8 Places to Grab Your Running Gear

Looking for a place to get your running clothes, sneaks or fuel packs?

Check out NYCGO.com and read Runners' Buy: Best NYC Trotting Gear which is complete with a map of all locations.

Personally I love Jack Rabbit sports and Super Runners for their running evaluations and general knowledge of the sport. I also appreciate that at Super Runners when I buy a new pair of sneakers I can try them out for 30 days and return them if they aren't exactly what I need. (Note: Jack Rabbit may have the same policy, I just haven't been told of it.) Additionally, I have also had great success with Asics shoes and therefore enjoy going to their store.

Hope this article helps you find all the equipment and apparel you need for an awesome run!

One of my Favorite Stores

Way to go New York Magazine for giving one of my favorite stores an awesome review!

In New York Magazines Best of 2010 issue they reviewed Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS) as a great place to buy camping gear:

"EMS almost tripled its floor space when it opened this sprawling new store last spring, meaning there’s now ample room to display the kayaks, ice picks, tents, and backpacks that promise outdoor adventure. But it’s certainly not the only outfitter in town—Paragon has breadth of gear, while Patagonia has high-tech clothes. What distinguishes EMS is the passion and expertise of its staff, all avid outdoorspeople. You need a water filter for a camping trip? They’ll ask about the details of the trip, then walk you through the merits of each one and never try to up-sell you. Chances are they’ve already hiked/biked/camped wherever you’re going, so you might want to get some tips before you check out."

I couldn't agree more with New York Magazine's review found here. Every time I go into an EMS, whether it be in upstate New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut or here in town, I am struck by how much their employees care about outfitting you with the best gear and at the most reasonable price possible (and yes, EMS is much cheaper than REI, Paragon or Patagonia). Their staff members also genuinely participate in outdoor activities and they always have great suggestions when I ask for new and exciting ideas.

So I'll leave you to explore EMS's website, read more of New York Magazine's Best of 2010 and check out EMS's Soho location at 530 Broadway which is near Spring Street. Happy shopping!

Grabbing gear online, the way to go!

So one of the questions my friends in the city are constantly asking me is, "Where should I buy my outdoor gear?" It is not too easy in the City to find great places that have the specific outdoor gear items you are looking for, especially at a reasonable price. This becomes even more true if you looking for more technical items such as climbing shoes and rope or say a kayaking skirt. Of course there is Paragon Sports on 18th and Broadway, a plethora of Models locations and a few other specialty shops. But if those stores don't have what you are looking for, you can be somewhat out of luck.

A fantastic solution? Backcountry.com and their outlet store.

They sell everything from tents, to cycling clothes, to snow boots, to skis and snowboards, to car racks. Their customer service is great, shipping is inexpensive, they have a lot of different brands and options to choose from and they have a lenient return policy, which is always helpful when ordering by mail.

So checkout Backcountry.com out and let me know what you think.