Boardwise is a spot on, cool ass store of surf, skate and snow wear, hidden away slightly on…read moreLochrin Place, but easy to find once you know where it is, obviously. A brilliant shopping gem to have some knowledge of if you're very good at any of the sports mentioned, or just very cool, either of the two options will do. The shop is laid out over some fairly extensive premises, and filled with sporting goodies of an advanced level, and as usual when I'm in a shop surrounded by clothing that's a million times cooler than I am, I just stand looking in awe of all the sexy plus gnarly ski jackets, which are impossibly out of my price range anyway. Although if you do come along here when the sales are on, you can absolutely grab something bargainous. You'll find tons of brands here, including Analog, Animal, Billabong, Special Blend and Addict Clothing, in menswear, ladies wear and children's sizes.

Considering it's the capital of Scotland, Edinburgh doesn't have many ski/snowboard / extreme sport…read moreshops. But Alas! There's always Boardwise! I used to come in here practically every week with my brothers, as they were really into snowboarding and roller-blading (remember that phase?!) . The other week I came in here just for a look, and I was shocked at what they had! Sure, whenever I used to come in I would sit in the corner and sulk that I wasn't getting to go to my shops so never really noticed their ladies selection. Talk about school-boy error! They have a great range of bikini's, summer dresses, flip-flops, hoodies, bags and sunglasses! Yeah it's a bit summer-orientated, but summer is on its way afterall. They have a good selection of guy's stuff too - infact, there is more for men than women, but plenty of both. I came out of Boardwise with an amazing red Quicksilver summer dress and a really bright bikini, all for under £30. It's definitely the sort of place I'll go back to, to begin my summer!

One of my favorite surf shops across the pond! Friendly and…read morehelpful staff, good food and next to a decent surfing location when the swell direction is right. It is also pretty close to my family in Edinburgh...

Sports clothes have been consistently fashionable over the past few decades, from Lacoste to more…read morerecently an obsession amongst youngsters with skater and snowboarding fashion accessories (I used to wear DC's and I suck at skating, case in point.) But Nevissport, rather than being a trend follower or setter in this field, stick to providing practical and durable gear for the outdoorsman or lady. The first floor is dedicated to Berghaus and big, cosy Tresspass jackets which definitely do the job if you're out camping. What's more, in Nevisport they are affordable, and valuable when you consider how much these jackets and trousers can withstand in extreme conditions. Upstairs, they have a larger selection of jackets and shoes I suppose are considered fashionable, but rather than being purely for that purpose they are making the sport cool - this is mainly in the snowboarding section by the way. If you've ever snowboarded or surfed, you can be sure that these trousers are so good at trapping in the heat you would never wear them for any other reason other than to speed down a snowy terrain or lunge yourself into the ocean. There are some cool boards, wetsuits etc, and other accessories you will undoubtedly need such as gloves. There's also a section dedicated to hillwalking and mountain hiking, where you can purchase hooks and ropes and so on. It's a good outlet handy for the outdoors fanatic set in the centre of town, so they need not take an adventure before they set off merely to pick up the bare essentials! What's more, while the staff are helpful they don't watch you like a hawk while you have a gander. The only downside of visiting this store for me is that I get bitten by the adventuring bug and feel like a bore since I'm not climbing munroes on my weekends off! With ranges a half an hour drive all around Glasgow, I don't feel like I fully utilise this beautiful landscape nature's provided my city-dwelling ass with. Saying that, should I ever want to breathe the air on top of Ben Nevis or ever take up snowboarding with my boyfriend this store will provide me with everything I need!

Nevisport are one of the few hiking and mountain shops that I willingly enter. The staff are not…read moreintrusive, and I can browse the waterproofs- which, frankly, are more to keep me dry in town on a Saturday that on the side of a cliff face- without revealing my ignorance. However, when I finally do ask, they, like all outdoors shop assistants, know their stuff. They have the full range of outdoor gear, will take time to make sure that you get a good pair of boots- unsurprisingly, considering how critical these are for even the shortest hill walk. Staffed by enthusiasts, it avoids being a cold, specialist shop.

With their excellent product and competition slaying (not just beating) prices I find it hard to…read morebelieve Lomo won't very soon take over the entire kayaking goods industry in Scotland! When I first read their price list I thought one of two things: EITHER 1) They are using the absolute cheapest materials and lowest level of workmanship (believe it or not, not all fabrics are created equal, and some, especially those used by big outdoor brands, are substantially cheaper and less equal than others) OR 2) They are using reasonable-to-good quality materials and workmanship coupled with a streamlined (i.e. super short) supply chain, direct sales and minimal marketing (advertising is VERY expensive). Against supposition one is that, whilst cheap, they aren't unbelievably cheap. The second is that I've seen their kit in a fair number of outdoor centres, and outdoors centres don't make the kind of money that they can afford to replace kit every three weeks, no matter how cheap it is. I've also seen quite a few of their dry bags on dive boats in Scapa Flow, not an easy life for any bit of kit. Companies selling rubbish tend to spend large amounts on advertising to make you overlook the obvious flaws and short comings in their products, as far as I can see Lomo spend (comparatively) little on marketing and rely almost entirely on the quality of their product advertising them through word of mouth. In favour of the second supposition are that Lomo (and they openly say this on their website) only sell from their website and shop. No middle men, no sales reps trawling the country, no wholesalers or importers taking their cut and upping the price you pay. In short, Lomo can sell an excellent product so low because of their business model, not because they've cut corners! So far all the kit I've bought from them is standing up well and I'm very pleased with it. All the best to them in the future. P.S. If you've ever wondered where TV production companies get those flesh toned wetsuits from, it these people.

From the owner: We carry a range of wetsuits, drysuits, life jackets, buoyancy aids and products for kayaking,…read moresailing, diving and most other watersports. We also stock accessories like gloves, boots, hoods, dry bags and dry boxes and many other items.

Came in here to look for a pair of sunglasses, and ended up buying a few long sleeve tops…read more It's not revolutionary, but it's my 'new look' to combat the seemingly never ending cold weather by wearing t-shirts over a long sleeve top. There's alot of cool gear in here though, including cool hats and some really funky backpacks. I almost bought one, but decided against it when I mentally calculated how much money I have spent this week (lots). The staff didn't get in my face which was cool for an outdoors sort of store, where I have been hounded before in Tiso for e.g. A nice shop, with lots of good stock for guys and gals.

Quicksilver at Buchanan Galleries is the only store of its kind in Glasgow…read more I personally love it. Although it can be quite pricey, they have lovely outdoor wear, ski and snowboard gear, bikinis and summer wear, luggage, and accessories. They stock Quicksilver and Roxy girls clothing, as well as Tony Hawk branded gear. It's a small store, but packed full of cute summer clothes and beautiful luggage. It's a shop I frequent more to covet items in than to actually shop at, but for that much, it's worth it to me. The staff are lovely and helpful, and if you're looking for something specific will probably prove to be very knowledgeable. I haven't come in here shopping for snowboarding gear, but I did have a conversation with one of the staff and they knew what they were talking about. Personally I love the luggage, sunglasses, and summer clothing ranges they stock here. It's like going on holiday without the hassle of travelling; even if you are just in the Buchanan Galleries to hide from the inclement weather conditions. Love it.

Only in Scotland can you get away with calling a shop clan and not have a steady stream of…read moreenquiries into the price of your white linen smocks and pointy hoods. KKK conitations aside, this place seems to have its market and provide for it in abundance with great range in hip, hep, hop and happening gear (yes i have no idea what I'm talking about). Not really my type of thing, and judging from the look i got when i went in from a browse, its quite apparent, you can still tell that the clothes and such on sale here is of a high quality and is therefore priced to reflect. If you know someone who is into this kinda stuff and knows their tail flips from there whale tails, then you may well earn yourself some street cred by coming in here for a nosey. Why not pop on a monocle and bring your best walking cane just to weird the staff out.

This shop has all your surf, snowboard and skate board needs. Jamie will sort you out with the…read moreboard you need, a warm wetsuit, boots and binding, bearing, etc. Plus you skate shoes, shirts and hoodies, and beanies too! Definitely pop in!

Well this is a first - I don't think i've ever written a review on a change room before…read more.. I popped into White Stuff this evening for a blogger event. Besides the fact that their name is ridiculous, and cannot be used in every day conversation without it sounding completely dirty (I have the brain of a five year old, so sue me), it's a really exquisitely presented shop that carries less exquisite, but decent basics. Honestly, this little place isn't my jam for clothing. There's a whole "fancy t-shirt and jeans" element of current fashion that just alludes me. I don't get fancy t-shirts. It's a t-shirt....??? But that being said, I WOULD go back and try on a fancy t-shirt, just so I could hang out in the very funky change rooms (that is less creepy then it sounds). These are the funkiest change rooms that ever there were. Each little room is behind a wardrobe door and each has it's own theme. The Alice in Wonderland obsessed lady that I am, I was hooked from the first surprise. From a stuffed animal clad room, to a forest and a 1950's kitchen (?), each are impeccably down and well worth the snoop. I feel sorry for the folks who have to go in during open hours, as I'm sure they are less encouraged to just start opening doors. But the one that really got me was a little under sea themed room that was a contest winner designed by a 12 year old girl. HOW CUTE IS THAT?! They took her drawing and played it out perfectly, down to the live fish that they feed every morning. It's as cute as a bug's ear and a lovely little sound bite from our tour. So i'm a fan. Of their change rooms. Change rooms that are worthy of a four star review just on their own. As to the rest of the store? Though the clothing didn't strike my fancy, there's some great accessories that might have me stopping back. They seem to be a bit less expensive then some of the other finds (except for the shoes that caught my eye, but isn't that always the case?). It's a good spot for a nice scarf or accent jewelry.

Ahhhh White Stuff... Far too expensive at full price but bargains to be found if you're willing to…read moresift through the racks when they have sales on. Sometimes I find their stuff to be a bit 'same-same'.. I can tell a piece from White Stuff, a mile away.. But sometimes that's what you need for wardrobe basics. No one's reinventing the t shirt! But this is one of the few places you might find one in mustard yellow.. If you're into that kinda stuff.. (A girl can only own so many grey t-shirts..) What I do like about White Stuff is their 30 day return policy, even on sale items. Not all stores are created equal in this area. The pièce de resistance in this store has to be the change rooms. A hallway of wardrobes that open into different themed rooms, from a bathroom to a gift store to an underwater reef! Yes it's a chain, yes it's a bit generic, but their stuff is well made and if you wait till they have a sale on, it can be pretty reasonable.

If you love fashion, and shoes in particular, then you need to make a pilgrimage to the Kurt Geiger…read morestore in the Princes Square shopping centre. Yes, there is a Kurt Geiger concession in Fraser's across the road - but it's not quite as good as having a dedicated shop, is it? And this isn't just any shop, either. It's gorgeous! The shoes obviously take centre stage (though it's better if you don't bother to look too closely at the prices...) It's great to have a taste of real high-fashion footwear on the high street. Plus, if, like me, you do have a bit of difficulty justifying their prices - make a trip here during sale periods when the prices are far more attractive on even their most expensive shoes.

Hello my name is Lisa and I am a footwear snob. This is why I buy my shoes from Kurt Gieger. There…read moreis nothing I hate more than poor quality shoes and I think there is a fine line between quirkily fashionable and just plain tacky. For me Kurt Gieger comes under the quirkily fashionable bracket and the likes of Dune can sometimes be dangerously close to being tacky (yet still expensive!). In the line of work I'm in I know how to spot a good shoe and Kurt Gieger ticks all the boxes for me, especially with their own KG brand. The heels tend to be solid and are often wooden stacked, rather than plastic, making them much more durable. They also tend to be leather on the inside and out and leather is more comfortable and absorbs sweat (ewwwww) better than other materials meaning your shoes shouldn't end up smelly (double ewwwwww). However what I like best about KG shoes is that they normally have a padded insole which makes even the highest of high heels feel so much comfier and more wearable. The Princes Square Kurt Gieger store is usually quite quiet and this can make you feel a little bit under the spotlight as the staff ask you if you are ok at least 10 times. In saying that though, if you do need any help it means you get their undivided attention!