LATEST TRENDS IN BRIDAL REGISTRY TURN OFF BEATEN PATH.

Byline: Barbara Wood Daily News Staff Writer

Bored with toasters? Sick of salad shooters and crockpots?

Such items may be fine for couples who list traditional wedding gifts on their registries. But if your idea of a swell present doesn't involve a 12-piece place setting of fine china, consider asking for a few unorthodox items on your registry.

How about a Coleman stove or a power drill, for instance?

Fortunately, local home decor shops, sporting goods outlets and discount stores offer gift registries that reflect your active and contemporary lifestyle - for gifts you're more likely to keep than return, that is.

"People who come into the store are asking for unusual items, one-of-a-kind items," said Tim Kirk, Cost Plus Imports store manager. "Something like the bridal registry has a huge potential."

Here's a few ideas:

Sporting goods stores like Adventure 16 Outdoor & Travel Outfitters in Reseda, REI in Northridge or Sports Chalet Sporting Goods in West Hills.

Happy campers can set up sporty registries filled with gifts such as a cozy, inter-locking goose-down sleeping bag or a Global Positioning System, which displays your longitude and latitude via satellite transmission.

Other selections for camping couples could include Cinsa Sierra cooking sets, Coleman burner stoves, Shimano fishing rods or gym equipment.

Accessories for rock and ice climbing and backpacking are available, as are gift packages for outdoor photography classes. Big spenders may be even be happy to buy the couple Rossignol skies or Liquid Mercury snowboards.

For the sporty homebodies, what about a Foosball table?

Target Stores. For the cost-conscious, the discount stores now offer a Club Wedd gift registry center. Couples can identify everything from hardware and appliances to patio furniture and travel services on the computerized registry, which can be made available in printouts to wedding guests.

Just like the department stores, Club Wedd keeps track of selections so no one duplicates a gift.

Pier One Imports (stores throughout San Fernando Valley). Couples may prefer to ask for exotic and ethnic gifts from around the world. Pier One registries can include contemporary home furnishings in wicker, iron and wood, or European housewares. Fragrant soaps and incense create that perfect atmosphere for amour.

Cost Plus Imports in Woodland Hills. Harvest some of the world's most unique foods and spirits, jewelry, home furnishings and kitchen accessories, when your guests travel down the store's multiculturally stocked aisles.

Personalized gift baskets can be created to fit any couple.

The Registry. A privately owned company can provide savings of up to 40 percent off retail prices. Guests can order gifts and services from a variety of stores and catalogs listed with the company.

Couples set up an account and gift list with the company, then guests can place gift orders on a national, toll-free phone number.

A gift consultant will assist callers with any questions that they may have concerning purchases. Call [phone] or [phone].

The Home Depot in Canoga Park, Van Nuys and other locations. This national

chain of home improvement stores offers couples many ways to beautify their love nest through gifts of paints, gardening, electrical or lumber supplies.

Sherman Oaks Travel on Woodman Avenue. Have your guests take the sting out of the high cost of honeymoon travel fares when you put yourself on this travel agency's bridal registry. Guests can make individual or group payments toward your dream destinations.

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Photo In a twist on tradition, Target Stores offers its Club Wedd computerized bridal registry for those wishing gifts on the more practical side.