As the temperature drops and the idea of exercising outdoors - or even trekking to the gym - becomes less and less appealing, it’s good to invest in at least one at-home fitness tool. For the workout-DVD-averse, there’s the Bosu Balance Trainer, a step class substitute that works to tone your muscles, boost your balance, and improve coordination. ThisNexter bknight says the trainer provides the “best all-around workout” and recommends that users “flip it over for balanced squats and curls with dumbbells.” The trainer comes complete with an exercise video, ideal for letting you work your Bosu to greatest total-body benefit.

If you’re in the market for some outdoor/fitness gear - whether it be a new yoga mat, kayak, skis, hiking boots, or camping cookware - make sure to check HikerDeals.com before handing over your cash or credit card. Blogger Mike scours the web to find the best deals on gear, then shares those bargains so that readers don’t have to go extra-spendy when purchasing new products. One hot deal right now: Backcountry.com’s 25 percent discount on Katadyn’s Hiker Water Filter, which - according to Mike - is the “the top-rated filter for hiking and camping.”

After a long, long bike ride, there’s nothing like a nice sip of once-ice-cold bottled water that’s turned hot as fresh-brewed coffee in the midst of your journey. Or not. To keep your water chilly as you ride, Fitness Gadgets recommends the Evap-A-Wrappa cooling sleeve. Almost as cool as Fitness Gadget’s latest post: a waterproof iPod shell that lets you soundtrack your swimming with your favorite MP3s.

ThisNext loves it when athlete bloggers get all giddy over new gear, especially when they’re slightly coy about said giddiness. Case in point: Nancy Toby at Run Big! (a superblogger who also posts at Tour de France Lanterne Rouge, Ironman Florida 2006, and Virtual Cycling Trips) who recently asked her readers:

“How sick is it that I’m totally indifferent to clothes and jewelry and makeup these days, but I can really get excited that my new Felt handlebar tape just arrived?”

The overall consensus: not sick at all, with one commenter clarifying, “You are a girl after my own heart! Bike stuff makes me drool!”

We love checking Tripped Over A Rock for trail-running blogger Melissa’s regularly featured product surveys, whereby readers get to weigh in on their preferred gear, fuel, and other trail-running essentials (of the most recent surveys, Clif Bloks win over Sharkies, Bodyglide beats out Vaseline, and headlamps are prized over handheld).

Melissa also occasionally offers some insider info on trail-running success, such as in her recent post about the must-haveness of wristbands. Why? The blogger explains here:

“The terrycloth has ten times the absorbency of a rag, it holds on to you so you don’t have to worry about holding on to it, it’s already located on your wiping limb so the motion is natural, and they come in every color. Nikes are the softest, but Adidas are a close second and score a little higher when it comes to logo coolness. Check out your local soccer store for the best selection. I never run without one!”

Jodi at JT’s Tri-spot loves her Nike Patella Band, a compression-providing device that gives hope to achy-kneed triathletes (and plain old casual runners) everywhere. Says Jodi:

This thing is a lifesaver! It has been a month since I have been able to run more than a quarter mile without pain in my knee. It has been so bad that I have done zero running outside competitions for weeks. Until I got this wonderful invention! I ran 2 whole miles yesterday with NO PAIN! I’m back :)

Taking a very ThisNext approach to smart shopping, WomenDiary.net breaks down how to get fit without wasting too much cash on hella spendy workout equipment. For a cheap, simple, and very old-school cardio workout, celebrity trainer Kathy Kaehler recommends strengthening your core and increasing stamina by jumping rope. Here’s how:

“Wear good shoes and try to practice on a hardwood floor or any other flooring that gives a little. Buy a good rope.” When you are appropriately equipped, see how many consecutive revolutions you can do. Then, challenge yourself to do a few more. If you are continually tripping on the rope, Kaehler recommends that you “concentrate on form. It isn’t a big jump – your feet are barely leaving the ground. It is less about arm movement and more about wrist movement. Concentrate on moving from your elbow on down.” Once you have mastered the basics, challenge yourself and change up your routine by adding scissor steps and knee lifts.

Because ThisNext lives for lists, we’re stoked to share personal trainer Stephen Cooper’s top five favorite pieces of fitness equipment:

1. Swiss Ball or Stability Ball
2. Power Wheel
3. JC “Predator Bands”
4. Medicine Ball
5. Kettlebell

We’re most curious about the Power Wheel, which Stephen describes as “a suped up version of the simple ab wheel.” The product’s said to train all your core strength muscles (glutes, abs, lower obliques, hips and low back) and chest, arms, thighs, hamstrings and calves, so no doubt it’s worth giving it a whirl.