Sporty gift ideas: Outdoor enthusiasts will love all the great new gear

The weather outside may be chilly, but that's no reason to stay indoors.

And whether you're shopping for yourself or looking for the perfect gift for an outdoor enthusiast, the Deseret News has compiled a list of some of our favorite new, unique or must-have items this holiday season.

I know what I'm asking Santa to leave me this year — Goode Randonee skis.

It has been years since I was on cross country skis, but last year I gave Goode's Randonee ski a test drive. Wow! If you don't know what Randonee skis are, they combine the climbing of cross country with the fun of downhill. It's an amazing way to see Utah's backcountry. Many ski resorts allow them inside and outside of resort boundaries.

"The Randonee ski is the lightest, yet most powerful ski made in its class," said Dave Goode, founder and president of Goode Ski Technologies. "It is almost 2 pounds lighter than its nearest competitor."

The skis are available for purchase online at www.goode.com/skisbc.htm#rr or at the factory, 2450 Wall Ave., Ogden. The phone number is 801-621-2300.

I'm not much of a map person, nor am I into 3-D. But the University of Utah Press' 3-D atlas of Salt Lake Valley's tri-canyon area is a must-have. It's not only educational, it's amazing.

"It is so clever on their part," said Slater Wayment, operations manager for REI in Salt Lake City. "Anybody that likes to hike … it's just a fun little thing."

The book features aerial photos and maps in 3-D. This one you have to see to believe.

Available at REI for $19.95.

A footbike will take cross-training to a whole new level. What is it? It's part bike and part scooter. It offers a tougher workout than cycling and is easier on the joints than running. It is the perfect complement to any training program because it's easy to use, affordable and an absolute blast.

Footbikes are available in different styles ranging from $158 to $415 from Kick-It Marketing at kickitmarketing@gmail.com or 801-815-8027.

The folks at Garmin outdid themselves with the new version of their GPS watch. The Garmin 310XT comes with or without a heart-rate monitor and is now completely waterproof. That means swimmers and triathletes can wear this invaluable piece of training equipment. The watch features a lot of bells and whistles in a smaller size. It is now about the size of a regular watch with the capabilities of a high-tech computer.