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 [...]

The Arc'teryx Story What do clothing design and a 150 million year old bird have in common? With a name and logo that stands out as much as their unique ethos and outlook, Arc’teryx is a highly beloved clothing and gear brand popular with Hikers, climbers and other outdoor enthusiasts the world over. Founded in [...]

The new Outwell air collection COMING TO CAMPSITES SPRING 2020 3 different collections for 3 different campers Outwell are known for innovation, it’s in their slogan and the very foundations on which the company was built. Air tents have come a long way over the last few summers. You’re getting very generous tents which are [...]

Let's talk Gore-Tex® Take a look at the history of Gore-Tex®, how it works and the technologies it offers within our range. Gore-Tex® is a huge name in the outdoor industry, it is synonymous with hard wearing, technical, breathable garments and footwear. It is the original, waterproof but breathable fabric, repelling liquid water while allowing [...]

Review: Arc'teryx Proton LT Hoody Follow Stu from the Exeter shop as he takes a brand new Arc'teryx Hoody on a rough trek along the Skye Trail. So that is pretty much how the text conversation went leading up to doing the Skye Trail this October with my pal Paul. The Skye trail, an 80 [...]

5 of our warmest winter jackets Let's explore, learn the features and compare. Brrrr! The leaves are falling and there is a nip in the air; winter is soon to reveal itself. We are not the sort to let the cold affect our time outside. Winter can be a fantastic time to get outdoors and [...]

Can a piece of outdoor clothing be waterproof without a membrane? A question Nick Brown asked himself in the 1980s. Páramo, a leading British outdoor clothing company do things a little differently. They take an alternate step away from a classic membrane garment such as a British rain mac and use a system pioneered by [...]

Lets talk outsoles! What should you be looking at, sole unit wise, when looking for your next piece of outdoor footwear? Let's put a little SOLE in your step When we talk Walking boots and shoes, one of the most important factors to any build is the outsole, the hard rubber bottom standing as the [...]

Rugged by nature. Rugged by design. Take a look here at the history of this TOUGH outdoor clothing brand, found in Utah, USA. It all started with one man and his hat With an enviable reputation in the outdoor industry for tough, durable fabrics and its own distinctive style, KÜHL was founded in Utah in [...]

6 Ethical outdoor clothing brands painting the industry green We take a look at some of our clothing brands and the steps they're taking to improve the outdoor industry and the world surrounding it. Things need to be better We’re outdoor lovers; we're obsessed with dense woodland, beautiful white mountains and the striking silhouette of [...]

The cold calls; Rab Infinity Answers. Our very own Ian takes on a Swedish winter in the Rab Infinity Jacket, new this Autumn. Extreme weather calls for extreme kit. Back in March, I had the chance to preview the new Rab Infinity Jacket on a 5 day hiking and camping trip in the pristine Swedish [...]

Beth, our Bristol store assistant manager visited the Meindl factory in Germany to take a look at how some of the best footwear we sell is tested and produced.. This September, I was lucky enough to represent Taunton Leisure at the Meindl retailer's trip to Germany Under the organization of Nick from Bramwell International, our [...]

Keith, one of our gear testers has been putting the Rab Alpine Pro 400 Sleeping Bag through it's paces. My old Taunton Leisure sleeping bag finally had to be ‘recycled’ – purchased in 1988, it had served its purpose dutifully, but the old hollowfill fibre had lost its insulating mojo. Up to date and the [...]

Staff Review: Arc'Teryx Aerios FL Nick, the Exeter store manager, has been testing these Arc'teryx shoes and gives his view. A few months ago I got the good news that I was to be testing a relatively new shoe in our range, the Aerios FL GTX from Arc'teryx. This was very handy as I had [...]

We are delighted to share the news that Taunton Leisure is sponsoring Redpoint Climbing Centre on Winterstoke Road in Bedminster as part of a long-term partnership, which includes discounts for members and prizes. This state-of-the-art climbing centre, based in an old art deco cinema has walls from 3-12.5m, including the infamous stalactite, meaning it has [...]

Do you enjoy an orienteering challenge? If so Moonraker could be for you! Raising money for local Somerset causes along the way this challenge takes place in October near Bishops Lydeard (nr Taunton), have a read below to find out more... What is Moonraker? A night time team based orienteering walk organised by the Rotary [...]