Introduction
We buy all our goods from suppliers with reputations for quality and reliability. This page lists our suppliers and gives a brief history of each company. |
 | Aquashoe
Was established in the UK in 2001 to design, manufacture and supply high quality, low cost, stylish wet shoes to the UK leisure industry. The company already claims to have the most comprehensive range of styles and sizes of aquashoes in Europe. |
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 | Baby Banz
Formed in 2000 in Australia specifically to protect baby's eyes from harmful UV. |
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 | Berghaus
In 1966 two keen climbers and mountaineers from the North East of England opened the first specialist outdoor retail store in Newcastle upon Tyne. The new store imported a range of products for UK distribution and this wholesale arm of the business needed a name. Thus, 'Berghaus' was born. |
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 | Bloc
A UK company, established 13 years ago, and dedicated to the manufacture of stylish sunglasses for all ages. |
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 | Bodge the Badger
Founded in 1992 as the sister company of Outdoor Scene, providing waterproofs and fleeces for young people. |
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 | Brugi
An Italian manufacturer of skiwear. |
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 | Buff
The Buff, originating from Spain, was the idea of a keen off-road trial motorcyclist who realised the need for a multifunctional garment to be worn on and around his head while out riding in all conditions. |
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 | Burley
In 1975, a group of cycling enthusiasts dreamed of a fair and decent workplace dedicated to environmental protection and human-powered transportation. From these simple ideals grew Burley Design Co-operative, a family of cyclists bringing cycling to families. Every product is made at their base in Oregon, USA and the company is still a co-operative. |
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 | Campagnolo
F.lli Campagnolo's strength lies in its large production structure, comprising a total of 10 factories, of which five are based in Italy and the others in Romania and Tunisia. This means that the production of garments can be controlled from purchase of the thread right through to the finished article. A policy that contributes greatly to keeping costs down and which puts the brand at the top of the sector on a worldwide level, with an average fleece production of 5 tonnes a day.
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 | Cocoon
The Cocoon story started in 1989 with a bulky, sewn-together cotton sheet that almost caused the American founder to be swept away in a Balinese river while washing it. Since then Cocoon TravelSheets, MummyLiners and sleeping bags have seen a lot of improvement and perfection. They now come in numerous especially developed, high quality fabrics and a wide variety of functional detail makes them ideal companions for adventurers, travelers and mountaineers worldwide.
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 | Columbia
Founded in 1938, Columbia Sportswear Company has grown from a small family-owned hat distributorship to one of the world's largest outerwear brands and the leading seller of skiwear in the United States. At the head of our company are 83 year-old matriarch Gert Boyle, Chairman of the Board, and her son, Tim Boyle, President and Chief Executive Officer.
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 | Craghoppers
Was established in 1965 in the UK. They research and use the most advanced fabric technology and have been particularly effective in producing summer lightweight clothing which contains mosquito repellent and has a rating for UV protection. Although they have decided to stop manufacturing their products in sizes for children, we campaign with them at least twice a year to bring it back, as their summer weight clothing providing this standard of protection is proving impossible to source to this high specification from elsewhere. |
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 | Crewsaver
Crewsaver is a British company that is recognised as one of the foremost suppliers of lifejackets and dinghy sailing equipment in the world. Crewsaver products can be found in places such as ocean cruising, oil exploration, dinghy racing, security and search & rescue operations. For 50 years they have manufactured water-sports equipment and attire to the highest possible standards. Crewsaver became pioneers in the design of new gas operated air-only lifejackets,which delivered many more feature-benefits as well as increasing overall safety for the user. The Crewfit range was effectively established as a worldwide benchmark for the design and function of lifejackets for the leisure user.
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 | Design Go
A British family owned business established in 1979, which created the concept of a co-ordinated range of travel products marketed worldwide.
The initial range consisted of only 10 items. Today, over 170 products are offered spanning a wide variety of consumer niches within the travel and gift sector. Design Go's products can now be found in over 32 countries around the world.
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 | Deuter
A German company which has been in the backpack industry for over 100 years, which they state is longer than any other backpack brand in the world.
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 | Ear Band-It
Dr. Jack Malkoff, the inventor of the Ear Band-It, obtained his medical degree from Ohio State University. He retired in 1995 after 40 years of Ears, Nose and Throat (ENT) medical practice. In 1989, Dr. Malkoff developed the EAR BAND-IT® patented ear protection system, in order to enable his patients with ear tubes to swim and bathe in comfort and safety. Ear Band-It is recommended by ear physicians, pediatricians and audiologists for anyone with ear tubes and as an effective tool in the prevention of swimmer’s ear. |
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 | Five Seasons
Five Seasons was established in 1982 and is located in Göteborg, Sweden. It is one of the leading sportswear companies in Scandanavia. Its' ability to mix technical style with classic and stylish design and keen prices is a particular strength. |
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 | Flights of Fancy
Makes gift products with an overall theme of the sights and sounds of nature. The manufacturer's interest and concern in the environment has influenced not only the type of products produced but the way they are manufactured. Practically everything is conceived, designed, developed and manufactured in the Heart of England. |
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 | Hamax
A Norwegian company located on an island 100kms south of Oslo, is one of Europe's leading brand names in products for active children including child seats for cycles, houses advanced production technology in the field of injection moulding of thermoplastics. |
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 | Horizon
Is a British company specialising in the UK manufacture of sock and baselayer fabrics which offer excellent performance, comfort and fit. |
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 | Hullabaloo
Is currently changing its' name to Human Zoo but still makes fun, funky lightweight clothing for children and ladies. |
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 | Julbo
French manufacturers of sunglasses to a very high technical standard, with all frames being made in France. |
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 | Keela
The main objective at Keela is to design and manufacture high quality, highly technical and innovative products at competitive prices. Their adult range is well respected, being worn by British Mountain Rescue teams. All Keela products are manufactured in Scotland or at the sister factory in Sri Lanka. |
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 | Klutz
Klutz was incorporated in 1977 in Palo Alto, California, by three friends from Stanford University. They began by selling sidewalk juggling lessons along with a trio of no-bounce bean bags.
John Cassidy, the Englishman of the group, put the instructions in book form and titled it Juggling for the Complete Klutz. Today, how-to books from Klutz come packaged with the tools of their trade (from juggling cubes to face paints to yo-yos), and are designed for doing, not just reading. "We think people learn best through their hands, nose, feet, mouth and ears. Then their eyes. So we design multi-sensory books," Cassidy says.
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 | Konfidence
In 1998 this UK company started to design, manufacture and distribute the Konfidence jacket buoyant swimming aid for children, with the aim of fulfilling the need for a good alternative to armbands/water wings and hand-held swimming devices. Now successful not only with the general public, but also with overseas package holiday operators. |
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 | Kool Sun
Kool Sun is a UK company specialising in the manufacture of UV swimwear for children. |
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 | Kushies
Kushies has been making products for babies for the last 50 years from it's base in Ontario, Canada. |
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 | LifeSystems
This UK company has protected adventurers and explorers against accident and disease for over 16 years. Constant research, regular product revision and scientific innovation keep them at the forefront of outdoor and travel health protection. |
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 | LifeVenture
Lifeventure is a sister company of LifeSystems and LittleLife. Their extensive range of travel packs and accessories has been developed over a number of years to provide the traveller with an effective and stylish collection of gear. Each item is made to an extremely high specification and the materials and components used are of the highest quality. At the same time the designs are deliberately understated to minimise the risk of standing out too much in a crowd. All Lifeventure products are tried and tested by professional adventurers, explorers, travel writers and sportsmen. Lifeventure has sponsored over 30 ground-breaking expeditions and research studies since 2002 and our product development team work closely with the people at the forefront of these expeditions. |
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 | Lion in the Sun
Lion in the Sun is a British company founded by Cristina and Paul Sanders in 1999. The company supplies high quality, fashionable sun protective swimwear to the world market. |
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 | LittleLife
A sister company of LifeSystems and LifeVenture, this company evolved when the directors had children and wanted to develop products to help their own family and friends to continue enjoying the outdoors. All products go through extensive research before being brought to market. |
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 | Manbi
Founded in 1976 in the UK as manufacturers of technical skiwear. As well as supplying a generation of skiers, they have supplied uniforms for resort representatives for virtually every UK ski tour operator as well as the British Olympic Bobsleigh team and all main sponsors at the Norwegian Winter Olympics. The majority of the product range is still manufactured either in the UK or in other parts of the EC. |
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 | Meindl
Meindl, a German company, has been specialising in the manufacture of boots for over 300 years and through 11 generations of the same family. |
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 | OK Baby
An Italian manufacturer of bike accessories for children, established 20 years ago. |
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 | Olang
Olang is an Italian company renowned for their quality of manufacture. It was established in 1989 by a designer who was in the trade for many years prior to setting up his own company. They specialise in the manufacture of boots, including both walking boots and snowboots.
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 | Outdoor Scene
Sidney Flitterman founded the company importing goods for resale to army and navy disposal in the UK. The first retail shop opened in Sidney’s home town Nottingham selling used clothing and subsequently government surplus. In 1987 their Outdoor Scene brand was launched. |
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 | Raleigh
Founded in 1888 when a gentleman by the name of Sir Frank Bowden bought an interest in a small bicycle company on Raleigh Street in Nottingham, England. Its early commercial success was based on quality machines raced by international cycling champions. By 1892 Raleigh led the world in bicycle racing success, winning over 2,300 prizes worldwide. The Raleigh Bicycle Company was formed in 1890 and in 1896 the largest cycle factory in the world was built. Today, Raleigh bicycles are manufactured and distributed across the globe. |
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 | Recco
Swedish-based and recognised worldwide as the foremost manufacturer of avalanche rescue systems of this kind. |
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 | Result
A family-run UK company which was started in the early 1970's by David Sanders-Smith. The company became well recognised in the manufacture of jackets and outdoor wear, enabling own brand embroidery for groups, uniform and clubs. They sell their product worldwide. The company is also a major manufacturer supplying retailers in the schoolwear market.
In 1994 the company established the 'Result' brand for both adults and children, which is now run by David's daughter, and David continues to design the garments himself.
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 | Romika
Romika was founded as a shoe manufacturer in Germany in 1936. The company began by producing sturdy rubber boots and this was shortly followed by the addition of house shoes and slippers. Such was their success, that 545 employees were appointed within the first 6 months. |
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 | Rucanor
A Dutch company which was established in July 1956, specializing in sporting goods with a world wide reputation for quality and unique design. |
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 | Salice
Salice Occhiali was founded in 1919 in Musso, a village at the northern end of Como Lake. It initially produced handmade eyeglasses and cases. |
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 | Saltrock
Saltrock is a British company run by surfers, for surfers. Creating a cool, casual beach style, Saltrock designs for people who want their clothes to reflect their lifestyle. They have been designing clothes for boardriders for nearly twenty years and have an excellent design ethos for their range for younger people, producing trendy clothing which is popular with Mums too. |
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 | Seirus
An American company specialising in the production of gloves and accessories. |
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 | Smartwool
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 | Snugpak
Snugpak is the UK’s only manufacturer of synthetic sleeping bags. The company estimates that, whilst the UK’s armed forces are issued with a different sleeping bag, well over 50% choose to buy a Snugpak sleeping bag at one time or another. Their bags are used by Forces in Afghanistan, Iraq and Bosnia. |
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 | Sposh
Was introduced to the UK market in 1998 from New Zealand (where it is known as Ozone), providing parents with safe, functional and stylish swimwear for their children. |
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 | Sprayway
Sprayway started life in Chorlton, Manchester in 1974. The original founders, John Hunt and Simon Wright were keen sailors and outdoor enthusiasts who decided to develop their own performance clothing because they couldn’t find clothing that met their performance needs. Since then Sprayway have continued to make garment’s that perform but also look great. |
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 | Surfanic
This British skiwear company has its' own manufacturing facility in China, and is growing rapidly to become a significant manufacturer of trendy skiwear for adults and children.
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 | Tantrix
The story begins during a stormy camping trip in South America. Stuck in a tent, Mike McManaway comes up with his idea for "The perfect strategy game". An experimental version of Tantrix is published back in New Zealand. The game evolves through various editions. Eventually in 1993 a Bakelite version is released internationally and has sold over two million copies worldwide. |
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 | Tatonka
The North American Indian name for buffalo, which was a precious resource and a revered symbol for unlimited freedom for these proud people. Tatonka is based in Germany and specialises in the manufacture of backpacks and bags for cyclists through to photographers. |
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 | Teva
Developed by Colorado River Guide Mark Thatcher for hiking, nearly 20 years ago. |
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 | Ti
The Wetsuit Factory was founded in 1969 in Cornwall as a small family business. It has since gone from strength to strength, supplying wetsuits to big names in surfing, like Tom Napper and Brad Shooter.
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 | Togz
Togz is a Scottish company, manufacturing for the demands of the Scottish weather! |
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 | Turtle Fur
This company started in 1985 in Vermont, USA and specialises in the manufacture of hats to keep you warm. |
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 | Uvex
Was founded as a family business in Germany in 1926. In the 1950's the company pioneered ultraviolet protection. Uvex is the number one selling sport optic in Europe and the world's leading goggle manufacturer. At least one out of every three medallists in all Olympic Games, World Cups and World Championships, since 1936, has worn Uvex goggles. |
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 | Vango
Vango began in 1847 when Andrew Mitchell & Co Ltd was founded. They were canvas merchants buying cotton, flax and jute to sell on to manufacturers of sails, tarpaulins and tents. Andrew Mitchell decided to go into tent manufacturing in 1963 and acquired the tent making firm McIlwraith of Govan which subsequently became Vango (Scotland) Ltd. – Vango is of course, an anagram of Govan. |
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 | Vaude
The Outdoor company VAUDE was founded by Albrecht von Dewitz in 1974. What first started off as a small family-run business, grew over a period of 27 years to a company with ca. 150 employees in Germany and ca. 1400 worldwide, servicing consumer demand for outdoor, bike and yachting gear and backpacks. |
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 | Wickers
Wickers was started in 1981 in the US, primarily as a fabric company. In 1990, seeing an opportunity in the performance underwear market, Wickers combined the innovative fabric company with performance garment manufacturing to create Wickers Sportswear, Inc. Since its inception, Wickers has been a leader in the development and introduction of performance fabric technology. |
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 | Wristies
This US product was invented, patented and trademarked by a girl of 10 years of age in the early 1990's, after she suffered painful wrists as they became cold and wet when she was out building a snow fort. |
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 | Wynnster
Llewelyn Wynne (the original name of the company) was founded in 1934, supplying clothing to organisations such as the Sudan Railway and tea plantations and then progressed into army surplus clothing and equipment. By the mid 1980’s Wynnster recognised an opportunity to build upon its understanding of this market and move into the active outdoor sector. Designers and fabric consultants were employed to assist Wynnster in sourcing performance fabrics and develop a range of practical, functional garments to meet the needs of the active outdoor consumer. They are now firmly placed in the mid-market sector producing high quality, practical and contemporary products for the outdoor market at realistic prices and they are constantly receiving excellent reviews in the outdoor press achieving best buys and best in test. |
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 | ZooBooKoo
ZooBooKoo was established in the UK over five years ago by a Mother of two toddlers. Like every other parent she is continually looking for new ways to entertain and educate. She believes challenge, novelty, variety and fun are the key ingredients. These thoughts were the main considerations in developing her intriguing range of educational puzzles adapting some ideas from Victorian times. Clever, appealing, well-researched designs with long-life hinges have created quality cube books that you just can't put down. |
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 | 180's
180's was started in Baltimore in 1995 and specialises in the manufacture of gloves, eye wear and ear warmers. |
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