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.

I always saw New Balance as kind of like a boring brand. They have been around since 1906 and I…read morecan't remember they every modernized their logo. My mom always swore by New Balance shoes when she was playing tennis, but as a teenager I always wanted cooler and hipper tennis shoes. Now that I have grown a bit older I actually understand where my mom is coming from and I found myself buying New Balance tennis shoes last month. Now I understand it is actually a good thing that this company has been privately held for more than a 100 years. Where other brands focus on the latest trends, this company really just focuses on quality and giving your feet the best support. Especially for tennis where you make a lot of quick turns, these shoes are perfect. So if you look past the boring brand, maybe you'll actually learn to appreciate the quality just like me.

If you think about the name Surplus Store, I'm sure what comes into your mind is an image of…read more.. actually, no one thinks about the Surplus Store. Especially if you're the type who needs for things to have brands on them, this place will be that store in SM you never bothered to enter. Not me, though. I actually love places like these as they ACTUALLY have good stuff. This branch in Megamall is the one I've gone to with the most pieces that caught my eye. If you're looking into upgrading your wardrobe with more basic, staple pieces, stop by this place. Best things to get here? PANTS! Maong your whole closet away! Also they have a lot of selection of shorts, basic tops, cover ups... For those going abroad to winter countries, you can find winter jackets, scarves and gloves here at prices way lower than those designer brands who offer them. I mean, if you're not the type who will purchase these at an ukay-ukay for around 30% of what they cost, then this is your best bet for cheap winterwear. You know what this place is also good for? Holiday shopping! I buy a lot of things here for my family. I normally don't have a lot of money, and I can get a lot of good pieces here with a decent brand at a really good price. This place takes a chunk of names out of my Christmas list. TIP: When purchasing anything, do keep in mind that this place sells export overruns, to there may be something wrong with what you're purchasing. Most of the time it's just inconsistent sizing, but sometimes it may be a deformed button, a button hole that needs to be punched out, etc. Mostly nothing serious, but do inspect your purchases before heading the checkout to be sure.

You know a store is dirt cheap and good when my father loves taking me there. Shucks, it's the only…read moreplace that my father agrees with and the man is a penny pincher when possible. There's nothing wrong with being practical after all. The Surplus Shop is a great place to buy overruns. Overruns, for he benefit of the unknowing, are basically extra copies of shirts or whatever article of clothing that seems to have been overproduced. Companies try to reduce the cost of production by selling the excess (typically last season's stock that didn't sell) at an extremely low price. Surplus Shop is a shop that basically buys thee in bulk from other brands and takes the risk of selling them to the consumers. You'll get to see a lot of good brands being sold at a really low price. If you're brand conscious but on a budget then give this place a try. You can thank me later.

Nike doesn't need any explaining. One of the world's largest supplier of athletic shoes and sports…read moreapparel sponsors many athletes and sports teams around the world, that's why we all know nike and that's why many of us like nike. After watching shia labeouf saying 'Just do It' for over a minute, I somehow felt like visiting the Nike store last time I was in SM Aura. They don't carry all brands here (e.g. Nike Golf, Nike Pro, Nike+, Air Jordan, Nike Blazers, Air Force 1, Nike Dunk,Air Max, Foamposite, Nike Skateboarding), they mainly focus on running shoes. I just love how Nike showcases all their shoes on the wall. It makes it so easy to have a look at the shoes you like and this makes for a great shopping experience. The staff lets you browse around without bothering you, but are there to help you if you want to try on some shoes. Just a great experience, so go and visit, just do it!

#SwooshLove is one of the ways I like to describe myself. I might not show it often to my friends,…read morebut I love frequenting blogs that show the latest shoes by the sporting apparel giant that is Nike. My brother loves it just as much, and even says "Nike" in place "Just do it" to us siblings when he's asking for a favor (not the best way to ask for a favor, by the way). Nike has got the most popular sporting or working out apparel in the Philippines, if not the world. I literally can't go out without seeing at least one Nike product, be it a shirt, cap, pair of shoes, bag, etc. Aside from their workout apparel, people have been buying casual wear from Nike as well, particularly their SB and Janoski selections. Their shoes are of incredibly high quality and last years with proper use. While I like this branch (it's right next to an Adidas and New Balance so there's plenty to look at and compare), there are plenty of outlet stores out there, so find one and join the #SwooshLove movement!

This is the brand of my favorite pair of running shorts, specifically the Great Escape Shorts. They…read moreare black and white and pretty and comfortable and moisture-absorbent and dry-fit. Under Armour is an amazing sporting goods store. The reason that this design stood out to me is because actual runners served as the brains behind their conceptualization and eventually, realization. The fit of these shorts is quite flattering and I've often worn them not just for running but on grocery runs, coffee runs, errands, etc. There's a secret key pocket in the seam and the material is polyester. This is just one of the many high-quality products that you'll find here. Staff's super eager to help too.

Urban Athletics is an athletics store that doesn't really focus on one particular brand or sport…read more It drew my attention cause I've been looking for a new pair of shoes to repair the old ones that I ruined. They have a lot of different shoes to choose from. I saw basketball shoes and shoes for skaters when I walked in. I didn't have the time to check out what else they had but I bet that they have a huge collection. I was drawn to the store because they had this huge TV that greeted passerbys. I got to see one of the shoes that I was looking for and decided to walk in. Effective marketing I would say. That said, the staff was friendly enough and knew enough to give me good answers when I asked questions. If you're on the search for a particular shoe and you can't seem to find it anywhere else, then Urban Athletics would be a great option I feel. The price of their shoes are the same anywhere else, or at least I didn't notice a difference.

Urban Athletics was the shoe store I would frequent before becoming a patron of Sole Academy…read more Located at Greenbelt 3 in Makati, I would make sure to drop by their store and check the latest sneakers available. I love that they have a wide range of stuff in the store compared to Sole Academy that has limited goods. Urban Athletics doesn't just sell sneakers, but goods like bags, sunglasses, flip flops, headgear and many more. They have stocks of famous brands all over the store. I usually drop by here when they have new arrivals since the chances of me getting my size is still high. The staff is accommodating even if I fit a couple of pairs before deciding which pair to get. Urban Athletics has limited branches though in the city so if you want to check them out, do drop by their Greenbelt 3 branch instead.

Where Empire Golf has been stuck in the 80s and 90s, Mizuno has moved on and is a relevant brand in…read morecurrent golfing scene. Mizuno has a long history though, founded in 1906 in Japan. Quality is the most important thing for this company and it shows in the golf equipment they make. Their Grain Flow Forged irons are used by professional golfers, such as Tiger Woods and various others celebs. They also sell high quality golf clothes and other accessories. It's a pleasure browsing in the store because there is a good flow for your eyes and the items are displayed in an attractive manner. The staff is humble and supportive.

My siblings grew up playing tennis when Bonifacio Naval Station was still a Philippine Navy Base…read moreinside Fort Bonifacio. Every weekend, my father would get us out of bed, on to the car and in the courts as early as 7:00 or 8:00 in the morning. And Toby's was always our go-to place for tennis supplies...racquet strings, overgrips and down to tennis balls. Everything we every needed was always there, and in stock. The staff are attentive and even offer advice to your equipment needs. And the price is always reasonable and the products are of great quality. Of course, Toby's doesn't just stock tennis gear. You can also find items here for other sports or for fitness. I always make it a point to browse what's in store...often helps to see what's new with the sports I play, as Toby's stock is always up-to-date with the times. Don't look any further than Toby's for your sports and fitness needs...

Toby's sports is probably the biggest and best store for all your fitness needs! I started playing…read moretennis at six years old, and for as long as I can remember, I've always headed straight to Toby's for any of my sporting goods needs! They carry really good and real quality brands! Toby's has helped me reach a lot of my fitness goals because of their very affordable prices too! I was able to attain my dream of having all sorts of weights and equipment for my home gym! Their personnel are very attentive and helpful in the physical stores of Toby's. But if you want to shop in the comfort of your own home, you can even shop in their online store http://www.tobys.com/!

With the Azkals getting more and more recognition in and around the country, Pinoys are slowly…read morerealizing the joy of the beautiful game. This is no small feat, given that basketball is such a big part of our culture. It's no wonder then that football stores are appearing all around Manila, from the japeks football kits in Makati Cinema Square and Greenhills to more established, original material found in places such as Bootcamp. The latter is where I bought my newest pair of football shoes and clothes, in time for a training camp over at the Chelsea blue pitch in Circuit. Bootcamp holds all sorts of football merchandise - from the newest kits of AC Milan, Barcelona and Manchester United to the gorgeous Nike Hypervenom cleats. They mainly have distribution rights to Nike and Adidas, so if you're a Liverpool (Warrior / New Balance) fan like me, you're unfortunately out of luck.

Unlike the other sports brands in this row on level 4 SM Aura, the apparels at Adidas can also be…read moreused for your day to day lifestyle, other than sports. They are working with big american celebrities like missy elliot and NBA allstars to attract a cool young crowd. The sports wear that they do have is very sleek and you'll definitely feel a lot more awesome working out in it. They also have a good selection of bag packs in the bag and even sell yoga mats. There aren't that many service staff roaming in the store, which I like so I can just browse through the items myself without being bothered. But during check out they are very friendly and helpful. They can improve to make their store feel more welcoming instead of just having a clean organized look and feel to it.

Adidas is definitely one of my favorite sporting brands along with the likes of Nike and Under…read moreArmour. I find that their shoes are just as sturdy as Nike, and while popularly, aren't nearly as popular as Nike, and it's nice not bumping into people with the exact same pair of kicks. Their sporting wear is pretty good quality too, and I appreciate that it's not too popular and found everywhere. I particularly like this branch of Adidas in Metro Manila because it addresses not only the really sporty, outdoors-y fans on the brand, but also the casual ones like me as well. I like the clean, factory like vibe of the branch, because in similar ambiances I'm usually crowded by people competing to get the best deal and sometimes overbearing staff members, but here I can enjoy browsing quietly without anyone bothering me. It certainly helps too that there's a Nike store connected right to it as well, and a New Balance store right next to it.