrum coverage. It’s got an invisible finish, making it ideal for reapplying sunscreen on the face. It also can be used on dry or wet skin for easy reapplication in between swim or workout sessions.

Walker highlights meal prepping as an integral part of the student-athlete lifestyle and suggests gifting glass food containers. These 100% airtight containers are both odor- and stain-resistant, so they will look brand new for longer. The lids also feature built-in vents for splatter-free microwaving when they warm up Sunday sauce leftovers.

These food storage containers are also stackable, so they won’t take up too much space in their small dorm room or apartment.

Walker notes protein shakes are a staple for student-athletes, so I wanted to find a top-rated option worth gifting. Blender Bottle is a popular brand that has been around for 20 years, so you know it’ll be a no-fail student athlete gift idea.

With a lightweight feel and multiple sizes and colors to choose from, your giftee will appreciate this thoughtful and practical present. They can make smooth, lump-free protein shakes with the included BlenderBall whisk that helps mix the powder. Each bottle also comes with measurement markings so your loved one can easily make a protein shake.

A 2021 study found that proper hydration is an essential part of athletic performance, injury prevention, and recovery. This unique bottle cleans drinking water with a proprietary Nano Zero filter technology. The filter will eliminate everything from chlorine and lead to mercury and heavy metals, to name a few. Overall, your giftee can enjoy clean, fresh, and crisp water when a water fountain isn’t around. Each filter lasts up to two months, which is the equivalent of 40 gallons or 300 single-use plastic bottles.

Rough, dry hands, and callouses are the norm for some student-athletes like rowers. This bestseller is one of the best in the game and earned major snaps from one of our testers for our guide to the best hand creams. To quote their glowing feedback, “I love this hand cream because it’s small enough to toss into my bag. It smells amazing, and it’s super thick and moisturizing—not greasy.”

L’Occitane’s hand cream is made with an impressive blend of 20% organic shea butter, coconut oil, honey, and almond extracts for baby-soft hands. Despite its nourishing formula and relatively thick consistency, this student-athlete gift is non-greasy and absorbs quickly.

Athletes go hard while training and competing, and the combination of hot summer weather, sweat, and bacteria can cause their feet and shoes to smell. This unique gift idea helps eliminate smelly odors in shoes like cleats and boots. It has a similar look to a jump rope and handles, but the long bars fit into your shoes and use non-toxic ingredients to help remove odor. They can also leave this student-athlete gift in their gym bag or locker to help absorb any unpleasant scent.

Not all student-athlete swag bags are created equal. Your busy loved one will need some extra gear for training and lounging.

Walker says her team loves these Nike Pro three-inch shorts and matching sports bra so much that she considers them both staples in the team’s wardrobes. “The shorts are extremely comfortable and stay in place during our workouts. The shorts have a classic design that never feels outdated. I think all female athletes should incorporate Nike Pro shorts into their workout gear,” she says.

Thanks to TikTok, cloud slippers are the shoe of the moment. They’re stylish, supportive, and even offer light orthopedic support for plantar fasciitis. These non-slip slides are comfy to wear for long hours, but still offer firm support for the feet to ease tight muscles post-workout and promote quicker recovery. The back of these cloud slippers also have a hollowed out design to help the feet breathe, dry quickly post swim (or from sweating), and prevent smelly odors.

Dry brushing is a technique that has been around for centuries. It increases blood flow and collagen production, which lessens the appearance of fat cells and making cellulite less obvious. Dry brushing is an easy way exfoliate, circulate, lift, and tone skin. This skincare tool also enables body lotions to absorb quicker and help soften skin over time.

Most dry body brushes feature strictly bristles, but this affordable self-care gift is equipped with rounded bumps for added massage benefits. Don’t worry; the bristles are also on point! They’re firm enough to reap all of the benefits of dry brushing without irritating skin or causing any micro-cuts or nicks.

A 2020 study found that athletes get inadequate sleep on average compared to non-athletes. According to the research, “There is increasing evidence that poor sleep is a good predictor for injuries and, more importantly, concussion.” The Mayo Clinic, a non-profit academic medical center, also argues that sleep is equally as important as training, nutrition, and hydration. With an increased importance of sleep for everyone’s well-being, I knew I wanted to spotlight my favorite eye mask.

Made of the finest mulberry silk, Slip’s luxurious sleep mask is incredibly comfy. It fits snugly even when I twist and turn in bed. Plus, it has a pillowy, soft texture that remains comfortable after frequent washing.

Meet the affordable student-athlete gift idea that can be used 365 days a year. This unique balm prevents chapped skin, sunburns, and windburns, so it’s equally practical across outdoor sports like skiing, snowboarding, biking, wind sailing, and surfing.

Your giftee will only need a little bit of product on their face and lips to help prevent dryness from the elements. Thanks to its zinc oxide, it’s also a handy SPF with broad-spectrum coverage against the sun’s ultraviolet A and B rays that cause signs of aging and burning.

Your favorite student-athlete can banish stink with this full-body deodorant from Lume. This bubbling TikTok micro-trend is more than just hype. A board-certified dermatologist recently told me in our Summer Beauty Awards package that full-body deodorants are safe and help absorb sweat and reduce odor.

Wearers can apply this whole body deodorant in stick or cream form to their armpits and other areas, such as the inner thighs, body folds, creases, and along the bikini line. Beyond sweat and odor protection, Lume uses mandelic acid derived from bitter almonds to brighten dull skin, like dark underarms.

Walker discovered Tiger Balm while on a high school training trip and considers this pain-relief ointment a “game-changer.” She says, “Whether it’s soothing the strain in my muscles after long days on the water or providing instant relief when I wake up sore from an intensive gym session, Tiger Balm continues to deliver immediate comfort and relief.”

It provides a warming sensation and works by increasing blood flow to the application area to minimize pain. The brand also makes inflammation products to ease tension.