This place seems to have sprung up overnight. Located in premises that have housed countless…read morebusinesses over the last few years Sweatshop will be trying to catch the attention of Belfast shoppers. This is a specialist running shop that sells all sorts of running clothing, trainers and accessories. It seems pretty well stocked - with all major brands available. One thing I noticed they had which I liked was an in-store treadmill. I like the idea of slipping on a pair of trainers and trying them out before you buy them. Sort of like a test drive in a car - makes sense to do this really. I noticed that a lot of the stock had been discounted in the same style that Sports Direct discount - by that I mean that items are automatically applied with discount to appeal to bargain hunters. When I entered the shop the staff were keen to help me and I was asked on two occasions was I ok or 'just having a look'. If you're a keen runner get a jog on and head down to Sweatshop, you'll probably find something you need - remember the Belfast Marathon is only 3 short months away?!

This is a fantastic sports shop for any avid runner or gym bunny! They have an excellent range of…read morecurrent season trainers for great reduced prices. Quality brands like brooks, asics, new balance, karrimor along with the usual Nike, adidas. The staff are trained to fit shoes for fallen arches, stability, neutral running etc. They have a decent range of outdoor trek shoes too. Lots of snazzy gym gear for both male/female.

O'Neills is a sporting goods shop primarily famed for its dedication to Gaelic Gear equipment and…read moresportswear. Located next to world-famous (kind of) Casement Park, this shop does a big trade from gaelic supporters which there are plenty of in Andersonstown. The shop has a typical sports shop lay-out, with displays and racks of goods stocked around the floor. There is always a problem with sports shops that they are all quite expensive and the majority of their products can be found if you shop around on the internet. O'Neills does have expensive enough tracksuits and equipment, but the gaelic jerseys are pretty much as cheap and you are going to find anywhere else. The staff are more than happy to let you browse about and are very approachable if you require any assistant. One particular member of staff was more than happy to look out the back to see if they had a rain jacket I was looking for in my size. Turned out they didn't but he was happy to order it for me. I told him it was grand and got it off their website instead but the staff are really nice and more than helpful. I can see why there are more and more of these sports shops opening up all over Ireland as it is a very well run, efficient, pleseant shopping experience.

A lot of visitors to Belfast like to bring back souvenirs when they're going home. For many of…read morethem, if they have friends or relatives who originally hail from here (or, indeed, if they hail from here themselves) they like to bring back items that are specific to a particular area or region as a symbol of their roots or ancestry. That's why the souvenir of choice for a lot of people is GAA shirts. Most opt for the county tops, with some even going as far as getting local club tops. O'Neill's is a stockist of such items, and sells county jerseys for around £25 - £40 (depending what time of year you buy them I think - if you can leave it until late August, which is near the end of the GAA season, then they're at the lower end of this price range). It also supplies some sporting equipment, including hurling sticks, as well as some rugby and soccer items.

Ok, so first up I don't own a boat and I don't have any intention of going to sea just yet. What…read morewas I doing in a sailboats shop I hear you ask? Well I was on a mission, a mission to get my sister in laws work colleague a gift voucher. I got assigned this mission due to my living quarters being close to Mccready's. Living close by I have walked by loads of times, there's always people tinkering with small sail boats in the front yard but I had never actually been inside the shop. I was surprised when I walked in and saw how many products were on sale. They have everything from wetsuits, full boats and sailing fashion (yes, that's a thing - never visited North Down?). The staff were friendly - they probably knew I wasn't a sailor due to my lack of striped top yet they were able to help me get a gift voucher. If you're shopping for for any nautical fanatic them it's best to pay Mccready's a visit, I'm not aware of any other stores in the region that have as much choice.

My other half is big into hiking and hill-walking, and was massively excited for the opening of…read morethis superstore! They stock pretty much everything you could possibly need for a large range of outdoor pursuits such as cycling, camping, hiking, horse riding, biking and fishing, to name but a few. They stock equipment such as tents (some of the biggest I've ever seen!) camping cooking equipment, fishing rods, bait, helmets, electrical gadgets etc. They also have a large range of clothing for men, women and children, with brands such as Berghaus, Regatta, North Ridge and Osprey. The store is massive and well laid out into the various different sections, oh and dogs are welcome (bowls of food and water available just as you walk in!)

Friendly staff but the company will rib you off on every item…read more I thought the stuff was expensive when i bought it even tho id bought there discount card for £5 which said would give me a massive discount . When i got home i seen i could buy the same stuff far far cheaper elsewhere. . But when i checked there website it said that if you find the same item cheaper elsewere , they would refund the differance plus an extra 10%. First the online process wouldn't actually work, i emailed the company but they said to use the website ( that id already been using) emailed them again,, every time they kept making stuff to get out of it.. in the end they said they wouldnt honer the agreement because the colour didnt match the one that id bought !! unbelievablely shady service go on here Go Outdoor ..... should be Go Elsewhere as its cheaper

I used to run for a club before I discovered the pleasures of alcohol and nightclubs. I have…read morerecently joined a gym and discovered the joy of running once again. unfortunately my running shoes were a pair of converse boots and I knew this was not the right kind of footwear required to chase and catch Bolt and beat him to the post, so I headed up to Up and Running for a serious pair of runners. They sorted me out nicely with a new pair of Adidas, some lycra (never thought I'd be back in the stretchy stuff) jogging bottoms and a nifty little hand-formed water bottle. Decent prices, helpful well informed staff and a well stocked runners emporium. Catch me if you can!

Never been much into running myself though I did dabble a bit when I was (much) younger. This is…read morethe kind've shop I would have loved though had I the required budget. It's basically a huge shrine to everything related with running be it shoes, clothing or any number of accessories. It's in rather an unusual location in town, pretty much right in the middle of the main shopping area so that's testament to the fact it must do some great business. In fact the day I was in browsing there was a whole mob of Japanese tourist who seemed to be stocking up on a load of kit. Rather impressive and the guy behind the tills smile spoke volumes. Pros: Expert gear and advice. Cons: Pretty much just running stuff

Ringsport on the Antrim Road sells a wide range of boxing equipment for both the professional and…read moreamateur styles of the sport. It's on top of another shop which is quite strange, I always feel strange walking up some stairs that seem like they could be anyone's home into a shop. The guy who owns the store knows all there is about boxing, so you can just ring off vaguely what your looking for and your budget and just sit back whilst he gathers everything you need. Whilst I was there he informed me that a lot of the stuff they sell in the shop is cheaper in their online shop which was frightfully honest of him considering I could have just left and did that. Really friendly, knowledgeable staff which is great for the epic novices like myself.

I'm so clumsy, that at any moment, whilst sitting on this sofa I could fall off and break most…read morebones. So sitting on a bicycle with a petrol tank attached is not a sensible idea for me. But I was close by so I popped in. Apart from having the coolest name in town, Hein Gericke had everything the motorbike enthusiast could need, from new bikes to every form of safety gear needed to slightly reduce your risk of becoming a statistic. There's also an information board displaying lessons and other invaluable information for those who of me Conor K disposition.

From the owner: Caters for Motorcycle Enthusiastsread more

Now This is a real oldie, it is located next to Bangor's oldest building and it would not be far…read moreoff being Bangor's oldest shop. Trap and tackle sells all the things you could possibly need for fishing. When I was young I called trap and tackle the gun shop. This is because it had a massive selection of pellet guns and hunting knives. It is the sort of shop that you see Ray Mears and Bear Grylls queueing at the counter Kitting themselves out for a lads weekend in the wilderness.

Perfectly situated right by the pier for rods, reels, nets and bait - basically everything you need…read morefor a days fishing you will be able to pick up in this wee shop. With fishing off the pier or chartering a boat being a popular past time in Bangor, particularly in the sunny summer months, there is real need for a shop like this that has something to offer for occassional fisherman or the seasoned professional. I used to go in here when I was younger to get stuff when me and my friends spent summer days fishing off the pier and the staff were always friendly and happy to help out. The prices are pretty standard, so you definitely won't be ripped off and won't be sold anything you don't actually need.