Unique tennis gifts for him & her: Tennis Bags & Beyond

As October draws to a close, the pressure of sorting out your gift buying strategy ahead of the Christmas season intensifies. We’re feeling the heat too! 

If you have someone with a passion for tennis to buy for but you’re not keen on a new racket or tennis-themed jewellery as options, we think you’ll appreciate our curated list of gift ideas.

Here are the top 10 gifts that different types of tennis addicts will love to receive:

S’well bottles aren’t only stylish and environmentally friendly, they have some impressive USPs. Available in multiple sizes and shapes, they keep drinks hot for 12 hours and cold for 24. The company is also socially conscious and has partnerships with UNICEF USA, American Forests, Drink Up and (RED). An added plus? S’well now offers personalisation of their bottles so you can tailor the gift to fit your exact requirements.

Sports towels are a tennis bag staple. They’re especially vital when playing in hot, humid conditions or whilst grinding away on clay courts. Falling into the practical but nonetheless thoughtful category, a official towel from Roland Garros makes the list because it will surely add a little inspiration to the changeover.

Traditional full-sleeved sweatshirts and hoodies aren’t ideal for playing tennis. They’re often bulky and feel awkwardly restrictive around your wrists. Except for in the coldest conditions, they have you overheating after a couple of rallies. Nike has come up with the ideal option: a sweat-wicking 3/4 sleeve tennis warm up shirt. The cut of this shirt is perfect to play in and balances warmth without adding too much bulk. Castore's equivalent also balances warmth and maneuverability.  

Epirus makes the most technically-advanced, functional tennis wear. Case in point: the brand new Cropped Tennis Leggings. The four way stretch fabric is figure flattering, breathable and fluid with every movement. These are the only leggings that can hold two tennis balls in place and out of the way. When the ball pocket isn't used it lies flat and is virtually invisible. Playing in cool weather? These leggings are warm without being bulky. Playing in warm weather? The cropped fit prevents overheating. Needless to say, the cropped legging style is right at home in the gym, at spin class or at yoga practice.

Designed to wear with the leggings, the Timeless Tennis Tank is made from a buttery-soft, performance fabric with plenty of stretch for a flattering fit. Slightly cropped so that it's the perfect silhouette for tennis (it doesn't need to be tucked in but doesn't ride up too high while hitting serves or overheads) this is a classic piece that has staying power. You can't go wrong gifting a high quality staple that works both on and off the court.  

Play tennis, train or relax. You can wear this pro short for pretty much everything which makes it a great gift. Modern fit means just the right amount of room, in just the right places. Lightweight and quick drying materials make these shorts a go-to option.

We made this Modern Tennis Crew with innovative yoga fabrics that stretch and feel comfortable all day. Set after set, this abrasion-resistant fabric never stops feeling buttery soft against sweaty skin. This naturally breathable crew moves from workouts to whatever's next.

In stark contrast to the 'adherence to tradition' direction that some of the new tennis brands have taken, others have a different proposition. Hydrogen - worn by Feliciano Lopez and Fabio Foignini, has funky skull-emblazoned items that look suitable for the LFW runway. 

Alo - a favourite luxury yoga / althleisure brand - has created some 'tennis-inspired' items which are great options for the body confident gift recipient in your life.

Is the tennis fan in your life always trying to troubleshoot their game and get an edge through improved tactics? They will be surely be captivated by the wealth of data collected by Babolat POP - a fitness wearable made bespoke for tennis.  

The sensor located in the wristband connects to the user’s smartphone and collects loads of data including spin, power and impact, and is able to differentiate among strokes. There’s an activity score to gage footwork intensity and a method of challenging friends head-to-head to see who can produce superior metrics. An added bonus: the device is made by Babolat but since it’s worn on your wrist, it can be used with any brand of racket.

Does the person you're buying for use a racket frame other than Babolat? Consider Zepp perhaps a more generic actitvity tracking option from Fitbit or Polar.

2022 was an incredible year for professional tennis with an extraordinary number of compelling storylines. Watching tennis the old way - via cable packages - has been disrupted by Tennis TV which is a streaming service dedicated to the sport. Up to 2000 matches a year are shown live for just a monthly subscription of £9.99. People that enjoy keeping up with the ATP Tour can now do it on-demand, commercial free and filter matches by player.

Does the tennis playing person in your life juggle work, travel and other active pursuits? The Epirus tennis bag collections were created with this exact lifestyle in mind.

The range covers a wide variety of use cases: the Borderless Backpack V2 has a modern, sleek shape which sets it apart from sportier options on the market and has a gender-neutral feel. The Transition Tote V2 is an obvious choice for someone that is dedicated to both tennis and yoga. The Bold Borderless Backpack and Dynamic Duffel V2 was designed with the daily commute yet is large enough to elegantly stow tennis essentials without any excess bulk.

Buying for someone that loves hitting a ball with essentially ANY racket? There are some excellent gifts to consider for someone with this profile. Recess offers a customisable pickelball set which contains rackets, balls and a bag. Not convinced by the hyper behind pickelball yet? Opt for a portable table tennis kit which allows you to play basically anywhere.

If you live in a climate where wet winter days make you want to curl up in front a fire and settle into a good book (we're looking at you, London!), here are some options for someone with an affinity towards tennis and sports more generally. Shoe Dog written by Nike Founder Phil Knight recounts the journey of the brand from humble beginnings to juggernaut. 

String Theory by David Wallace is the compliation of five essays, which include profiles of Roger Federer and Tracy Austin. The NYT calls Wallace 'the best tennis writer of all time' and the book has received a tremendous number of accolades.

In a similar vein, consider a subscription to Racket Magazine for the friend that loves the sport but gets bored reading banal commentary on topics like 'who is the GOAT this month?' and similar.  Launched a couple of years ago, the publication stands out from the crowd of generic tennis magazines and is a publication celebrating the art, ideas, style and culture that surround tennis.

Finally, if you're buying for a Federer fan, this coffee table book published in 2018 is a no-brainer. Federeresque celebrates an unparalelled career with photos taken by the award-winning tennis photographer Antoine Couvercelle. Needless to say, this is going on our wish list!