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.

Large and well-stocked outdoors shop with decent prices. It's actually quite a large chain, owned…read moreby JD Sports, and sells a wide range of well known brands. This store is on the market square just behind the church. It runs the length of the block, and is the largest outdoor store in Kingston. It has a cafe and soft-play area inside. I was on the look-out for a specific knee-high mid-weight sock, which I've been looking for, for ages, and was delighted that they had it in stock. It'll be a regular calling point for me from now on. Reasonably friendly staff, though I only needed to speak to them at the till.

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.

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.

This is a great store. I was forced to buy a whole bunch of outdoor equipment for hiking on my…read moreEuropean trip when my luggage was lost. The owner was kind and thoughtful and spent a significant amount of time with me going through all the options and helping me balance my desire to get good equipment without breaking the bank. I cannot imagine going to a chain store when you could shop here and get very personal service as well as having access to a good selection of high-quality products.

Brilliant! It was my first time visiting and Yusef and Tarran provided an exceptionally…read moreprofessional, friendly and knowledgeable service. Their attention to detail and personal touch is exemplary and cannot be found in the larger chain shops. They took fantastic care of me and have gained a customer for life.

I must admit, I always thought Cotswold Camping was a bit twee, a bit cheap and a bit middle-aged…read more How wrong I was. This is a big, modern store with clothes and equipment for people of all ages. I was very tempted by their women's clothing, which ranges from outdoor casual to normal casual. It's maybe not the best place for highly technical clothing, but it's great for general hanging around the park type clothing, and fantastic for entertaining bored friends who've been dragged along with no interest whatsoever in the outdoors. Sadly the prices are the same as those for more technical clothing, so I couldn't justify buying one of their pretty skirts. I went to look at tents. They've got a selection of all sorts from lightweight to giant family jobs (for the families of giants, of course), but not a huge amount in each category. There was a very helpful shop assistant who took me outside and helped me assemble 3 tents. He didn't know much more than me about them, but was very polite, honest and keen to help as we fumbled around in high winds. I was especially impressed as he didn't look older than 15.

From the owner: At the Bicester store we are keen to help a variety of people whether it be finding boots for…read moregeneral walks around the local area or preparing your kit for a trek up Kilimanjaro. Our staff will be with you every step of the way to help you find exactly what you're looking for and at the same time making you feel as comfortable as possible and offer varying knowledge from their own experiences. This store is set in a prominent position on the outskirts of the ever growing and developing market town of Bicester. Access is simple with direct access through to London and Birmingham and by passing hotspots such as Silverstone on the A43 and the Heritage Motor Centre, Junction 12 on the M40. There are regular direct links through to London and Oxford by train and coach. Parking is free and there is a selection of other shops available to satisfy your shopping needs including a delightful cafe and restaurant with an adjacent indoor play facility for the younger explorers.

Army surplus shops are sadly a dying breed but this is a great survivor…read more It's small but they pack in loads of stock including new and surplus army gear (everything from jackets to gloves) as well as camping and outdoor equipment. They have a small but good range of boots. There's also a small counter selling army and camping knives and air rifles. Staff and knowledgeable and friendly. Recommended.

Attention ,march in and get your gear here! Many people do .read more

This is a big store and is situated in Watling Street just along from the fire station. They sell…read moreeverything you could ever want to take camping with you including the tents them selves. They have lots of other things that help you like cooking utensils and cookers plus sleeping bags and seats. The staff are very firendly and helpful, if you ask them what you are looking for they will show you and explain how it works etc.

They sell everything you could ever want to take camping with you including the tents them selves…read more They have lots of other things that help you like cooking utensils and cookers plus sleeping bags and seats. The staff are very firendly and helpful, if you ask them what you are looking for they will show you and explain how it works etc.one of my favourite shops. but i am partial to camping.. it is because of them i now own 4 tents and lots of camping equipment notbad for a single mother. but we do camp a lot and it is the one shop that is helpful, and they even mended m tent . a service they offer.dont pass them by if your an outdooors person or even if your not they will have someone for everyone y

Excellent shop!!! Staff are knowledgeable and friendly…read more Although they don't stock everything on the shop that you can find on the website, the gentleman I spoke to was more than happy to order some stuff in for me - which arrived two days later! I'm loving my Berghaus jacket and now go to Outdoor Kit whenever I want anything from toasty socks to a comfy fleece.

The people here are wonderfully helpful and friendly and shop is well maintained and stocked. A…read morevery nice experience!

Awesome selection of all gear for hiking, leisure etc. Liked the layout of the store and sizes were…read moreall available.