Maybe the best part of having a fitness fanatic on your holiday shopping list is that you likely won’t be stumped when creating your gift list.
“What do you get for somebody who already has everything?” doesn’t really apply in an industry that is perpetually producing new exercise gadgets.
With the shopping season already underway, here are eight ideas to help guide you.
MAGELLAN ECHO WATCH $149, MAGELLANGPS.COM[1]
The Magellan Echo Watch links to a smartphone so you can check exercise stats with a glance at your wrist rather than fumbling with your phone. The watch is compatible with applications such as MapMyRun, Strava and Wahoo Fitness, but it is not a standalone device. The watch works with your phone via a Bluetooth connection and also allows control of music from your wrist.
STABILICERS SPORTRUNNERS $39.95, 32NORTH.COM[2]
For runners and walkers, icy roads and trails often mean choosing between two evils. One, hit the road and risk slipping and injuring yourself. Or, two, the dreaded treadmill. Stabilicers SportRunners are chains for your feet. These ice cleats strap to running shoes, allowing you to log miles outdoors even when conditions are nasty. You’ll have nine cleats from heel to toe on each foot designed to improve traction throughout your stride.
AMPHIPOD XINGLET FLASH LED VEST $44.50, REI.COM[3]
Exercising outside is a great way to keep your fitness routine from getting stale over the winter. But if you run, walk, bike or do anything else that requires sharing the road with vehicles, it can get dangerous. With early sunsets and gray weather, motorists can have a hard time spotting runners and cyclists. The Amphipod Xinglet vest is designed to help reduce that risk. The vest has flashing red LED lights on the front and back, plus reflective material on the shoulders and waistband.
WATERPROOFED IPOD SHUFFLE $139.95, WATERFI.COM[4]
For decades, runners have used music to help pass the time during workouts while swimmers have been on their own. Waterfi’s Waterproofed iPod Shuffle allows users to clip the tiny device on their goggles and listen to up to 2 gigabytes of music in the pool. According to waterfi.com[5] , the device is “completely waterproof down to 210 feet.”
AIRBAC $50-160, AIRBAC.COM[6]
Whether you’re carrying a pack on a day hike or sending kids off for a day of school and sports loaded down with textbooks and athletic gear, a good backpack is important to maintaining good back health. AirBac claims its design not only reduces back stress by automatically adjusting to your body, but it will feel as if you are carrying half of the weight. I’ve used one, and I’m not quite sure I can vouch for “half the weight,” but it definitely feels lighter than I expected and very comfortable when worn properly (use both straps). The trick is a large air compartment in the lumbar area that changes the way the pack rides on your back and acts as a shock absorber. The packs come in various styles, including those for backpacking and hunting, and others for school and work.
A RACE $55-80, TACOMACITYMARATHON.COM OR CAPITALCITYMARATHON.ORG[7] [8]
Having a challenge such as a marathon or half marathon on the horizon is a good way to keep motivated to exercise. Two of the South Sound’s most popular races already have opened registration for their 2014 races. The Tacoma City Marathon is May 4 and is $55 for the half marathon and $80 for the full 26.2 miles. The Capital City Marathon is May 18 and $70 for the half and $80 for the full.=
INSTRUCTION $40 OR MORE PER HOUR
Giving a gym membership can be a waste of good intentions. For many people, a fully loaded gym can be a confusing and intimidating place where they’re left to wander and guess the right way to exercise. Instead, consider hiring a good, certified personal trainer or sports-specific coach who can teach the right way to train toward their goals. Then, when they find themselves adrift in a sea of exercise equipment at the gym, they’ll know precisely what to do.
WORKOUT PARTNER FREE
One of the most common excuses I hear for not working out is “I don’t have anybody to work out with.” It’s totally unnecessary, of course, but whether you are ripped or just starting down the road to good fitness, exercise always is more fun and less intimidating with a trusted partner.
Offering yourself up as a workout buddy can be a great gift for several reasons: First, it’s a cheap gift. Second, you’re bound to benefit from it too. Finally, if it works out, the person who received the gift still will be enjoying it long after they’ve forgotten about all their other Christmas presents.
Craig Hill: 253-597-8497
craig.hill@thenewstribune.com
thenewstribune.com/fitness
theolympian.com/fitness
@adventureguys[9] [10] [11] [12]
References
- ^ MAGELLANGPS.COM (www.magellangps.com)
- ^ 32NORTH.COM (www.32north.com)
- ^ REI.COM (www.rei.com)
- ^ WATERFI.COM (waterfi.com)
- ^ waterfi.com (waterfi.com)
- ^ AIRBAC.COM (airbac.com)
- ^ TACOMACITYMARATHON.COM (tacomacitymarathon.com)
- ^ CAPITALCITYMARATHON.ORG (capitalcitymarathon.org)
- ^ craig.hill@thenewstribune.com (www.thenewstribune.com)
- ^ thenewstribune.com/fitness (thenewstribune.com)
- ^ theolympian.com/fitness (theolympian.com)
- ^ @adventureguys (twitter.com)
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