I will be working at the Outdoor Show all day on Saturday. Anyone fancy meeting up for a pint and a chat? Say 12:00 at the Cumberland Arms.
The Outdoors show at Birmingham NEC ft Ray Mears and others
- Thread starter Matt Weir
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I'm looking on going on the Friday - the Explorer scout thing I was trying to arrange for the Saturday fell though.
Just got back. Wasn't massively impressed - infact, probably worser than last year. BorderReiver's summary above was pretty damn accurate I'm afraid. 
I think I'll be giving it a miss next year.
I think I'll be giving it a miss next year.
Batfink said:Just got back. Wasn't massively impressed - infact, probably worser than last year. BorderReiver's summary above was pretty damn accurate I'm afraid.
I think I'll be giving it a miss next year.
I went yesterday.
I won't be back.
wont be going next year!! poorly organised, look really good on the website and sounded they knew what they were doing! AND FOR THE LAST TIME, NO I BLOODY DONT WANT TO GO TO CYPRUS OR WANT A F***N CREDIT CARD hahahahaha 
I have been reading the posts here and waiting for the inevitable dissapointment.
I have taken the two youngest children for the last three years with their friends. It has been getting progressively worse, sadly, as it really was good once. The organisers really do need a wake-up call on quality, innovation and interest.
We deliberately gave it a miss this year and won't bother in the future.
Swyn.
I have taken the two youngest children for the last three years with their friends. It has been getting progressively worse, sadly, as it really was good once. The organisers really do need a wake-up call on quality, innovation and interest.
We deliberately gave it a miss this year and won't bother in the future.
Swyn.
Matthew.Passmore
Settler
I got there today at 9.30am (it only opened at 9.00) to find that ray mears talk was sold out :O
but some good stalls and demonstrations.
Got myself a MSR whisperlite stove, 3 season bag, 2 man tent and some new pans
im just having trouble finding fuel for the MSR.
but some good stalls and demonstrations.
Got myself a MSR whisperlite stove, 3 season bag, 2 man tent and some new pans
im just having trouble finding fuel for the MSR.
Ray's lecture was great, really inspirational and there were a few laughs in as well so I think it was worth it just for that. The key to getting a ticket seemed to be; get there early (we walked into the place at 8:15 and so were quite near to the front at 9am opening).
The next step was to leg it down to the ticket office at the far end straight away. Then go queue at the theatre straight away to get decent seats (we managed to get on the 6th row centre.
The other lecture I watched was the rock climing base jumper Tim Emmett which was pretty exciting. That guy must be super fit to hang off rocks the way he did and also mad as a box of frogs to jump off them.
The 'show' itself was quite disappointing really - where are all the freebies damn it? I came away with 2 Garmin necklace with a hook things for the kids and a pen
Oh and sampled the organic lager 
Will I go next year? Depends who and what's on and the kids want to try it but at least I know what to expect.
The next step was to leg it down to the ticket office at the far end straight away. Then go queue at the theatre straight away to get decent seats (we managed to get on the 6th row centre.
The other lecture I watched was the rock climing base jumper Tim Emmett which was pretty exciting. That guy must be super fit to hang off rocks the way he did and also mad as a box of frogs to jump off them.
The 'show' itself was quite disappointing really - where are all the freebies damn it? I came away with 2 Garmin necklace with a hook things for the kids and a pen
Oh and sampled the organic lager Will I go next year? Depends who and what's on and the kids want to try it but at least I know what to expect.
Matthew.Passmore
Settler
Did you see the Royal Marines hand to hand combat demonstration?
That was brilliant, they were really kicking the lights out of each other.
That was brilliant, they were really kicking the lights out of each other.
T
TimB
Guest
Matt, Millets sell coleman fuel which is fine in the MSR.
I hear that appart from the lectures there was very little of real good stuff there... ?
Perhaps we need "The real outdoors show..."
I hear that appart from the lectures there was very little of real good stuff there... ?
Perhaps we need "The real outdoors show..."
Matthew.Passmore said:
I was on the upper level when it was on and heard the music blaring. As I looked over I saw one chap with a club jumping about so said to my mate 'come on, there are some blokes hitting each other with big sticks over there', but when we made our way over I found the crowds were about 10 deep and we couldn't really see
We got there at 8.40, got usher to the "ticket holders" holding area. When the doors opened they tried to divide the "internet" ticket holders from the other ticket holders with no success.
We then legged it to the back of the hall to join the already enormous queue for the lecture tickets, surrounded by people moaning about the bad organisation. After about 3 minutes a bloke with a radio and a badge walked along the queue to tell us "No more Ray Mears tickets, come back later for the other speakers.
To say that Step-son was dissapointed would be an understatement!!
Rest of the show was pretty much as expected, lots of what were basically holiday firms touting for clients.
Did manage to get good prices on my favourite Craghopper trousers, but most stalls were high street prices or worse.
We will not be going again for a very long time, if ever.
Another major gripe for me was the £7.00 charge for the car park. When I got to the NEC for engineering shows etc both car parking and admission are usually free.
Bit of a crock really!
Dave
We then legged it to the back of the hall to join the already enormous queue for the lecture tickets, surrounded by people moaning about the bad organisation. After about 3 minutes a bloke with a radio and a badge walked along the queue to tell us "No more Ray Mears tickets, come back later for the other speakers.
To say that Step-son was dissapointed would be an understatement!!
Rest of the show was pretty much as expected, lots of what were basically holiday firms touting for clients.
Did manage to get good prices on my favourite Craghopper trousers, but most stalls were high street prices or worse.
We will not be going again for a very long time, if ever.
Another major gripe for me was the £7.00 charge for the car park. When I got to the NEC for engineering shows etc both car parking and admission are usually free.
Bit of a crock really!
Dave
Well. It was the first trip to the show for me, and I guess it will be the last, as other than the Ray Talk, the rest was no different than walking down the high street and going to hiking shops etc etc, that's if your into those shops lol.
There were a few stalls that took may fancy, but other than 1 " bushcraft stand" nothing really that was along the lines of wilderness/Bushcraft/Survival.
I bought a Gransfors wildlife hatchet so the trip was not a total waste. Someone stole an axe from the nordic stall !!
Basha72
There were a few stalls that took may fancy, but other than 1 " bushcraft stand" nothing really that was along the lines of wilderness/Bushcraft/Survival.
I bought a Gransfors wildlife hatchet so the trip was not a total waste. Someone stole an axe from the nordic stall !!
Basha72
Was my first time there, quite liked it, but nothing special. Got some sporks from Nordic, drooled over the axe's and entered LOADS of comps
Not a bad day out, but could do better
Not a bad day out, but could do better
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