Winter Fitness Gear Guide

The weather has finally turned chilly, and the holidays are just around the corner. But that's no reason to give up the sports and activities you love. These product ideas will let you keep up your training right through the winter season, and they make great gift ideas as well (for yourself or for someone else!) By gearing up properly for the cold weather, or by finding products to replicate your warm weather activities in an indoor environment, you'll have fun and you won't give up the fitness you worked so hard for all summer.

If you're heading outside into the cold, your first priority is staying warm. A good moisture-wicking base layer is critical to keep you insulated and dry, especially when you're exercising, and the right outer layer will keep the wind and snow out. Fabrics and jacket designs have come a long way in the last few years, and the new generation of jackets will insulate without being bulky or weighing you down.

Footwear is another piece of gear that shouldn't be overlooked. Whether you're heading out for a snowy trail run or just a stroll around the neighborhood, the right shoe will help you stay quick on your feet in the slush. Look for a trail running shoe that will give you all the comfort and features of a regular runner, but with added traction and waterproof protection as well.

We all know the importance of maintaining aerobic fitness, and you can keep up with an outdoor running program even when the weather turns nasty. But some sports like cycling don't mix well with icy roads and bitter winds, so consider keeping up your riding program with an indoor training stand for your bike. Adjustable resistance levels and the comfort of your own saddle make these a high-performance and economic alternative to a stationary bike.

Indoor workouts are the perfect opportunity to step up your balance and proprioception training. Balance exercises are critical for winter sports like skiing, but they'll also keep you ready to head back outdoors when spring rolls around. You'll find a huge variety of wobble boards and other balance training products, and some of them are even specific to particular sports like surfing or skating.

Whether working out indoors or outdoors, many people love to bring their music with them; MP3 players like the iPod have never been more popular. And there are great accessories to go with them: waterproof cases and headphones to use while swimming laps in the pool, insulated earwarmers with built-in headphones, and running gloves with special fingertip inserts to let you control your music player are all great ways to stay pumped up with your music during your winter workouts.

With a little creativity and the proper equipment, you can keep up your fitness and training right through the winter months. And when spring rolls around you'll be in peak condition to enjoy the return of the warm weather, and all the activities that come with it.