For the serious adventurer a visit to Backpackng Light is a must…read more So the store isn't as bright and shiney as others in the area but what your missing in open space and selective lighting is made up with high quality products and knowledgable staff. My most recent visit saw me walk in with a idea, a price point and walk out with an Opsrey day pack and a huge smile. There was no pressure to upsie to a bigger or more expensive pack. There aren't any ridiculous sales happening here either. Just the usual small business seasonal sales. You get what you pay for, which is amazing service and knowledge.

Little Bourke is littered with outdoor adventure stores selling all sorts of bargains, but if you…read morewant really solid gear you need to wander down Somerset Place to visit these guys. They know what they're doing and have the best gear, not just the best deal.

Well, if you happen to need a sleeping bag, as was the case with myself, you can definitly find one…read morehere. Okay, they may be a bit on the pricey side, but are are definitely decent sleeping bags (even if I have only used it once so far). Actually, if you need any sort of camping gear, then this is definitely the place to do, though if you are already camping then many you will be in a spot of bother, especially if you forgot to bring a stove with you (I guess you better learn how to light a fire with two sticks then).

Have you ever noticed just how expensive outdoor gear and camping stuff is? If you want to get a…read morebargain and don't feel like you are getting ripped off then Aussie Disposals in the place to go. I went looking for tent pegs and must have tried several (perhaps more upmarket) stores. They would set me back $2 each on average. At Aussie Disposals I could find them for 60 or 70c a pop. They also have a huge range of gas burners and stoves and have staff that are very approachable and can pretty much find you the best thing for your needs. Just ask. I'd always go here first for any outdoor stuff or equipment.

My wife and I visited to look at backpacks. As soon as we entered the store we received a very…read morefriendly greeting from Courtney, who then assisted us with packs. She was very knowledgeable and helpful. Thanks for the great service.

From the owner: Since our inception, Mountain Designs has been manufacturing outdoor gear of unequalled function…read moreand quality.

The complete lack of respect and customer service that I received at Mitchells Adventure ensured…read morethat I will never return to another one of their stores. Rude, ignorant, and completely unacceptable treatment of a potential paying customer. No questions were asked about my hiking abilities, only assumptions made about them. One of the workers found out we were going to a beach in the Northern part of Wilson's Prom. He proceeded to interrogate my girlfriend and I about making sure we are capable of going to unknown territory. A quote he used was "There's only one helicopter in all of Victoria for this stuff. And If a helicopter is sent out looking for you guys, and someone dies in the city because they needed a helicopter...it's on your conscience." Yes... he implied that by going on a 20km hike in Wilsons Prom that I had potential to kill another human being. Upon leaving the store, he said "I just don't want to see you guys on the news." Side note: I have been hiking in the woods for as long as I can remember. No questions were asked to know if my knowledge and experience justified the difficulty of the hike we were doing. I have never felt so angry leaving a store in my life. The employee had no right to berate and state such ridiculous statements. He was a complete snob of hiking and has no right working in a context where he has to talk to people. If you actually want good advice on any outdoor gear, I would take your money elsewhere. As I stated before, I will never go back to another Mitchells knowing they hire this type of person.

Went into Mitchell's in Elizabeth Street (Melbourne, VIC) on the weekend - talk about professional…read moreadvice!! I was looking at hiking shoes and packs and must have looked slightly out of place because a staff member came over straight away and helped me out. He was a very keen hiker and knew lots of cool places to go, he gave me tips to keep waterproof, wearing my shoes in, how to pack my backpack to make it easier to carry and he even gave me some websites to visit so that I could check what tracks/trails are open before I head off. I now have a beginner's pack for day hikes and have a few day-trips planned, most of which are from his list of recommended trips that sounded fantastic! Pretty impressed that Mitchell's staff had a lot of field experience and were able to give me good tips and advice, it made choosing everything much easier (their range of gear was easy to choose from - I just had to decide what I wanted to spend and they helped me find the best packs, shoes and gear to suit). Definitely a big fan of their gear and helpful advice, I haven't been more pleased buying camping and hiking gear in a long time!

Paddy Pallin is amongst a myriad of highly specialized outdoor stores on Little Bourke St. For the…read morenewbie adventurer Paddy's is a great place to stop by and get a feel for what's on offer in the market. The product range stocked is fairly North American/Canadian based. There's a broad spectrum on offer though. You can usually pick up a bargain or two here with seasonal changes of items. As the store seems to run on both Australian/American seasons. The staff are friendly and helpful when needed.

I have purchased items from Paddy Pallin, Melbourne and have always been happy with my purchases…read more A pair of trekking shoes purchased over 6 years ago and used for trekking around Nepal every year since are still in use nearly every day around Melbourne; they are that comfortable and still in pretty good condition. The shoes were recommended to me by the Nepali staff member who happens to have been a Trekking Guide for many years in Nepal. A very knowledgable salesman who will spend time helping you to select the correct gear for your adventure trip, using his expertise in the trekking industry to back up his recommendations.

I really do like Macpac. They have some great, classic active wear that doesn't look too obnoxious…read moreand they have great sales, so make sure you sign up to their email alerts. Honestly their thermals have been a savior during Melbourne winters. Make sure you walk around the corner into Rankins Lane to check out the back half of the shop.

I do not, by any stretch of the imagination fit the demographic of those who shop at Aussie…read moreDisposals. I had never been into one, that was until the other day when I was dragged there by my partner. The experience starts from the outside where you are met with clothes, bags and more that spill out onto the pavement. Head inside and you'll find indescribable amounts of outdoor wares. If I need outdoor gear I generally head to Kathmandu - it is less intimidating and has bright colourful gear for girls. It is a little pricey. Aussie Disposals seemed to be fairly reasonable across the board with tents, clothing and camping and hiking accessories being, well pretty cheap for a lack of a better word. I have to say that the sales assistants were really helpful, and weren't judgmental at all that I was standing around and asking them what certain items were and what they did (I obviously knew what a tent was).

Going camping? If…read moreyou are than Kathmandu is pretty much now an icon in Australia for its high quality camping gear, clothing and equipment. Before I did a month odd road trip up the east coast of Australia, my first stop was visiting Kathmandu where I picked up thermals, lamps, wet weather jackets, solar lights and cooking equipment...so just a few things. It's a campers dream and you feel like you're cheating going anywhere else.

My pair of him sneakers were on their way out and i needed a new pair asap!…read more Sports Junction stuck out to me, the vibrant coloured sneakers in the front window called out to me. Inside there was a huge variety of colourful designed sneakers for all sporting needs whether basketball or running etc. I was greeted by staff and asked about what type of shoe i was looking for. They were helpful and genuinely knew about what shoes goes best. The store is located on bustling swanston street and usually has a lot going on so take a look around the store and someone will eventually get to seeing you.

There is a period in my life that I am not proud of. I went through a 'stage' in which I only wore…read moreConverse sneakers... I owned 22 pairs of them in varying colours and shapes. Where did I get so many pairs of Chucks? Sports Junction. They always have the latest designs as well as the old classics, and even a few that I had never seen before. Sports Junction also stocks comfy shoes from all brands and they are conveniently located on Swanston street (and another on Elizabeth!) So if you suddenly have a craving for some brightly coloured, comfy sneakers now you know where to head (or you can borrow one of my 22 pairs.)