For anything remotely related to skateboarding, We Legendary is the place to go. They are one of…read morethe very few retailers in Manila who has a legitimate Nike SB account. This means that if you want a pair of sneakers from the Nike SB line like Janoskis, Kostons, and limited edition Dunk SBs, you'd have to go through them. For the more limited pairs, a queue is definitely involved so go to the store a bit earlier than you'd normally go unless you have an uncommon shoe size. To complete your whole skate ensemble, they have shirts from popular brands such as Emerica, Thrasher, and Chocolate. If you actually do skate and not just buy skate accessories because they look nice (I won't hold it against you), We Legendary has everything you need to tear up the streets. They sell a variety of skate decks, wheels, Allen bolts, and bearings.

Chaser is that small kiosk in Market! Market! selling rollerblades, foldable bikes, penny boards…read moreand helmets. They also sell outdoor gear like waterproof bags that are good for camping; down to phone cases and frisbees (even for your dogs). They also sell parts for your gear. I stumbled upon this shop because I saw they were selling rollerblades for P2000! I was nostalgic about it. It was a childhood favourite to play outside with my rollerblades. They also come in different colours. If they sell one in neon yellow and black, I'd definitely buy it right away! That's exactly the colours I had when I was a kid. The penny boards start at P3500 in various colours! BGC is a skate-friendly place - well at least in some places. So it's no wonder you'd find some enthusiasts by the store looking for parts or wanting to buy themselves a new board. Chaser is located at the 4th floor of Market! Market! It's near Big Apple Spa, Proline and the number of stalls selling CDs and computers.

Let it be known that I do not skate. I mean, yes, as a kid I did own a skateboard which I used to…read moreperilously roll down our street, but that's more like asphalt luge than skateboarding. However, there was a brief 2 week period where my sister tried to learn to skate, and I had no choice but to accompany her on her quest to by a longboard. That eventually brought us to Skate of the Nation, a small and unremarkable looking shop in an area beginning to get some buzz. The shop itself, well, there's not much to say. It had skateboards, surfboards, and a bunch of other related... stuff. Normally that would suggest that the place is junk, but for something like boards, it sort of works. That nonchalant simplicity fits perfectly with that particular scene, and the laid back shopkeeper exudes that same vibe. The only hints of color come from the cool boards, just how it should be.

For a straight dude, I love bags. I've never understood how some of my friends can go out of the…read morehouse without carrying a backpack or messenger bag. I mean, where would you put your chargers? What about your tablet, your books, your umbrella? Yes, these things are always with me, and I guess that's why over the years, I've invested in different kinds of bags in all shapes, forms, and sizes. Among my favorites are my Herschel Survey Backpack, my Eagle Creek messenger bag, and my big Muji messenger. The last one I bought in Tokyo, but the other two I found at Bratpack. They've got a good selection, bags that aren't cheap but aren't too expensive either. Good, imported brands, ones that you can take on rugged outdoor trips (not that I go on many of those) but also make you look cool as heck in a semi-corporate setting such as most advertising agencies. Save for my trips out of the country, I don't think I've gotten a bag from any other shop.

When you want a backpack, go to Bratpack. That should be easy enough to remember, and I have to…read morewonder why people don't hire me to become their copywriter. Turns out, Bratpack isn't all about the packs either. Sure, they have brands like Eastpack, Timbuk2, and hipster bag king Herschel, but they also offer other wares that fall in line with their aesthetic. There's Boxfresh and Supra for shoes, and they also have an assortment of apparel from other cool brands. Although it's not quite a concept store, it comes pretty close as it keeps a unified identity while stocking an assortment of different looks. It should serve as an inspiration for any new boutique hoping to hit the mark, though the new kid on the block will have a hard time if Bratpack keep expanding. Curiously, I've never actually bought a pack here, but I feel like they'll solve that problem soon. Get me some damn Topo, guys.

Toby's Sports is one of the biggest retailers of sporting goods in Metro Manila. You will find…read moretheir stores in leading shopping malls here in the big city. Whatever type of sports and fitness apparel or equipment you need, there's a big chance that you can find them at Toby's Sports, particularly in their big branches at SM Mall Of Asia and Glorietta. If you're a die-hard UAAP fan, you can also get genuine UAAP apparel and accessories from Toby's. My branch of choice is in SM Aura Premier. Although the store is smaller compared to other Toby's Sports branches, I like it here because the display racks are clearly organized by theme or sport. The last time I visited was when I bought swimming goggles for the summer. They have a wall of different types, brands, and colors of goggles. The choices can be a bit overwhelming. It's a good thing that a salesperson approached me and guided me on what type of goggles would best fit my needs.

You can buy everything inside a health store and you still wouldn't be healthy without exercise…read more And if you're not naturally athletic and the thought of free running is making your joints ache then it's best to buy equipment that will help you achieve your goal. Welcome to Toby's- your one-stop fitness store filled with the latest exercise equipment in Manila. I've made a little home gym from buying their merchandise and so far it's been a worthy investment. I have a couple of weights, a yoga mat, a medicine ball and boxing gloves all purchased at reasonable prices. I wish somebody would give me a P10,000 gift certificate in this store because there's so much here that I want to take home. (Okay, maybe I'm being cheap, let's raise it to P25,000) I don't know what else to say except that I hope my wish comes true because Toby's is great and I'm a fan.

There are many establishments that sell sporting goods and apparels. But when it comes to my…read morebadminton equipment, I usually go to Juego in Greenbelt 4. This store has a complete line of accessories from shuttlecocks and rackets to grips and badminton apparel. Based on my experience, this store carries several brands of badminton shoes, including Yonex, Babolat, Li-Ning, and Kason. Badminton enthusiasts, and even those who are just starting to play the sport, know the value of wearing the right kind of footwear. Badminton shoes need to be lightweight with ample cushioning, particularly in the ankle area, and with thinner non-marking rubber soles that have good traction and grip. So I really appreciate the time and guidance that the staff at this Juego branch gives to their customers, specifically to those buying their shoes for the first time. I also respect the fact that they sell locally-made shirts and shorts at very affordable prices. Although this store specializes in badminton goods and apparels, they also have items for tennis, volleyball and basketball. It is also worth noting that this Juego shop is small, so it could be quite difficult to try on badminton shoes for someone who's big and tall as me. Do not hesitate to ask for assistance from the staff.

We all like seeing items which are at a discounted rate. Whenever we see the word SALE on a store,…read morethere's an urge to check what's inside and see what items we can possibly consider a "steal." However, I'm not a fan of weekend sales in malls because I really don't have the patience to walk around a crowded area and bump with other people rushing from one store to another. That's why nowadays, outlet stores are a big blessing for people like me who are into anything cheaper! Luckily, there's an outlet store we found in Marcos Highway called The Playground which sells sneakers and sports apparel at discounted prices. The Playground carries mostly Nike products. They've got Nike sneakers, bags, socks, clothing apparels and a ton more. But they also carry brands like Onitsuka, Asics, Converse and Vans, to name a few. Actually if I'm not mistaken, they might also have New Balance in stock. What I liked about The Playground is that they offer items which are kind of freshly released in the market at a discounted rate. Imagine being able to score a pair of Nike Flyknits which was released 1-2 months ago at 30-40% off? What a steal, right?! Plus, if you frequent their Facebook page, you get acquainted on their newer items. If you're lucky, you might even get a Nike Roshe almost half its selling price in malls! Also available at The Playground are basketball shoes so girls, you might want to bring your boyfriends here. When we visited the shop together with my older brother, both of them looked at the shelves of shoes in awe! They couldn't help but try on a few pairs, and I was originally the one who wanted to buy my very first pair of sneaks. The only problem with The Playground is the availability of sizes, which is actually the more common disadvantage of most outlet stores. Some models would have the smallest and biggest size available but none for those in between. So sometimes you also need lady luck on your side. I wasn't too fortunate when I dropped by. The black Roshes I wanted didn't have my size. Boo! I also asked the store's staff when they would get new deliveries and she said they usually have fresh batches on Tuesdays. I'm guessing patrons of The Playground already know this so you're gonna want to come in just a couple days after that if you wanna score good items.

I got my Nike Free pink running shoes here at a very good price. I'm no sneakerhead but I think…read moreit's a pretty good pair with great fit and traction. It's super comfortable, light, flexible, and well-cushioned, and I got it at around 3K from an original price of around 5,000. Good deal, right?? This place has so many good shoe options, although their men's shoes are often more well-stocked. Watch out for their seasonal sales and when they get new stocks at the start of each month! They also have lots of exercise wear sold at a discount. It's good to buy here if you want to build on your basic outfits without breaking the bank. I'm eyeing a couple of running shorts here that are about 60% off (yes, 60) the ones at the Nike store! There's always a lot of that around. I like that they sell quality, stylish things despite being an outlet store.

When I started boxing a few years ago, I only had one requirement: pink boxing gloves. I want to be…read moretough, but still be very feminine so I thought it would be cool to have pink gloves. In a world of mostly manly colors of blacks, reds and blues, pink gloves were a rarity. It was only until my friend recommended K-1 Extreme Sports which carries Twins brand that I was finally able to find what I was looking for. And they didn't just have the right color but the right size for me as well. I love that their staff is so knowledgeable about the products and they were able to help me fit the gloves and get the right weight for my skill level. K-1 Extreme Sports also carries several other sporting goods brands such as Atama, Keiko Rama, Koral Fight, Venum, Fairtex, Tapout and more. They specialize in boxing and MMA gear so you'll find different types of grappling gloves, hand wraps, shorts, rash guards, kimonos and other essential fighting gear. They also have sparring equipment like headgears, abdominal guards, belly pads, Thai pads, punch mitts and more. For anyone who is into contact sports, this is the perfect place to get your gear.