Blacks

The staff here are very nice and super helpful. I was looking for a rain jacket. They helped me find one very quickly. Plus the price was almost half what Snow + Rock were asking for up the road and they were supposedly having a sale. I’d definitely return for any other sporting/​camping purchases.

We spent a good hour trying on different walking boots and shoes, I think we tried on just about every pair they had on offer, twice finally settling on what we wanted, boots that gave the perfect ankle support and comfort, all important when you are planning to walk your way around South America. I exaggerate but it does feel like that’s the plan. We were helped by a very calm assistant who we kept sending back into the stock rooms for half sizes and every time emerged with a stack of boxes a mile high. The shop looked like a bomb had hit it once we were done. And then we were onto the socks, liners, thermal, light weight and then the bags and the sleeping bag liners, pulling everything off the shelves and asking silly questions all the while. We were like kids in the candy shop. And they had sporks! Of course they have everything you should ever need or want for your outdoor adventures if you’re prepared to pay the price for it all. We ended up buying a lot of the bits and bobs off the internet cheaper and delivered to the door but apart from the boots we did our window shopping at Blacks. And the staff were more than happy to pick up after us, or they certainly didn’t complain. I was back in there yesterday again to pick up a few last things before I head out to join my partner who’s South American adventure started a few weeks ago and within moments there were a staff emerging from behind rails of jackets asking if I needed any help. They are all super nice. One gripe though. Blacks has apparently elected to ignore the VAT reduction. Tut tut.