Ok, friends, I am having a mind.blown! kind of day. There's a sporting goods store we frequent here called Decathlon (maybe you know it-- forgive me if you already do). It started in France in 1979 & is, basically, found around the world these days. What makes Decathlon special is their INCREDIBLE prices on ALL things for your outdoor adventures. For example, I picked up my women's hybrid mountain/road bike last year (pictured), with 8 speeds, for 100 Euros & we paid the same for Caiden's mountain bike. Neither of our bikes are fancy or even come from a notable brand (anyone heard of B-TWIN?) but they're fine. They get us from point A to point B & I don't worry about them being stolen (we did buy up a heavy duty lock for just 20 Euros). Also, in January, Caiden had a 4-day ski trip to the Dolomites with his classmates. We had most of his ski stuff, but still needed to grab up him a helmet (19 Euros) & good, winter gloves (9 Euros) & waterproof pants (9 Euros). We bought a fun rubber ball/paddle set for our beach days, which was 5 Euros, as well as 2 tennis racquets, which were 10 Euros each. Bike helmets for kids are 6 Euros, an adult wind breaker is 8 Euros, Adidas-like, after swim slip ons are 4 Euros! Again, it's not to say these are the most amazing, leading edge pieces of equipment (Decathlon brands include unheardofs like Quechua, Kalenji, Wed’ze although they do also carry some bigger names too) but they do the job. It's especially nice to have an option like this when someone is getting started on a sport & it's uncertain they'll like or stick with it (more quality products can be purchased when there's a true commitment) or there are financial constraints that would make it such that affording the gear could prohibit participation.
Decathlon, at least in Italy, has a cool t-shirt press, too. You can buy a 6 Euro short or long-sleeved t-shirt & choose your design or wording & for an additional 6 Euros have a customized piece of clothing in mere minutes. They also do personalized trophies & horse blankets.
We were in Decathlon yesterday & I snapped endless photos of the double-take prices I saw on many aisles (a child's ski jacket is 20 Euros, adult powder pants are 20 Euros). I was especially keen to share images of the winter stuff as I know so many Truckee-ites get tired of the exorbitant pricing at our local sporting good stores (& sprint to the Reno Costco as soon as they hear ski pants, jackets & fleeces are in stock). Maybe this year's fall getaway could include a nice weekend in the Bay with a stop at the Emeryville Decathlon; it really is a must-see.
If you go, please tell me all about it! And, I'll say it in advance because I know some of you will be thrilled with this sporting good epiphany -- you're welcome. :-)
PS These items in no way replace top labels like Patagonia (I am a Patagonia NUT with a cold weather wardrobe that's oveflowing with their fleeces & down), but having tried Decathlon's goods, I can honestly say the quality is quite admirable.
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