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.

Great shop for all outdoor needs from sleeping bags to clothes and boots. Friendly staff and huge…read morechoice of goods in a large store.

This is a very very big shop and they have everything you need for camping. From tents and fold up…read morechairs to waterproof boots to camping food. Its very reasonably priced and the staff are very knowledgable

A small branch of the eponymous outdoor and camping shop. I hadn't been in a Millets for some time,…read moreand remember it as a cheaper version of the then up-and-coming outdoor shops such as Blacks. So I was pleasantly surprised at how orderly and smart the shop looked, and the quality of the gear was a pleasant surprise: definitely mid-range, but good value. Staff were friendly and helpful too. The only downside is that, being small, they might not have everything you're after. But worth a look.

Very small shop but staff are nice and they always seem to have a sale rail. The do more of a…read morechildren's range than some branches.

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.

Absolutely amazing customer service! Me and my friend went there and we looked for the right gear…read morefor both for 4 hours and the guy was always by our side, giving pros and cons and giving superb advice. Best customer service I've had in a while! Absolutely amazing

This is a nice shop with nice friendly staff. It is very…read morewell stocked and laid out and it is clean and tidy. There are always alot of assistants in the shop to help and serve you. They sell tents, camping equiptment, shoes for all types of sport including rock climbing. They sell water proof coats for children and adults. One of the childrens coats has light up arms when you press the button which is good if they are out with you when it is getting dark. There is everything you want for any outdoor activity.

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.

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.

Montain Trek and Travel is based at the top of North Street within Guildford town centre. This shop…read moreis ideal for someone about to go back packing, camping, travelling or skiiing. There is a great range of equipment suited to numerous outdoor activites and from what I've seen the equipment and clothing is available year round. Although they may not stock as wide a variety of items when compared to some of the larger retailers. Having said that what this shop excels in is the personal touch and the shop assisstants are really knowledgable about the products sold. In my opinion it is worth visiting this outdoor pusuits store over others as you will receive great advice and service to meet your own specific needs.