Au Vieux Campeur

Hikers, spelunkers and wannabe explorers should make this the starting point of all future journeys. An agglomeration of around 30 shops centred on the Maubert-Mutualité métro station, Au Vieux Campeur is the last word in sports and outdoor gear: this is where Parisians come to get their crampons and cross-country skis. Every imaginable open-air activity is covered, and every budget catered for; if you're intimidated by the sheer breadth of choice, expert staff are on hand to guide you. It may have mushroomed into a vast operation, but Au Vieux Campeur proudly remains an independent, family-run institution, and you'll encounter none of the impersonal service (not to mention inflated prices) that plague the big high street stores.