Fitness-based Christmas gifts have never looked so good
FITNESS & DIET EXPERT
GONE ARE the days where presents for your fitness-loving friends meant a toss-up between a pedometer and the latest fitness DVD. Now there are gifts galore for the active, gadget-happy exec. Here are this year’s pick of the bunch.
1 Perfect for the fitness fanatic who also happens to be fan of minimalism, the elegant Ciclotte exercise bike is designed to reproduce the dynamics and performance of road cycling. The Ciclotte bike is the first to use an epicycloid system – the combination of a concentrated magnetic field, a fast-rotating copper ring and six magnets that work together to produce maximum resistance levels for the keen indoor cyclist. With prices starting in excess of £8,000, it is definitely worth giving it a test drive before adding it to your shopping basket. £8,000 at www.ciclotte.com
2 A healthy stress busting alternative to the obligatory Thursday night Stella session, the punch bag is ideal for the regularly exasperated exercising exec. Lonsdale’s Authentic Leather Punch Bags not only look the part (genuine cow hide leather construction), their super dense shock absorbing foam lining means outstanding durability so, should we head into that triple dipper, they’ll survive a thrashing. From £199.99 at www.lonsdale.com
3 For the time-poor exercise fanatic who wants a killer workout using just a few straps and a kitchen door, the TRX Force Kit: Tactical is the latest bit of must-have suspension kit. Dubbed “the ultimate in military training”, this 12-week progressive force-inspired programme provides a workout that develops functional strength by engaging muscle chains you use every day. £239.94 at www.trx-fitness.com
4 Sleek, wireless tracker FitBit One gives you a 24/7 picture of your fitness: by day it tracks steps, distance (including stairs climbed) and calories burned, but the best bit? By night it measures your sleep cycle. The tracker follows body movement during sleep, providing the tracker with measurements of your sleep quality. All that detectable tossing and turning won’t disturb your partner. Even its silent alarm makes sure that it wakes you and not your beloved. £79.99 at www.fitbit.com
5 Developed by Jaguar and Team Sky, the Jaguar XF Sportbrake is the brand’s first estate and offers stowage space of 6’8” by 3’7” inches. Golf clubs can be stored sideways, while a top speed of 150mph will come in handy should you find yourself cutting it a bit fine for that 12pm tee-off. With bike carriers, ski, snowboard and watersports holders galore, this really is the perfect luxury item for the active lifestyle lover. From £31,940 at www.jaguar.com
6 Not your average adjustable dumbbell set, the Technogym Wellness Rack is that rare flower: an elegant looking weights system. With loadable handlebars and discs, all you need for a top-to-toe home strength training routine is housed in one sleek transparent case – handy should you find it becomes a dust-gatherer. £602 at www.technogym.com
7 If you’re after a gift that calms rather than revs, you could do a lot worse than the TenPilates Gift Box. This year’s box consists of a gift card (which can be used for either Ten’s Dynamic Pilates classes or their personal training), their popular non-skid Pilates socks, and a selection of REN toiletries. £57 at www.tenpilates.com