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Fit for The Holidays
Activity is the hottest gift of the season
This year, give the gift of inspiration. The right present can encourage exercise. And there's nothing more fun than being in shape. If you're flush with cash, spring for a climbing gym pass or lift ticket. It doesn't have to cost much to encourage someone to get out and play. Invite a friend out for a hike or take your children skiing. If you are shopping for a gift, consider something that will make physical activity easier. And you know, a warm hoodie, a handy bike rack or a sporty chalk bag is truly a gift that keeps on giving!
Saucony ProGrid Razor
Having enjoyed every minute of trail running in the Saucony ProGrid Xodus, I was skeptical when Saucony "improved" the Xodus with a shoe called the Razor. Well, impossible happens. The Razor carries on the off-road features that made the Xodus a comfortable, secure, forefoot-cushy and fun-to-run-in trail shoe but is built higher with a 3/4 cut with an integrated gator that zips with a YKK zipper, an eVent liner and water-proof technology, which combined protect the foot from intrusive debris and the elements. The lightweight Vibram outsole is as grippy as ever. The Razor comes in black with either orange or coral accents, a welcome change from the flashy silver of the Xodus. $135; saucony.com - JN
Planet Dog Orbee-Tuff Mint Toy
Our dachshund, Wolfie, would be heartbroken if Santa forgot his stocking on Christmas Eve. The Orbee-Tuff Mint is retro candy with a dog-friendly twist that would make Willy Wonka proud. The durable doggie toys are 4" in diameter. Made in the US, the toys are crafted from award-winning, recyclable, durable, bouncy Orbee-Tuff material. So your pup isn't disappointed that it's all chew and no taste, the toys are infused with a tasty natural mint oil (one of my daughters tested it and reports that the flavor is great). A percentage of every Planet Dog purchase is donated to the Planet Dog Foundation (PDF) to support canine service organizations. $10.95; planetdog.com - NPB
Origo Rendezvous Peak Watch
Now that the Rendezvous Peak Watch is available, the old adage that good things come in small packages has never been so true. In a surprisingly compact, lightweight package are multiple precision navigation tools - a barometer with weather forecasting, altimeter, digital compass and thermometer. The easy-to-read display lights up with tap of a button. The Rendezvous Peak is water resistant to 165 feet and is ideal for backcountry trips where route finding is difficult and accurate weather forecasting is essential. $180; origowatch.com - NPB
Yakima SwingDaddy Bike Rack
Yakima's SwingDaddy rear-vehicle bike rack is easy to work with and efficiently manages the transport of up to four bikes. Right out of the box, it slips into a 2" receiver and requires little assembly. With the loosening of a crank and a lift of two pins, the rack swings completely out of the way, even fully loaded, to allow access into the rear of your vehicle. Getting four varied frames over the arms can offer a puzzle (swooping top tubes and narrow gaps between tubes of mountain and kids bikes illustrate the pieces of my puzzle) but I managed to load four bikes, orderly if not looking harmonious. With appearance less important than security, the Swing Daddy provides security with sliding anti-sway cradles that eliminate bike-to-bike contact and protection to the bikes with arm padding. Once loaded, rubber straps snug securely the bike on the arm. Unloaded, the TriggerFinger release enables the arms to fold down. Other features include an integrated LockDown security cable with a hitch lock and a RocSteady hitch tongue for greater stability. $460; yakima.com - JN
BioBrite EZ Wake Clock
It's like having your own personal sunrise, whenever you want. Getting up for an early morning run, swim, ski or spinning class is tough, especially when you rise before dawn. The SunRise EZ Wake is a compact alarm clock that wakes you with a warm glow of light. The brightness gradually increases, with maximum illumination just before the actual alarm rings. The alarm has preset 30-minute fixed sunrise and sunset modes, a globe with slotted back (so the "sunrays are projected onto the wall") and four simple buttons for easy programming. $89.95; BioBrite.com - NPB
Columbia Glimmer Girl Hoodie
The Glimmer Girl Hoodie wins first place in the Prettiest Sweater of the Season Stakes. Your holidays will be jollier with the Glimmer Girl Hoodie under the tree. There's not a girlfriend, wife, sister or mother who wouldn't OOOHHH and AAAHHH and immediately pull this luxuriously soft, cuddly sweater over her head. A midweight blend of yarns (60% cotton, 30% nylon and 10% angora) is kitten soft. The features a touch of angora for softness you have to feel to believe. There's no guesswork about whether she'll wear it - she won't want to ever take it off. A Classic Fair Isle pattern circles the yoke, cuffs, and hem. $95; columbia.com - NPB
Metolius Chalk Bag
Indoor climbing is one of the best full-body workouts on the planet (which makes outdoor climbing an exercise with galaxy-sized benefits). The chalk bag is an essential piece of gear for any climber and no one makes better equipment than Metolius. The durable new chalk bags (in both Graffiti and Stripe designs) are supremely functional, stylish and colorful. The bags have a stiff, easy-access rim, handy brush holder and easy-to-clip belt. Bonus features are an MP3 player pocket and rock gym ID card holder. $24.95; metoliusclimbing.com - NPB
GoLite Footwear Winter Lite Boot (for women)
I've tested enough boots in my life to make Imelda Marcos proud. But nothing has been more comfortable or more versatile than GoLite's Winter Lite Boot. The trouble with most winter women's boots is that they either are fashionable or functional but rarely both. But the Winter Lite is as comfortable in the ritzy restaurants of Telluride as the slushy streets of Flagstaff. The outsole is a rugged "PawPad II" that handles my ice and snow-covered 30-degree driveway with ease and the uppers are soft, waterproof leather. The best features are synthetic shearling lining (designed to keep feet dry and warm) and the Soft Against the Ground Technology (that helps smooth out irregularities in the terrain and reduces rearfoot motion by up to 30%). The boots come with an extra "PreciseFit" insole that adapts the fit to any width foot and really works! $120; golitefootwear.net - NPB
BODYREV Perfect Pushup V2
You might have seen me strolling through town, looking incredibly buff. That's because of my early Christmas present, the Perfect Pushup V2. I've been on the mend from a torn MCL (a big dog took me out at the knees), but if I don't get exercise, I'll drive myself, and everyone else, crazy. Plus, I need to look fabulous in my little black, sleeveless, holiday dress. The Perfect Pushup is based on a rotating handle design (ball bearings allow the grips to twist as you move), so it engages more muscles in the arms, shoulders, chest, back and abs. The padded grips and large cushioned contact surface for improved weight distribution and unbeatable muscle engagement. $39.99; perfectpushup.com - NPB
Scarpa Raptor
You gotta hand it to Scarpa - if a need for an outdoor shoe exists, the company tries to fit it. The Raptor is a lightweight, stable, durable and breathable trail shoe that is one of many in Scarpa's new Alpine Cross line. An agile trail runner, the shoe is also a light hiker and approach shoe. Aside from its lightweight, my beat-up feet appreciate the technology that protects the foot, including a forefoot plate that prevents bruising from hard strikes on rocks, an Armor-Lite abrasion-resistant toe and a proprietary Trail Speed Sole with a lug designed for propulsion and braking. Having already said the shoe is agile, I want to emphasize it without calling it a dance shoe (I had an unforgettable day in Raptors bounding down rocky terrain). $90; scarpa.com - JN
Patagonia Kid's Sidewall Jacket
The perfect kids coat - for skiing, snowboarding, school and winter play. I love handing down quality clothing -but I suspect my older daughter will get a good two seasons out of the Sidewall before she hands it off to her younger sisters. Plus, the nifty retro plaid design is as appealing to boys as girls, so it's not a "single sex" coat. In addition to built-in "grow-fit" sleeves that can be lengthened up to 2" to accommodate growth spurts, there's even a hand-me-down ID label inside to keep track of owners! The insulated coat is long enough to wear on deep powder days, with hip styling and a durable (yet supple) two-layer waterproof/breathable shell made from 6-oz 150-denier 100% recycled polyester. The insulation (90% recycled material) is toasty warm, regardless if your child is stuck on a stalled chairlift or playing in sub-zero temperatures at recess. Weather-sealing features include a removable hood, soft fleece-lined collar and chin flap; full-length wind flap; mini powder skirt; and insulated handwarmer pockets. $225; patagonia.com - NPBPost a comment
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