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2013 Holiday Gift Guide for Triathletes
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From training tools to race-day essentials, here are some great holiday gift ideas for the gear-obsessed triathlete in your life.
XTERRA Lava Pants
$150
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Consider it half of a wetsuit. Lava Pants are an innovative approach to swimming, giving triathletes race-level buoyancy without the restrictions to your arm's range of motion that you get with a full wetsuit. Lava Pants are faster to take on and off, giving you an intriguing alternative in wetsuit-legal races.
Speedfil Z4 Bottle Cage
$39.95
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This is the first cage optimized to go between the aerobars—perfect for triathletes. It's easy to install, too, needing just four zipties to attach it to the aerobar extensions. In addition, an add-on to this cage is a clip-on that allows your Garmin to go on top of the bottle.
Zoot Recovery 2.0 CRx Socks
$65
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Minimize your recovery time by slipping on a pair of the industry leader in compression socks. These do the job of forcing lactic acid out of the muscles, allowing you to get past a hard workout or race and keep your training on track.
Event Registration
Ironman 70.3 Kansas, $250
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Race entries are a great gift that gives an athlete something to work for—and then something to remember forever. We suggest Ironman 70.3 Kansas in Lawrence, a charming college town in America's heartland.
MIO Alpha Heart Rate Monitor Watch
$199
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This is the first of its kind in the heart-rate monitor industry—a strapless, continuous monitor that's as accurate as a chest strap at performance speeds. In addition to its heart-rate technology, the watch is Bluetooth-enabled to sync with a variety of devices and apps, and also offers a timer, a clock and data review.
Huma Chia Energy Gel
$11.25 for a 5-pack
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These gels consist of only seven ingredients, all of them natural. That includes ground chia seeds, which has fibers that ensure a steady energy release and no crashes. The real ingredients ensure a friendly relationship with your stomach. Also, these are delicious—the apple and cinnamon gel tastes like apple pie.
Headsweats Ironman Supervisor
$24
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Headsweats has long been a player in the running hat industry, but they've recently teamed with Ironman for triathlon-branded headwear. The Supervisor is a favorite among triathletes for its light weight, absorbing sweat band, comfortable fit and overall durability. Machine washable, too!
AquaSphere Swim Gloves
$14.95
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These gloves have webbing between the fingers to increase resistance in the water and, as a result, build strength. Paddles are another good tool, but these gloves have a more comfortable fit while having the same benefits. They are made of neoprene with a Velcro strap at the wrist that allows for a tight fit.
TYR Elite Transition Backpack
$104.95
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At 30"x15"x15" and with a metal frame, this bag is big and sturdy enough to hold about anything—bike helmet, wetsuit, shoes, etc. In addition, the bag opens like a tool box so you minimize your digging as the race clock ticks. Having an organized bag can shave seconds off your time, and this one does the trick.
Specialized S-Works Evade Bike Helmet
$250
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Great for long-course racers, this helmet has all the aerodynamic advantages a triathlete needs, but also an exceptional ventilation system that keeps you cool during long rides—say, 112 miles through a lava field. Compared to a standard road lid, this helmet saves 46 seconds over 40K of riding.
Faster: Demystifying the Science of Triathlon Speed
$14.75
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Triathletes are obsessed with getting faster, and Jim Gourley—literally a rocket scientist but also an avid triathlete—explores the science behind speed in this book. He covers wetsuit choices, drafting swimmers, bike components, the weight of running shoes and more. It's a fascinating look at triathlon that will indeed make you faster.
SportCount Lap Counter and Timer
$34.95
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The LCT slips right over your finger and allows you to count laps by pushing a button with your thumb, so you can continue swimming laps uninterrupted. The counter keeps track of total time and time per lap as well as average lap time, splits, fastest and slowest laps and more. It's a great little tool that fits right on your finger for pool workouts.
Zoot Race Day Belt With Nutrition Loops
$11
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Race belts are designed to hold your race bib, but this one takes it another step with nifty loops that will hold your nutrition in a handy spot. It gives you an edge, and that's always welcome in a big race.
AquaSphere K180 Goggles
$24.95
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These are smaller goggles that fit within the eye socket, yet uses 180-degree technology with rounded lenses to give you a great field of vision and minimal water resistance. The pair comes with three different nose bridges so you're assured a comfortable fit through the entire swim leg.
Swimbuds
$30
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These 100 percent waterproof headphones are built for swimming. The short cord prevents tangling in inconvenient spots, and each headphone comes with three sizes of ear buds to make sure you get the best fit. Works well with the waterproof iPod Shuffle that Underwater Audio also makes.
Cat Crap Anti-Fog
$6.99
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Don't let the name fool you—this product works great at preventing your goggles from fogging up at the worst possible time. Apply a thin layer on the inside of your goggles, buff it out and your goggles won't hinder your vision during your swim. A popular product with scuba divers, but it works for triathletes, too.
Shop for More Gear
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Check out Active GearUp for discounts on high-performance gear from your favorite brands.