Are you looking for the best things to buy from Decathlon? We are huge fans of Decathlon Sporting Goods and get lots of our adventure gear from there.
We first discovered Decathlon when we moved to France. We were young (pre-kid) students with a very limited budget. We were able to buy great items from Decathlon and still pay for our rent at the end of the month. I remember the first item I bought: a Decathlon fleece in 2014 and I still wear it.
Here is our round-up Decathlon gear review. Plus, I’m sharing with you our best things to buy from Decathlon if you are an adventure family.
Decathlon Sporting Goods is an outdoor industry leader and sells gear for more than 10 different sports. We personally love their hiking gear, car, and camping gear, and water sports gear.
You can find almost everything you need sports-wise at Decathlon. But today, we’re sharing with you items we love from Decathlon and that we’ve been using for years.
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Best Things to Buy From Decathlon: Hiking Gear
▶️ Start shopping at Decathlon for outdoor and camping gear!
Decathlon offers a lot of options for hiking for the entire family. They have different pricing points and user levels for adults and kids.
From hiking jackets to hiking shoes and day backpacks, you’ll be able to get geared up from head to toe at Decathlon.
Decathlon even sells hiking poles and snow crampons when hiking in the winter. They also have great hiking clothes.
A few of our favorites are:
1. Hiking Jacket
We purchased these trekking jackets because they are lightweight, fold really concisely in our gear, and make for a perfect fall or spring jacket for both rain and shine. At a price point of around $80.00, it’s a great outdoor and hiking jacket.
The same model is offered for men and women. They also have a similar option for kids.
Luckily, at less than 80$, we don’t feel that gut-wrenching “awwwww mannnnnn….” feeling we would with something more expensive.
▶️ Start shopping at Decathlon for outdoor and camping gear!
2. Decathlon Hiking Boots: Women’s Snow Hiking X-Warm Boots SH500
I’m in love with my new pair of Decathlon hiking boots. It’s the perfect item for my winter hiking list.
These boots are a blend of fashion and function for those chilly trail days. Who says you can’t look good while trekking through snow?
Here’s why these boots have become a staple in my winter wardrobe:
✅ Style: They look fantastic – seriously, these boots turn heads on the trails.
✅ Warmth: Your feet stay cozy, even when the temperature drops. I’ve tested them in some pretty cold conditions, and my toes were toasty the whole time.
✅ Grip: The soles offer solid traction, which is a must for icy or slippery paths.
But, they do have a couple of downsides:
❌ Waterproofing: While they can handle light snow and slush, they’re not 100% waterproof. I learned this the hard way when crossing a particularly slushy patch.
❌ Ankle Support: If you’re tackling rough terrain, be aware that these boots offer limited ankle support. They’re great for casual hikes, but maybe not for the more treacherous trails.
Also, a little heads-up on sizing – they fit small. I usually wear a size 5.5, but I had to go for a size 6.5 in these boots. So, I’d recommend going one size up for the perfect fit.
▶️ Start shopping at Decathlon for hiking boots!
3. Fleece Jackets
Fleece jackets are perfect when hiking in the fall and spring. They are also a great middle layer in the winter.
I love my fleece jackets from Decathlon. I repurchased two in 2014 when I was living in France and still use them regularly.
4. Hiking Backpack
Decathlon has some great options for hiking backpacks, but also for traveling backpacks for under $200. I have the Decathlon Hiking Backpack 20 L MH 500 and I love it. It’s comfortable, big enough to carry my hiking stuff (plus the kids’ things).
They also have day backpacks for kids. They’re only about $5 and come in 2 different colors. They are perfect for the kids to carry their own snacks and water when they go on a hike.
▶️ Start shopping at Decathlon for your family hiking gear!
Must-Haves Decathlon Camping Gear
5. Tents
Decathlon has so many options when it comes to camping tents that it can be overwhelming.
If you need help deciding which Decathlon tent you should get, read our article here to help you decide.
We purchased for our family the Arpenaz 4.2 Tent (for when we are not using our converted campervan). It’s a nice big family tent with two rooms. It’s a bit harder to set up than the pop-up tents but more spacious. I tried to set it up by myself and it was successful. But if you are with another adult, it’s not too hard.
▶️ Start shopping at Decathlon for outdoor and camping gear!
6. Headlamp
Here’s the thing about headlamps: you never need them until you really need them. I picked this one up as an impulse buy because it was conveniently placed by the register (that’s how they get you…).
I thought it was a really great idea though because we’ve been caught in the dark with car troubles, trying to sort through tents with no lantern, or just wanting to read at night without waking up our kids.
I’ve been using this one every night to read and, so far so good! I also love that it’s rechargeable, because the one thing I can never seem to find is replacement batteries (even when I’m NOT searching in the dar).
7. Microfiber Towel
We picked up a few microfiber towels for camping because you just never know when you’ll need to dry off. They are light, compact, fold up easily, and are pretty comfortable. They’ll be perfect for beach days, drying off from the rain, or even just using after a shower.
They’re also great because they dry quickly. That means we can use them and pack them in the car without worrying about dealing with the “wet smell” that standard beach towels give off.
8. Stainless Steel Hiking Cookset
Having a nice bowl, utensils, and a pan that go together is always practical when camping. Also, you just don’t know when your wife will want an impromptu picnic (well, I’ll be honest… that happens quite a bit).
There are plenty of other great camping gear at Decathlon such as camping chairs, camping table, coolers and so much more.
Start shopping at Decathlon for your family camping gear!
Other Decathlon Gear & Sports
▶️ Start shopping at Decathlon for outdoor and camping gear!
9. Forclaz 500 Extend 40-60L Duffel Bag
The Forclaz 500 Extend 40-60L Duffel Bag from Decathlon is a great item for traveling, whether it’s for a road trip or a flight.
This unique extendable design is like having two bags in one!
Here’s why it’s my go-to bag for almost every trip:
✅ Extendable Capacity: Starts at 40L, but when you need more space, just unzip and boom – you’ve got 60L.
✅ Durability: Made with robust materials, it’s survived more than a few rough handlings at airports and rugged outdoor trips.
✅ Comfort: The padded shoulder straps make it comfortable to carry as a backpack – a lifesaver when you’re lugging gear across campsites or through airports.
✅ Practicality: Multiple compartments and pockets make organizing a breeze. Plus, it’s easy to find your stuff without digging through a bottomless pit.
✅ Carry-on luggage: Most airlines accept this bag as carry-on luggage. However, we recommend that you check the authorized dimensions with your chosen airline. It might not work if it’s extended to the 60 L capacity.
But, it’s not without its quirks:
❌ If it’s fully packed, it’s not super comfortable when used as a daypack. It wasn’t a deal-breaker, but something to keep in mind if you plan to use it mainly as a full backpack.
▶️ Start shopping at Decathlon for your travel bag!
10. Bikes
A few summers ago, we bought Emilie a road bike from Decathlon. Here’s what we were looking for:
- A good quality bike that wouldn’t break down often
- Something that was easy to ride so it wouldn’t discourage us from using it
- Something that wasn’t $18,000 because we’re not doing the Tour de France
In the past, that’s always what’s been tough when looking for bikes. They’re either way too cheap and break every year OR they’re way too expensive and we can’t justify the cost.
Decathlon has a range of bikes that give you a happy medium.
11. Ice Skates
We all got ice skates from Decathlon as Christmas presents. We’ve been loving ice skating this past winter. One of the great things about the kids’ ice skates from Decathlon is that they are adjustable in size.
The liner is adjustable to three sizes. It allows the skates to grow with your child’s feet. This feature not only provides value for money but also ensures a better fit for a longer period, enhancing both safety and comfort.
We also got helmets for the kids.
12. Paddle Board
Ok, this is by far our family’s favorite purchase so far. It doesn’t do us much good in the Canadian winters, but it’s the perfect piece of gear for spring, summer, and fall. This beginner paddleboard is easy to control and feels stable (even with the kids on it).
Emilie has taken this paddleboard along with our other paddleboard out with the kids by herself, and we both had an awesome day with the kids at the beach. It doesn’t “surf” on waves as well as I’d hoped, but that’s never been what it’s supposed to do.
Instead, this fun activity can be used in pools, ponds, lakes, rivers, and oceans. It’s given our family hours of entertainment away from screens, and it’s something both of our boys have really enjoyed.
13. Running Shoes
I’m big on running and Emilie is starting to get into it. My goal is to do a triathlon with the boys when the events open again (I did one last summer and got hooked), and Emilie wants to do a 10k with me in preparation.
We looked at a few pairs of shoes.
The pairs I finally got cost roughly $95 CAD and say they’ll support 1,000 KM nicely. It’s been about a week and I’ve put on around 20–30k, so we’ll see how they hold up in 6 months or so. They aren’t the prettiest design (in my honest opinion), but who cares. They’re so lightweight that no one will be able to see them as you zip on by.
▶️ Start shopping at Decathlon for outdoor and camping gear!
Decathlon Gear: The Final Review
We’re big fans of Decathlon’s quality and diversity of gear. But the other thing that we like is knowing that even though prices are low, they aren’t (to our knowledge) hurting the environment or using child labor to make their products.
That’s a pretty big factor for us, so if you’ve heard otherwise, please let us know!
We really hope you enjoyed this Decathlon gear review . Hopefully, it’s clear that their gear is sustainable and cost-effective. Their unbeatable prices and superior quality products make them highly competitive in the retail sports industry.
If you have some great advice for getting travel gear, let us know in the comments section or on Instagram!
Nathan was born and raised in California. He met his wife on his first trip abroad in Ischia, Italy, and has been wandering around ever since! He enjoys writing, playing music, reading, and pretends to watch less Netflix than he actually does.