<p>The kids are headed back to school after the best Thanksgiving ever!! Now to plan for Christmas…S has given me only one idea - a chin up bar. This should be easy. Does anyone have any additional ideas for hard to buy for sons??? I would love to hear them.
(This one would not get excited about any type of clothing and he is very athletic and outdoorsy) Thanks!!!</p>
<p>How about a bunching bag? It actually takes a bit of practicing to get into the rhythm, but if he’s athletic, he might like that too.</p>
<p>What kind of outdoorsy activities does he like to do? Running, biking, mtn climbing? All different kinds of gear. How about weights, or some stretching equipment?</p>
<p>What does he like to do outside? One of mine is wanting a GoPro video camera for skiing, biking, longboarding etc. One wants a new backpack for backcountry skiing. Might help to think about what yours like to do “outdoors.” I have pretty much the past couple years just “stuck” to what they do for fun. Oldest one just told me he doesn’t need one more item of clothing for at least a decade.</p>
<p>For his recent birthday, my college son requested (and received from me) a crock pot. He likes to cook, wants healthy food, but doesn’t have a lot of time to cook while he’s at school. When I gave it to him, I also supplied all the ingredients and a recipe for White Chicken Chili. He was thrilled! </p>
<p>He will use it a lot over the winter, especially for making soup - he won’t eat the canned stuff.</p>
<p>(A note about weights - my other son’s school specifically prohibits weight sets in the dorms.)</p>
<p>Wow, thanks for the suggestions. I am going to research bunching bags and GoPro cameras right now. So many things I have no idea about… His outdoor pursuits include running, bicyling, mountain biking, camping, hiking. Currently he does P90X and swimming.
A hit gift here last year was a Garmin. So for all of you with students who do not have them (or phones equipped to do the same), it would be a very useful gift idea.</p>
<p>bought my friend’s son a Cuisanart griddle, and his brother a cutting board. Before he got it out of bag, “Is it bamboo?” (it was, quite pretty). The Worm requested amazon giftcard. He bought himself the coffee pot with the single servings, K… something.</p>
<p>After the last big storm we experienced in the midwest… I am leaning more towards the practical, a solar charger, good for cell phones and Laptops. that could also come in handy in the outdoors. the charger uses sunlight that then powers the electronics… I am also including a miners flashlight as a stocking stuffer…For the funnish type gift… I am giving Isotoner gloves that have special fingers so you can use your smartphones, that hopefully have been solar charged…lol… all the items are available on amazon … Just to let you know there is not a whole lot on his wish list, so I too am looking for ideas…</p>
<p>an aside (not to steal thread):bookworm, do you recommend the cuisanart griddler ? think that is going to be my main gift to different sets of family members this year</p>
<p>There’s a cool thing for world travelers: a scratch-off world map. (google it, they’re being sold in a number of places)</p>
<p>For campers/hikers there are always better and lighter tents and backpacks. We’re looking into them for both of our kids, 23 & 26.</p>
<p>I like the isotoner gloves that one can wear and still use the smartphone.</p>
<p>BTW, I misspelled earlier. I meant to write punching bag. We have the brand, Balazs. It’s heavy duty, but solid. For the chin bar, get the kind that are very securely attached to the door frame. We have the kind that come in 3 parts: the sides and the metal bar that slides down and clicks in place.</p>
<p>My S had always wanted a juicer. I got him one for his birthday earlier this year and he loved it and used it a lot.</p>
<p>Moonchild, backpacks (for serious backpackers) are like clothes and have to be individually fitted. I’m sure you know that; I’m posting this for others who are considering buying a backpack and are not aware of this fact.</p>
<p>–headphones
–nice pair of boots (not snow boots)
–gift cards (Starbucks, iTunes, Amazon, Sport’s Authority or Dick’s Sporting Goods, etc.)
–blender (and a jug of his favorite protein powder, if he drinks protein shakes)</p>
<p>–big box full of random stuff to restock his dorm room for the Spring semester such as:</p>
<pre><code> *personal care items (deodorant, shampoo, shaving supplies, etc.)
*snacks for dorm room
*a couple of new posters
*ink cartridges for printer, printer paper
*maybe deposit some extra money into his college’s student account (most colleges
have something like “college xyz dollars”) so he can use it towards snacks and
things at the bookstore
*socks (my sons swear the washing machine eats them)
</code></pre>
<p>Another idea for the hiker/backpacker is a lightweight stove–the ones that you attach to a canister and weigh next to nothing.</p>
<p>My DH wants one of these:[Water</a> Purifiers | Adventurer Opti SteriPEN](<a href=“http://www.steripen.com/adventurer-opti]Water”>http://www.steripen.com/adventurer-opti) for backpacking. It would also be useful for students who travel to urban areas where the water is questionable.</p>
<p>OK, a punching bag!!! Guess I was a little slow…</p>
<p>I had a Freeplay solar radio that I loved. It also had a hand crank. It think that would be a fun gift and practical. The one you run for with the power out, too.</p>
<p>parent56,
I went with reviews. The boy I gave it to asked about the George Foreman grill. I answered honestly that I couldn’t buy a product from a man who named all his kids George. The boy asked if his daughters were Georgina; I don’t know.</p>
<p>The Cuisanart has extra tray, so can be used for sandwiches as well as grilling.</p>
<p>Getting DS1 a Magic Bullet for his morning smoothies.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>George Foreman’s Ten Children</p>
<ol>
<li>Natalie Foreman</li>
<li>Michi Foreman</li>
<li>Leona Foreman</li>
<li>Freeda George Foreman</li>
<li>George Edward Foreman Jr</li>
<li>George Edward Foreman III</li>
<li>George Edward Foreman IV</li>
<li>George Edward Foreman V</li>
<li>George Edward Foreman VI</li>
<li>Georgetta Foreman</li>
</ol>