Ironman Christmas Toys ... Part 4

Getting desperate for some present ideas now that we're into the holiday home stretch? Our final list of Holiday gifts has everything from stocking stuffers to bike upgrades ... not to mention a neat gift for training parents, and the ultimate vacation, too!

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Looking for a last minute stocking stuffer? Here’s a tip from the master of the last-minute Christmas shop … and the best thing? A lot of these items are a click away at the Ironman store.

 

A hat. It sounds so simple, I know, but there is a bit more to it … to truly keep your Ironman’s head happy, you need to check out the official Ironman Headwear from Headsweats (www.headsweats.com). Made of high performance fabrics, these 100% washable hats and bandanas utilize the DuPont CoolMax Comfort System to keep sweat off your face and out of your eyes.

 

The result? The highest functioning headwear you can get for the Ironman enthusiast in your house. Last year I gave my team members Headsweats winter running hats for Christmas, and I was one very popular coach!

 

Your Ironman has an abundance of hats in the house? How about Socks? Not just any socks, mind you. If you want to be a winner with the Ironman in your life, you will find a pair of Ironman Ultimax Socks by Wigwam (www.wigwam.com ). Any sock that comes with a two-year performance guarantee has to be tough enough for an Ironman, right?

 

The “Running Mini Crew” socks that Santa Ironman shipped to me to try out have been great. The Ironman socks come in a variety of styles including “Triathlete Ultra-Lite”, “Running Mini Crew” and “Running Low Cut” – regardless of the style, though, your Ironman will love them because they are comfortable, feature a great “moisture control system” and have enough endurance to bear the Ironman name.

 

Now, if there’s an Ironman in your house, when you’re not hearing about sore feet from the last long run (I know, we just fixed that with our stocking stuffer!), you’re hearing about sore hands from all the long rides.

 

If you want to avoid complaints about hand numbness and fatigue, you’ll want to add a pair of Spenco Ironman Elite Cycling Gloves (www.ironmancycling.com) to your Ironman’s stocking this Christmas.

 

The gloves feature an anatomical design that forms to your hand and around the handle bars. The Elite has five gel pads in the palm, and features a great combination of leather, Lycra Spandex and Terry Cloth that ensures great comfort and fit. What truly makes these gloves unique is the “Shock-Tek technology,” which is an exclusive, patented channel in the palm padding that protects the median nerve.

 

That’s all a complicated way of saying these gloves are super comfortable, while providing excellent performance.

 

Speaking of biking, the new Look KeO Ironman Pedal (www.lookcyclesusa.com) is really hot! The box might not fit into a stocking, but your Ironman will love you if you left a pair under the tree!

 

These handmade carbon fiber pedals weigh just 230 grams, and have lots of adjustments to ensure that your Ironman will be able to pedal properly and efficiently. There’s lots of cornering clearance, which is a nice safety option, too.

 

I’ve been reviewing a pair for a couple of weeks now, and will be posting a more complete story on the site in the new year. A quick preview: they’re really nice!

 

Your Ironman already has some pedals? How about upgrading their ride with one of the many products from Profile? Profile has a whole list of great products (the Tri-Stryke Ti saddle is very cool!), but since you’re trying to outfit the Ironman in your life, you can’t go wrong with two of Profile’s official Ironman products: the Profile Carbon Stryke aero bar and the ACD fork (www.profile-design.com ).

 

The Carbon Stryke is a great upgrade for any triathlete who has started out with a more basic aero bar but is now ready for a high tech upgrade. Made of carbon fiber with forged aluminum brackets, this is possibly the most adjustable aero bar on the market (helping to ensure comfort!), not to mention one of the lightest!

 

The ACD fork is a great performance upgrade, too. It has a bladed aerodynamic design, and other than the forged aluminum drop outs, is made completely of carbon fiber.

 

Here’s a present for any new Ironman parents you know: a B.O.B Ironman Stroller (www.bobgear.com).

 

These strollers are specifically designed for the Ironman parent who is serious about their running training, but don’t want to leave junior behind. The strollers are lightweight, have smooth treaded tires for lower rolling resistance, feature quick release wheels and an easy-folding design for improved portability. It’s too bad my kids have all grown out of the stroller stage – the B.O.B. Ironman Stroller comes in “high visibility Ironman yellow,” which, besides being my favorite color, is also very visible!

 

OK, so if none of these options seems to fit, and you’re truly desperate, I have the ultimate Christmas present for you, and it’s as easy as a “left-click” away:

 

A trip to Hawaii!

 

The Hawaii Tourism Authority has a great website (www.gohawaii.com) which will give you all the info you’ll need to set up the ultimate Hawaii vacation for your family.

 

Hey, bringing my family to the Ford Ironman World Championship this year got even me out of the “dog house” for a few days … never doubt the power of Hawaii when it comes to gift giving!