Physical activity is recommended worldwide by health organisations due to its array of benefits; however, it is particularly important in teenagers who are developing into adulthood. Exercise can aid bone health (important as the bone is less mineral-dense when developing: Source), cognition (crucial for school and exam success: Source) and mental health: Source). Encouraging your child, grandchild, niece/nephew, sibling, cousin... anyone close to you who is hitting their teenage years to exercise is highly recommended. As such, choosing to gift them with some basic exercise equipment to get them started is a great idea. Exersci offers a range of equipment that is suitable for beginners and young athletes. Thus, this blog will provide some tips for 'What gym equipment gift does my teenager want?'.

We will break it down into your main options: strength, functional and endurance equipment. We will also provide you with our more budget-friendly options to make it as easy as possible to purchase a gift for your teenager.

Strength Training Gym Equipment Gifts for Teenagers

Strength training is amongst the most established for improving physical wellbeing in all, thus it is a great gym equipment gift. In particular, research highlights that strength training improves bone health and muscular strength, which relates to improved body composition (proportion of fat vs muscle mass). Some examples of beginner-friendly strength training gifts include:

• Adjustable dumbbell/barbell sets - Scalable for progressive overload (can gradually increase the weight as strength/ability improves) and compact storage, great for exercising in the house.
• Resistance bands - Very safe and versatile. You can use them on their own to complete exercises such as bicep curls and shoulder presses, and they work great for regressions (e.g., wrapping them around a pull-up bar to make pull-ups easier).
• Adjustable bench - To support a variety of dumbbells, barbells and bodyweight exercises, opening up new avenues of training

It is really important that when your teenager starts performing strength training, to ensure safe participation. This means ensuring they don't lift too heavy too quickly and slowly progress the weight and intensity. Most importantly, use the correct lifting technique. YouTube is a great tool, for example, for learning lifting techniques that should be adopted.

Functional and Fun Gym Equipment Gifts

Understandably so, teenagers often prefer/enjoy dynamic and engaging workouts. This is very handy, as this style of training often provides full-body engagement. Equipment such as kettlebells, medicine balls and power bags are great gym equipment gifts for functional training and full-body work. 

Kettlebells

Kettlebells are typically a rounded weight with a handle and can be used to improve cardiovascular health, strength and mobility. 

Exercises:

• Kettlebell cleans
• Kettlebell swings
• Gorilla rows
• Squats
• Lunges 

Here is a video with more examples, where you can visualise how the movements should be completed.

Medicine Balls / Slam Balls

Medicine balls are another great gym equipment gift for your teenager to build general strength, power and core strength/stability. 

Exercises:

• Squat pulse and press/toss
• Chest press toss
• Slams
• Rusian twists
• Medicine ball Aleknas

For more medicine/slam ball exercise variations, click here.

Power bags

Another versatile tool, somewhat looking like a duffel bag, that can be used for multiple exercises to engage your core and hit the full body.

Exercises:

• Power bag lunges
• Clean and press
• Bent over rows
• Romanian deadlifts
• Glute bridges

Here are more power/sandbag exercises.

Conditioning & Endurance Gym Equipment Gifts for Teenagers

According to the World Health Organisation, 81% of teenage physical activity levels are insufficient (Source). As recommendations from the World Health Organisation are for 11-17 year olds to perform 60 minutes of physical activity daily, endurance equipment is the ideal gym equipment gift to encourage physical activity. Endurance training is potentially the most important training modality due to improvements in cardiovascular health. In fact, research shows that endurance training induces adaptations to the heart (Source), lungs (Source), blood vessels (Source) and muscles (Source). 

At Exersci, we offer a range of endurance machines. The plus is that each machine is self-powered or battery-powered, making your space free of cables and reducing trip hazards.

1. Air Bike or Rowing machine - Total body workout, developing muscular endurance in the arms, back and legs.
2. Ski Erg - Upper body focused endurance. Often, a more fun modality.

An additional option is to opt for our weighted vests. Endurance exercise can be done outdoors, which is encouraged. The great thing about weighted vests, for example, during walking or running, is that they increase the mechanical stress on the muscles and bones. Not only does this lead to increases in muscle mass and strength, but it also increases bone-building cells and hormone secretions responsible for bone remodelling (i.e, bone growth and regeneration). Subsequently, this aids in the prevention of bone injuries (i.e fractures) and arthritis later in life. 

Weighted vests are also extremely versatile, as they can be used within strength training to increase weight, such as body weight movements (squats, lunges, press-ups, etc).

Budget-Friendly & Starter Gym Equipment Gifts

We understand that gym equipment can come at quite a cost. It is important to note that purchasing gym equipment is an investment, and if it will encourage your teenager to participate in exercise, it is well worth it. As such, we also have more budget-friendly gym equipment gifts for you to invest in. 

Workout mats

Workout mats provide safety when exercising. They are also crucial for exercises such as yoga and pilates, and come in multiple colourways.

Skipping ropes

Skipping ropes can be used anywhere and thus are extremely versatile. Not only do they improve cardiovascular health and muscular endurance, but they also improve motor control, coordination and balance.

Resistance bands

As previously mentioned, resistance bands are very useful in strength training. They aid in muscle strength increases, muscle hypertrophy (increase in muscle size) and are great for rehabilitation. Resistance bands also come in different thickness levels, meaning that you can progressively increase the thickness (meaning a greater resistance) to gradually increase muscle strength and size safely. 

For more detailed information on the benefits and tips to use resistance bands, check out our previous blog - "Can I Build Muscle With Resistance Bands?"

Conclusion

Teenage activity levels are extremely low and need tending to. As such, giving your teenager gym equipment gifts is highly recommended to help encourage exercise to build strength, bone density and cardiovascular health. Hopefully, this blog will have given a summary of some of the potential gym equipment gifts you can purchase for your teenager. It is important that when purchasing equipment for your teenager, you ensure they know how to use the equipment and are supervised to ensure they are safe when exercising.

Additionally, why not throw in some lightweight, breathable and comfortable Exersci apparel for your teenager for when they start training?

If you're ready to help invest in your teenager's physical activity, health and wellbeing, check out our range of equipment on our website www.Exersci.co.uk