Best shops for buying outdoor and leisure products May 2012

Outdoor and leisure shops rated

The UK's biggest survey of shops for outdoor and leisure products - such as cycling gear and walking boots - reveals the best stores for your outdoor needs. It also highlights the ones to avoid.

taster bike

The Which? satisfaction table of 11 shops for buying outdoor and leisure products reveals the best and worst in the UK, as part of the Which? shops survey of more than 11,000 people. 

Sign in to see the shops ordered by customer score and to see how customers rated each shop on factors including price, product quality and service. 

Our table includes big chains such as Halfords and Millets and shops perhaps lesser-known for outdoor and leisure products, including department stores. Find out the best and worst places to shop for outdoor and leisure essentials such as walking boots and tents. 

The table reveals customer scores and ratings for outdoor and leisure shops. Logged-in Which? members can discover which are the best and worst - if you're not already a member, discover the benefits of getting full access for one month for £1.

Outdoor and leisure shops reviewed
ShopProduct rangeProduct qualityServiceStorePricingAfter sales and returnsCustomer score
ArgosSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only content
BlacksSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only content
DebenhamsSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only content
Evans CyclesSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only content
HalfordsSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only content
Independent department storesSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only content
Independent outdoor and leisure storesSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only content
John LewisSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only content
MilletsSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only content
TescoSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only content
The RangeSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only content

How Which? rates outdoor and leisure shops

The outdoor and leisure category was part of the Which? shops survey, the biggest of its kind in the UK.

For the survey, Which? surveyed 11,274 members of the general public online between February and March 2012 about the shops they had visited in the past six months. Shoppers were asked how satisfied they were with shops they'd bought outdoor and leisure products from and how likely they were to recommend those shops. These factors make up the Which? customer score.

Our survey respondents also rated shops selling outdoor and leisure products for 14 factors covering price, service, store environment, product quality, product range and after sales. These are shown as star ratings in our table above and are made up of the factors below.

  • Service – staff knowledge about products, staff helpfulness and staff availability
  • Store environment – ease of finding products, tidiness of store, store environment and queuing time
  • Price – price, sales and special offers
  • Product quality – product quality and how well products last
  • Product range – range of products and products being in stock
  • After sales and returns

Other Which? shopping surveys

Take a look at the best and worst shops from the other categories in the Which? shopping survey as voted for by more than 11,000 shoppers.

Which? works for you