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holiday gift guide:: * UNDER $300 Unless you are a financial overachiever, gifts here are best for close family members or the best of friends. The good news is they will love these gifts; the bad news is your wallet is going to take a hit. METOLIUS CRASH PADS Bouldering's popularity is skyrocketing. but so are rock-related hospital visits. Save someone from months of couch time with a Crash Pad. The leader in bouldering pads, Metolius uses a mix of open-and closed-cell foam in its pads to maximize shock absorption. A hinged midsection reduces bulk and stabilizes the pad over rocks and small stumps. It also makes a great travel bed. Metolius, www.metolius.com. $169. OAKLEY SPLICE EYEWEAR Give the gift of style with Oakley's brand-new Splice shades for active sports, such as cycling, running, and kayaking. The ultra-hip shades take the company's space-age design a step further. The frames are sculpted from Oakley's proprietary 0 Matter and injected with metal to make bombproof eyewear that will withstand nearly any amount of punishment. Oakley, www.oakley.com. $150 GREGORY LONG HAUL DUFFEL Can't decide what to get that person who has everything? How about a bag to stuff it all in. With 16,600 cubic inches of storage space, the duffel can swallow enough gear for a monthlong trip to anywhere in the world, including a loaded expedition backpack. While sturdy enough to withstand all the abuse wild baggage handlers can throw at it, its very basic appearance may help thwart would-be thieves. Gregory, www.gregorypacks.com. $100 ARC'TERYX GAMMA MX Keep your siste r from freezing on summit day with the Gamma MX. This superlight and packable soft shell is strong enough to keep the fiercest winds off her back. The jacket features Polartec® Power Shield"', a single layer that does the job previously done by tWo-it protects against abrasion as well as cold, wet weather. This three to four season jacket is available in men's as well as women's sizes. Arc'teryx, www.arcteryx.com. $280 TIMEX IRON MAN SPEED + DISTANCE SYSTEM Put an end to your mountain biking buddy's incessant yapping about her Mach 2 descents. Give her the same speed and distance tracking technology that Uncle Sam uses on his planes. Timex's latest watch uses GPS satellites, atomic clocks and imbedded satellite receivers to track how far the user has gone and how fast they are moving. It also works great for kayakers, mountaineers and backpackers. Timex, www.timex.com. $250 68