Show that you support your dad in his active lifestyle with gifts that will help him keep moving. If your father is like mine, he loves gadgets that will help him track his walking workouts and keep him on course. Secretly, he also wants to look good and be comfortable when out walking. For birthday, Father's Day, Christmas or just because he's your dad, make his step lighter with these gifts.
1. Omron HJ-112 Pedometer
Wendy Bumgardner © 2007
This advanced design lets you wear it on your belt or carry it in your pocket, clip it anywhere it is perpendicular to the ground. The Omron HJ-112 counts steps, calculated distance and calories burned. It also tracks aerobic steps separately when walking or jogging more than 60 steps per minute or more than 10 minutes continuously. The Omron HJ-112 has a 7-day memory, a feature I prize greatly. Top rated for accuracy by a consumer magazine.
2. Timex Ironman Race Trainer Heart Rate Monitor
© Pricegrabber
A heart rate monitor is a great gadget for the walking dad. This one acts as a sports watch with countdown timer, stopwatch, alarm, time of day and calendar. As a heart rate monitor, he can set a target heart zone and be alerted when he is out of zone. Buy the kit version and he'll be able to upload and track all of his workout data, diet, and receive online coaching.
3. Weather Forecaster with ExactSet Clock
Is it walking weather? My dad rated this "the best present I ever got." This gizmo from Oregon Scientific displays the temperature indoors and outdoors from up to 3 remote sensors and communicates with them cable-free. The clock resets itself constantly from satellite transmissions so you always have the right time. It predicts the weather for the next few hours based on barometric pressure.
4. Kelty Oriole Lumbar Pack
Courtesy of Pricegrabber
A lumbar pack for the dad who wants to carry a few things along on his walk. This well-designed lumbar pack is weather resistant. Two bottle holders. It has a large central storage compartment for carrying all of your essentials.
5. Garmin eTrex Handheld GPS
Since men won't ask for directions, a handheld GPS unit will tell them where they are according to 12 satellites. This waterproof, lightweight unit is a good entry-level GPS for walkers and hikers. It is user-friendly with only 5 buttons.6. Smartwool Light Hiker Socks
Smartwool - Use by permission
Smartwool socks are machine-washable and machine-dryable, won't shrink, and are practically itch-free. These light hikers are designed for wearing with hiking shoes or boots. They provide superior natural moisture control and temperature control. What could be a better stocking-stuffer than socks?
7. "BoomerWalk"
© Wendy Bumgardner 2009
Does your dad still want to beat the competition, win medals, and set personal bests? Brent Bohlen is on a mission - to get the baby boom generation into racewalking for fitness, fun and competition. As the 75 million baby boomers reach age 50-65, they often must give up running and jogging. But racewalking, he says, results in fewer injuries and can be done as you age.
8. Thomas Brothers Street Maps
If your dad is a map buff like mine is, he'll want the latest annual update of street maps for his city. Thomas Brothers map books are great for planning walking routes or figuring out how to get to local parks and walking events. I never leave home without one.
