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.

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.

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!

How cool is it for athletes to sport a gear that are all the same with their teammates? I only see…read morethis happen for professional athletes who have the luxury of getting sponsorships from brands that provide customized colors and styles of shoes, socks and gear for the whole team. A few years ago, a store with this concept was opened to the public to provide shoes and apparel specifically for players who want to have that complete team vibe once they step on the court. This store is called 1 United Team, the 1st ever team-oriented store in the country. Located in Pasong Tamo, the store offers different sports apparels and shoes (which are mostly Nike) that can be packaged for an entire team with a minimum of 6 heads. Once you walk in the store, you'll see what other sports stores usually offer - various color-ways of shoes, hot gym bags, elite socks and jersey uniforms. But what's special about 1 United is that they offer customized jerseys using the fabric and material that are usually sold in Nike stores. If you and your friends have plans to join a basketball league, you can check 1 United and have them design your basketball uniforms. When I found out about this, I immediately told my brother and my boyfriend to check them out. Since they love joining leagues, I figured this is a cool way of owning the competition. They usually offer a set package with 1 jersey, a pair of shorts and shoes that are on the same color-way as the apparel. The good thing about getting the set package is that jerseys are always open for customization so you can add a team name at the back, a logo (if you're team is THAT into it) plus your name and number at the back. They also offer big discounts for group buys of at least 6 members for shoes and apparel, perfect for your team's starting 5. Discounted rate for team packages can get up to 20%! Sweet deal, right?! Usual colors you can see as soon as you enter the store are black, white, red and blue. I guess those are the more popular ones. While 1 United has a ton of Nike apparel fit for customization, they also carry other brands such as Adidas, Puma and Mizuno.

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.

There are many stores that sell Li-Ning sporting goods, but I still like to visit their standalone…read moreshop in SM Mall of Asia. The store offers more choices. It's perfect for very finicky shoppers like me who want best performing shoes and apparel when playing badminton. Li-Ning satisfies my need for good quality sports products at affordable prices. I always look for good value for my money, especially when it comes to a hobby sport like badminton. I have tried other brands before, but I was not very happy with their performance. My first badminton training shoes were actually made by a well-known brand and, in just two months, the sole in one shoe decided to separate from its toe box, making it look like a huge flapping tongue whenever I took a step. Li-Ning has different equipment and accessories for many other sports like basketball, volleyball, and running. They also sell jerseys, jackets, and backpacks. But the only reason I visit their shop is to buy badminton training shoes, shuttles, and rackets. I got my two favorite badminton rackets from this store.

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.