REI

Have you already left a comment to enter the drawing for one of two $250 gift cards for REI? If not, read on and write something, anything really, in the comment section below. (If you have already entered, remember just one entry per person — all repeat comments will be ignored.)

Christmas is fast approaching, and while you might be coveting some new snow gear, this isn't exactly the best time to splurge on yourself. So I'm here to solve that problem for two lucky FitSugar readers. We're giving away two gift cards worth $250 each for REI, one of the sportiest gear stores around!

Even if you are not into Winter sports, I am sure REI has something you can put to good use. The retailer carries everything from camping gear to yoga wear. If you consider yourself a gym rat, REI can even hook you up with a heart-rate monitor. Seriously, this place really does have something for everyone.

To enter to win one of the $250 gift cards, all you have to do is leave a comment. (One comment per person; duplicate comments will be disregarded.) You do, however, need to be a TeamSugar member to leave a comment. So if you're not already a member, just register here for an account. It takes about 60 seconds!

Interested in more details? Click here for the official rules.

The contest will end on Monday, Dec. 17, at 12:00 p.m. (PST), and then I'll randomly select two winners from the comments. Don't forget to email this to all your friends and family so they can have a chance at it, too!

It is no secret that I heart REI. They make and sell great gear. The sales people are extremely knowledgeable. Their online store is great. Plus it is a co-op that you can join, and at the end of the year you receive a dividend check. Well, if you like giving your greenbacks to green stores, REI is the retailer for you. And they continue to get greener!

While getting my green on over at treehugger.com, I just read that not only does REI now use ecologically sensitive labeling to indicate products that are designed to have less impact on our planet, they are also building green stores too. I call that a green double up!

Now you can shop easily for eco gear made with sustainable and recycled materials bearing the eco-sensitive label in a store designed to minimize REI's carbon footprint. The new REI store opening soon in Boulder, CO, is their green prototype store that uses solar energy to reduce its electricity consumption by 20 percent and its water usage by 30 percent.

If you can't make it to the Boulder store, you can always shop their eco labeled products online.

I went hiking this weekend up a trail named Hell's Brook. I learned the name after arriving at the trail head. If I had had that knowledge ahead of time, I would have known to bring along my hiking poles.

I'm liking these from REI called Traverse Shock Trekking Poles. They're only $79 for the pair, when others can run you almost $200 for just one.

What makes these poles so different? To find out read more

Just because you are "roughing it" in the woods with your tent and sleeping bag does NOT mean you must be stuck eating only trail mix. Having a camping stove is a necessity when campground camping. I definitely wouldn't truck this stove around while backpacking, but if you're driving to your campsite, you can pack whatever you want.

This Coleman 2-Burner Propane Stove has double burners so you can boil your pasta and sauté veggies at the same time. One 16.4 oz cylinder or fuel will last over an hour with both burners on high, so you'll have plenty of time to make a fabulous meal.

Want to hear more about it? Then read more

I have a lot of wonderful memories of camping with my family as a kid. There was nothing like the feeling of snuggling into your sleeping bag inside your tent after a night of roasting marshmallows by the campfire. Back then I had this huge, thick sleeping bag made out of flannel and a whole lot of stuffing - it was like a comforter with a zipper.

Camping gear has come a long way since then, and that huge, puffball sleeping bag just wouldn't cut it on a backpacking trip. Check out the REI Kilo Flash +35 Sleeping Bag. It only weighs 1 lb 4 oz, and it's less than 1 foot long once it's rolled up and snug in its stuff sack. It's made of goose down, so it'll keep you warm in up to 35°F weather - perfect for those chilly summer nights in the mountains.

This sleeping bag is designed for women. It has a narrower cut at the shoulders, and extra insulation in the footbox and torso areas where it's needed most. Plus it has a hood at the top with adjustable draw cords so you can tighten it to your face and keep the cold out. It's like one big tube of cozy warmth.

Want to know why this sleeping bag is my favorite? Then read more

If you're new to doing cardio such as biking or running, and you want to know if you are working at the right intensity for your body, using a heart rate monitor is a great idea. Whether you are doing cardio to lose weight, for fun, or to build your endurance for competitions, a heart rate monitor will give you an accurate readout of how hard your heart is working.

Shopping for a heart rate monitor can be a bit overwhelming since there are so many different kinds. Plus they can be pretty pricey depending on how many bells and whistles they come with. If you are just starting out, there's no reason to spend tons of money if all you want to track is your heart rate.

The Polar FS1 heart rate monitor is a great, basic monitor. The black transmitter band goes against your skin and around your chest (you can stick it under the elastic of your sports bra). The watch on your wrist watch continuously tracks your heart rate so you'll know when you reach your target heart zone. The watch even gives you visual and audible alarms to keep you in your target zone. The watch also keeps track of how long you've been exercising, so you can figure out how long you've been "in the zone" during your workout.

You can order one from REI.com for only $59.95, which is an awesome deal on a basic heart rate monitor. When you use one, you can actually track your progress and see improvement in your endurance, so I found that it was just the thing to motivate me to workout.

Not sure what your target heart rate is? Check out the FitSugar calculator it will help you find your zone.

I love exercising in the Spring, and even though it's warmer than it was a month ago, you still need to wear some kind of layer to keep you warm. You don't necessarily need a big long-sleeved jacket, so this is the perfect time of year to sport a vest.

Check out this one from Salomon. It's made out of "ActiLite," a fabric that is abrasion resistant, moisture wicking, and breathable. When you're working out in cooler weather, you need something like this that will wick away moisture from your body, because if you get wet, the cool air will make you colder.

There are 2 hand pockets and a chest pocket with a hidden zipper. I love a lot of pockets so I can carry my keys, my cell phone and my iPod if I want.

This vest is made for women, so it has a slim, flattering cut. It comes in black, white, apple green, or tropical blue (as shown). For only $55, this Salomon vest sold through REI.com is a steal.