For cheap hiking gear offers, try to find a weekly promotional catalog of lidl, aldi or go to "go sports" at val thoiry.

july in geneva is a sale month, so watch out for offers around town.

I guess one of the questions is - what kind of gear... don't try to save on shoes/boots - that's your most important piece and can make or break a hike. good ones last for ages. Poles - they go very cheap at the M-Sport at Carouge (Mbudget), and for the rest - a proper rain jacket - a simple back pack and some warm pair of trousers will get you very far... maps are online for free these days on my switzerland and various other websites - e.g. check out www.noth.ch - great hikes this guy has posted on website with tons of information.

As stated by other posters do not skimp on boots which should be light weight if you are not contemplating glaciers walks and protect your ankles.  Rain gear - unless you spend a vast amount you will not get something completely waterproof.  For persistent rain  when there is no wind an old umbrella is useful.

For maps I use http://map.geo.admin.ch/ (thanks to Translator)

Prices are good in France (Gosport, Vieux Campeur). Manor can have some good deals as well as the other suggestions posted above..

Martin - have you found an online map for France esp Haute Savoie as the swiss maps only cover the area up to the Arve

http://www.hautesavoie-rando.fr/module/carto/index.php

Check out the tour du mont blanc which you can break up in 2 weekends with an overnight stay in one of the cabins of your choise.

Hi Paul, no I haven't found real good maps of france... mainly because I stick to Switzerland. I normally use my Garmin GPS with the swiss maps which works like dream. that was back a couple of years ago when the maps wheren't so easily avail on the web, so had to buy the swiss topo DVD.. which is still OK these days!

Globetrotter. Near Plainpalais.