The Conscious Gift Guide for Athletes
The festive season is upon us, and with it comes the delightful yet daunting task of finding the perfect Christmas gifts for our favourite people. In a world simply overflowing with options, the challenge lies in selecting the presents that not only resonate with your loved ones, but that also stand the test of time and won’t be reduced to landfill matter within weeks.
So whether you’re buying for your fitness pals or your favourite coach, we’ll guide you through the mystery of sustainable gifts (and the essential CrossFit presents!), and offer insights and inspiration to ensure your presents are infused with love and thoughtfulness.
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Apparel & Accessories
Of course apparel is at the top of this list. What is an athlete without the high-performance clothing to power their lifts, workouts and competitions? From CrossFit apparel to all your outdoor adventure needs, here are some of our favourite brands which we’re confident will make the perfect festive gifts.
LNDR
A firm favourite of Team MLA due its seamless blend of performance and functionality, LNDR clothing is high-quality fitness wear at extremely reasonable prices. Fiercely anti-fast fashion, they’re intent on making better quality products that stand both the test of time and the test of your daily WOD. So confident in their durability, they even offer a full refund on their leggings if they don’t pass the 30 day sweat test. Having endured multiple MLA events and retreats, trust us that they will pass the test! We can guarantee the athletes and coaches in your life will love them.
Use code MLA for a 20% discount on all orders.
Finisterre
A British outdoor clothing brand rooted in sustainability and ethical practices, Finisterre specialise in clothes built for adventure. So it’s no surprise that we're huge fans. They merge style and functionality, and have tonnes of durable, weather-resistant garments made from recycled materials. Their products are the perfect Christmas gift for the outdoor enthusiasts amongst us. From warm hiking gear to elite surf and swimwear and everything in between, as well as stocking fillers such as this beanie which sees 10% of every sale donated to the RNLI.
Tropicfeel
For the adventurer in your life, Tropicfeel should be high on your list when present shopping. With a range of clothing, footwear and accessories, they’re 100% committed to sustainability and on a mission to inspire everyone, everywhere to enjoy authentic experiences and travel consciously - music to our MLA ears! We particularly love this selection of gifts for the smart travellers and adventurers in our lives.
Colourful Standard Socks
Show us an athlete or a coach who doesn’t love a good pair of socks. Can’t find one, right? Whether it’s to protect against those cold 6am starts or simply to add a little something extra to their workout attire, socks are having their moment right now. And there’s an abundance of brands striving to make an impact on the planet when producing our beloved foot warmers. We love Colorful Standard’s range of, you guessed it, colourful ankle socks. Made from recyclable merino wool, they’re snug, breathable and available in 20+ colours to ensure you can coordinate with any and all of your CrossFit gear.
Footwear, But Make It Ethical
Can you ever really have too many pairs of trainers? If they’re all loved and worn regularly, the answer from us is a resounding no. That said, in a world of over consumption, more isn’t always better. So when buying new, opting for an ethical brand plays a small part in being kind to our planet.
Vivobarefoot
Renowned for minimalist designs that connect our feet to the earth, Vivobarefoot’s shoes are both good for the planet and our feet. Vivo’s stance is that most modern shoes, which are cushioned, narrow and rigid, negate the natural strength and function of our feet. They allow our feet to take the stance they were designed to have, making our feet and ankles stronger and healthier. They’re a certified B Corporation, and use recycled and natural materials to craft wide, thin-soled and flexible shoes, so our feet can act as if they were barefoot. Increasingly worn by more and more coaches, CrossFitters and weightlifters (and a number of the MLA team!), these shoes can be great for stability and grounding in your deadlifts. They can also improve overall balance and foot health when worn on a day-to-day basis. Who knew there was such a thing as the gift of healthy feet and joints this festive season?!
ON Running Cloudneo
If you’re buying for the runner in your life, this subscription to a shoe (yes, a subscription!) is an innovative way to show your love for both them and the planet. ON Running’s Cloudneo is a 100% recyclable, high performance running shoe made from bio-based materials including, wait for it, castor beans! Think of it as the iPhone Upgrade Programme for trainers. You get a new pair of kicks every 6 months or so once your current pair have gone the distance. ON then grind down the materials of the old pair to transform into new products. Style, function and zero waste, this shoe is a 10/10 present for the sustainability warriors amongst us.
App Subscriptions
Movement is a fundamental pillar of the More Life Adventures experience. So for us, gifting the joy of movement is something we highly recommend. These three subscriptions below are all loved by the MLA team, and we can guarantee that anyone investing time into their fitness journey will appreciate being gifted one (or all!) of them.
Power Monkey Training
Gymnastics is an essential skill to grasp on your CrossFit journey, and the Power Monkey Training app guides you through the correct technique and movement patterns to master these technical movements. From pull-ups and muscle-ups to handstands, there’s over 20 training programmes to choose from for those looking to level up their CrossFit game in 2024.
Pliability
If the athlete or coach that you’re buying for hasn’t yet got themselves a Pliability subscription, this is your sign to give them the gift of mobility and flexibility this Christmas. From stretching exercises to targeted movements, Pliability promises reduced stiffness and soreness, plus improved sleep, within the first week alone. What better way to kick off the new year than with a commitment to enhanced performance and overall wellbeing?
MAP Online
A wonderful mobility programme subscription, founded and run by athlete, coach and Sports Therapist Hat Hewitt. At just £5.99 per month (yes, really!) it makes for both an affordable and worthwhile Christmas present to help your nearest and dearest stay fit, healthy and injury free. If you’re buying for someone who is expecting, there’s also a comprehensive pregnancy plan available. At £100, it offers a year’s worth of movement flow videos to keep them moving, healthy and functional through pregnancy and beyond.
Something A Little Different
Give The Gift of Knowledge
Chances are that your coaches got to where they are today through extensive study and continuous professional development. By investing in their ongoing learning, you’re not only showing appreciation for their expertise, but also empowering them to stay at the forefront of health and fitness trends and data. So whether they’re looking to expand their knowledge in female health & training considerations, or dive deeper into the S&C world, the thoughtfulness of gifting them further education will go a long way.
We Vouch For Vouchers
Ok, so vouchers technically aren’t something a little different. And some would say that they are an easy way out of finding the perfect gift. We’d argue that if the voucher is for something you know they are going to value and use, then it’s a great way for them to indulge in something much needed and much deserved.
Top of the list for CrossFitters and coaches alike when it comes to vouchers is, of course, a sports massage. Injury prevention, performance optimisation and essential recovery all rolled into one - it’s a failsafe gift for any athlete.
And of course, for the adventurers out there, the best thing you can gift is more adventures! Our experience vouchers can be used to book spots at any MLA events and retreats, especially our upcoming Training Camp with CrossFit Champ Kelly Friel, and make for the perfect present for someone needing a break from the hustle of city life.
Self-Care Skincare
You can guarantee that if you peek into any of our backpacks, a stash of Proverb products is going to be in there. Crafted for those with active lifestyles, all of their products are free from the chemical nasties which can have an impact on our hormones and physical performance. Many personal care products are known to have endocrine disrupting chemicals, such as aluminium, parabens and even plastic, which mimic, block or interfere with our hormones. So the more we can choose products without these, the better! Their natural deodorants and body washes are also refillable. So no re-purchasing of plastic bottles month in, month out. We also adore this Muscle Ease Cooling Gel which immediately cools and soothes tired muscles - a great stocking filler for any of your fitness friends.
Grab a 20% discount on all items when using the code MLADV20 at checkout.
As the saying goes, and as cliche as it sounds, it really is the thought that counts when gifting at Christmas. It doesn’t matter how much you spend, what matters is that you make a decision with thoughtfulness at the core, and choosing sustainable and wellbeing-enhancing gifts is the best place to start.