The outdoor show NEC

Rain man

Tenderfoot
Mar 7, 2006
57
0
44
London
Hi, I'm looking forward to having a browse round the Outdoors show which is on at the NEC in march. I'm hoping there'll be lots of bushcraft stalls there!? Anybody out there know more about this? Am I going to be very disappointed? I have lots of things I'd like to buy but would love to see/try on first, rather than just buying "blind" online.
Thanks :)
 

ArkAngel

Native
May 16, 2006
1,201
22
51
North Yorkshire
I went a few years ago and unless something drastic has happend don't expect to see a massive amount of bushcraft stalls.
Plenty of things to see and do though, there were axes and knives available when i went.

It IS a good day out and i'm sure you'll enjoy it. There are quite a few bargins to be had too
 

andy_e

Native
Aug 22, 2007
1,742
0
Scotland
Yup, would agree with ArkAngel, we have one up here every year in the SECC. About half is usually dedicated to caravanning, but there's likely to be a few gems to be found. :D
 

BorderReiver

Full Member
Mar 31, 2004
2,693
16
Norfolk U.K.
I've been every year since it started and it has got progressively less interesting.

There is a lot if you are into canoeing and or mountain biking.Quite a few tents outside too. There are one or two interesting stalls but not enough for me to justify driving for two and a half hours and paying £6 to park the car.

More and more "expensive holiday" companies are moving in too.

I won't be back again.
 

C_Claycomb

Moderator staff
Mod
Oct 6, 2003
7,638
2,719
Bedfordshire
There is a lot if you are into canoeing and or mountain biking.Quite a few tents outside too. There are one or two interesting stalls but not enough for me to justify driving for two and a half hours and paying £6 to park the car.

More and more "expensive holiday" companies are moving in too.

I won't be back again.

That was exactly how I found it. I didn't go last year, but was there the year before that and was really unimpressed. Too many luxury holiday companies, too few stands selling gear. Any gear! I went wanting to look at water filters, head torches and wool base layers and found one example of each in the entire show. :banghead:

Honestly, I have found a lot more stuff of interest to bushcrafters at the Kelmarsh Countryman Fair. http://www.countrymanfairs.co.uk/gamekeeper/gamekeeper_home.html

From London it is closer than the NEC, there are more stands selling bushcraft type kit (Country Covers / Arktis is usually there for instance), there are generally several knife makers/sellers and a lot of craftsmen. Sure, no canoes and bright anoraks, but worth bearing in mind.
 

Andy2112

On a new journey
Jan 4, 2007
1,874
0
West Midlands
Went last year and there wasn't much in the way of bushcraft. Nordic Outdoor were there selling Gransfors axes and fire steels but that was about it if i remember rightly. Going this year if i can get some freebie tickets from work.:AR15firin
 

UKHaiku

Forager
Dec 27, 2007
226
0
York, UK
I'm planning to head down on the Friday..

If there's a few of us, we should arrange to meet up for a natter (and a beer ;)), subject to timing of events etc..
 

Matt Weir

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Jun 22, 2006
2,880
2
52
Tyldesley, Lancashire.
The exhibition itself as a whole isn't worth bothering with apart from the bushie stand which was pretty interesting last year and a couple of others where I bought some fantastic og combats for £15. The main reason I went last year really was to see Rays talk which was superb but I also saw Tim Emmett (mad head!) which was great so I'm there for the lectures really which I think are worth going for.
 

BCUK Shop

We have a a number of knives, T-Shirts and other items for sale.

SHOP HERE