By Sal Ruibal, USA TODAY
Holiday shopping for action/adventuresports enthusiasts may seem to be an easy task. There are now thousands of gift possibilities for the adrenaline-driven jock on your list, but sifting through that mountain of gear is tougher than climbing El Capitan.
Fear not: Throughout the year we've kept our eyes peeled for the best and coolest products and tested as many of them as we could get our hands on. And, you can check out other USA TODAY gift ideas in our "In the Bag" blog.
Electronics:
Before you head out the door for you next adventure, take a peek at the Oregon Scientific WeatherNow Station ($169.95, Oregonscientific.com.). Just plug in the desktop unit and you're receiving regional data from the MSN Direct Weather Data Service. It displays the current regional four-day forecast as well as weather warnings, watches and advisories.
Music-on-the-go is a booming business, even in the great outdoors. Manufacturers have become quite creative in devising new ways for you to take your tunes on the trail, the slopes and the road.
Oakley has been a leader in this market with its popular Thump series of MP3 player-sunglasses. The latest version, the no-wires Thump Pro ($349-$249, Oakley.com), is more compact, made of sweat-resistant materials, has interchangeable lenses and can hold 240 songs in its 1-gigabyte configuration. Content-wise, the Thump Pro is iPod m4a-file (CD transfer) compatible and has AudibleReady software for e-books and podcasts.
We like the Thump Pro because its ear speakers swivel out, giving the user more control over ambient sound. That's important for runners, road cyclists and other athletes whose safety depends on being aware of their surroundings. Ear-bud speakers may have concert-hall sound, but that's not always the smartest way to travel.
Burton's Audex line of snowboard gear is the leader in on-snow tunes, with MP3 compatible parkas, helmets and packs. The Audex Apres MP3 Jacket ($359.95, Store.burton.com) not only comes with its own player, it has snazzy faux-fur trim on its hood.
If you're more interested in hearing your performance numbers, the Motion Lingo ADEO Fitness Trainer ($149, Motionlingo.com) combines GPS technology with audio software that audibly "tells" you how fast you're biking, running, walking, blading or skiing. You can combine it with an MP3 or iPod to get your stats while you groove.
All that music will stop if you can't recharge your gear in the wilderness. That's why Brunton made the new Brunton Solaris 6 and Solaris i6 lightweight foldable solar panels ($129, Brunton.com.) They are ideal for charging satellite phones, video and digital cameras and cellphones. The i6 model, out Dec. 15, can also charge iPods and MP3 players.
Wheels:
Finding a shiny new bicycle under the tree is a holiday tradition, even for grown-up boys and girls. Bike makers have been busy coming up with some dandy models for 2007 that feature the creative use of carbon fiber technology. The bottom line is a bike that's stiff enough to win a sprint to the next stop sign while also being comfortably compliant. In English, that means fast and comfy.
We rode the new Specialized Roubaix ($7,100-$1,900, Specialized.com) and Cannondale System Six ($8,000-$3,400, Cannondale.com) road bikes and they delivered as promised. Yes, that is a lot of money, but a bike that is comfortable is a bike that will be used more often. The garages of America are filled with unused, uncomfortable bikes. Specialized has taken the comfort concept a step further and is training bike shops to properly fit customers to their highly adjustable bikes.
The Ibis Carbon Mojo (complete bike $3,299-$5,399; frame only is $1,899; ibiscycles.com) is a sculpture that goes really fast on mountain bike trails. The colorful dual-suspension Mojo marks the return of the venerable, yet funky, Ibis brand to the marketplace. Carbon fiber was a gutsy choice for a company whose place in bike history was made with beautiful steel and titanium bike frames, but a 60-day waiting list for the Carbon Mojo is proof that founder Scot Nicol still knows what works on two wheels.
If you're looking for an inexpensive, cool, fun and easy to ride bike, go for the old-school Electra Amsterdam ($550, Electrabike.com), a 3-speed commuter/coffee/errands bike that's comfortable and stylish — just not fast.
Apparel:
Few items of sports clothing must perform as many tasks as mountain bike shorts. They must provide a comfortable platform for the rider's most sensitive parts, protect the hips and thighs from crashes, keep the lower body warm or cool and serve as a storage area for glasses, tools and food.
Hoss Ponderosa shorts do all that and look cool, too. If the Cartwright boys rode mountain bikes instead of horses, they'd wear Ponderosa shorts.
Hoss gear is also less expensive than most MTB shorts. The single-color version sells for $49.95, while the stylish camo print shorts go for $54.95 (hossmtb.com). If you're a Clydesdale-class rider, you'll have to pony up an extra $5 for XXXL.
The Ponderosa's seven pockets can carry a lot of cargo and strategically placed stretch panels provide comfort on long rides.
Over the years, we've also been impressed with the New Zealand Merino wool clothing made by Ibex. This year, we like their machine-washable Ibex Neck Gaitor ($30, Ibexwear.com). The neck gaitor is a great item to stash in a backpack for blustery days or some triple-lutzes on a frozen pond.
One of our favorite new items is the Patagonia Manuka fleece-lined flip-flop sandal ($85, Patagonia.com). The feel of fleece between your toes is sublime and the perfect thing for quick trips to the back porch for kindling or commuting to the hot tub. The Manuka is available in both men's and women's sizes.
Dryzone shoe and booth dryers ($14.99 for shoes, $20 for boots, Dryzoneusa.com) are handy items for wet weather conditions. The unique, heat-free dryer is the shape of a shoe insole and consists of "beanbags" filled with moisture-absorbing crystals. The bags are inserted into each shoe and, overnight, absorb moisture. The bags are easily regenerated after three or four uses by heating them in a microwave or on a heat register.
Skate:
Longboarding is the biggest trend in skateboarding and you don't have to be a dude-spewing grommet to have fun with it. We suggest the Loaded Vanguard Bamboo longboard ($298, loadedboards.com), a great all-around board for multiple surfaces.
If you want to introduce a friend to the longboard scene, pick up MAKE YOU sMILE($24, loadedboards.com), a DVD from skate film auteurs Adam Colton and Adam Stokowski, a.k.a. Adam Squared. It includes full-length versions of the pair's web films and eight new films.
Stocking stuffers:
Adventure Medical Kits (amkdealer.com) offers a wide line of emergency kits that range from an $18 back-pocket model to the $100 Outfitter, which organizes hospital-quality tools and supplies by type of injury and includes instructional cards and a first aid guide that enable a novice or pro to be an effective first responder to an emergency ... Knog has extended its line of excellent LED lights that work for both bikers with the Toad and Bull Frog ($28-$32, knogusa.com), five-LEDs units that light up the trail behind and ahead of you. ... ProBar ($2.99, theprobar.com) blends 15 natural whole foods into a yummy bar that makes on-the-run nutrition a real meal. Check out the Koka Moka. ... SportLegs ($26.95, Sportlegs.com) is a supplement that actually works and won't get you kicked out of the Tour de France. Made from calcium, magnesium and vitamin D in vegetarian capsules, SportLegs helps regulate lactic acid production, so your muscles produce only as much as they need to perform their very best. ... Anke Wilken was worried that her cycling-crazed husband was losing interest in romance, so she created the Cyclepassion photo calendar ($34.95, worldcycling.com). The poster-sized photos of female glamor models, sinewy male cyclists and amazing race scenery is sexy without being sleazy. ... Cats and dogs hate cancer, too. Get them Livestrong pet collars and leashes ($12-$14, laf.org) in yellow and black.
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