Most Lakeside shopping is trekking-oriented: down jackets, hiking poles, knock-off Northface fleeces, sleeping bags, daypacks and boots. Quality is variable — genuine Lowe Alpine and Mountain Hardwear shops exist alongside straightforward fakes, often at a third of the European price for the same gear.
Beyond trekking equipment, you can find Tibetan singing bowls, prayer flags, thangka paintings, pashmina shawls, silver jewellery, and the local dhaka weaving (geometric patterns in red, black and white) that is one of the genuine Pokhara crafts. Bargain hard — first prices in Lakeside are typically two to three times the real price. The shops along the central strip have the widest selection; for cheaper, more local prices visit the old bazaar in Mahendrapul or Bagar.