His and Hers, the King Family Holiday Gift Guide
The Federal Reserve is doing its best to temper American spending, yet it feels like the season of opulence. Silky, creamy egg nog. Comfy, cozy sweaters. Going to bed early and sleeping in because the sun hardly peaks over the horizon. To call a spade a spade, the past two years have been tough, so it’s not the worst idea to splurge on yourself and loved ones. Welcome to this season’s Holiday Gift Guide!
What’s more, we have sought the insight from none other than supermom, marketing maven, and athletic standout Laura King to provide some holiday shopping insight for a broader audience. And whereas last year’s guide arrived to your inbox only in time to seek overnight shipping for on-time deliveries, this one comes with a handsome shopping buffer.
(If you’re here for Laura’s input, then zip over to part II.)
Up first, here are Ted’s suggestions:
Zipp makes the finest hoops in cycling, so let’s begin with their creme de la creme. IMHO, that’s the 353 NSW — yes indeed, the “whale back” or “sawtooth” wheel. It cuts through the air faster than any other wheel I’ve ever used and the aesthetic is enough to make you drool. The internal 25mm width is stellar for road and even better for gravel. Plus with a 250lb weight limit, even a well fed Santa can take a spin around the North Pole on these mean mambas.
It’s rare to see a Christmas come and go and not spy a new pair of socks in your stocking. With blustery temperatures outdoors, there’s never been a better sock for the conditions than Velocio’s Winter Wool.
But I’m not here to tell you to buy socks, instead I’ll tell you about the best pair of pants I’ve ever owned, the Stealth Recon Pant. Even the design team at Lulu applauds these magically wonderful pants that have the style of an elegant pair of slacks met with the comfort of sweatpants crossed with the function of a Swiss army knife. At work, lounging at home, or zipping through the airport, here’s your new favorite pants.
Care to save some loot? Use code tkvip for some handy savings.
There’s something special about flipping through glossy magazines with well written stories that aren’t, themselves, purely advertisements surrounded by actual advertisements. And while you may have noticed that cycling journalism has recently earned headlines about its swirling around the porcelain, there still exists something that’ll spark your interest in this department: Bicycle Quarterly. Eye catching photos, remarkably well written and thought provoking articles, BQ isn’t just a read-it-and-chuck-it mag. This periodical deserves it’s place on your coffee table for years to come.
Give a man a fish and he’ll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he’ll eat for life. A child on a strider bike learns balance at a meteoric rate and won’t have to rely on training wheels. Why it’s taken until only recently to have invented this bike is something that baffles me since it’s seemingly so intuitive.
Cannondale’s strider style bikes are perfect for the young family. Bonus #1, the fact that they have Lefty will make your child the talk of the town. Or at least your local street or playground. Bonus #2: they’re currently on sale.
Heck. Yes.
Modern full suspension bikes are an engineering marvel. Over the past two decades, their efficiency has skyrocketed while their weight has plummeted. They make all the sense in the world when eyeing your next mountain bike.
But man oh man, I love me a hardtail! The Cannondale Scalpel HT in what I’ll call Candy Cane Red is bold, beautiful, and impossibly light. Do you need this bike? No. But in an age of ever more chundery gravel races, more and more machine built trail, it might seem a far reaching idea, but this really could be the single bike in your quiver.
I used to have a theory that people who claim to not like chocolate were liars. Apparently these people do in fact exist, and if this person is you, please simply ignore this shopping suggestion ‘cause it probably isn’t isn’t for you.
Just as there’s a difference between a Westvleteren 12 and a Bud Light Lime, there’s an equal expanse in chocolate. If given the opportunity, I encourage you to try John & Kira’s which will be the most ethereal chocolate experience of your life. (Personal favorite: the Every Flavor Collection is life changing.)
Let’s stay on topic of cocoa, shall we? The decadence of chocolate with the luxuriousness of maple syrup all delivered in a splendid waffle. Say hello to the Cocoa Waffle by UnTapped. It’s as tasty in December as it is in July. Don’t just order four, order four cartons in order to spread holiday cheer to one and all… or sign up for one of the new UnTapped subscriptions for Santa’s handy deliveries all year round.
Everything in moderation, right? I just promoted chocolate items not once, but twice. Both of which are absurdly delicious and we all have heard that chocolate is a superfood. Turns out maple syrup is too (seriously. 54 antioxidants, amino acids and electrolytes galore, look it up). Seriously though, chocolate in moderation is rumored to be healthy for you. Awesome!
Meanwhile, this next item is meant to be the picture of health, AG1 by Athletic Greens. Effectively, it’s a real foods replacement to a multi-vitamin, plus loads more. Am I drinking the Kool-Aid? After six month of consuming AG1 every single day, I can say that I’m a full fledged convert and feel better for it. A cabinet full of vitamin pills is not inexpensive. Neither is AG1, but I look forward to taking it every morning and appreciate the simplicity as much as anything. Use that link and get yourself some free travel packs, which are my preferred method when on the road.
I love all seasons, but basking in the warmth of summer is something to truly embrace. As a fan of the sun, I’m also a fan of my skin, and therefore find good sunscreen a must. The good folks at Zealios have worked their chemistry to create this non-greasy, oily and fragrance free zinc based sunscreen that works wonders. They’ve furthermore made an Endless Summer Bundle that includes their lineup of hair and skin care designed for an athlete. Try code KING25 and save some cash.
I’m not sure the best part of the MP1 by Saris. Is it the comfort and feel of riding a bike outside or is it the fringe benefit of keeping your taint happy because you’re not just riding a rigid statue? I vote the latter. In any event, it’s a real treat to use this piece of floating machinery when riding indoors. Further good news is that it’s on sale.
A hose and a sponge are so 2021. Now with the Ryobi EZClean you can master-blaster the mud off your bike, drivetrain, or house with this tennis ball green mobile pressure washer. There’s a 320psi model which sounded kinda weak to me, so when I saw a 600psi model came out, I put it on my list. You should too.
Why not swing for the fences?
PTCH — Place to Call Home — is a terrific name for a custom van build outfit and an even better company. Adventure abounds with the van of your dreams and PTCH’s attention to meticulous detail is standout in the industry. You might not be able to park it under the tree, but you can seek out enormous trees and park it under them all throughout your adventure.