Staff Review: Osprey Xenith 88 Follow Stu from the Exeter Shop as he takes a BIG Osprey Xenith 88 along the epic landscape of the Skye Trail. Is this the ultimate load carrier? It is certainly up there with the best.   When preparing for the Skye Trail earlier this year I was given the [...]

Staff Thoughts: Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody Follow Mark from the Taunton Shop on a trip through the Mendip Hills as he gives his thoughts on Patagonia's lightweight, technical, synthetic hoody. Size & Fit I am 6' 2" broad-shouldered and long-armed. I usually wear extra-large in tops and t-shirts, and large in more technical wear such [...]

Berghaus - At Home in the Mountains Learn a little about the birth and roots of Berghaus, the classic British brand synonymous with the classic British waterproof and the intrepid international mountaineer. Berghaus is a stand out British brand near synonymous with the classic British water proof jacket. Almost everyone has a relative or friend [...]

Taunton Leisure is TGO's Independent Retailer of the Year 2019. We are delighted to announce that Taunton Leisure has won The Great Outdoors Magazine's Independant Retailer of the Year Award, specially chosen by a panel of judges and voted for by the adventurous outdoor lovers of the UK. A word from Simon Clark, MD of [...]

Our favourite bits of kit for Skiing and Boarding. It’s that time of year and the mountains are definitely calling for some epic skiing and boarding. Gaby from the Taunton Shop gives our top picks to get you prepared for those fresh powder days, chucking in her top tips for the newbies as a bonus. [...]

Let's Talk Merino Wool Take a look at the history and uses of this very special wool and explore just whats makes it different. History Rather underrated, wool plays a very major part in human history. It has been used as clothing for many millennia, where primitive humans would clothe themselves in the skins of [...]

Gifts for the Techy, Outdoor Gearhead Get some inspiration as we count down 10 sparkly gifts, perfect for the outdoorsy gear lover. 1. A Sea-2-Summit Spark SPII Sleeping bag This new sleeping bag from Aussie brand Sea-2-Summit features amongst other things an icredibly impressive packsize for its performance. 300g (345g in the long) of 850+ [...]

Gifts for the Daring Outdoorsman Take a look as we count 10 pieces of kit for the intrepid men in your life. 1. A Victorinox Explorer Swiss Army Knife With 16 different functions including two blades, a magnifying glass, bottle opener, tin opener, flat head and phillips screwdrivers (what more could you need?), a Victorinox [...]

Gifts for the Intrepid Outdoorswoman Take a look as we count 10 wild presents for the adventurous women in your life. 1. Osprey Ariel 65 AG Rucksack   An excellent pack, made for multi-day use, trekking through the wilderness. The Osprey Ariel provides uncompromising comfort, ventilation and stability. Organisation and accessibility are key during long [...]

Let's Talk G-1000! Take a look at the History of Fjällräven's signature fabric and how this seemingly old-fashioned system is still incredibly relevant and reliable today. (it's prounounced FYAHLL–RAHVEN) Just FYI. Adaptable for a lifetime in nature In 1966, a Scandinavian expedition to explore Greenland was undertaken. Fjällräven, at the time, a relatively unknown brand [...]

Staff Review: Osprey Hikelite 18 Sam from the Exeter Store takes a close look at the lightweight, well-featured Osprey daypack.   The Hikelite 18 is one of the newest daypacks to be added to the Osprey line-up, packing many of the premium features you’ve come to love and expect from Osprey, as well as some [...]

Staff Review: Arc'teryx Proton LT Hoody Follow Jess as she takes the new Arc'teryx Hoody for a spin around the South-West countryside and beyond. "It's a windy jacket, designed to stop you from overheating when walking" was, in short, how the Proton LT was described to me. In more technical terms, Arc'teryx describe it to [...]

Staff Review: The Osprey Kyte 36 Follow Gaby from the Taunton Shop as she takes a walk through the hills of western Wales and tests out this tough, well featured women's pack. off the grid Osprey go by….’ Off the grid. With a proven legacy, the Kyte 36 is a rugged, high-performance backpack, designed to [...]

Let's Talk Layering Systems! Learn that with the right system, you can embrace the weather, whatever it throws at you. “Embrace the weather, whatever it throws at you.” This is often one of the first pieces of advice that any outdoor enthusiast will give when asked for tips about enjoying your time outside. Be it [...]

How to choose an Insulated Jacket Take a look at the main differences regarding insulative jackets and work out which one is right for you. When the cold calls; we answer. The first flakes of snow are beginning to fall across the hills turning them from green to white, the mornings are becoming colder and [...]

Hardshell or Softshell? Check the weather, have a read and choose what's right for you. Gear is a personal thing. For some it takes years to collect and perfect their outdoor gear collection, gathering many specific pieces for different situations and conditions, but also what works best for them personally. A jacket is the best [...]

The new Outwell pole collection POPPING UP QUICKLY IN SUMMER 2020 PEACE OF MIND FOR HAPPY CAMPERS When we talk pole tents, we think reliability. It’s a tried and tested method of tent building which has withstood the test of time and of course some pretty horrendous weather, most of us have a treasured memory [...]

Review: Rab Kangri GTX Jacket See what our good friend Paul makes of one of RAB's newest jackets and their recent move into GORE-TEX waterproofing. Throughout life we discover great combinations: jam and toast, coffee and sunday mornings, Rab and Gore-Tex, wait, what? That’s a new one! Winter 2019 sees two outdoor juggernauts begin to work [...]