Been to the Ordnance Survey Outdoor Show at the NEC today with my brother. We only stayed a few hours, about as long as it took to wander round the two halls. It was a bit of a disappointment really, nothing really stood out. The show itself was half and half big name brands and regional tourist boards touting for business.

I’m not sure if we need shows like this any more. Even at a exhibition like this you can only ever show a small fraction of the kit that is available. For example, there was only one tent manufacturer in attendance, Vaude… For an outdoor show that seems like a bit of an oversight. Maybe the remit was too wide and the venue too small.

I freely admit that I’m a picky customer, consciously acting out an inverted snobbery that I’m not proud of admitting too. I like my gear specialised, and if it’s an obscure brand so much the better. Maybe that’s why I didn’t get as much out of it as I was expecting. Won’t bother next year…