The ten best sports shops in Paris

82 rue des Haies, 20eme

If the words ‘roller derby’ still mean nothing to you, get your skates on and catch up. A recent addition to the Buzenval area, niche boutique Passage des étoiles is a shrine to this increasingly popular sport-on-wheels. On its freshly painted shelves you’ll find the all-important component: ‘quad’ rollerskates, specially designed with eight small wheels to keep you perpetually upright (pretty essential for a sport like this). 

37 boulevard Bourdon, 4eme

Nomade Shop has been Paris’s temple to roller-skating, skateboarding and scootering for several years now. Located in Bastille – right by the starting point of weekly rollerblading excursion ‘Rollers & Coquillages’ - the store offers a very handy ‘skate-hiring service as well as a superb range of accessories and protective gear, from helmets (€35) to ‘anti-vibration soles’ (€20). Get your elbow pads, wrist pads and kneepads here too – they’re all of a much better quality than you’ll find in mainstream sportswear chains. 

30 shops around 48 rue des Ecoles, 5eme

This Aladdin’s cave for lovers of the outdoors is perfect for fearless explorers and casual weekend walkers alike. From walking shoes and swimming costumes to spear-fishing equipment and caving apparatus, Au Vieux Campeur has everything you need to survive on land, in snow and underwater. It’s spread out around a ‘village’ comprising of thirty-odd shops so check out their website to make sure of where you’re going, or be prepared to spend the entire afternoon wandering Maubert-Mutualité…