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Gifts for Active Women

By , About.com Guide

Updated November 17, 2011

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If there is an active woman in your life, you probably want to find the perfect gift for her. No matter what she enjoys, you'll find great ideas for making her workouts more comfortable while helping her stay healthy and fit.

1. Heated Glove Liners

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Even during warm weather, my hands are always cold and I've noticed plenty of other women have the same problem. If you know a cold-handed woman who would probably get outside more if she could stay warm, these heated glove liners are a great gift choice.  It's not the sexiest gift in the world, but there's a reason it's at the top of my gift list for women.

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2. Fleece Jacket

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One of the most important pieces in any woman's fitness wardrobe is a warm jacket to wear to the gym during cold weather or to workout outside.  Fleece is a nice choice - Soft, warm, flattering and breathable.  I love the Patagonia jacket because it's warm, but not as bulky as other fleece jackets I've tried and it nips in at the waist for a flattering fit.

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3. Athleta Yoga Pants

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Yoga pants have become so popular, most women wear them all the time - For yoga, weight training, outdoor workouts and even grocery shopping after a workout.  Athleta makes some of the highest quality, flattering yoga pants out there, the perfect gift choice for the active woman in your life. 

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4. Burt's Bees Hand Salve

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Dry skin is often a problem in winter, especially for women who exercise outdoors. The dry, cold air can really zap moisture from her skin, leaving her chapped and itchy. Burt's Bees Hand Salve is one of the better choices for protecting the skin from the elements and one of my all-time favorites. She'll really appreciate how it soothes and heals both before and after a cold winter walk.
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5. Ponytail Fleece Headband

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If she's an outdoorsy kind of woman but isn't crazy about having hat-hair, she might appreciate this fleece headband. I like this headband because it's snug, warm and, best of all, it has a little hole in back for the ponytail. 

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6. Yoga Toe Socks

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Yoga toe socks are a great idea if you're looking for a cute stocking stuffer and your lady is into yoga.  It may seem a little odd, but these socks are actually perfect for yoga classes to keep the feet warm and protected.  There's a five-toe construction, giving the toes freedom of movement, and there are grippers on the bottom to keep her from sliding during different poses.  She could also take these out of town for hotel yoga, if she's so inclined.  

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7. Apple Nike + iPod Sports Kit

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This great sports kit is one of the better ideas I've seen and perfect for the new (or veteran) runner in your life. It includes a sensor that the runner puts on her shoe and it also includes a receiver she plugs into her iPod Nano. The sensor sends information to the Nano about pace, speed, distance, calories burned and more. This one doesn't include the Nano, but just the sensor and the receiver, so she'll need on of her own. They do sell kits that include the Nano. This is the perfect gift for the woman who loves to walk or run, listen to music and track her workouts.
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8. Armband Heart Rate Monitor

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Heart rate monitors have come a long way, with watches that can do everything from measure your pulse to mapping out your exact location, how long you've been working out and how far you've gone. What we haven't seen is much of a change in their overall make up...until now. Usually you have to wear a chest strap with a watch, but this armband allows you to monitor your heart rate without needing a chest strap at all. Like regular HRMs, you can track workout time, calories burned, time spent in your target heart rate zone and more. This makes a great stocking stuffer for the active woman.

9. Spa Wish Gift Certificates

I know that giving massages or other spa treatments seems a little obvious these days (or maybe lazy?). But I don't care how many times someone gives me a gift certificate for a massage -- I never get tired of it. Chances are, the woman in your life barely slows down and doesn't take much time to pamper herself. If that's the case, SpaFinder allows you to give gift certificates for a massage, spa day, facial and other luxurious treatments.

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