Shop and Climb

my camping stuff

Mountain climbing is not a very cheap recreation. If you really want to take it seriously, you have to be financially ready. The prices of mountaineering backpacks, shoes and clothes may get you culture-shocked. But just like how mountain climbers wait for Piso Fare to deal with expensive airfares, there is always a way to get around the price tag. The following list of shops might help you make the most out of your cash. In this article, I hope to be of some help especially to those who are planning to do some splurging this money season. Below is a list of the shops I have gone to and intend to go to.

Columbia Sportswear Company

Columbia shop @ SM North (Annex)

One shop that I frequent is that of Columbia Sportswear Company. I usually go to their SM (West) Annex branch. I also go to their SM Megamall and Gateway Mall (Cubao) branches quite often. Once, I’ve also been to their branches in Festival Supermall (Alabang), Mall of Asia, Greenbelt 5 and even SM Cebu and Lim Ket Kai Mall (Cagayan de Oro).  You can also find Columbia Sportswear products at The Travel Club, R.O.X. and Bratpack. Whenever I see a Columbia shop, I would always check out the latest goings-on there even though I have no intention to buy anything. As soon as I step out of the shop, I resolve to visit again soon with a target buy in mind.

What I like about Columbia is the revolutionary design and technology of their products. Their products feature one or more of the following: light weight, waterproofing, thermal insulation, stain-proofing and rip stop. The first backpack I bought was their ultra-light 45L backpack made with silicone-coated lightweight, rip stop fabric. Almost all of the trekking/running shoes I’ve bought are from Columbia.

They always have items on sale

The price is very reasonable. A pair of discounted Nike running shoes is more expensive than a pair of the average Columbia trekking shoes. This price is usually half (or less) the price of the average The North Face or Salomon shoes. And even at this low price, they still give discounts. The price of their shoes could go down to P1500 a pair. And not just the shoes, their Omni-wick crew, caps and hydration packs also get marked down to 50%. Their Mobex was released at P8000. I bought it in December last year for P4000. And these big discounts are what you should always watch out for in Columbia. They never run out of one. Never buy their regular-priced items.

And I’m a few hundred pesos away from getting a Columbia discount card which will give me a 10% discount on any of their regular-priced products. But I’m not very excited about this. Their big discounts are better than the perks I get from their discount card.

Columbia Sportswear Branches in the Philippines

SM North/West Annex (2nd floor)	709 4358
SM Megamall Bldg. A (UGF)	638 6234
Gateway Mall (2nd floor)	913 6648
Festival Supermall (2nd floor)	772 3400
SM Mall of Asia (2nd floor)	556 0299
Greenbelt 5 (2nd floor)	729 9308
ROX (Bonifacio High Street)	856 4639
ROX Active Zone (Ayala Center Cebu)	(032) 412 6247
SM City Cebu, The North Wing (Ground floor)	(032) 236 3843
Lim Ket Kai Mall, Cagayan de Oro (Ground floor)	(088) 856 8389

The North Face

This TNF cap is the first of the three things I've bought in TNF

The North Face is a dominant brand in the mountaineering industry around the world. And The Philippines is second to China when it comes to the number of The North Face retail shops in its territory. The North Face products are very reliable. They are built to last the elements and they come in sleek designs. 

The North Face @ SM North Annex

But their products are just a bit too pricey. In fact, I have just bought three items from them. I bought a cap last year and I filled out a form which entitled me to a 20% discount on any regular-priced TNF products during my birth month. And I used this privilege last October. The 50L backpack cover I bought from them sells at P1700 and with my 20% discount, I got it for a little over P1300. Six months ago I got a P1000 TNF gift certificate from my protégé Josiah Ballagan, and I used it to buy a pair of running shorts worth P2350. You see, their price is just beyond my means so I prefer Columbia to The North Face. Tip: if you buy something at The North Face or Columbia, always demand for something else. They give away outdoors magazines, stickers and even newspaper, whichever is available.

The North Face Branches in the Philippines

Glorietta 4 (2nd Floor)	752 8226
Shangri-la Plaza (Ground Level)	637 5606
SM Megamall Bldg. A (UGF)	914 4591
SM North/West Annex (2nd floor)	332 2925
SM Mall of Asia (Ground floor EM)	915 1947
SM City Cebu (The North Wing, Ground floor )	(032) 236 3542
SM City Cagayan de Oro (Ground floor)	(088) 859 3081
SM City Davao (Ground floor)	(082) 297 3244

Timberland

Timberland @ Shangri-la Plaza

Another shop worth visiting is Timberland. Their price is between The North Face and Columbia. I have bought two pairs of shoes from Timberland. I always watch out for their big sale which can give you up to 40% discount on their quality products. The reason why I support Timberland is their dedication to the greening of the Earth. For instance, in partnership with Green Network (a Japan-based NGO), they have religiously carried out this mammoth undertaking to hold back a dessert in Mongolia by planting trees starting more than a decade ago. Like in some parts of China, huge areas of farmland are lost in Mongolia near the Horqin Desert due to desertification. Moreover, Timberland aim to be a model for the outdoors industry and have been among the first to adopt ‘nutritional labels’ that show the footprint of products: its climate impact, resource consumption and the chemicals used in its manufacture.

Timberland's commitment to the greening of the Earth

Timberland branches in the Philippines

SM North/West Annex (2nd floor)	332 2206
SM Megamall Bldg. B (2nd floor)	636 3081
Shangri-la Plaza (3rd floor)	637 8854
SM Marikina (2nd floor)	477 1969
SM City Cebu (Ground floor)	(032) 236 6970

Recreational Outdoor Exchange (R.O.X.)

photo courtesy of R.O.X.

Recreational Outdoor Exchange in Bonifacio High Street, Taguig more popularly known as R.O.X. is Southeast Asia’s biggest outdoor sports and recreation hub. It carries a wide range of local and international sportswear and equipment brands. If you love hiking, cycling, kayaking, diving, running, swimming or any outdoor activities, R.O.X .is the place to be! It’s got everything you need from apparel to hardware. At ROX, you can find products of The North Face, Columbia, Merrell, Salomon, Mountain Hardwear, Petzl, Deuter and Black Diamond. I’m not sure if I saw Patagonia, Eureka and Gregory there. They also carry local products such as Habagat and Sandugo. I bought my Black Diamond Infinity 50 at R.O.X. last October just when I was about to buy a Mountain Hardwear Diretissima online.

R.O.X. was a co-sponsor of the 2nd Annual Hungduan Climbathon

And R.O.X. is not just about sports products. It is also the registration center for almost all the running events (road/trail/sky run) across the country. Their friendly and accommodating staff will help you get what you need at the right price and at the right time. Check out R.O.X. today!

Chris Sports

I am a loyal customer of Chris Sports. I have renewed my Chris Sports discount card three times since I availed of it in 2005. When I bought my Coleman Pioneer 2 tent, the sales personnel advised me to avail of their discount card. I paid P300 for the card, and right there and then, I got P400 (10%) off the tent’s original price (P4000). I have bought a lot of stuff from Chris since then. Practically everything I need is in Chris Sports. I bought at least five pairs of Groundzero shorts (which they don’t carry anymore…they have Enduro now), a lot of protein shakes, some dumbbell plates and recently, things that I need for running and swimming. I just bought a latex swimming cap, a new pair of ear plugs, some energy gels (for my runs), calf, shin and ankle supports and compression—all of them at a 10% discount. At Chris, there is a wide variety of sports equipment to help you perform at your best. They’ve got all you need for almost all popular ball games including billiards. They also got something for your nutritional needs such as protein and carb mixes and energy gels. A lot of gym equipment is also sold at Chris and for people who love camping and backpacking; they’ve got Coleman and Eusebio tents, sleeping bags, Deuter backpacks and even fishing rods.

So if you like sports and the outdoors and you want big value for your money, then avail of this Chris Sports discount card. This card really gives me big savings on my purchases. Unlike some rewards/points card where you’ll have to spend two hundred pesos to get a one-peso point.

My Chris Card

For Chris Sports store directory click here

Olympic Village

Olympic Outlet @ Robinson's Pioneer

Olympic Village/Outlet is the bigger version of Chris Sports. They offer big discounts on a lot of sports products especially shoes and clothes. You can also find pulled out products of Salomon, The North Face, Columbia and Oakley there. The Olympic Outlet in Robinson’s Forum (Pioneer, Mandaluyong) is probably their biggest store. Before I became a fan of Columbia shoes, I had bought three pairs of Hi-Tec shoes from the Olympic Outlet at no higher than P2000 a pair. Unfortunately, Hi-Tec doesn’t have distribution channels in the country any longer.   

Olympic Village store directory

Other Local Shops

The new Conquer shop @ Robinson's Pioneer

The other local shops that I go to are Conquer (Robinson’s Pioneer) and Khumbu (Sandugo) at Trinoma. The staff in Habagat (SM Megamall) is not customer-friendly and they usually don’t understand what you’re trying to describe to them so I stopped visiting. Bombproof in Robinson’s Galleria has one the most accommodating staff and crew. But their location is not so convenient so I seldom go there. I used to buy mountaineering equipment at Montanara in Farmer’s Plaza (Cubao), but their once spacious store has been reduced to something like a small ‘kikay’ shop staffed by non-mountaineers, I see flower prints on many of their products. And the last time I passed by their stall, it was already closed. So now, I am left with Khumbu and Conquer which both offer a wide range of mountaineering and backpacking products—from backpacks and tents to ropes, carabiners and bladder brushes. It is advisable to buy your mountaineering essentials such as camping stoves, cook set, headlamps, lanterns, and apparel at these shops.

Khumbu @ Trinoma

But if you’re looking for a local shop that carries international brands like Osprey, Gregory, Millet etc., you can visit C-27 shop in Cartimar (Pasay). Many of my friends also recommend a similar shop in Muñoz (Quezon City). I think the shop’s name is Xplore OutdoorGears. If you are ever in Cagayan de Oro City, don’t forget to hang out at Viajero.

Motorella in front of Viajero

They’ve got the friendliest crew in the country. Mountaineers themselves, they know what you’re looking for. And it pays to know these people. They get you in the loop in the active mountaineering community in Mindanao. They’ll be more than willing to give you tips on your travels in Mindanao specifically on budgeting. I spent two nights in Camiguin without paying the rent because of these friendly people in Cagayan de Oro. In Malaybalay, Bukidnon, you’ll find the humble but hardcore Ronan Montero running Panahik Outdoors Shop. Malaybalay is one of the gateways to the famous D2K expedition. Of course there are a lot of other outdoors shops in Metro Manila and around the country, but I am listing here only the ones I intentionally visit.

But if you’re not very particular about checking the item personally, olx.ph (formerly sulit.com.ph) is for you! Just type in anything you need and they’ll give you more than just one option. I got my handheld GPS device from Sulit. I just phoned the seller and I picked up the item at the pick-up point. Some sellers offer warranty some don’t. But it is always good to check the item personally. Someone was selling a Mountain Hardwear Direttissima to me over at Sulit. The price was really good.—just P5000 from its original P12000 price! I checked the specs online and it told me things that I would want to hear. But when I checked the item at ROX, I realized, there were things that the website of Mountain Hardwear didn’t mention. I realized that the pack was very good for alpine climbing but probably not for tropical mountains. So I backed out and bought a Black Diamond Infinity 50 at ROX instead.

Hiking is a hobby and once you get hooked to it, you’ll feel peer pressure and you won’t be content with wearing your jersey shorts up the mountains anymore. You’ll start drooling over those trekking pants and shoes. You’ll start buying stuff and you won’t be able to stop. So it is always good to shop wisely. And yes, mountaineering may be expensive but forget about the price tag! Think about the experience, the people you meet and the kind of life you had always dreamed of living and finally embraced.