My wife always says I am difficult to shop for and my mom says the same of my dad. So, I am here to help and make gift-giving to the fit dad in your life easy.
Hear me out, let's normalize giving guys stuff they will actually use. Get practical. Fill my stocking with protein, short shorts, and beef jerky. Wrap up a bag of freshly roasted coffee beans and a set of dumbbells.
Give the gift of performance and style with my carefully curated list of Christmas gifts for fit dads. From top-quality protein powder to workout clothes and recovery tools, I have something for every active dad.
*I do receive commissions if you purchase some of these products.
Workout Essentials
I like clothes that I can both exercise in and wear casually out and about. If the fit dad in your life is still working out in cotton or baggy basketball shorts, give him an upgrade. The fitness clothing options are insanely good now.
Just to get this out there... the 5" inch inseam short is where it's at now. We don't train legs just to hide those sweet quads away. Invest in some legit workout shorts, joggers, and moisture-wicking/ anti-stink shirts.
My go to:
Barbell Apparel 5" inseam Ranger Shorts, Neighboorhood Alpha shirt, Frontier Flannel, and Straight Athletic Fit Jeans.
Some Barbell Apparel (link) gear picture here:
Garage Gym Gainz MUST HAVES:
Does the fit dad in your life want to start packing on some muscle in the garage or basement and begin displaying dominance around the neighborhood? Then you need some weights for the house!
Dumbbells, a squat rack, a barbell, a pull-up bar, and plates are essential for building a complete home gym.
Bigger investments but these gifts will last. I think all dads should have workout equipment at home. It takes the excuses out of fitness and also allows for the entire family to get involved.
Adjustable Dumbbells
I love PowerBlock because one adjustable set replaces multiple sets of DBs and takes up much less space. I have a pair that adjusts from 10-90 lbs each. They have a SICK adjustable kettlebell as well. Use code "BENB20" for $20 off a purchase of $200+.
Squat Rack, Barbell, and Bumper Plates
Every dad wants to be able to walk out to their garage and crush some heavy weights. Since building my home gym, I have had a blast getting my kids involved in workouts.
To hit the heavy lifts and pull-ups, you're gonna need a squat rack for the garage.
Fueling Performance
I use protein and creatine daily. I use whey protein post-workout and in recipes and sometimes mix it with Greek yogurt before bed. This is a no-brainer especially if the fit dad in your life trains regularly or has big plans to step it up in 2024.
Pro Tip: Diet should be built around whole foods. However, whey protein is a great addition to a well-rounded diet and makes hitting one's daily protein goal much easier. PS Whey protein is digested and absorbed quickly, enhancing gainz.
My go to:
Pure whey protein, Strong Post-Workout, and Fish Oil gel caps from SFH. Use "BENBARKER10" for 10% off.
Relaxation and Recovery
I am great at training hard. Rest and recovery... not so much. I think most dads fail in this practice. I have been trying to place more of an emphasis on recovery and mobility in between workouts.
Encourage the fit dad in your life to start placing more stock in recovery days. Improving mobility and maintaining flexibility is HUGE as we age. Take a day or two per week to become a supple leopard. There are all kinds of mobility tools now available such as lacrosse balls, foam rollers, massage guns, etc.
My go tos:
The Chirp RPM. This recovery tool is like a massage gun and a foam roller had a baby. It is pretty compact and is epic for decreasing soreness and improving mobility. The RPM was on an even better sale but if it's not use code "BBARKER"
Polar Monkeys Cold Plunge
Cold plunging has a host of health benefits that may include:
reduced inflammation
boosted mood
muscle recovery
grit and mental toughness
I plunge 2-3 times per week for 5-6 minutes. I have the brainpod 2.0 from Polar Monkeys.
Sleep Hygiene
In recent years, the importance of sleep has become more and more apparent. Things like nose strips, mouth tape, mindfulness apps, noise machines, and blue light glasses have become mainstream. Aim to get those 7-8 hours of sleep each and every night.
Getting a consistent sleep and wake time, morning sunlight, and good blue light glasses seem to have made a big difference in my sleep habits.
My go to blue light glasses:
Ra Optics. Here is what I have learned: in order to block blue light glass's lenses must have pigment. They cannot be clear. Use code "benbarker"
Honorable Fit Dad Gift List Mentions:
Subscription to my Gym Gainz Guide
One of my Workout Ebooks
Beef Jerky (seriously)
Check out my 2 latest Youtube videos here: