Every guy should have at least one hobby, so we’ve decided to write a series on hobbies that are tailor-made for guys. Hobbies can range from watching sports to playing sports, and from collecting things to buying things. Whatever turns you on, hobbies are there to make it even better. Even if you don’t already have one, this series of article might trigger some deep desire within your soul. So keep reading, and get ready to hobby guy style!
Hobbies – To The Extreme!
If collecting stamps and Star Trek memorabilia isn’t your thing, then maybe you need to take a walk on the wild side. Extreme sports have been around for several years now, but extreme doesn’t only apply to sports. There are a lot of guys out there who want the extreme thrill, without the extreme risk to life and limb. That’s where extreme hobbies come in. They are exciting, new, and offer the average guy a thrilling way to kill a few hours each week. So get ready to get extreme!
Create A Mashup
Using Google maps, anyone can create a mashup – where you combine web applications to make something new. The most common one we have come across is people who create map-specific mashups, usually related to something they find interesting. Then they combine the information – say where famous people have died in their city – with the technology of Google maps. Many cities have mashups related to sports, food and wine, but there are some pretty creative ones out there that relate to the creator’s interest. For example, mashups that shows pictures and information about the 10 wealthiest women in the U.S.A. To create your own mashup, just Google ‘how do I create a Google mashup?’ and follow one of the many links.
Map Your World! (GPS)
There are thousands of people on the Internet who have been using UTM grids and GPS systems to map every square inch of the planet. You can Google ‘GPS groups’ to see if there is a group in your area. What these people do is come up with detailed walks, hikes, and other fun things to do based on GPS technology. There are also groups who are trying to ‘discover’ or ‘claim’ every UTM grid on the planet, and they get to put their name in when they effectively navigate to an unclaimed sector - kind of like being a 21st century explorer, but without the need for wooden sailboats.
Remote Control (RC)
RC fanatics have been out there for years, building planes, helicopters, tanks and more. These machines are almost always miniature versions of a real craft, and they are guided by radio waves. The technology has come down in cost over the last decade, and now you can buy RC products as cheap as $10. However, the extreme versions of RC don’t involve pre-packaged, store bought racecars. True aficionados will build their own models, often incorporating their own designs and modifications. Extreme RCers will often have mid-air dogfights or collisions, smash up derbies, and more! Some even build a plane only to explode it in mid-flight! The stunts these RC vehicles can do are amazing, and most RC users mount cameras on them in order to get some amazing footage. (Check out ‘cool RC’ if you want to have a look).
Home Made Rockets
Along the same line as RC vehicles, homemade rockets have also been growing in popularity over the last 20 years. Like RC, the massive advances in technology have helped to make rockets easier to build, easier to control, and allowed for major increases in power and distance. A good way to start off would be to buy a kit, and then you can slowly work your way up to building more sophisticated models. Keep in mind these rockets have serious long-range potential, and you often need permission to launch them – if they have the capacity to exceed certain altitudes. And if you think these are just glorified firecrackers – think again. There got to a height of 70 miles – which is outer space!
Online Mayhem
A blog is not a hobby (unless it is related to your hobby), but there are some extreme things you can do online that qualify as hobbies. The first, based on something that has been around as long as the web was first invented, is to create an online virtual persona and life. Now the original versions of virtual reality worlds were usually relegated to text and avatars. But now you can create far more complex characters, and interact in virtual societies. The latest version of this craze is a site called Second Life. This community has over 3 million inhabitants, and they interact in ways that can’t happen in the real world. This is not to be confused with an MMORPG. This world is created by and for its inhabitants, and you don’t have to purchase a game or pay a monthly fee in order to ‘live’ here. Of course you do have to pay extra for the extras, but how far you want to take your second life is up to you. So is this extreme? Judging by the fact that many users are getting married and starting families online, some might say so. Plus, you can get on board at the start of this latest Internet craze
Final Thoughts
Hobbies are not something that should be thought of as a wimpy way to spend time. All of these extreme hobbies are practiced by hundreds of thousands of guys around the world, and they all require intelligence, a quest for fun, and certain levels of skill. Why would you want to pick a hobby that requires nothing but money – like collecting – when you can choose one of these extreme hobbies and get your adrenaline flowing. So take the first step toward some excitement in your life. Check out the organizations that are linked to these hobbies, pry yourself off of the couch, and get ready to go extreme – hobby style!
