It is the time of year when Bulgaria really comes of age. Most tourists come drawn by the country’s summer delights, the beaches, the sand and the sea, the women in scant bikinis and the cold sangria on some cosy cocktail bar by the seafront -  and that is just fine by all accounts. For others, however, winter offers the most picturesque, serene, wild, extreme and unparalleled opportunities for sports, adventure and recreation.

Whether you are keen on skiing, snowboarding, mountain climbing -  to a lesser extend or to an extreme level, or any intermediate stage in between for that matter -  you will need sound quality kit and that is simply non-negotiable. Your equipment can literally save your life so it’s not advisable to take any chances or attempt saving money in the purchase.

One enormous advantage Sofia has over other European capitals is its close proximity to a major mountain which makes mountaineering and skiing such popular sports, thus a potential shopper is well spoiled for readily available choice.

Renowned international brands are available in almost every specialised extreme sports store in the city. Offering similar quality, but at a lower cost, is a Bulgarian brand called Tashev, which is earning good reviews internationally,  particularly with climbers who have scaled the Himalayas, among other legendary mountain ranges. It is a family-run establishment that produces a wide range of top quality backpacks among other products and they are made with a touch of personal pride.

They come with a two years’ written guarantee for quality, insuring against workmanship errors or other defects. For more information in English, visit Tashev’s official website at www.tashev.bg

Naturally, a reliable backpack is good to have, but far from the only item you would want to have in your arsenal. Ice axes, ice screws, crampons, bivouacs, tents, goretex jackets and trousers, ropes for abseiling, carabiners, footwear, skis, batons, snowboards, helmets, body protection, eye wear and eye protection, thermals, socks and gloves are all readily available in Sofia.

For those of you on a budget, the best and most convenient place to find most, if not all the aforementioned items, is to visit the Vassil Levski National Stadium on a Saturday and/or on Sunday from around 10am until early afternoon. The open market there is by the B terrace close to the Vassil Levski metro station.

Most of the items are secondhand, although brand new kit is also on sale. It goes without saying that purchasing such specialised kit from a street vendor requires some common sense. It does not come with a guarantee and you have to know your onions and pay special attention to the details and make sure you purchase something which will not betray you up the mountain.

With the risk of stating the obvious, avoid at all cost buying cheap equipment because it will break down and, in the best case scenario, you will need to fork out more money for more kit.

In the worst case scenario, it may cause you serious injury or death. Then again, more often than not, your wallet may simply not allow one to purchase the desired items, so the best possible compromise has to be made, with the accent on quality always a priority.

For those of you who are blessed with more disposable income, you may try one of dozens pf specialised skiing, mountaineering and extreme stores in Sofia. They are usually well stocked, the retail staff on most occasions are fluent in English and the equipment you buy comes with a warranty.

Where to shop in Sofia

Extreme Sport Sofia
42b Dondoukov Blvd
Tel: 02/ 986 68 41, 089/ 913 03 57, 088/ 606 51 30, extreme-bg.com

Stenata (The Wall)
5 Bratya Miladinovi Str (on the corner of Alexander Stamboliiski Boulevard);
Tel: 088/ 990 50 04, stenata.com,
Open: Monday to Friday 9am to 30, Saturday 10am to 2pm.

Namaste
26b Architect Yordan Milanov Street, second floor;
Tel: 02/ 669 367, Open: Monday to Friday 10am to 7pm
35 Nikola Vaptsarov Blvd;
Tel: 02/ 862 54 46,
Open: Monday to Friday from 10.30am to 7.30pm, Saturday and Sunday 10.30am to 5pm

Viva Sport
121 Evlogi Georgiev Blvd;
Tel: 02/ 846 54 39,
Open: Monday to Friday 10am to 7pm, Saturday 10am to 5pm

Milo - Turgovishte
18 Slavishte Street, Lozenets borough;
Tel: 089/ 913 99 41,
Open: Monday to Friday 10.30am to 7.30pm, Saturday 11am to 5pm

Alpi
Gotse Delchev Blvd, block 9;
 Tel: 02/ 592 063, alpibg.com,
Open: Monday to Friday 10am to 7pm, Saturday 10am to 6pm