There is no end of choice for those looking to give a gift that promotes good health this year. Fiona Tyrrellreports
IT'S BACK to basics when it comes to adventure sports, according to Robbie Lawlor from Great Outdoors, where a big growth in Irish-based low-cost sports has been noticed in the past few months.
The old staples of hillwalking and surfing, relatively low-cost sports, are proving to be the most popular, he says. Surfing in particular is proving to be a big hit for women. When it comes to outdoor pursuits in Ireland, it's all about keeping warm, and there is a great range of gift ideas to suit all pockets when buying for outdoor enthusiasts.
Base layers (thermals) are always a popular gift for sporty types. A big seller is Icebreaker's merino wool range of base layer tops and pants priced from €60.
Sealskinz is a relatively new brand making a range of socks which are totally waterproof - ideal for golfers, cyclists, hikers and joggers. Prices start at €28.
For loved ones planning on taking to the surf next year, gifts to maximise warmth in our cold waters will always be welcome. Split-toe booties are priced from €50, hoods from €29 and, surely a winner for any Irish surfer, C-Skin's gloves, complete with a handy soft panel on the thumb for nose wiping, are priced at €40.
Finally, The Storm Rider guide to the Atlantic Island (€30) is a great book for hunting down the perfect wave in Ireland, Britain and the Canary Islands. If you want to splash out a bit more, full-body wet suits start at €180. The 5mm wet suits are the only way to go for Irish waters. Rip curl do suits with a high lycra content for maximum flexibility. Priced from €265.
Healthy pampering:Pampering gifts are always a winner at Christmas and there is no shortage of all-natural options to choose from. Seaweed products have a reputation for being a bit mucky, but Strandhill-based cosmetics company Voya has produced a range of organic seaweed products with the right balance of wholesome content and pamper priorities. Its Lazy Days seaweed bath is a box of dried seaweed to recreate the sap seaweed bath experience at home. For the shower there is Squeaky Clean body wash. Both are priced at €16 (www.voya.ie).
German firm Lavera does a range of all-natural products including a decent selection for men. Prices range from €6 for shaving cream to €46 for a gift set of six manly products.
A small Galway-based firm called White Witch makes great natural, ethical and very affordable beauty products and perfumes with great biodegradable packaging. The range includes a facial steam sachet with rose petals for €2.20 and the magical Bridget's Balm for use on everything from nappy rash to joint inflammation, which costs €6. (www.whitewitch.ie).
The Burren Perfumery claims to be the Republic's oldest working perfumery and the mothership of a host of delicious smelling and all-natural perfumes. The company has been called the Jo Malone of Ireland but the prices are nowhere near as expensive. Handmade creams are priced from €8.50 and candles are from €9.50. Check out Autumn Harvest - a perfume blended to invoke the scents one might encounter on a walk in the autumn woods - €35 for 100ml (www.burrenperfumery.com).
Christmas food:Let's face it, food is a big feature at Christmas, but there are lots of nice gifts on the market which will help people make healthier choices when it comes to food.
Top of the wish list for many this Christmas will be the much-anticipated cookbook from the popular Cornucopia restaurant on Dublin's Wicklow Street (€39). The book is jammed full of the vegetarian restaurant's popular dishes with lovely images to see what you should be aiming for.
It's no surprise to hear that it scooped the top award at the Listowel Food Fair Irish Food Book of the Year, last month.
Also for the culinary minded, Boots is selling a nice wok set for €20 for low-fat frying. It consists of a wok, chopsticks, oriental-style bowls and some hoisin sauce.
A little more indulgent is the cute organic chocolate Christmas tree baubles and snowmen from Montezuma, available at Nourish health food stores. Priced at €11.
Absolutely Organic has put together some delicious hampers for the Christmas season. Prices range from €35 to €120 for a hamper packed with biscuits, Chai tea chocolates, pasta and preserves, smoked salmon and wine. Or for a Christmas gift that keeps giving, why not buy a voucher for a home delivery organic fruit and vegetable box. Prices start at €16.
As ever, the Village Bakery produces traditional Christmas fare for wheat, gluten, dairy and sugar intolerant people. Puddings are priced at €11 and mince pies €5.20 for six.
Healthy gadgets: Gizmos and gadgets are old favourites at Christmas, and in 2008 there is lots of choice when it comes to contraptions designed to make you a healthier and happier person. Lifestyle Sports is selling a range of nifty sport watches that can monitor your calorie consumption and heart rate while you exercise. Price from €95.
For walkers, hikers and runners, Great Outdoors does a great product called Superfeet - insoles moulded in-store to fit your feet - which aim to make any type of footwear more comfortable. Made in the US, they apparently sell well to cowboy-boot wearers looking for hidden comfort! Prices from €50.
For those fond of a foot rub, Boots is selling a nifty pair of socks with a map of the foot's reflexology points printed on the sole to ensure you push the right buttons during a foot massage. Price €6.75.
The Health Juicer is a dinky manual juicer (€50) that straps on to your worktop and is hefty enough to tackle even hard vegetables. It is available from the Eco Shop in Greystones and Nourish health stores. For smoothie lovers, check out Kenwood's Silver Smoothie Pro priced at €109. For hard-core juicing fans Nourish health food shops are selling a grow-your-own wheatgrass kit for €20.
Charity gifts:This Christmas why not give a gift on behalf of a loved one that can change someone's world for the better?
Many charities offer great alternative gifts complete with gift packs and cards. For €37 you can buy mosquito nets for three families through Christian Aid (www.presentaid.ie). Splash out on a life-saving gift through Oxfam with taps, tanks and pumps to provide three families with a safe supply of water for €25.
For €36 you can purchase male and female condoms to help in the battle against Aids in Africa (oxfamireland.org). Through Trócaire you can buy school lunches for the 8,000 children attending nursery school at Burmese refugee camps on the Thai-Burma border (www.trocaire.org).
Closer to home, the ISPCC has teamed up with Santa this year and for a donation of €10 you can order a personalised letter from Santa to be sent to the child of your choice (order deadline is December 15th).
The charity is also selling a set of six beautiful Christmas decorations for €36 (www.ispcc.ie). Through Concern you can buy 20 days' training for a birth attendant (www.concerngifts.org).
Perhaps the ultimate gift is to give blood. Donating blood in the three weeks running up to Christmas helps ensure blood stocks are kept up over the holiday period (www.ibts.ie).