Blacks is the latest addition to Belfast's camping scene (yes one does exist) and with the infamous…read moreMourne Mountains so close, Blacks is entering into a market that has so far been pretty much owned by it's little brother, Millets. However, whereas Millets says hello with a handshake, Blacks gives you a bear hug and keys to your own Porsche. Everything in this shop is bigger, better, cheaper, and much more appealing to the non-campers amongst us. Having only recently opened its store in the city centre, it is the prime location to enter the market with a bang. The staff are fresh faced, the store is well thought out, well laid out and well stocked. Everything just looks much fresher and funkier. Millets have (if reports are to be believed) struggled with this old recession but with Blacks as it's older and better brother, there really is very little point in keeping Millets open. We went to a Blacks store in Liverpool and it was better than any Millets stores I had been in before. Thankfully, and luckily for us, the new Blacks store in Belfast is even better than that. Mourne Mountains, here I come.

I'm not really what you could call an outdoorsy type but I do like a spot of camping (no jokes) of…read morea summer so Blacks is what you'd call an essential stop-off point. Recently opened right in the town centre the swanky logo and shop front seems to be keen to put any 'fuddy duddy' images of camping and hiking behind them. The ground floor is split into two areas and there is an amazing amount of outdoors clothing in there. It's actually quite impressive to see all weather gear that doesn't come in black, blue or green. A large selection of women's clothes also hints that this is not your usual Millets-type deal...all the bigger brands like North Face and Berghaus are well represented. Upstairs is the 'hardware' section and again the selection is pretty comprehensive. Loads of tents, sleeping bags, climbing gear and boots plus all the usual kit you'd need to survive on a trip or if the apocalypse comes early. The staff are really nice as well, they gave me ample time to browse unhassled in this great shop. Pros: Great selection. Cons: You either dig being outside or you don't.

Mountain Trail may not catch your attention and drag you in off Holywood High Street but once…read moreinside it has a certain charm. From the moment you enter you feel like you have been transported back in time. Not because the products are dates, because they certainly aren't, but because of the old fashioned customer service on offer from the shopkeeper. A bell rings when you swing the door open and up jumps the friendly proprietor to greet you and ask can he help. From the moment I entered I felt at home and ended up chatting for half an hour. The shop itself sells a whole range of outdoor activity accessories and bikes. They have everything from racing bikes, mountain bikes to an old school BMX that I had my eye on. I was in the shop to look at the outdoor coats and I was expertly guided through the range. If you are an outdoor enthusiast I would highly recommend paying mountain trail a visit.

Mountain Trail has, more or less, all the same products as Tiso except it can be cheaper and you…read moredon't have to slug it all the way to Belfast. I have used the shop twice - the first time to buy a warm water proof fleece for the long Saturday afternoon rugby matches at Ravenhill - I got a regatta in pink for under £40 - a bargain I felt. The second time I used this shop was to buy little heat pads that you hold in your hand, break the metal disc and they heat up - you can put them in your socks to keep your feet warm or in your pockets for your hands - again I managed to get these cheaper than in other outdoor stores. Both experiences have been fine - I have got what I needed and been helped by a nice man who was full of information and advice. I also love the noticeboard outside that tells of local events and charity ventures one can take part in to do with the great outdoors - a great place to check if you fancy an adventure!

I've only been in here twice and both times was with a friend and both times he was the camping…read moreexpert, so my overall experience was hampered somewhat by the fact he knew exactly what he was talking about and then he and the member of staff got into a converstation about the waterproof-ness of a jacket with a hood or something... I nodded along and laughed when he laughed. It was the most useless I'd ever felt. But that is not to say Tiso isn't a good store. Far from it. The staff are incredibly knowedgable, the store, though a bit clumsily laid out, is well stocked and the place is tidy. However, I can't really phathom the prices in shops like these, with waterproof jackets costing £50 when you can get one in Dunnes or Primark for a tenner. The people who like this sort of shop, LOVE it. But for me, alot of the stuff in here seems a bit unneccessary and if you have to spend that much to get you ready to go camping, why not book a holiday to Cyprus in the first place? Overall, it's your run-of-the-mill camping shop, complete with jackets, tents, bags, shoes etc Everything you need to go camping. But if you aren't planning to be at one with nature for a couple of days, I can't really see the point of this shop.

I have a campervan and with that comes the need to stock up on all things camp related. I have…read morepurchased smaller than normal pots and pans, reflective stickers and packs that heat up in your hand when you break the little metal disc inside. My first real memory of Tiso was from about 9 years ago when I was jetting off on an around the world trip and my partners in crime and i needed backpacks. On the top floor, three floors of steep steps up there is the holy grail of backpacks and tents and roll up mats! It was a godsend and we managed to get all we needed for good value prices. I am always in Tiso at Christmas time as they do the best quality winter wear such as padded gloves and scarf/bandana/hat/facemask things in town. Usually at least one Cristmas present comes from here as well. Great informed staff and a well packed shop. The stairs are a killer though but the local artwork and calanders of Norn Iron should keep you amused as you ascend.

This is a superb shop for all things out doors. I went in looking for a specific size of gas…read morebottle. The sales assistant told me exactly where it should be. I duly went to the location (upstairs) but Al's it wasn't the one I wanted. However saw some amazing equipment and merchandise. Definitely a goto place for outdoor gear!!

Cotswold outdoor is a retailer of outdoor clothing and equipment including footwear, casual…read moreclothing and waterproofs. Similar to the Outdoor Store also on the Boucher Road, it has a great range of products to add to the customer's dilemma of exactly which items they should choose for the job. If you're planning a trek to the great North Pole or a similar camping trip with the family, this store will have all you need from sleeping bags to back packs. If you're a novice with the whole equipment malarkey this shop may send you over the edge with its technical jargon.

Hiking and outdoor clothing suppliers Blacks has just opened a branch in Belfast City Centre. As I…read morewas getting desperate for a new pair of walking boots/shoes I stopped in here to discover they were having a brilliant opening sale full of bargains. Having had a preliminary look and been assured by staff that there would be plenty of stock in my size I decided to come back the following day and found an excellent price reduction -£90 down to £50. Assistance was enthusistically offered but took them a while to find my size, there was some confusion over where things were though one clued up girl knew all along where it was. There is also a range of summer clothes evidently aimed at backpacking holidays as well as weather proof jackets and coats. It's somewhat bland perhaps but still a useful addition to Belfast City Centre.

Camping shops seem to be breeding in Belfast city centre - within five minutes of each other we…read morehave Millets, Tiso, Costwold Outdoor, and now Blacks. 'Tis the weirdest thing... Now, camping / outdoor pursuits and I go together like chalk and cheese. The only time I have been in a tent has been at a Christian Festival at the King's Hall (for five years running, granted), but it wasn't camping in the true sense. We had toilets, electricity and food all available nearby, and there was no requirement for all the heavy duty clothing etc. that comes with camping...thank heavens. As you can gather from the above information, I had no real need to go into Black's, but it looked much more interesting than some of the other camping shops, so I decided to have a look. I was pleasantly surprised to see a rather nice collection of ladies clothing - floral tops, floaty skirts and attractive jeans / trousers were a world away from the dull raincoats and khaki outfits you immediately associate with these kind of stores. They had a fab sale on too, which meant that the already affordable clothes were practically given away - I saw a dress for £9.99, that had been £39.99! Of course, there's still all the average camp store stock - heavy duty coats, fleeces, walking shoes, sleeping bags, tents, camping furniture, rucksacks and so on. But still, those clothes were pretty sweet...

I must sheepishly admit that I didn't even know of the existence of this shop until number one son…read morejoined a cub troop and needed a uniform. So off I set and was amazed to find a large modern shop stocked to the rafters with uniforms for squirrels, beavers, cubs and scouts. They also sell general outdoor and walking equipment, camping gear and wet suits. The majority of the clothes and equipment belong to a world I find quite alien (walking through choice? And not because you have to? What's that all about?) but even I could tell that there is a huge range of sturdy looking coats and boots and back packs. When I went in, I was served quickly and efficiently by a knowledgeable sales assistant and was in and out within minutes with all the stuff I needed. I also made an impulse buy at the till - one of those little hand warmer packets which I tried out on Saturday while watching number two son playing rugby. What a good mummy I am.

From the outside the Scout Shop looks as if it's exclusively for Scouts but in fact it caters more…read morewidely and includes outdoor, walking and ski gear for other age groups too. The prices seem to be pretty reasonable for rucksacks and walking boots at least, those are the items I noticed in particular. Personally I bought some much needed new gum boots, not very citified or cool, but for me essential for country visits! As you would hope to find at a scout shop, there is a satisfactory selection of traditional camping gear such as torches, cooking utensils, bottles of camping gas and enamel dishes which almost inspires me to plan a camping trip, mad as it may seem to some people.

Conveniently located on Arthur's Street Trespass is the go to place if you're planning a camping or…read moreoutdoorsy trip. They sell everything from walking boots to board shorts. The staff are great - I popped in for a look and they were straight over to see if they could assist me in any way. It really seems that people are becoming more active and really embracing the country side so shops like this are seeing a huge upturn. Trespass often have great sales on so if you are after something in particular keep an eye out and you might bag a bargain. When looking at their shoes I noticed that they were actually quote expensive in comparison to other shops and online. Overall Trespass is A-OK. Good for outdoorsy stuff and a great place to go in and have a look round if you are planning an excursion.

I went to get a sports bag. I have difficulty with stairs. After 20 minutes of being ignored,…read morewalked away from and left standing at a till as staff attempted to find the price, I came away empty- handed. No one spoke to me unless I spoke to them first. Staff made me feel a nuisance. The only exception was the young girl near the lift who helped me operate it. I try to shop locally to support real businesses but I'm going online now to buy a sports bag.

Packed full of sports clothing and some sports equipment. Over packed in my opinion, like many…read moreclothing stores. Hardly room to get around. That aside, they do fit in a huge amount of product. Also, casual clothing, jeans, polo shirts etc. The staff are always polite and helpful. Unfortunately they did not have the item that I was looking for - an Arsenal polo shirt (definitely NOT for myself I hasten to add!), which was advertised as being in-store on their online site. Pricewise, it is usually great value for money and fantastic if you have a gaggle of children to clothe. I ended up buying an arsenal mug (again NOT for myself) and was unfortunate to end up at the till behind the customer who appeared to be buying every item in the shop! There is ample parking outside, being part of the Springhill retail park, and is very easily accessible coming off the Bangor bound carraigeway from Belfast.