Where do you buy your gear from? and Why?? John
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 Online. Too far from the shops.
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.jpg) Yes, online mostly. This includes OM Classifieds, ebay and internet shops. I'm often too far from shops too.
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 Online. This is at least partially because I am lazy and antisocial, but more often because so few shops can possibly stock a full range of brands, sizes, colours and flavours of stuff... especially the inconvenient things I usually want. I do make use of my local non-chain outdoorsy shop, because they seem like a decent bunch and stock a reasonable range, too. I wouldn't want to buy certain things online when fit is critical, like boots and so on, and it would be very inconvenient if the local vendors of such things went out of business!
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 It depends what the gear is. Last major purchase was actually over the 'phone on Friday: there's only so many places where you can order a pair of 406 bike wheels with a dynohub in one and an 8 speed hub gear in the other combined with discussion about what it actually is that's needed with someone who deals with Moultons, and while my local bike shops are pretty good none of them deal in that sort of niche. For more conventional kit, last thing was a pair of mitts in the local Tiso's: they were in the sale and I could try them on, and like footwear I find that more technical gloves benefit from having one's body present during selection. Pete.
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Sorry, I do use my local outdoors shop for Meths.
They (Frazers in Lanark) are very good and friendly and know their local market very well, -just that I'm usually looking for stuff beyond the 'dog walking/fishing gear' range that they stock.
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 Depends. Locally - Up and Under in Cardiff, fab local independent. Sometimes Go Outdoors or Cotswold. Sometimes online.
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Mainly Cotswolds Outdoors. (I get a nice discount being a Scout leader.) Sometimes Snow and Rock but usually only during the sales (though they do price match). So yeah real shops for me. Dave.
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 A mix of bricks and mortar and over the net. I do like Cotswolds again due to the scouting discount. One of our local outdoor shops closed yesterday which was a shame, although I did buy some new boots for my daughter and myself at giveaway prices.
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 Large purchases are sourced online and mostly in the US mainly because of the much better prices and also to avoid Sales Tax.
More general items then Snow & Rock would be my go to retailer but to be honest I'm a price whore and its mainly down to who offers the best price on quality kit that gets my business.
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 Where ever is cheapest! GO for the odd big purchase (if its really cheap) plus everyday top ups of gas/meths/maps etc etc. I tend to save my cash up, get together a shopping list, and hit the lakes once or twice a year at sale times for the main bits of kit like W/Proofs etc. Nothing like spending a day round gear shops with money in your pocket. I only go online when size and fit isnt a problem.
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 Like Bedouin, i used to buy a lot of stuff from the States when I visieted there more regularly. REI was (is) amazing, EMS ain' half bad and there are some great little "outfitters" in places like Arizona, Utah and Alaska. Plus it's half the price.
These days, like Craig H, I tend to plan big purchases, draw up a shortlist and trawl the Lakes/N Wales on visits till I find it reduced.
I'm a big fan of The Climber's Shop in Ambleside and Needle Sports in Keswick.
For smaller or more impulse buys, first preference would be the above or an equivalent local indie.
Cotswold's still pick up a fiar bit of businessas they're on the High street have a decemt range of stock and regular sales.
The other chains (Black's, Ellis Brigham, Field and Trek,Nevis etc.) rarely have what I want for a price I want to pay.
Here in Italy i use Decathlon for cheap accessories and a local store for higher spec stuff.
Online? not really. I'd like to cheap actual physical shops going. though I have just pre-ordered a Pipedream from Alpkit.
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 Online mostly. Usually a trip to NWales and the Lakes includes a trawl around the shops too so I often bag a bargain. TBH I really, really do not NEED any more kit. I think I must have everything by now. That doesn't stop me buying stuff though 
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*Apologies for the terrible spelling in my post above. I hope it still makes sense!
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 Mostly online. I can rarely find the large sizes that fit me in a shop! Plus we don't get much choice down here in the South West. Even Snow + Rock only sell ski stuff and high street clothing. I shop around for the best price online so rarely use the same sites, though as someone mentioned above, the Climber Shop in Ambleside is really good! I have even bought a few things from the continent... even there it seems cheaper than here! There is a really good independent outdoors shop in Tavistock, Kountry Kit, which stock a good range of gear, both for lads and lassies, where I get things I need to try on. I do like t he independent shops Cotswolds gets a browse occasionally but rarely do I leave money there except for a map.
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Just wondered what people do in the case of trying stuff on. The normal brands I go for I know what size I am etc. Independents rule normally better service than the bigger shops too I am in the same boat too marns  never have too much kit though eh J
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I have on many occasions bought stuff online and returned it if it didnt fit. Just make sure all the packaging is intact. I always check the return policy of an online suplier before I purcase to make sure I have time to try amd return but also because some places will pay your postage when you exchange, but not if you return so always worth checking.
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