Perhaps unsurprisingly, comprehensive outdoor good stores can be tricky to locate, which makes Au Vieux Campeur – a chain of outdoor stores with 23 outlets scattered around the 5th arrondissement – such a great find. Each boutique has its own speciality, be it mountain climbing gear, running equipment, hiking shoes, camping foods and sports nutrition or men’s and women’s thermal underwear. The website has a comprehensive list of all store locations, specialities, opening hours, delivery services, catalogues and product information. Staff are extremely knowledgeable and content to spend significant amounts of time ensuring all your questions are answered. If you are serious about outdoor activities these are the only addresses you’ll need. Be warned that weekends are chaotic so, if you haven’t time to spare, aim for a mid-week visit.

Offering a more generic range of goods are the chains Decathalon and Go Sport, where buyers can find both equipment and clothing for selected outdoor sports. Specialists in both winter and summer board sports, Quiksilver and Hawaii Surf both have multiple locations around Paris with staff equipped to dispense sounds advice. Hawaii Surf also offer an online buying service. For independent retailers head to Bastille where a small cluster of boutiques can be found.