Whether you get your kicks rock climbing, cycling, kayaking, camping, or simply by taking invigorating nature walks, Mountain Equipment Co-op should be your first stop. MEC’s inherent mandate is quality, economical prices—and vivid colours. Organic cotton zip sweaters are $27, while River Pants go for about $39; rain anoraks are $385, down jackets $230; Thor Windstopper sleeping bags, which can resist temperatures down to minus 30 degrees Celsius, are $375 to $425. On the main floor, you’ll find the nature lover’s equivalent of a candy store: Clif bars, Toblerones and such freeze-dried delicacies as black bean and rice potage. A revamped book section on the second floor has an impressive array of maps, country guides and travel memoirs that is sure to stoke wanderlust.