The first thing that struck me about this place was just how big it is. It really has the largest…read moreselection of outdoors stuff I've seen. It even has a climbing wall so you can test our your gear before even leaving the shop! I first caught a glimpse of the back end of the shop when I was on the train going somewhere and could just see all these tents. Intrigued I went to have a look when I after some outdoorsy christmas presents. There was almost too much choice and whats more that had lots of reasonably priced gear as well as the high end stuff. I picked up a bargain pair of walking boots and left before I could eye up anything else to buy. Really good choice and value.

Disgraceful store. If you have a complaint or issue they will have a slanging match with you to…read moreforce you out. Apparently will not replace anything that does not have a guarantee and the manager Gareth does not know what the line 'this does not affect your statutory rights' mean. So they are quite happy to fraudulently convince customers that they cannot replace/repair or refund when that customer is legally entitled to one. Only bad review I have given a store in my 40 years, quite simply a horrible, horrible business who are doing their best to screw you. They hate their customers with a passion. I spent a grand in there and now have nothing to show for it, they are worse than thieves. In the end the joke in on them, going out this week to buy whole new sets of horse riding gear for my 2 daughters, and a whole new tent set up and will be spending that in another store. So to save themselves a quick buck they are losing nearly 2 grand of income, which admittedly is not much to them! Word of warning all their own brands tents are designed to fail and they will assure you there is no way of repairing or replacing parts, forcing you to buy a whole new tent!

This is a real shop for outdoor stuff. Not a shop that has fashion stuff under the guise of a…read morespurious sport. In Cotswold you can get proper walking boots, real fell-running shoes, those ropey things that climbers use (you may guess that I'm not a climber), proper real coats, tents, hats... you get the idea. There's also gadgets like tripods for attaching to jungle branches and ways of finding your way in the desert. The staff know what Gortex and gaiters are. Not sure why it's called Cotswold as the stuff in here seems designed for ground that's a lot more challenging and rugged than the tame Cotswolds.

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.

a small but well equipped camping / outdoors shop. has…read moreeverything you would expect to see including hiking boots, waterproof coats, torches, camping stoves, sleeping bags etc. it is only a small shop so dont hold vast amounts of stock, however most things are available within just a couple of days of ordering. there is a fitting room for you to try on any of the clothing. price wise it is reasonable. most things would probably be cheaper if you went to a learger town, but then once you add the fuel costs and parking costs etc you arent really saving anything.

This a pretty new arrival to the Cardiff streets, I think before they may have been hidden away in…read morean arcade somewhere you can't fail to miss it now as you walk towards the Hayes. So yes its just another store selling outdoors gear but i've spotted a good few bargains in there so far and they don't seem to have lots of top end brands which keeps the prices down. Only been in once or twice now and i've never had a problem with staff there, one helpfully went in search of some trousers I liked that they didn't have in my size.

Calm your excitement! I know, I know! I totally understand. A discount sportswear store in Cardiff…read morecity centre? This is simply the greatest thing to ever happen to anyone in any city ever. I kid. In actual fact, there is absolutely nothing wrong with Field & Trek. They offer reasonably discounted sportswear in the vein of Sports Soccer and Sportsworld, providing a wonderful alternative to JD Sports and the yowling masses of idiot thugs that wander those scummy aisles. This is less a store for sports clothes and more a store for sports gear. Sure, they have tracksuits in this place, but they're tracksuits for people who actually want to use them on a track, rather than wear them to a club. I mean, there are hardly any diamonds on them at all, for crying out loud. In short, this is a store for people who play sport. If you need running gear, go here. If you need sports wear, well, go somewhere else. Somewhere I won't ever be.

The time came to kit myself out with a new pair of walking boots so I ventured out to Darts Farm…read moreShopping Village as Cotswold Outdoor has a relatively large retail space there. Darts Farm presents a surprisingly wide array of shops selling anything from fresh fish to a gaudy Emma Bridgewater Aga. It is the sort of place that can end up costing you a small fortune as those little bits and pieces that you pick up as you wander around start to add up pretty quickly! I am ordinarily a Tiso man through-and-through but finding myself residing in the South West it is a bit of a trek to one of their excellent stores! The position of my favoured outdoor kit shop is open so this was a chance for Cotswold Outdoor to make a claim for the crown... I must admit that I was not expecting much when I browsed the selection of climbing boots... this is not a slight on their range but in previous visits to other Cotswold Outdoor shops I have not felt at all valued as a customer. On this occasion the service I received was nothing short of excellent! My feet were measured to a level of detail that I have not experienced since I was fitted for my current pair of orthotics. The length and width of my feet were measured both while I was sitting and whilst standing. This info was then used to provide guidance on suitable boots for my feet. Three different pairs of boots were then brought out from the stockroom to be tried on and tested (albeit in a slightly limited manner). Where Tiso wins out, particularly at their 'Experience' stores, is the rough terrain areas on which you can test the footwear. Here, I had to make do with a stomp up and down a short ramp to mimic my foot movement within the boots akin to ascending and descending some eminence and a brisk wander around the store. I made my choice of boots and duly paid for them, leaving the shop with a lighter wallet and feeling valued as a customer, but still longing for Tiso...

Best shop for technical outdoor clothing in Swansea, with Jay and the guys really looking after…read moreyou. Some top sales too!

***ATTENTION read the low rated reviews - Absolute Cowboys! Avoid!…read more Bought £150 climbing shoes which degraded after only 1.5 months! Upon going back to Taunton Leisure I was met with rudeness and condescending attitudes both on the phone and in person. After Taunton Leisure's "inspection" they informed me that premium climbing shoes failing after only 25% of their typical lifecycle was completely acceptable and therefore they refused me an exchange! Additionally the store manager requested I sign their form which he told me was their proof of them having given the shoes back. Luckily I read the form before signing, which turned out to be a document removing them of all responsibility! I refused to sign of couse but needless to say, Taunton Leisure aren't above outright Fraud either it seems!! I have now launched a case with my bank to recover the money and also will be reporting Taunton Leisure to Trading Standards. Dont use Taunton Leisure guys, theres plenty of other places for all your climbing, hiking & outdoor needs. I'd recommend Banana Fingers, EpicTV, GoOutdoors or Mountain Warehouse (Links below). Any of these are reputable brands that in my experience, wont break trading regulations in order to thieve your money... unlike Taunton Leisure!

Whilst there are no fewer than three outdoor gear shops in the town centre, it is definitely worth…read moreheading out here to Taunton Leisure. It is barely in Bedminster, before you reach Asda on the left. A large blue shop, they have supplies for camping, walking and climbing here at reasonable prices and some high-end brands as well. There is a room for tents with a couple on display, and an area for women's clothes which is pretty good - they don't pander very much to the pale blue and pink outdoor gear that a lot of brands seem to think that women want to wear. Staff are knowledgable and friendly, and don't push you for a sale. There are a lot of them as well so you won't have to wait to be helped when it gets busy.

I bought my rucksack here many years ago which subsequently enabled me to travel all around the…read moreworld. So bonus points are definitely in store for Blacks because of that. Other than that little side note, however, there is not really a whole lot that differentiates Blacks from all of the other outdoor supply stores in the Cardiff area. Prices all seem to be pretty much the same (high) across the board, as to the ranges. Although, I would say that this Blacks does appear to have the largest selection of fleeces. But there is something about people who work in Outdoor Stores which, I think, has a tendency to be a little odd. I find that you either have people desperate to sell you the most expensive range of hiking boots, or else people who ignore you. I would really like to see this store work on getting something a bit more in the middle.

Blacks is a really good shop for the likes of me. My lovely lives in the mountains and I only have…read morewhite 'cityboy' trainers. Once the snow started lacing us pretty hard I need something a little more stable to walk around in without fear of breaking the reminisce of my ancestors tail! The store is pretty packed in with equipment, which is a bit daunting for a newcomer. Luckily boots are a pretty obvious find and looked and touched things for a good 15 mins. I had to go to the desk to ask to try on the boots and a member of staff came straight away. they gave me the boots, I tried them on, they fitted and I took them to the desk and paid. There wasn't much interaction between myself and the member of staff about the getting the right boots etc. I don't to be honest but seem surprised there wasn't a little bit more service. The boots were on sale and seemed a good price to me £40. They've also stopped me from falling on my backside every mins up in Brecon, so for that alone I am thankful for blacks.