Popular and fit-ting holiday gifts

This is the very first time since I started a column in 1997 for me to write about sports and fitness gifts. I thought of writing one because like a lot of people, I myself am a late shopper this year. I asked the Claudio family of the Toby’s chain, Sports Resources Inc (SRI), and Runnr to share with us the top sports and fitness-related purchases this season that we can perhaps consider to give to others or even ourselves.

The most popular equipment in a gym is the treadmill because of its ease of use … everybody can walk! Hence, I was not surprised to know that many people are purchasing treadmills this season. We actually have a lot of choices such as the manual ones (when budget is an issue) or the motorized ones.

For the compact and non-motorized, selling fast is the La-Fit Compact Walker which is foldable and chic in four colors (pink, blue, orange, and gray) plus a cinch at P6,900. There is also the Jetstream manual treadmill which retails at P11,500 and comes in heavy-duty silver frame with foam cushions for sit-ups and an easy folding twister. 

Jetstream Manual Treadmill

Motorized treadmills for the home are affordable at P29,500 (cheaper than your I-Phone or Blackberry) as in the case of Proteus MTM 4500. Space saving even for tight condominiums, this motorized walker is foldable. It has a 41-inch stride and runs on a 1HP motor. There are also two elevation levels that can be easily adjusted manually.

If you are looking for almost the same feel and stride as the commercial treadmills in the big gyms, you might want to invest (so this is perhaps a gift to a spouse or to one’s self) in the Pacemaster Platinum Pro, P186,590, which made it to the top four treadmills according to the February 2009 issue of Runner’s World or the foldable Pacemaster Gold, P199,565, which is the best foldable tread, according to Treadmill Doctors.Com. For those who like the lower impact of elliptical machines, there is also the Pacemaster Silver XT at P179,900. Pacemaster is a US company that has been manufacturing fitness equipment for 40 years now.

To compare, a good commercial treadmill is at least half a million pesos.

Since both racquet sports are here to stay, a new racquet is always a welcome gift either to a beginner or a regular player. Prince tennis and badminton racquets are popular, especially the new Prince EXO3

Prince EXO3’s technology promotes consistency even while staying aggressive at play. The Energy Bridge suspends the string bed, allowing the strings to move more freely, unlike traditionally constructed racquets, which restrict them. The suspended string bed results in less frame vibration and more power. The Energy Channel, a sculpted groove within the frame that enhances the dynamic benefits of the Energy Bridge, provides added stability, boosts ball control, and increases spin.

Another popular choice is the RSL Diamond X3 Badminton racquet at P5,995.

With a new technology dubbed Extender, it extends the racquet sideways but provides more channels, resulting in a more powerful and controlled play. It also has a stronger frame with Pulse Technology and Poly-Matrix Carbon for better power transfer.

Won’t it be cool to watch sparks fly as breeze through on a scooter? Well, the Razor Spark Scooter at P3,995.75 might be the best gift for children eight years old and above. Weight limit is 143 pounds. Made of aircraft-grade aluminum tube and deck, the scooter is a mere five pounds. It is easy to fold and carry around.

Or maybe you would rather see your kids cruising the neighborhood (just make sure it is safe from speeding cars) or the park grounds in a Hot Wheels long board skateboard at P3,645. The 33-inch board is made with nine ply maple cores that keep it rigid, thin, light, and strong for those crazy tricks. Another option is the black-and-white Labeda Luke Harris skateboard at P2,699. It is two inches shorter at 31 and made of seven ply Canadian maple blends.

You may also opt for Web Stingers Girl’s Rollerblades, P2,985, that come in a white-pink or black-red combination. In wide range of sizes (up to 9 for large), the rollerblades have a speed lacing system with locking control, form fit comfort liner and top cam lever buckle to assure a more secure fit.

Why settle for one when you can give three? With the Striker 3-in-1 Superball, you can play whatever ball game the kids fancy. The package has all the three balls most kids would love to play — basketball, football and soccer. Affordably priced at P 795.

Or if they already have a ball, a great choice is a Champion 28” Junior Basketball Court at P3,995. The vinyl base can be filled with either water or sand and comes with an all weather red,white and blue net.

Trampoline is also a fun and affordable gift. You can jump on it or run in place, either outdoors or indoors (I like mine in front of the TV). They come in different sizes. Or bounce with the Adidas TS Bounce Commander 3 NBA Men’s Basketball Shoes (P6,295). Bounce technology provides optimized energy return and step-in comfort. Adiprene in the forefront and Torsion System bar provide midfoot arch protection.

Boxing is also here to stay, thanks to Manny Pacquiao. You might also want to consider something cute like the Titans Women’s Pro Style Boxing Gloves, P1,695, in pretty pink. Though girly, it is masculine enough to deliver the punches. Made from genuine leather, these high-performance gloves are designed specifically for women.

There are also a lot of small home fitness equipment that are easy on the budget. A popular choice for men is the Iron Gym Power Workout Bar at P895. The total upper body workout bar features a heavy-duty steel construction and is designed to fit all standard door frames (from 24 to 32-inch wide). Easy to assemble, this versatile bar can be used for sit-ups, pull-ups, push-ups and dips.

Body Slender

There is also the balance-challenging Body Slender (P2,050) which is a good gift for women. It provides a step and balance workout that is good for the core. Two other gifts worthy of consideration for the core, are Total Core Fitness (P1,695) and Ab Rocket (P 2,995). 

Ab Rocket

The Ab Rocket comes with an instructional DVD with two five-minute Ab workouts. It comfortably supports your head and neck while the rolling cushion action gives a gentle massage while you workout your lower, upper and middle abs.

Total Core Fitness

Total Core Fitness is an abdominal exerciser that gives you a full, 360-degree, total-core workout in one simple and continuous motion, all from a comfortable seated position. You’ll work the front of your core including upper abs, lower abs, and side oblique plus lower back muscles and back of your core, all at the same time. 

While the latest gadgets are normally on top of our list as gift options, more and more are turning to physically challenging and fitness- enhancing gifts. There are a lot of choices really. From a simple yoga mat, fitness ball or a pedometer that you can clip on yourself to count your steps to high-tech gadgets such as Polar heart rate monitors.

Technology is also a big part of sport shoe choices. There was the MBT but lately Skechers came up with Shape Ups and Reebok with Easy Tone. They all use a slightly arced sole to promote balance, posture and tightening of the core in every step.

November and December used to be very bleak months for the gym industry but surprisingly not anymore. People are already considering gym memberships as fitting gifts, if not for others at least for themselves.

Let’s spread a new holiday cheer. Let us celebrate the gift of life by encouraging a healthy lifestyle of sufficient quality rest, balanced and nutritious meals, and regular exercise.

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Post me a note at mylene@goldsgym.com.ph or mylenedayrit@gmail.com.