Activity-focused gifts in all price ranges

Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Dec 13, 2004 by Compiled by Kathryn Clayton

Cars

Low: To keep a car looking its glamorous best, a pentad of Meguiar's products including Hot Shine Tire Spray, Hot Rims All Wheel Cleaner, Quik Detailer Mist & Wipe, Bug & Tar Wipe and Dash Wipe ($24.99 at Pep Boys). Think of them as toiletries for the car, and high-end toiletries at that.

Medium: Air-tool kit. Relax and let power tools do the work. This 62-piece Powermate set, also at Pep Boys, retails for $89. Fine print: You'll need an air compressor and a hose to go with it.

High: Gift certificate for auto detailing (think of it as taking your car to a "spa" for a full-body scrub). Full detailing is a bumper-to-bumper cleanup. Express detailing is less comprehensive. Examples of prices at Bischoff's Car Wash and Detail on 3300 South: $139.95 for a full detailing (more for oversize vehicles); $49.99 for the upholstery express, the company's most popular detailing package.

Look in your telephone business directory under "auto detailing" for companies that do this kind of work.

The sky's the limit: Tickets to the Indianapolis 500, May 29, 2005 (www.indy500.com).

Woodworking

Low: Ryoba-style double-edge razor saw with a replaceable blade (#19.610.0; $26.75). Two saws in one. One side of the blade is a rib saw, the other is a cross-cut saw. The handle can be tilted in relation to the blade, allowing a woodworker access to areas that are otherwise difficult to reach. Or a 1/2-inch Bachi Nomi dove-tailed chisel, used to cut and trim butterfly mortises or to cut dovetails, (#15.330.12; $30.75). Both, which could be considered works of art in and of themselves, are from www.japanwoodworker.com; 1-800-537-7820. Or a Restorer's Cat's Paw, (60K21.08, $14.95, www.leevalley.com). One end has a cat's paw for nail pulling that can double as a hammer; the other end has a wafer-thin pry tip ideal for pulling apart furniture without inflicting damage.

Medium: E.C.E. block plane (#649-P, $72; www.fine-tools.com). Adjustability is the most important feature of a block plane, and this one is the best, according to Paul Fetzer of Fetzer's Architectural Woodwork. Or, if you want a block plane fit for royalty, at a price royalty can afford, David A. Warren, who makes the E.C.E block plane, also makes one of solid rosewood with 14-K gold metal parts ($199, Planemandw@sbcglobal.net.

High: Lie-Nielsen adjustable-mouth block plane. Made of stainless steel, brass and bronze. (15C02.01; $149, from www.garrettwade.com.

The sky's the limit: Ulmia professional workbench (#91A02.01; $1,749, from www.garrettwade.com). "The biggest, best and most wanted of any Christmas present in any woodworker's shop," said Fetzer. According to a spokesman for Garrett Wade, the workbench is solidly built and heavy enough that it doesn't move around when you're working on it. And its surface is large enough to accommodate big projects.

Yoga

Low: Peachskin eye "pillow," which can be frozen or heated as needed ($10.95); cotton straps ($9.50-$11.50); 4-inch foam blocks ($11.95); Mat Remedy (mat cleaner, $14.95); waterproof clothing bag for Bikram yoga enthusiasts ($20); single-class passes to a yoga studio ($12-$14).

Medium: Tola mat (soft and absorbent top, non-skid bottom, ideal for Bikram yoga, $64.95); or a Tapas Nature Collection sticky mat ($24.95) paired with a cotton yoga rug ($38.95); five-class card to a yoga studio ($45).

High: All of the above with a Hugger-Mugger Journey bag ($34.95) to transport a lot, if not all, of it; monthly unlimited pass for classes at a local yoga studio ($100-$110).

All yoga products listed here are available at www.hugger.com. These products are also sold through yoga studios and other outlets. Hugger-Mugger, a Salt Lake-based company, has been a pioneer in the development and marketing of yoga products. Other companies have since followed suit with their own lines and innovations on yoga products that are available at sporting goods retailers.

The sky's the limit: A yoga retreat.

Photography

Low: AA battery 24-pack ($13.50) -- a photographer always appreciates fresh batteries for flash, camera or other accessories; Ilford Galerie Professional Photo Range Classic Pearl 8.4x11 paper (25 sheets; $13.15) -- are said to produce outstanding professional prints when they're used with printers designed for high-quality photo output. (www.ilford.com>)

Medium: A compact flash digital memory card for your digital camera (Lexar Professional 256MB 40x w/WA, $69.95; Lexar Professional 512MB 80X w/WA, $89.95); a Lexar USB 2.0 CompactFlash card reader to download the digital images onto your computer (Mac and Windows XP compatible, $19.95). (www.lexar.com)

High: Something to carry all your gear. Lowepro Off Road beltpack/ shoulder bag wraps around your waist, freeing up the rest of you to take photos. (www.lowepro.com; $115); Photo Mechanic software is considered by professionals and amateurs alike to be one of the best programs for downloading and organizing images from your digital camera. (www.camerabits.com; $139.95)

These items are also available locally.

The sky's the limit: A photography workshop. (Do an online search on "photography workshops," and you'll find a wide variety.)

Scrapbooking

Low: Photo file box ($12.99 on sale); Cropper Hopper expandable paper organizer ($11.95); Fiskars 12" paper trimmer ($13.99 on sale); photo album ($17.49); lettering CD-ROMs ($16.95); fancy paper (50 cents a sheet); Paper Shaper scissors (77 cents each).