Mountain Warehouse

[sitges54]

This is a UK store that has now opened in my area. Their prices are extremely more attractive than similar outfitters. I was wondering about the quality. Anyone familiar with their wares? I was looking at their line of rucksacks, they are light enough but will they fall apart.

 

[CaptNoglos]

I've always considered them as a budget store for all the extras (others may feel differently). For rucksacks and boots I would always go to a specialist with a range to benefit from the advice of the staff on quality / fitting etc. Locally to us in the SW, that would be Taunton Leisure, or Cotswold Outdoors.

 

[Waka]

I agree with @CaptNoglos on it being the budget end of the spectrum, having said that when I use my walking boots as opposed to shoes I do use their Marino wool socks, they are just right for me.
For other little nik naks they are also good,,but I wouldn't buy backpack or footwear there.
My last pair of walking shoes came from Taunton Leisure and my boots from Cotswold Outdoor.

 

[Tia Valeria]

We have not bought their boots or rucksack but other items. Terry still has his original fleece and it is still good as a spare - bought 2009. It might be worth asking who actually makes their rucksacks, often made for budget stores by other makes. You might find that you pay extra for the 'name'. We have a pair of budget store rucksacks bought about 16 years ago that are still good for holidays, but not the type we would take on Camino.

 

[Mark Lee]

Except for your footwear the Camino is not hard or rough on gear at all. You really don't need expensive high end gear to walk it. It's not in the least bit technical. I looked at their website. I'm sure those packs would work fine. Other than some scuffs and dust on it, it will look new when you reach Santiago.
The pack I carried on three Camino's I bought sight unseen, on sale over the internet. Worked great.

 

[julia-t]

The clothes are fine, even outerwear like jackets and rainpants are perfectly functional and do what they are supposed to.

 

[Glenn Rowe]

Makers sell shoes with similar size numbers on the boxes but the actual shoes fit differently. ( I vary between UK 9.5 to 12, depending on the make). Good stores measure your feet so they do not sell you pups., they know the fitting characteristics of the footwear they sell.

Agreed and, even then, there can be some variation within a given model. Be sure to "test-walk" your boots awhile before packing up for the Camino (or any other long walk).

 

[superleggera]

This is a UK store that has now opened in my area. Their prices are extremely more attractive than similar outfitters. I was wondering about the quality. Anyone familiar with their wares? I was looking at their line of rucksacks, they are light enough but will they fall apart.

Nearly everything in Mountain Warehouse is made in China by the same contract manufacturers who make stuff for various other cheap outlets across Europe and in the US. As far as I recall, they also sell under their own brand on the Tesco website as well as others like Amazon and eBay. Around 6 years ago I had to make an unscheduled emergency work visit to Brussels, I called into the local Tesco and bought a rucksack to put all my equipment before getting the Eurostar, when I got back I hung it up and never used it again. I've recently been looking for rucksacks and found that a couple of the rucksacks on the Mountain Warehouse site are pretty much exactly the same as my 6 year old Tesco rucksack just different colourways, also there are loads of rucksacks on eBay from various 'no-name' labels that are also exactly the same as my Tesco bag, again just different colours. The quality of materials is OK, the stitching seems OK too but in terms of features, particularly features that aid comfort they seem a bit outdated and maybe 10 years behind what other more well known rucksacks have and the internal frame is just a thin sheet of plastic. There is loads of stuff on Amazon including loads of the same 'no-name' rucksacks, albeit around 20GBP less than Mountain Warehouse and free delivery on most of it. I did think about using my Tesco rucksack for the Camino, but after reading the reviews of people on Amazon who'd bought the equivalent 'no-name' version, I decided against it, too many people complaining that stitching was coming undone or buckles snapping after a few weeks of use.

Obviously a lot of stuff is made in China now, the difference being the manufacturing processes and final quality control.

BC!

 

[Deleted member 36903]

I bought Mountain Warehouse merino socks - long and very comfortable - wore them with their cool-max thin socks. Also bought their merino tops and leggings and am happy with their condition after lots of washes. As others have said, i would buy boots and rucksack from a shop such as Cotswold Outdoor. They have a useful system that enables you to try out these items after buying them and to be able to return for refund or exchange if they don't suit you IF you only wear/use them indoors. I received a lot of help from one of the staff in their Carlisle branch, nothing was too much trouble and he knew what he was talking about. Buen Camino!

 

[Sixwheeler]

Budget range. OK for odds and sods but for important items buy quality.

 

[Urban Trekker]

This is a UK store that has now opened in my area. Their prices are extremely more attractive than similar outfitters. I was wondering about the quality. Anyone familiar with their wares? I was looking at their line of rucksacks, they are light enough but will they fall apart.

There are three things you don't want to skimp on. Your back pack, your shoes, and your sleeping bag. Go to a established outdoors store.

Buen Camino
Happy Trails

 

[sitges54]

Thanks for the replies. They are pretty much what I expected. I never planned buying footwear there, and am still leaning towards an osprey pack. Everything else seems fair game though. I'm assuming a merino t shirt is a merino t shirt. I didn't look closely at their sock selection but as far as other incidentals, bits and bobs there is quite a savings to be had.

 

[jeet]

Thanks for the replies. They are pretty much what I expected. I never planned buying footwear there, and am still leaning towards an osprey pack. Everything else seems fair game though. I'm assuming a merino t shirt is a merino t shirt. I didn't look closely at their sock selection but as far as other incidentals, bits and bobs there is quite a savings to be had.

We bought almost everything at Mountain Warehouse, including the sleeping bag liners. We are still using the merino socks, base layers and shirts which we bought there. We did go elsewhere for footwear for the reasons mentioned above.

 

[Jeff Crawley]

I had a 40 litre Ventura rucksack that lasted four four years and a lot of walking including three Caminos before starting to fall apart. Watch their pricing as there are sudden "offers" - the Ventura is currently on sale at £34.99 down from £79.99.

Had a boot crack just back of the toe box two weeks before the 2012 Camino. Mid cost replacement from MW still going strong.

Best budget brand chain in UK (and the rest of Europe) is Decathlon - Techfresh teeshirts so cheap you worry about the production chain, two pairs of merino wool socks for £10 . . . .

 

[Jeff Crawley]

There are three things you don't want to skimp on. Your back pack, your shoes, and your sleeping bag. Go to a established outdoors store.

Buen Camino
Happy Trails

Yep, these guys have only been going for 20 years and have a measly 240 stores around the world - best go to an established store instead

 

[Maureen McGovern]

They have the best microfibre towel I have ever bought. I have wasted a lot of money trying to find a great towel

 

[Glenn Rowe]

There are three things you don't want to skimp on. Your back pack, your shoes, and your sleeping bag.

Amen to that!

Go to a established outdoors store.

Or, at least, do careful and extensive research, including comparison shopping. Don't get in a hurry, and don't allow yourself to be pushed/urged into a purchase.