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.

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.

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.

Situated next door to Round the Bend, this shop deals with the more strenuous outdoor activity. I…read morecan vouch for this shop as I used it in my earlier days. It has great stock/kit for climbers up 8000m, and also for cavers, (not my scene)! Brilliant knowledgable staff who will let try kit outeven swing an ice-axe! Quite a busy road Tarrant Street so you'll be better buying your kit and then getting the car to pick it up.

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.

This shop is great for all outdoorsy stuff, you can get fleeces, tents, walking boots and even…read morestuff to make your clothes waterproof. The prices are reasonable and the layout is good as the store is a nice size. Only annoying thing is the mirrors in the shop tend to have something like a mannequin or rail in front so you cant see what stuff looks like unless you use the changing room.

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.

Brighton is home to probably every shop that has ever been conceived, so it is no surprise this…read moreGunsmith can be found down in the heart of the city. Unsurprisingly you'll no longer find actual guns here, but you can buy a selection of air guns, ranging in price from £30 to well over £1000. Having opened up in the 19th century, C&H Weston is steeped in history, so it is certainly worth a visit. If you like strange tat then you'll be delighted to know they sell giant ornamental pieces like Owls and Magpies.