Gifts for Active Men

1. The North Face Glacier Delta Fleece Pullover

You'll notice in my gift guides that I have a fondness for North Face. One reason is that, when it comes to outdoor clothing, nobody does it better. Their clothes are a little more expensive, but they last for years and this fleece pullover is no exception. This great-looking top is perfect for chilly morning runs. It's lightweight and breathable, but the outer fabric is also tough as well as wind/water resistant. My husband bought a pullover like this last year and he's still wearing it this season. This one works well with the jacket listed below for very cold days.

2. The North Face Apex Bionic Jacket - Men's

This is one of the best jackets in the world. Okay, that's a little dramatic, but my husband has this jacket and he loves it because it provides protection without being bulky. It may be a little heavy for running (unless it's very cold out), but it might be a good choice for walks, hikes or even as a middle layer while skiing. This one is perfect for outdoor activities because it's thin, but has this great fleece layer inside to keep you warm. The outer material is both strong and stretchy, so it moves with you even as it wicks sweat and protects from the wind. At about $90, this one is a little pricey, but North Face is known for quality products and this will last a good long time.

3. Pamir Windstopper Gloves

Whenever it snows, I try to make my husband shovel all the snow off our driveway (hey, I'm from Tennessee -- I hate snow!). To keep his hands warm, he got a pair of these windstopper gloves to deal with the 10-below temperatures. They really are the best gloves we've found for exercising or working out in very cold weather. They're filled with warm fleece and the elastic wrist band keeps out the cold. If he needs to update his cold weather essentials, this is a great stocking stuffer.

4. Century Boxing and Training Bag

If the man in your life enjoys boxing, kickboxing or martial arts, he might enjoy having a training bag. This one is nice because it's a standing bag and you can fill the bottom with water or sand to up to 250 lbs to keep the base stable. If he's a strong guy, he might find that this bag moves if he kicks it or punches it hard enough for it to fall over (what some people describe as 'walking'). I have a client who uses this bag and likes that aspect of it, but some people may not like the movement. This is a great choice if you're on a budget and want something for the average user.

5. Apple Nike + iPod Sports Kit

This great sports kit is for the runner in your life. The kit comes with a sensor that the runner puts on his shoe and a receiver that plugs into a iPod Nano. The sensor sends information to the Nano about pace, speed, distance, calories burned and more. He'll need a Nano for this to work, but you may also find kits that include a Nano if he doesn't have one. This is a great gift for the man who loves to run, listen to music and track his workouts.

6. Outdoor Adventure Gift Card

If you're man is hard to buy for, consider something a little unusual. This gift card will give him a pass to an adventure such as bicycling, climbing or even bungee jumping. The adventures offered are located all around the country and you'll want to scroll through all the choices to find the right fit for you (and you're in charge of all the travel arrangements). The regular gift set costs $89 for the regular version which comes with the adventure pass and a guidebook, while the deluxe set ($129) includes that plus a camera and notebook. You can also get two passes if you're adventurous too.

7. The New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding

If you know someone who enjoys lifting weights or who wants to build bigger muscles, who better to give him some advice than Mr. Olympia himself--Arnold Schwarzenegger? This book is geared towards serious bodybuilders, but regular exercisers will also find helpful tips on nutrition, weight training exercises, equipment and more. This book really digs deep into the world of bodybuilding and goes through the history as well as the basics of competing, so if he's into it (or wants to be), this might be a great addition to his exercise library.

8. Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS

I haven't tried this type of heart rate monitor yet, but it's gotten excellent reviews and is perfect for the gadget-head in your family. This amazing heart rate monitor/GPS device provides continuous information about heart rate, speed, pace, distance and calories burned. The GPS tells you exactly how fast you're going and where you are (which is great if he loves going out on the trails or getting lost on the city streets) and he can even download workout information with the included software. This is a great idea for athletes, marathoners or runners who love tracking their progress. The drawbacks may be the price (about $200-$300) and the big, boxy wrist unit that may be a little awkward.

9. Polar Fusion SoundFlips Headphones with Ear Warmers

This is the kind of product that makes me think - why didn't I think of that? My next thought? I want that! If you know someone who likes exercising outside while listening to music, this is a great gift idea. These headphones wrap around the back of the head and are made of "insulating, high performance fabrics that balance body temperature." They even have a wind chill calculator on their website, if you're feeling slightly mathematic. Some versions have a very cool feature - Sound Doors that flip open to help you hear other sounds like cars, cyclists or wild animals. And you can't beat the price at $20 a pair.

10. Twilight Blue Reflective Vest

It gets dark early in the winter months and it's often dark in the morning when he goes out for a quick run. If he doesn't have any reflective gear, consider getting him this reflective vest to keep him safe from cars or other cyclists and runners. It's soft, lightweight and visible for several hundred feet so you won't have to worry about him when he heads out the door.