It's very strange when you go past a shop almost on a regular basis but never even really give it…read moretwo looks, then go in, and realise it's really damn good. That's exactly what I did today. I was on the search for a good quality Snowboard kinda jacket, water and wind proof, durable and warm. I had been all over Brighton looking for one of these, and couldn't quite find one that met my specific requirements, which were so specific that I don't think even I knew them. All of this ended though walking into Surf and Ski. The range of proper old person practical skiing gear, as well as cool, fashionable snowboarding stuff is really quality and varied. Bonfire, The North Face and Icepeak are among the labels that I spotted, and whether your looking for something quite garish, or simple, expensive or cheap(er), I could not recommend this place enough. The lady who owns the shop is a really sweet woman, who really helped me out in a genuine and kind way, spending a lot of time with me, explaining the coat I was looking at in great detail, from the little inside pockets, to how they make the lining. She really knew her stuff, and was, as she said a 'Ski Nut'. There is also Hardware upstairs for skiing and snowboarding, for those who can and do,actually use it.

This surf and ski shop looks like it's made of snow, you can't miss it. I recently got into skiing…read moreso now every time I pass one of these stores I can't help but look inside and this one, set over two levels, has a large inventory of every kind of equipment you could need. This includes my favourite ski brand K2, and some really gorgeous ski suits (I really need to update in this department, my snowboarding brother refuses to be seen on the mountain with me). That being said, the only thing I've bought in here is a North Face rucksack. In fact, their whole camping and outdoors section of the shop is definitely worth a visit if you don't frequent the piste and the staff are extremely helpful if you don't know what you're looking for.

Walking into Kathmandu made me feel both warm and cozy, and ready for adventure. Coming in from the…read moresnow to see fleece, down, wind- and waterproof coats; hats, scarves and mittens; and thick, comfy sleeping bags made me feel immediately warmer. (Plus, of course, the heat was on.) The shop has a few different post-holiday sales going on. Much of the clothing has been marked down - thermals are on at 2 for £24, for example, and some of the footwear has been reduced by 30%. The most interesting items to look through - and those making me crave an adventure - were the travel accessories, at a 3 for 2 mix and match offer. Kathmandu has pretty much anything you could need for an outdoor or international adventure: pocket knives, tent pegs, first aid kits, thermoses and water bottle, sleeping mats (some inflatable), rucksacks of varying sizes, microfiber towels and tonnes of Lonely Planet books. They also offer some luxury items, like travel speakers, for instance. This is definitely a good place to start if you're in the market for travel gear - it'll probably carry everything you need.

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.

Aston Bourne is a clothes store specialising in that rugged outdoor look that brings to mind images…read moreof Landrovers and hikers. There's a host of more conventional clothing as well, such as shirts and the like and the quality of products is pretty good. I was surprised to see clothing that seemed (on first glance) to be designed for Prince Charles that actually looked trendy. The small store packs plenty in too, so you don't just end up looking at one trendy cap, but a plethora of different styles and designs. The major stumbling block for me however, was the price... While I can imagine spending a lot of money on a really good Jacket, I'm not sure I'd spend 200 or so £££ on one. But if you're looking for something thats going to last you a long time and look cool while its doing it, its certainly worth casting your eye across their website, and maybe popping even into the store to have a look in person.

Aston Bourne couldn't fulfill an online order and it took me THREE emails and TWO phone calls to…read morethem over 11 days to find out the item was not even in stock, though was at time of purchase and now also discontinued too, spoiling my chance of purchasing elsewhere at a competitive price, had I known sooner. Not a very satisfactory online shopping experience for me and most likely wont use them again, largely due to the lackadaisical communication. I think I would still be waiting to hear something had I not contacted them .

Blacks' sign claims it's the expert outdoors shop. I can't vouch for the skill level, but the…read moreselection of outdoorsy items is quite impressive. The first floor contains camping gear: tents, sleeping bags and rucksacks of various sizes. The ground floor is loaded with winter wear: ski jackets, gloves and mitts, hats and scarves...All of high quality to keep you warm and cosy. However, I was having the most fun looking at the wall of accessories. Lanterns, torches (that don't need batteries), inflatable pillows, thermal mugs and water bottles. The highlight was a thermal-coffee-mug-SLASH-HAND-WARMER! Wowy. Now that's what technology should be used for. Warm inside and out. So - if you're looking to do something outside, Blacks will have all necessary equipment.

I've been here a couple of times recently to get some last minute bits for festivals…read more I'm going to a festival next week (last minute thing) and realised I am without a tent! I thought I would go to Blacks and have a look to see whats on offer then see if I could find cheaper online. I don't have too much money to spare, and I'm not fussed about the size of tent, so I managed to find a 2 man pop up tent for £25. The staff members were more than happy to show me how big the tent is when set up, and it was quite comical to see them trying to pack it back down again, when a more experienced member of staff managed to do it very easily! All the staff involved were very helpful.

I went here to look for a tent today, oddly this Millets semms to have mainly camping clothes…read moreinside. It's a bit stuffy in there so I didn't want to stay in there for too long. I ended up buying a blow up mattress and foot pump. The staff were very smiley and cheerful which was nice! I didn't get a tent, but I was happy with the service!

This Millets is predominantly full of camping clothing - e.g. fleeces, anoraks, cagoules -,…read morewellington boots, sleeping bags, tents, and camping accessories, such as outdoor cooking equipment, water storage devices and the like. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable, and they've never disappointed me whenever I've needed their help or had an enquiry regards a certain item. Prices are reasonable.

Tog 24 is a strange line of clothes. For as long as I can remember the shop has been around, and…read moreI've seen people wear Tog 24 clothes, but it's never really been that cool has it. I've never been into a Tog 24, and to be honest I kind of forgot that the shop was still going, but it was, and to prove it I walked in. The clothes on sale vary between actual sailing, hiking, adventure type gear, with enough Gore Tex to cover the whole Marina from the current torrential winter rain, and fashion(esque) type stuff. Jackets in this range, are pretty simple and practical looking, but also quite nice, though at £200 your gonna have to really want it. The more fashionable stuff, seems a little bit too garish, or just simply a bit ugy in my opinion. Stick to the Gore Tex Tog 24

Everything about my experience in White Stuff was ... soft. Soft music playing, soft styles,…read moreclothing made from soft materials like wool and cashmere. Most tops were long and flowing, paired with suit coats or vests to add a bit of a professional tweak. There were a few pairs of jeans, but most trousers were of the dressy variety. Sale racks were off to one side, offering cheaper versions of the soft, flowing styles. Most of the shoppers were women 40 and over, although the shop does offer some men's selections as well. Several men were in the shop, but waiting patiently, probably soothed by the soft music. It made for a very relaxing shopping experience, despite the store being quite busy.

I quite like this branch of White Stuff and I usually exit with a lighter purse. Not being a…read moremassive shopper, I like to get in and out quickly, so this is usually a safe bet if I need an addition to my wardrobe. I like the layout and the location, and the staff are friendly but not too overbearing. Clothes are good quality and long lasting, if a little predictable in their styling, but I like their prints and the fit seems to suit me. Get on their email list and get invitations to their discount days. Normally 20% off everything, and everyone like a bargain, right? Also, they offer free drinks and nibbles on these days - a glass of wine may loosen the purse strings but its makes for a far more enjoyable shopping experience!

I don't really see this as a shop, it's more of a playground - you just have to give them money to…read moretake the toys away with you. I've been spinning and building Poi for about 5-6 years and always come down here to get any supplies I need. I also like that every time I come down here I end up seeing a new gizmo or performance toy to think about trying to learn. Sadly, right now I don't have the tie to branch out, but it's always good to stay abreast of these things. The staff are absolute legends here and go above and beyond to help you or offer suggestions. They also sell a lot of training videos which I wish I had when I was starting out. Prices are reasonable for the items and they also have a range of long boards for sale. Certainly a great shop to stop by to pick up something to play with over the summer and get you out into the sunshine.

To juggle or not to juggle?…read more You might assume there wouldn't be enough jugglers to justify opening a juggling shop but Oddballs have been supplying aspiring circus performers for over 25 years now. Their original flagship store in the North Laines is a jugglers wet dream as they stock a wide selection of juggling balls, rings, sticks, clubs and bar flares. For those that have perfected their juggling and fancy trying something else, they have diablos, poi spinners, devil sticks, knives, spinning plates, hacky sacks, stilts, walking ladders and uni cycles. For the uninitiated - like me - there's also hula hoops and advanced yo yo's!