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5 Gift Ideas For Minnesota Sports Fans

Holiday shopping is no leisurely walk down Nicollet Mall. You've got to get a bunch of different stuff for a bunch of different people, and finding the time, money and the gifts themselves can be a headache.

Sports fans, or athletic people, aren't the trickiest people to shop for, but you can't just toss them a football or something with a Vikings logo on it either. You want to give them something that's either memorable, or useful in their active sports-y lives.

Below are some ideas for Minnesota sports fans across a variety of price points. And while they don't show too much team spirit, they can be applied to the lifestyle of a sports-lover.

Smartwool
(credit: smartwool.com)

1. No Joke Athletic Wear

Getting socks for Christmas sucks, unless they're Smartwool socks. These cost around $20 a pair, and they're definitely worth the premium price. Whether your sports fan is cheering on the Vikings at TCF Bank Stadium, or catching the game on the couch, these socks will keep their feet super warm, but not sweaty.

Under Armour is also a safe bet. It's not as tacky as team wear can be, and it can be used both as casual wear and workout clothing.

Meat Marker
(credit: HomeWetBar.com)

2. Tailgater Tool: A Meat Marker

This is one of those goofy gifts that no normal person would buy for themselves, and that's exactly why it's alright to gift it to someone during the holidays.

And what grillmaster wouldn't want one these things?

Just imagine reading "Skol!" on a burger during a tailgating party. Fan experience = complete.

The meat marker at homewetbar.com costs $20.

SPAIN-VIDEO-GAMES-FAIR
(credit: SEBASTIEN BERDA/AFP/Getty Images)

3. Video Games

When a sports fan isn't watching sports or tossing the ball around outside, they might as well be playing them virtually. So why not get your sports fan the latest edition of a beloved game?

The thing about sports games is that they're franchises and they get updated year after year. That means that each new edition of Madden or WWE or whatever has updated rosters, as well as game mechanics.

Problem is, as a shopper you've got to know what system your loved one has. Is it an older console, like a PS3 or Xbox 360? Or is it a newer one, like a PS4 or Xbox One?

After that's figured out, just pick the sport that best suits them. Or, throw them curve ball with, say, a golf  or UFC game.

New games generally cost $60.

4. A Ticket To Try New Things

2014 Asian Beach Games - Day 1

By this I mean a gift card to try new sports – like rock climbing or yoga (if that can be called a sport).

There are several yoga studios around the Twin Cities, and they offer a different experience to the traditional gym -- as do rock climbing centers, like Vertical Endeavors in Minneapolis, St. Paul and Duluth.

Both options will give your sports fan the opportunity to try something new, as well as get a taste of new athletic communities. Who knows, perhaps your sports fan will fall in love, and have a new reason to get out. Maybe this summer they'll be doing yoga on Lake Calhoun or going up to the North Shore to scale the cliffs overlooking Lake Superior.

5. A Domer Bag

Domer Pack
(credit: Duluth Pack)

For decades, the iconic Metrodome roof protected the Vikings and the Twins from Minnesota's harsh elements, and now a piece of it can protect your sports fan's stuff.

Duluth Pack makes bags, backpacks and purses with fabric from the original Metrodome roof. These bags, like all of Duluth Pack's wares, are beautiful and well-crafted, but they come at a price most would consider steep.

That said, this gift is probably something you'd only purchase for a really special sports fan in your life. But what better way to show your love than by gifting them a quality Minnesota-made product that's also a piece of sports memorabilia?

These bags range in const from $160-$485.

Duluth Pack

Related: From Dome To Duffel: Minn. Man Makes Use Of Metrodome's Roof

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