Father’s Day gift guide for the fit-minded

Photo credit: Michele Westmorland / Getty Images

His days of piggyback rides and playing catch may be over now that you’re all grown up, but here’s your chance to put some ‘play’ back into Dad’s day with some fun gadgets and gear designed to keep him moving.

For the Stat-Obsessed Runner

The masterminds behind Nike’s sport watch series ventured out on their own, launching Soleus, the only watch, GPS and heart rate monitor company that has its roots in running and athletics. Their GPS Fit model ($99) accurately tracks speed, pace and distance, provides auto lap splits at every mile, and the “always on” night-light mode will help him see better during late night (or early morning) runs and training.

For the Time-Crunched Multitasker

Fitness guru Tony Horton (of P90X fame) has created the ultimate get-fit-quick program with his new 10-Minute Trainer workout. By taking a specific series of ultra-effective moves and condensing them into bite-sized segments that can be done at home in the span of a few commercial breaks, Horton will have Dad whipped into shape in no time. For more info, check out my full review here.

For the Weekend-Warrior Adventurer

Airdrop some awesomeness on Dad’s doorstep with the Performance Sports Crate ($75) from Man Crates. Stuffed to the brim with cool training gear (think ultraspeed jump rope and push up bars), plus high-energy performance fuel (nutrition in the form of bars, chews and nut butters), each rough wooden crate comes complete with a crowbar to give Dad a bonus workout just trying to pry the darn thing open.

For the High-Pressure Executive

Finally, a BPM as easy as ABC to help keep Dad’s health in check. Simply wrap the Withings Blood Pressure Monitor ($130) around his arm, and plug it into his iPad, iPod Touch, or iPhone to get instant visibility of systolic, diastolic blood pressure and heart rate. The free corresponding app displays results in easy-to-read graphs, which can be emailed to his doctor with a simple tap on the screen.

For the Health-Fad Foodie

A universal tool for family meals and entertaining, the Vitamix 5200 Super – Healthy Lifestyle Blender ($549) has been on my personal wish list for quite some time. Not only can Dad create every course of his home-cooked meals—from frozen drinks to creamy desserts—in minutes, but in addition to the usual smoothies and soups, he can also create gluten-free breads, cereals and baked goods with a 32-ounce container specifically designed to grind whole grains.