10 stocking stuffers under $30 that fitness enthusiasts will love

Your favorite college athlete or weekend warrior will appreciate the AE Wellness Therapy Ball Mini Kit. Regular exercisers are used to dealing with muscle knots and tightness, and while a hands-on massage session is ideal for working out those kinks, it's not always feasible.

This kit is perfect for relieving muscle tension in specific spots at home or on the go. It comes with a mesh bag and three massage balls for myofascial release and relaxation. I love the smaller balls for targeting knots and trigger points, especially under my scapula or piriformis (the pear-shaped muscle in the glutes involved in rotation). This set of massage balls delivers the perfect amount of pressure to break up stubborn knots.

I love to hydrate, which means I always carry a water bottle. And I've tried them all — Yeti, Hydro Flask, Stanley, BruMate, you name it! While they're all great options for different reasons, I'm obsessed with Owala's 24-ounce FreeSip stainless steel water bottle, which happens to be one of Yahoo's favorite overall water bottles too.

At $28, it's less pricey than larger tumblers, and since it doesn't have a straw poking out of the top, I can toss it into my gym bag before a workout. Plus, it keeps my water ice-cold, which is awesome during a hot yoga class. I can be a bit clumsy, so I love the leakproof design — no spills to clean up when I inevitably knock it over. Also, it comes in an array of colors, so there's something for everyone.

Is there anything worse than breaking a hair tie midworkout? If you're a sweater like me, the last think you want to deal with is hair flying into your face in the middle of a dead lift. And Sierra Madre's Foursome of Scrunchies made me break my pledge to leave my scrunchie days in the '90s.

Light matcha, navy, candy red and driftwood are classic colors and go with everything. They're gentle and silky smooth and don't tug on my hair. Plus, they hold everything in place without slipping during weightlifting, running and yoga. Beyond their obvious functional uses, these scrunchies double as trendy accessories, allowing you to transition from workout mode to casual outings seamlessly.

We may not talk about it, but chafing is a reality nonetheless, and that's particularly true for endurance athletes. Body Glide's antichafing and antiblister gift box set will be a blessing for the ultramarathoner, long-distance cyclist or triathlete in your life. It comes with two products: Foot Glide, an antiblister balm that protects against and heals blisters, and either Body, the Original Anti-Chafe Balm or For Her Anti-Chafe Balm with added emollients.

I tested the antiblister balm during a six-hour hike in the Tucson Mountains and am happy to report no blisters and no sign of broken skin. I'll definitely be using it on future distance runs and hikes.

If you perspire when you work out and don't want to wipe your sweat on your hands, then you need a towel. I'll admit that I typically grab an old hand towel that isn't nice enough to display in my bathroom, but after trying WeGym's suede towel, it's obvious that I've been missing out on something amazing. The supersoft polyester suede towel feels luxurious against your skin and makes you feel pampered while getting your sweat on.

It's highly absorbent and dries fast, which is great for hot workouts. And if you work out in makeup like me, no worries — makeup comes out easily in the wash. I even used it in a pinch to mop up a spilled coffee, and that came out too. 

If you've never used a massage stick to soothe sore muscles after a workout, you're missing out. The Centr Massage Roller Stick won't make you look like Chris Hemsworth (the fitness brand's founder), but it will make your journey to buffness a lot less painful. The massage stick is ultraportable and conveniently stocking-shaped, making it the perfect stocking stuffer.

I like to use it on my legs after a long run to keep the muscles nice and loose and increase blood flow — it's a great post-workout tool to enhance recovery and minimize next-day soreness. It's also an excellent option for a self-massage, allowing you to control the intensity on those tender areas.

Gone are the days of jogging around the neighborhood with my iPhone in my left hand. I feel a little ridiculous that I didn't consider a belt sooner, because SPIbelt's original running belt is an absolute game changer. It's not a good idea to hold anything in your hand on a long run — it causes muscular imbalances and shoulder problems, according to my chiropractor — and it's kind of a pain in the neck too.

This belt is exceptionally lightweight and compact but expands enough to hold your phone, wallet, keys, lip balm and other stuff (like emergency TP). Do the runners (and walkers!) in your life a favor and stuff one in their stockings.

I'm embarrassed to admit how many pairs of Apple AirPods I've misplaced at the gym. Tired of the hefty replacement cost, I decided to try out JLab's Go Pop ANC wireless earbuds. Surprisingly, I like them just as much. I highly recommend these if you're looking for quality at a budget-friendly price.

Conveniently, their playtime is 24 hours, and I love that they're sweatproof and don't pop out of my ears when I'm running (or bending over to rerack a weight). They also have a nice noise-reducing feature, which I like to use at the gym. And no worries if you're not tech-savvy; these earbuds are super easy to set up and use.

My go-to pre-workout is typically a good old cup of java. But on those days when I need an extra push, C4 performance energy drinks are my go-to pick-me-up. C4 also sells powder mixes, but I prefer grabbing a can. At $28 for a 12-pack (or as little as $20 if you happen to catch a holiday deal), that's less than half the price of the options at my gym, where energy drinks go for 5 bucks each.

The green apple Jolly Rancher flavor makes my mouth pop, but if apple's not your thing, it comes in a bunch of other flavors, like Skittles, Starburst and Popsicle. I love that C4 is NSF Certified for Sport, which means it's third-party-tested for banned substances and contaminants. You'll definitely get a heavy hit of caffeine, but a one-can serving contains 200 mg, well under the daily upper limit (400 mg) recommended by the Food and Drug Administration.

Putting a pair of socks in a stocking may feel redundant (and even sorta boring), but there's not an athlete out there who wouldn't appreciate a truly great pair of socks. It's one of those items that you don't know you've been missing until you've tried it. 

Feetures tab ankle socks are my all-time favorite socks for running, hitting the gym or doing other high-intensity workouts that require direction changes and agility. You know, all those things that can cause blisters if your feet are rubbing against a semi-loose pair of socks. Feetures socks really hug the foot and stay put — with absolutely no rubbing — while offering support and cushioning exactly where it's needed.