About Cotswold Outdoor UK

A British outdoor retailer with shops across the country and a large online range, stocking the established mountain and walking brands rather than own-label substitutes.

It sits at the specialist end rather than the supermarket end. The staff training and the fitting service in store are the reason people pay more here than on a marketplace.

What they stock

Walking boots and shoes, waterproof and insulated jackets, base and mid layers, rucksacks, tents and sleeping bags, navigation equipment, and travel clothing.

Footwear and waterproofs are the two categories where the money genuinely buys performance, and where the wrong choice ruins a day out.

Waterproofs, and the number that matters

Waterproofing is measured as hydrostatic head, in millimetres. Higher resists more water pressure, and anything used in British hill weather wants a substantial figure rather than a showerproof one.

Breathability matters as much as waterproofing. A jacket that keeps rain out and sweat in leaves you just as wet, which is why a cheap non-breathable shell is uncomfortable on any uphill walk.

Taped seams and a stiffened hood peak separate a genuine mountain shell from a fashion one. So does the ability to fit a fleece underneath without the sleeves riding up.

Boots, and how to get them fitted

Try boots at the end of the day with the socks you will actually walk in. Feet swell, and a boot fitted in the morning over thin socks will hurt on a real descent.

The heel should not lift when you walk, and your toes should not touch the front when you kick downhill. Get measured rather than trusting your shoe size.

Break them in on short local walks before a big day. A blister on a hill is a long walk home.

Using a Cotswold Outdoor discount code

Buy the boots, socks and waterproofing treatment together, then apply the code at checkout. Some premium outdoor brands are excluded from promotions as a matter of policy.