Best CBD Oil Products for Athletes and Pro Athletes: Boost Athletic Performance and Recovery

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-intoxicating substance that is extracted from cannabis and hemp plants. It’s quite a popular ingredient in health products, and you’ll find that there are plenty of CBD products specifically for athletes. This is because many athletes use CBD for recovery and performance.

Whether you’re a keen gymmer, a running enthusiast, or a professional athlete, you might enjoy adding CBD to your daily routine. Research suggests that CBD can be used for pain, inflammation, and anxiety, all of which can affect athletes.

For the most part, CBD is not banned by athletic organizations. Back in 2018, the World Anti-Doping Agency removed CBD from its list of prohibited substances. However, THC – which is the substance that can make you intoxicated – is banned by most organizations. Full-spectrum CBD products contain a tiny amount of THC, and although it’s unlikely, it’s possible to test positive for THC after using a full-spectrum CBD product.

As always, we advise that you talk to your doctor before using CBD. Professional athletes should also talk to their coaches before using any new health product.

Because there are so many CBD products out there, it can be difficult to figure out which products you should purchase. Because of this, we’ve compiled a list of the best CBD products for athletes.

How we chose

We base our recommendations on the price, lab results, hemp quality, transparency, customer service, brand reputation, and other criteria. We’ve selected these CBD products for athletes from a list of more than 3000 products from over 150 CBD brands.

We use an unbiased ranking system to rate brands and products out of 100 points. Check out this page for more information on how we choose our products.

Our articles are written and reviewed by a team of cannabis journalists and medical practitioners who are experts in CBD.

Our picks

Best Overall — Elixinol

Elixinol’s CBD Sports Gel combines CBD with arnica and capsaicin, which are both used to soothe pain. Elixinol’s products are registered with Iowa’s Consumable Hemp Regulatory Program, which allows the state to regulate hemp products. Their products are also certified by the US Hemp Authority. As an added bonus, all Elixinol products are vegan-friendly.

Learn more by reading our Elixinol Review.

Third-party tests confirm that this product is free of contaminants and contains the advertised amount of broad-spectrum CBD. Their lab reports can be viewed on their website.

Elixinol’s CBD is derived from US-grown hemp on a farm that complies with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s organic standards. This product is certified by the US Hemp Authority. Elixinol’s products are also registered with Iowa’s Consumable Hemp Regulatory Program.

This product contains THC-free broad-spectrum CBD.

In addition to CBD, this product contains arnica and capsaicin, which are often used to reduce pain and inflammation. It also contains essential oils, including eucalyptus, grapefruit, peppermint, and chamomile. This sports gel is vegan.

At about $0.06 per milligram of CBD, this sports gel is well-priced for a topical CBD product, especially when you consider the added ingredients.

Best Value For Money — CBDfx

At only $0.03 per milligram of CBD, this product is our pick for the best value for money. These THC-free gummies contain added turmeric and spirulina. What’s more is that they’re totally plant-based, making them suitable for vegan athletes.

Learn more by reading our CBDfx Review.

CBDfx products are tested by an independent lab. Their test results are available online.

CBDfx uses US-grown hemp. They say their hemp is derived from farms that use organic practices, although they don’t seem to be certified as organic.

This product contains THC-free, broad-spectrum CBD.

Each gummy contains 25mg of turmeric and 10mg of spirulina in addition to 25mg of CBD. This product doesn’t contain any animal-derived ingredients, making it suitable for vegans and vegetarians.

Spirulina is often called a “superfood” because it’s so nutrient-dense —it contains omega fatty acids, protein, vitamins B1, B2, and B3, copper, and iron. Spirulina also has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Turmeric is also known for its anti-inflammatory properties.

At just over $0.03 per milligram of CBD, this product is outstanding value for money, especially when you consider the added turmeric and spirulina.

Best CBD Cream for Athletes — Just Live

Just Live is an athlete-founded company that creates quality CBD products for athletes. This THC-free CBD cream is intended to soothe aches and pains. It can be used after a workout or competitive event or to help with an injury.

Learn more by reading our Just Live CBD Review.

This product has been tested by a third-party lab. Their lab reports can be accessed on their website.

Just Live uses non-GMO US-grown hemp.

This product contains THC-free broad-spectrum CBD.

In addition to 1500mg of CBD, Just Live Pain Relief Cream contains arnica, menthol, and camphor, which are often used in pain-relief topicals.

At $99 for a 1500mg, 50ml product, this price is fair. It works out to just less than $0.07 per milligram of CBD, which is great for a CBD topical product.

They have a generous discount program, offering a 20 percent discount to many groups of people, including low-income families, first responders, teachers, medical personnel, students, senior citizens, real estate agents, union members, and more.

Best CBD Tincture for Athletes — Premium Jane 

This lemon-and-lime flavored tincture is quite potent, containing 5000mg of CBD per 60mg bottle. A THC-free formula, this strong dose is ideal for someone who needs an extra boost – for example, if they’re recovering from a painful injury. Premium Jane suggests using half a dropper per serving, working out to 62.5mg – an impressive dose.

Learn more by reading our Premium Jane Review.

Premium Jane products are tested by an independent lab. Their lab reports are available on their website.

Premium Jane uses US-grown hemp from Kentucky.

This product contains THC-free broad-spectrum CBD.

In addition to CBD, this product contains a combination of MCT coconut oil, hemp seed oil, and flaxseed oil. Typically, CBD tinctures only use one kind of oil. The flavoring is derived from natural sources.

At $0.055 (five and a half cents) per milligram, this product is great value-for-money.

Best CBD Softgels for Athletes — Bloom Hemp Full Spectrum Natural Softgels 25mg

These full-spectrum CBD softgels are quite simple, combining only CBD extract and MCT coconut oil. Each capsule contains 25 miligrams of CBD. These simple ingredients are ideal for athletes who want a no-frills, straightforward dose of CBD in a convenient softgel capsule.

Learn more by reading our Bloom Hemp Review.

This product has been tested by a third-party lab. It confirms that the product contains the advertised amount of cannabinoids.

Bloom Hemp uses US-grown hemp.

This product contains full-spectrum CBD.

These softgels contain no added ingredients – just coconut oil and CBD extract.

At $0.07 per milligram of CBD, these softgels are fairly priced. Bloom Hemp also offers discounts for military personnel and first respondents. They also have a rewards program.

Best CBD Energy Drink for Athletes — Joy Organics 

Joy Organics offers a CBD energy drink that can be used to make a pre- or post-workout drink. In addition to 12.5mg of CBD per sachet, this product also contains a range of vitamins plus 75mg of caffeine and BCAAs. This workout mix is available in a berry flavor.

Learn more by reading our Joy Organics Review.

This product has been tested by an independent lab. The lab reports can be viewed on their website. Joy Organics is a member of the U.S. Hemp Roundtable.

Joy Organics uses US-grown hemp.

This product contains broad-spectrum, THC-free CBD.

This energy drink mix contains caffeine and branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), which are often used to boost exercise performance and improve muscle growth. The drink mix also contains a wide range of vitamins and minerals.

This product is $15.96 for five sachets, working out to just over $0.25 per milligram of CBD. At first glance, this might seem expensive, but considering that it’s a combination of a workout mix and CBD, it’s fairly priced. Joy Organics also offers subscriptions, in which case you’ll get 20 percent off.

Best CBD Body Oil for Athletes — Rebotanicals

This body oil is great for a post-workout massage. It has a roller applicator and is pocket-sized, making it great for on-the-go relief. With 500mg of CBD in a 10ml bottle, each application packs quite a punch. This oil also contains turmeric and mandarin essential oils.

Learn more by reading our RE Botanicals Review.

This product has been tested by a third-party lab. The certificate of analysis is available on their website.

This CBD is extracted from US-grown hemp that has been certified organic by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

This product contains full-spectrum CBD, which means it does contain THC. Because it’s a topical treatment, it’s unlikely that the THC will enter your bloodstream and show up on a blood test, but err on the side of caution if you know you’ll be tested.

This product is coconut-oil based. In addition to CBD, it contains turmeric essential oil and mandarin essential oil. All ingredients, from their hemp extract to their botanical oils, are certified organic.

This works out to around $0.07 per milligram of CBD, which is a fair price for a topical treatment. Rebotanicals also offers a 15 percent discount for senior citizens and retired or active military personnel.

Best Product With Anti-Pain Ingredients — CBDMD 

This topical product combines CBD with lidocaine, a local anesthetic that’s often used to relieve aches and pains. One convenient aspect of CBDMD’s Topical Lidocaine is that it comes in two different containers: you can choose between a roll-on applicator and a spray bottle. It also comes in three different strengths: 500mg, 1500mg, and 3000mg.

Learn more by reading our cbdMD Review.

This product is tested by an independent lab. The lab reports can be found online.

CBDMD uses CBD derived from US-grown hemp.

This product uses THC-free broad-spectrum CBD.

In addition to CBD, this product contains lidocaine and aloe vera. Aloe vera is commonly used to soothe skin irritations.

This product ranges between $0.08 and $0.04 per milligram, depending on the potency you choose, making it fair value for money. CBDMD offers a generous discount program for first responders, members of the armed forces, and disabled customers. They also have a subscription service that saves you money.

Best Product With Energy-Boosting Ingredients — ReThink CBD 

These CBD gummies contain added vitamin B12 and caffeine, both of which are known to boost energy. Vitamin B12 is commonly prescribed for fatigue.

Learn more by reading our CBD ReThink Review.

This product has been tested by a third-party lab. These lab reports are available online.

ReThink CBD uses US-grown hemp.

This product contains broad-spectrum, THC-free CBD.

These gummies contain vitamin B12 and caffeine, as well as CBD. Although it does not contain gelatin, it does contain fish-derived omega 3 oil, which means it’s not suitable for vegans and vegetarians. The product contains natural flavorings.

At $0.07 per milligram of CBD, this is a fair price. They also offer free shipping on all products and have a subscription program that gives you a discount.

Best Product With Anti-Inflammation Ingredients — Charlotte’s Web CBD Gummies: Recovery

Charlotte’s Web is a reputable brand, known for popularizing the use of CBD for health reasons. Their gummies come in a variety of sizes and contain a variety of beneficial ingredients. These gummies are intended for recovery, containing turmeric and ginger, both of which are known to have anti-inflammatory properties.

Learn more by reading our Charlotte’s Web Review.

This product has been tested by a third-party lab. The test results are available on the website.

Charlotte’s Web uses hemp grown in Colorado.

This product includes full-spectrum CBD extract.

These gummies contain turmeric and ginger.

The price works out to $0.07 per milligram of CBD, which is fair. Charlotte’s Web offers a military discount and a subscribe-and-save option.

How to choose the best CBD for athletes

Before purchasing CBD as an athlete, you should consider a few different factors:

• Third-party testing: Firstly, you should only ever purchase CBD products that have been tested by an independent lab (also known as a third-party lab). The lab report, also known as a certificate of analysis (COA), will confirm what their product actually contains. You should be able to view the COA on their website.
• Type of CBD: There are three kinds of CBD: isolate, broad-spectrum, and full spectrum. Full-spectrum CBD contains a small amount of THC, which is banned by certain professional athletic organizations. Although it’s unlikely that THC will show up on a blood test if you use full-spectrum CBD, it is a possibility – so stick with broad-spectrum CBD or CBD isolate.
• Added ingredients: Many CBD products contain added ingredients that might be beneficial. Topicals, in particular, contain added ingredients to nourish the skin or soothe pain. This can be a plus, although sometimes a very simple, no-fuss CBD product does the job perfectly well.
• Plant-based: If you’re vegan or vegetarian, please note that not all CBD products are vegan. While CBD itself is plant-based, some products contain animal derivatives. This is especially true of gummies and softgels, which sometimes include gelatin.
• Price: CBD is usually taken on a daily basis, so purchase a product that you’ll be able to afford if using it regularly. It might be helpful to calculate the cost per milligram of CBD and compare product prices from there.
• Dosage: You’ll want a product that makes it easy for you to take the correct dosage. For example, if you’re taking 20mg of CBD per day, you won’t want a 50mg capsule. Remember that your dosage will depend on your individual biology, and it’s best to start with a low dosage and gradually increase it.

Need more information on choosing a CBD product? We’ve compiled a detailed guide which explains how to find a high-quality product that works for you.

Safety and side effects

The available research tells us that CBD is safe for human consumption. However, CBD can have some side effects, including:

• Fatigue
• Changes in appetite or weight
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea

Although not everybody experiences these side effects, it’s important to keep this in mind. If you experience any worrying symptoms, stop using CBD and talk with your medical provider.

Unfortunately, CBD can also interact with certain medications, especially drugs with a “grapefruit warning.” Both CBD and grapefruit affect the liver in such a way that it changes how your body processes certain medications. As a result, using CBD with those medications may cause an interaction.

We suggest talking to a CBD-friendly doctor before using CBD, especially if you’re taking another medication. A doctor will be able to figure out if CBD will be safe for you, and they could guide you on taking the correct dosage.

Legality

The good news is that most CBD products are legal in the United States. The 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp and hemp-derived CBD products throughout the United States. All of the products mentioned above contain 0.3 percent THC or less, which means they are legal to use in every state.

Remember that if you use a full-spectrum product, a drug test may be able to pick up THC in your body. This means that you could test positive for cannabis use if you’re tested at an athletic event, at work, or by the police. If you’re concerned about testing positive for THC, opt for a THC-free product.