Hobbies For Guys: Winter Indoors!

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!

Winter Hobbies – Indoor!
Since most of the planet is currently enduring winter, we thought we would give you a couple of articles on indoor and outdoor hobbies that have a winter appeal. The main reason for this is that winter tends to turn us into house-dwelling hermits, so you need something to do to occupy your time. But there is lots you can do indoors other than watching TV, so keep reading and learn about some cool indoor hobbies that will help you make it to summer.

Wine Making
The odds are good that you have drunk a lot of wine over the years, so why not try making some? It may sound like a lot of work, but the end results are delectable and drinkable. Some of the pros to making your own Vino: fewer chemicals, less money, lots of wine to drink, and lots of fun experimenting. Here’s what you need to get started:

1. Wine making kit. Fight the urge to press your own grapes and do everything from scratch. The kits give you an easy beginner’s guide to making great wine.

2. Empty bottles and corks.

3. Wine corker.

4. Fermenters

5. Vats

6. Appropriate chemicals (sulphite solution, yeast, bentonite, etc.)

7. A healthy liver.

An average batch of wine from a wine kit makes about 30 bottles – red or white. You can get some cool labeling software to print off custom labels, that way you can keep track of what it is you just bottled. The final step is to have friends and family come n by for a tasting. Keep in mind that most home made wine makers tend to drink more once they start creating the home brew. But wine is good for the heart, so this is one hobby that won’t kill you!

Making Cool Videos
If you have a cell phone, you probably have a movie camera. With some inexpensive, or free, editing movie software (Movie Maker or Final Cut), you can create awesome home movies that you can use to entertain your friends. We’re not talking about boring movies about your kids, try music video of your last weekend fishing wit the boys. Just edit out the chatter and place some select music tracks, and you have your visual and audio entertainment at your next party. If you decide to buy an inexpensive camera, note these tips to making your film that much better:

Avoid zooming in and out.
Buy an external microphone.
Check to make sure the sound is working.
Always bring back up batteries and extra film.
Learn how to light properly!

Golfing Indoors
Your mom might have frowned if you took out the clubs in December, but now that everyone wants to be like Tiger, you might want to avoid a 6-month layoff. If you have the cash, there are some great golf simulators that you can install in your den. However, they can run as high as $20,000. You can also get various video golf games for most game and PC systems, including the new Wii. There are also several putting practice systems available, for those interested in focusing on their short game. And if you really want to do this inexpensively, all you need to do is string up some netting in the basement or the garage, and some green indoor-outdoor carpet, and you have yourself a mini-driving range. Just make sure you have enough room to take a full swing, or you might end up doing roof repairs for the rest of the winter.

Den Sports
The nice thing about sports in the house is that they aren’t really sports at all – that’s why we are calling them hobbies. Some of the great den classics are as follows:

Darts - Easy to play, easy to set-up, and lots of fun. It actually takes a lot of skill to bang home those triple 20s, so get ready for a steep learning curve. The good news is you will become so good at it, that you will soon be winning drinks off all the pub regulars.

Shuffleboard - Take some finely ground sand, granite stones, and a wooden surface and you have shuffleboard. It is a game of skill and finesse, attributes that diminish rapidly with each beer.

Ping Pong - There is nothing better in life than spiking a ping pong ball into your friend’s face! Just make sure it hits the table first!

Pool - It takes a lot of room, patience, and desire to buy a pool table. Most people buy it for its ability to collect dust, but true aficionados use it for practice and parties.

Poker - Forget playing online – do you like losing to bots? Invite your friends over for friendly, pre-set stakes and you will have a great night of fun. Plus, a good poker table is a must for any den, so take the time to pick one out that will help you win more money! For all of the above, just add friends and alcohol for a great time!

Final Thoughts
No matter what you decide to do indoors, just make sure you stay committed. Try out all of these hobbies at a friend’s house first, then do some research before you purchase any equipment. Seeing a pool table covered in books or other crap just makes a guy want to cry, so you need to have some level of interest before you take the plunge. Get your buds over on a regular basis, and turn that den into a hobby paradise!