Fit Gift Guide

Come Christmas morning, the first thing we open at my house is our stockings. I love to fill them with fitness goodies. Here are my top ten healthy stocking stuffers.

Clockwise starting from the top left:

• Grease Monkey Wipes (6 for $5.99) — Wipe that grease from your bicycle chain off your calf in a jiffy with these all natural, heavy duty cleaning wipes.
• Running Mittens ($28) — Asics makes more than just great sneakers, the running giant makes great mittens to keep your hands toasty on a run. But not too toasty; the top folds back so sweaty hands can breathe if necessary.
• Hydra-Vision goggles by BlueSeventy ($22) — Lightweight, comfy goggles will make any swimmer or triathlete jump for joy this holiday season.
• Word Lock — For your forgetful friend, a lock that uses words rather than numbers to open is a great tool for the gym going set.
• Teko Boarding Socks — Help the snow boarders in your life pad their shins and keep their toes warm with Teko's merino wool socks designed to help all riders.
• Lip Balm with SPF — Winter sun, especially on the slopes, can dry and burn your lips. Keep a kisser happy with SPF 30 lip balm from Hawaiian Island Creations that moisturizes while it protects.
• Road ID — In case of an emergency, the Road ID can speak for your runner, hiker, or cyclist in case they can't.
• Hammer Gel — Perfectly sized for stuffing into your endurance athlete's stocking, Hammer Gels come in a wide variety of flavors, taste good, and seem a bit more natural than other gels out there.
• Ibex Indie Arm Warmers — Running in transitional weather is much easier with a pair of wicking merino wool arm warmers. We especially like the thumbholes!
• Luna Bars — Skip the candy canes and replace them with festively flavored energy bars. The chocolate peppermint flavor of Luna Bar just screams holiday season.

Giving the gift of fitness is definitely a gift that keeps on giving. If someone on your holiday gift list works out at home, here are some pieces of equipment to help them burn it up in the comfort of their own home.

Clockwise from top left: Perfect for challenging both the core and the sense of balance, the BOSU ($100) takes any exercise up a notch. The Jungle Gym XT ($100) brings suspension workouts into the home — the system works with a door or a pull-up bar. Bring a little mind-body exercise into your fitness freak's home gym with a Pilates Spring Board ($445); it's a wall unit version of the classic Cadillac. If you feel like giving big, it's hard to go wrong with an elliptical by Precor ($3,400) — a joint-friendly cardio machine. A set of adustable dumbbells ($143) means more options that take up less space; perfect for strength training in a small space.

Help your road warrior ride in style with these holiday gifts. From lights to maintenance, all cyclists — men and women alike — will want this gear.

Clockwise from the top left: Help the cyclists in your life become their own mechanics with the new Complete Guide to Bicycle Maintenance and Repair ($32) from Rodale — it even includes links to updated web tutorials. Add some twinkling festive cheer to any bike with Knog Frog lights ($7); they attach almost anywhere on a bike increasing visibility. For the serious Winter rider Barrier Lobster Gloves by Pearl Izumi ($70) are a must for keeping fingers toasty warm on the coldest rides. A classic wool jersey is a staple of cycling fashion and the JJ's LS wool jersey by Luna ($130) is a blend of wool, silk, and lycra — be prepared for your cyclist to wear it both on and off the bike. New wheels upgrade any road bike and this aluminum wheelset by Shimano ($300) is lightweight and with aerodynamic spokes. A Multitool by Lezyne ($29) will keep your biker prepared for many mishaps that can occur on the road; it comes with Allen wrenches, Phillips and flat head screw drivers, tire levers, and a bottle opener! Cold rides require full leg coverage, and we have our eyes on Pearl Izumi's tights with chamois ($120), which offer full coverage, wind barrier protection, and plush padding.