If you’re looking for gift ideas for the sportsman, you have plenty of local shops to visit and lots of cool choices. It’s almost as hard as not having any choices at all. So plan to take an afternoon off, and visit local retailers, where you’ll find lots of expertise and help along with overwhelming assortments.

Kitsap Sports in Silverdale alone would take a few hours to cover. In a new location since September, the shop has almost tripled the space and of course added new selections. The store has one bonus that no parent could resist: For $2 per hour, the young ones could entertain themselves at the indoor skate park or the baseball batting cages while the adults shop in peace. There is no elbow rubbing or bumping at the new store either, with roomy design and spaced out racks. The store has gifts for just about all sports category, ranging from hiking and hunting to skiing, snowboarding and team sports.

For golfers of all levels, buy a gift certificate ($150 for adults or $125 for kids) that can be used in the golf training facility. The package includes three sessions with pro trainer Bob Kelly, and pretty much unlimited solo practice time. Kelly develops a personalized improvement program with the help of a trainer that uses a weighted club attached to a track, surrounded by mirrors so the trainee can see the movements. “Anyone who likes golf will walk away with an idea of how to continue to improve, no matter their level,” says Kitsap Sports President Dave Degarimore.

For a stylish and practical gift for runners, bikers, and even someone who doesn’t practice sports, check out the new soft-shell jackets. It’s the good ol’ comfortable fleece jacket taken to a new level: It stays dry. Soft shells are made by a variety of brands ranging from Columbia to The North Face, in various colors for men and women, and start at around $130. Degarimore recently had the chance to take one for a test-drive: He spent some time on the roof in downpour. “My pants were all wet, but my jacket was really dry,” he says.

The feet are often ignored and forgotten when it comes to comfort. You can make someone’s feet really happy with a $30 set of Superfit “Footbeds,” recommended by many physical therapists and orthopedists. Different footbeds are designed for casual, running, dress, golf and other varieties of shoes, even high heels and ski boots — and they help reduce feet stress and pain caused by various problems.

Keeping up with the “happy feet, happy people” theme, toss in a few pairs of non-cotton socks. Cotton socks are the cheapest but the worst you can buy, Degarimore says, because they don’t allow the feet to breathe. They are a perfect gift because most people would not buy them for themselves. “But once you try them, you will never want to wear anything else,” he says. Kitsap Sports has a variety of styles made of different materials, starting at $10 per pair.

Another store you can get lost in is the Mt. Constance Mountain Shoppe in Bremerton. Don’t let the name fool you: Aside from the obvious skiing and snowboarding gear, you’ll find biking, climbing, hunting, backpacking and other equipment.

Some Mountain Hardware and other garment brands’ new synthetic fabrics use special technology and silver treatment that seals odors after extended wear. You can keep your backpacker, snowboarder, or hiker fresh smelling even after a few days. The Mountain Shoppe has several selections in men’s and women’s styles, starting at $50.

Men who love their bicycles can now enjoy riding without the discomfort and other side-effects associated with the seats. Specialized Co. has spliced the seat to take the pressure off the arteries. Designed and patented by a doctor, the Milano seat helps eliminate sore legs and other problems, and sells for $44.95.

Nalgene water bottles are quick and simple stocking stuffers, starting at $8.99. Made of indestructible plastic in a rainbow of colors, the bottles do not absorb odor and most have splashguards for the more sloppy drinkers.

Also at the shop, check out the new Arc’Teryx “rolltop” RT backpacks ($99) with kangaroo-style pockets and other easy-access features; LED headlamps, Moonlight by Black Diamond ($40), and Aurora by Princeton Tec ($30); and the light-weight Raven axe by Black Diamond ($75), along with many other selections.

West Marine, in Bremerton or Tacoma, is your stop for boating or recreational vehicle related gifts. A great buy this year is the new personal floatation device by Suspenders, Mustang and other manufacturers, which are much more comfortable to wear and less obtrusive — even the U.S. Coast Guard is switching over.

West Marine’s own line of jackets and pants is designed for Northwest’s unpredictable weather. The Explorer Breathable Foul Weather Gear, starting at $120, allows the body to breathe while keeping it dry on stormy days.

At Bay Outfitters in Port Orchard, you’ll find a variety of must-haves for the fishermen and hunters. The new line of Scott S3 fishing rods gets down to small details including the alignment of dots and hand-inscribed serial numbers. The rods, which range in price from $535-$590, combine powerful, high-speed casting with beautiful design for what Scott calls “the ultimate fishing rod.”

For something less pricey, try the new G-Loomis The Adventure fly reel ($100): sturdy, aluminum made, with an adjustable drag, quick-release spool, and champagne-gold anodized finish — a remarkable gift that’s a steal for such a low price.

Bay Outfitter owner/manager Derek Mills says he likes to buy his merchandise first and try it. He gives rave reviews to the new series of wading jackets by Stratus ($99.95): waterproof, breathable, made of 100 percent nylon, fully seam-sealed and made with a durable front storm flap. “I left one in the sink filled with water, and after 30 minutes it was still dry,” he says.