The outdoor show NEC

[Rain man]

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]

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]

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]

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.

[rowen]

Looks like there are some bushcraft activities -

http://www.theoutdoorsshow.co.uk/page.cfm/Link=17/t=m/goSection=3

[BorderReiver]

Looks like there are some bushcraft activities -

http://www.theoutdoorsshow.co.uk/page.cfm/Link=17/t=m/goSection=3

That was there last year;an oasis of interest.:)

[Matt Weir]

I'm hoping to go down there on the Friday this year to see Simon King and Johnny Kingdom :D

[C_Claycomb]

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.

[FGYT]

Unfortunately NEC is a business and their business is shows, stand prices are ridiculous
So it’s not worth most small company’s bothering especially if they have to cover the cost with what they sell at the show which is expected by the public to be real cheap.

[Andy2112]

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]

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..

[Rain man]

Thanks a lot guys wont bother going now. gonna check out that country fair link tho, thanks Claycomb.

[Matt Weir]

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.