Holiday Gift Guide: Gifts for Sports Lovers

If you have an athlete in your crowd, then you know how much gear can go along with any individual sport. When Christmas shopping for an avid sports participant, you can take two routes: give gear for a sport they already participate in or help them get started in something entirely new. Either way, a themed gift can make shopping easier for you and more useful for them.

For the skier or snowboarder: Anyone who spends time on the mountain probably has some version of the basics; otherwise, they wouldn't last long in the wind and snow. If someone is particularly wedded to a specific brand, then you have an easy jumping off place for gifts. If not, look at what they have and choose something in a similar style, but with more features, or buy them the newest version of a product they already love. It's hard to go wrong with a nice pair of gloves, goggles and some anti-fog lens cloths, a new beanie or a pair of poles.

For the snowshoer: Snowshoeing seems like an easy sport to get into, but like any sport that requires you to be out in the elements, better gear will help you have a better experience. The key to successful snowshoeing is layers. You'll be outside, but you'll be working up a sweat, so wicking layers that you can add and remove as needed are essential. It's also easy to get dehydrated when you can't tell you're sweating, so a hydration pack is a good idea.

For the ice fisherman: Ice fishermen have the dubious distinction of participating in a sport that requires a lot of sitting still. The lack of exertion makes warm clothes, a thermos and insulated boots absolutely essential for an enjoyable day on the ice.

For anyone who enjoys the outdoors: For aspiring athletes, or those who also enjoy indoor activities, look for a winter-themed piece of jewelry, such as this snowflake necklace. A shoe dryer will provide warm, dry shoes no matter what the weather and snowflake slippers are perfect for anyone too small to fully participate in winter sports.

What's your favorite winter sport? And what piece of equipment would make it even better?

Posted by Jessica Gezon