My partner and I had been searching for good quality and decently priced ski equipment. This shop…read morehad exactly what we needed! The gear was great quality, and we were both very happy with the price of our gear. Don't bother spending insane amounts of money or time at any other shops! Edit: We had a nice young man (blonde) help us, but unfortunately we did not get his name! Credit to him!

Outer wear for almost every purpose!…read more To shop here you do need a full wallet, but their range of gear is amazing and they have all the major names like Craghopper, Berghaus, Regatta etc. It's a large store so expect a wide range and have a good memory! Even the colour range is pretty expansive. They also do T shirts, not cheap, and flannel shirts, and thermals. I'd only ever go in a sale - but their stuff is quality.

I have shopped here quite a few times over the years for camping, skiing and walking gear. It can…read morebe a little pricey, but the range and quality is good. Helpful and knowledgeable staff are a real bonus especially if you're comparing products and trying to find the right item to do a specific job and dedicated car parking means you can always find a space.

Made a very fruitful stop into Kathmandu a few months back as I was prepping for my first…read moretransatlantic trip with a baby. I came looking for a rucksack. I left with a suitcase with detachable rucksack (a suitcase that can be carried as a rucksack, with arm straps!) and a huge duffel bag to stow the carseat in. I thought the prices to be competitive (the duffel bag only £14!) and the service top notch. The guy helped me with everything, took it to the counter while I looked around, helped me with the Summit Club membership and packaged it all up smoothly so I could get it back to my flat. The Kathmandu items are high quality and have already made many trips. They are durable and sleek, and high performance. Just what I needed. The last thing you want to deal with while traveling (with a baby or not) is crap luggage. Summit club membership is free and gains you access to great deals (most of the deals advertised, so...if you want 'em, you'll sign up). Sign up!

I've always been a bit suspicious of Kathmandu-type stores, due to the fact that I'm the least…read moreoutdoorsy person you could come across. I always believe 'outdoor' stores were specially for extreme snowboarders or wannabe Nepalese-mountain climbers. Boy, was I wrong. Set right next to Spitalfields Market and boasting some rather fit staff, Kathmandu has everything for the civilian to adventurer. Water flasks, jackets, thermals, little key ring things with torches on them, it has it all. I actually found heaps of stuff I wanted to buy - probably more in the way you deck yourself out with designer gym wear after only one visit, to realise you're not quite the gym junkie you thought you would become if in fact you had the correct gear. It was fun anyway.

In my view, the best army surplus and camping shop in London. I'm a regular customer, having bought…read moreeverything from walking boots and gloves to jackets and waterproofs, over a period of 15 years. (They used to be based near Victoria, but moved a few years ago to Waterloo Cut). As well as the usual range of army-surplus type gear - jackets, vests, shirts and trousers, they do a good line in MA1 flying jackets (£25), Harrington Jackets in a range of colours (and at £19.95, rather than inflated 'retro' prices) and of course foot-wear. They also sell used gear, but most items are brand new, and at their prices there's no need to go down the second hand route. I recently bought a pair of brand new British Army boots here for under £50, which are superbly comfortable (in fact I'm wearing them as I write this) and will doubtless last for years. The shop is very small, very old-fashioned, and run by two amazingly helpful brothers as a family business. They have a very loyal customer base - when I was there recently, they had a regular from Canada buying a pair of desert boots. If they haven't got an item in stock, they will order it in and call you when it's in, but they equally won't pressure you if you decide against a purchase. They'll also give you honest advice if you ask for it - they know their stock. The rise of the internet has seen the death of many traditional army surplus and camping shops, but Waterloo Camping is a one of survivors. If you want excellent value, traditional army surplus gear (and more besides), this is the place to go.

I also found it a good shop with a friendly proprietor, lots of action in a very cramped space full…read moreof interesting stuff (lady from Young Vic across the road was stocking up on props) at good prices and excellent good quality. Got my son a great trenchcoat much better quality, warmth and price than Oxford St and he was fascinated by gasmasks, etc.

Excellent selection of outdoor clothes technical and fashion, and kit. Really knowledgable staff,…read moreand excellent customer service. Highly recommended.

Well the name says it all for this place. Its got a lot more than one of the chain shops like…read moreMillets in my opinion and the staff are all really enthusiastic 'out door' types too so are more than happy to give some advice - not just on gear but on where to head for a good campsite. There's everything you need here from tents for festivals to hiking equipment. They also stock a small amount of skiing gear too as well as steel toe-cap boots and other work wear.

Campers Paradise seems to be a quintessentially British camping shop. It stocks all the regular…read moreequipment you're going to find yourself needing for, say, a trip to Wales. The selection is well balanced though a little limited, but they have made good use of the space they have by suspending a whole tent from the ceiling fully erect. The British nature of this place isn't just brought into place by the stock of two season sleeping bags and big bins of tent pegs, they also have buckets and spades, inflatable boats and flat caps. I suppose this isn't a bad idea with them being so close to the sea side but it did leave me wondering where the canvas deck chairs and knotted hankies were. The slightly odd selection of stock is definitely balanced out well by the great customer service. When I discovered this place today I entered into a discussion with the South African guy who works there about Swiss army knives and their virtues by comparison to the ever popular Leatherman tools. Not only did the guy clearly know what he was talking about but he was funny and great to chat to.