Remember what it felt like using an airplane to go somewhere? Now remove all that pre-pandemic nostalgia and you will remember that most of the jet-setting isn't that comfortable (unless you belong to the lucky few who get to shut a first class cabin door during their flight).

Sitting upright for hours in a narrow seat, a screaming kid kicking behind you, food that you would normally not eat even if it was served for free, dehydration because water servings are miniscule and flight attendants are not very eager to replenish them, and airport check-in and security routines that keep you standing for hours with the heavy carry on luggage strapped around your neck.

So by the time you arrive at your destination you are done, exhausted, aching, and stressed. When you feel these symptoms at home, most of the times you try to find some remedy but during travel, options are limited (even if you are a dedicated fitness enthusiast who hits the hotel gym right after check-in). But sometimes small items can take you a long way, you just need to remember to pack those as well. Here is our list of five fitness favorites that can help you deal with travel stress.

 

01.

Hypervolt GO

It packs the oomph of it’s bigger brother/sister Hypervolt and Hypervolt Plus but in a fun and travel friendly size. Our absolute favorite to relief muscle ache while, you guessed it, on the go.

 

 

02.

PowerDot 2.0

A muscle stimulator does not only relief pain after gym, it is also great for your muscles after a long flight. Its compact size makes it very travel friendly.

 

 

03.

B Yoga Silk Sleep Mask

This silk sleep mask is light yet very effective in blocking light out which makes it the quintessential travel accessory.

 

04.

Stryve Fitness Mini Bands Set

Small and lightweight with a handy travel pouch these bands fit into the tiniest hand luggage and provide you with a quick resistance workout anywhere.

 

05.

Tangram Smart Rope

Admittedly, your destination will need an outdoor space or a high ceiling indoor one to use a skipping rope. However, it is easy to take along and the smart app keeps count of your jumps.

 

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Who doesn't like receiving gifts? Well, this editor doesn't (most of the times). If you think of gifts you have received, how many of those would you have actually purchased for yourself? I thought so! Most presents end up being something you never wanted and never needed, they lay around your home unused, in rare cases get exchanged, and leave you with a feeling of having to reciprocate the gesture for something you had no use for in the first place. So, what does it take to become a stellar gift giver? Here is ninjoo's list of 5 things to consider:

LISTEN

One of the main keys to buying great gifts is to be a good listener to a person's interests, passions, hobbies, or even plans in life. When someone mentions how often they go to the gym or how much they enjoy their active lifestyle, you already have a strong hint on what to look for. They could need a new water bottle, a protein shaker, a gym towel or a smart skipping rope. A few innocent questions might guide you to finding the perfect item for them.

A great gift giver is always on the lookout for things that might make a perfect present. When you say "hey, I found this water bottle for you when I was searching the Internet for new gym equipment for myself" it tells people that you were thinking of them while you were doing something else. "I came across this cool basketball and since I know you like to shoot hoops I thought I buy it for you" is as personal as you can make a present to a friend.

MAKE IT USEFUL

Studies actually show that gift recipients often prefer usable and practical presents over expensive and sentimental ones. The added benefit of useful presents is that they (as the adjective suggests) will be used and this means the receiver gets the chance to think of you more often. Fact: I received my Hypervolt as a present and every time I use it to sooth my muscles after gym I am grateful to the person who gifted it to me.

PRESENTER'S PARADOX

Believe it or not "presenter's paradox" is an actual thing (Google it). This term describes people's tendencies to prefer one expensive item over that same item combined with something cheaper because the human mind tends to evaluate items in clusters and averages. Example: you receive the oh so famous Normatec together with a pair of gym gloves as a present; while this should be a great combo for every gym enthusiast, our mind tends to average out the two items and it appears as less valuable to us than if we had just received the pricier item on its own. So, the advice here is, if you buy an expensive gift refrain from adding a second item of much lower value.

The conclusion to great gifting is actually quite simple: it does not matter how much money you spend as long as you make the present relevant to the receiver.

Now that you have graduated from ninjoo's gifting academy, go out and spread gifting joy among your family and friends.

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TAKE A HINT

Studies show that people like to receive things they want and ask for, don't worry about being predictable. The satisfaction someone gets from receiving exactly what they wanted is hard to match with random gift attempts (think of when you were a child and you wanted a specific pair of sneakers which were then given to you). When you hear someone say that they got too much sun at the beach and that they need to buy an umbrella, then a Sport-Brella is probably the perfect present. By extension, you know that this person likes to go to the beach so they might appreciate beach paddles to keep them active under the sun, or an XL beach towel to fit several people on it. Just ask if they would enjoy those.

ALWAYS LOOKING

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When you love what you do you are defined by passion, patience, persistence, attention to detail, and a natural interest to improve. These are essential qualities of great craftsmanship and the qualities needed to make products that are more than a trading commodity in today's mass-market. Craftsmanship is also a manifestation of cultural heritage passed down from one generation to another. Continue reading