The two shops near the chalet (Praz Sports and Ravanel) are both good, and it’s useful to rent locally as it makes life easy if you need them to be serviced, adjusted or changed, but there are plenty of good choices in Chamonix. It’s always best to book in advance for a good deal, and well worth checking a few sites before you book, as there are often special offers to be had.
Praz Sports have very reasonable prices, close to the chalet, opposite the village shop in Les Praz. Small and friendly, family run, have touring & avalanche gear to rent, board and ski wax and service available.
Ravanel Sports have a very good selection, will deliver, Salomon, Dynastar and Volkl, cross country, snowshoe, ski, snowboard (Salomon women’s snowboard boots available), touring and kids. Mountaineering and touring gear such as transceivers,ice axes, poles, crampons are also stocked, and waxing etc available. Family run and friendly, in a nice wooden shop close to the chalet at the Flegere base.
Zero G is the best place in town for snowboard hire.
Burton for all levels plus a really good selection of top end boards, Burton Fish & Malolo, Jones, Lib Tech (Skate Banana & Banana Hammock), APO Swallowtail, Dupraz…even a splitboard. They also have a friendly and helpful workshop area and keep plenty of spares in stock.
Also the best selection of clothes in Chamonix.
Sanglard Sports has a good selection, free delivery and houses The Boot Room — a really top class boot fitting service, Jules fits the boots for the French Ski team. On the roundabout on the way in to Chamonix. Good selection, also have ABS bags, Goretex jackets and pants to hire.
Sole are a small independent bootfitters who stock only the best! Highly recommended. They fitted my boots for the Haute route and I didn’t get a single blister. Sales only, but well worth a look if you’re thinking of buying.
Freshtrax (formerly Otovalo) is the best place by far for telemark skis — call up and ask for Jeremy, he is really knowledgeable and enthusiastic. 163, rue Joseph Vallot, Tel +33 (0) 4 50 53 02 17
Snell Sports have possibly the biggest selection of skis in Chamonix, will also rent ABS bags, avalanche beepers, crampons, touring gear, ice axes for mountaineering and ice climbing, mountaineering boots etc. They also rent carriers for babies and small children.
All the chains have branches in Chamonix too, such as Ski Set, Intersport (have given me rather variable service in the past but you can rent touring gear here), Twinner, (our friend Alain is working there this year so mention us if you go!) and Ski Republic.
