Canstar Blue’s outdoor equipment stores review has seen Anaconda, BCF and Kathmandu rated on their product range, customer service, prices compared to other retailers, deals and specials, store layout, website usability and overall satisfaction.
See our Ratings Methodology.
Aussies have given Anaconda the thumbs up as the best-rated outdoor equipment store, scoring the retailer five stars across all categories! These include product range, comparative prices, special deals available, customer service, store layout, website usability and overall satisfaction.
Keen to answer the call of the great outdoors? Are you a fan of fishing trips with your mates? Or perhaps you’re in the same camp as the third of Aussies (30%) we surveyed, who go camping as a go-to holiday or as a weekend getaway? Whichever outdoor adventure takes your fancy, having the right supplies and gear to take with you is essential. And that’s where outdoor equipment stores come in handy. They’re a one-stop shop for all your outdoor leisure needs, but which retailer offers the best combination of products, value and service?
To find out, we asked more than 400 Australian consumers for their feedback on the camping or outdoor equipment store(s) they’ve purchased from in the last 12 months. Respondents were asked to rate stores on their product range, prices compared to other retailers, special deals available, customer service, store layout, website usability and overall satisfaction. Retailers that received the minimum required survey sample size of 30 responses are included in our ratings.
So, what’s the verdict? Anaconda reeled in the title of best-rated outdoor equipment store in Canstar Blue’s latest review, achieving five stars in all categories ─ including overall satisfaction!
Here are the best outdoor equipment stores, as rated by consumers in Canstar Blue’s 2021 review:
Anaconda topped our ratings with five-star reviews in all categories and for overall satisfaction. Runner-up BCF and Kathmandu trailed behind on a respectable four stars overall.
It’s worth mentioning that BCF similarly impressed when it came to its product range and store layout, receiving full marks in both research categories. It also achieved top marks for customer service, alongside Kathmandu.
Anaconda is a one-stop outdoor adventure and sporting retailer with a mission to inspire and equip Aussies with a broad range of quality outdoor leisure products and clothing, so they can enjoy getting outside and develop healthier lifestyles. The retailer stocks countless supplies for camping and hiking, as well as cycling, snow and water sports. This includes everything from tents and sleeping bags to camping showers, portable washing machines, kayaks, paddleboards, Bluetooth speakers, water filters, off-road winches for 4WDs and more. Expect major brand names like Nike, Oztrail, Mountain Designs in addition to Anaconda’s own line.
For special deals, you can join Anaconda’s Adventure Club for member-only discounts and exclusive offers. You’ll also get invites to Club nights where members can check out sales and in-store demonstrations.
Short for ‘boating, camping and fishing’, BCF is one of the largest outdoor retailers in the country, bearing the distinctive blue and yellow logo since 2005, under the Super Retail Group umbrella.
It has a huge line-up of goodies especially if you’re on the hunt for boating, fishing, camping, and water sports gear. You can also find items for 4WDs and caravans, plus clothing and footwear. And don’t expect just lures, rods and reels; you can also find portable fridge freezers, cooking equipment, portable toilets, projectors, hiking gear, and more.
BCF features major brands like Engel, Dometic, Oztent, Coleman, Shimano, Daiwa, Samaki and Wilson. It stocks a wide range of outdoor adventure supplies, clothing and equipment, online and throughout more than 130 stores nationwide.
The list wouldn’t be complete without Kathmandu, an icon when it comes to anything outdoor and travel-related. The brand was established in 1987 under Kathmandu Holdings, which also owns Oboz and Rip Curl. The leading retailer is home to a wide range of clothing and outdoor gear specially designed for camping, hiking, trail runs, the snow, and general travel, regardless of the weather. Expect a variety of essentials such as whistle keyrings, mosquito head nets, tablets for plane sickness, foldable cutlery sets, tents, and repair tape as well as unisex clothing for adults and children.
You can join Kathmandu’s Summit Club for exclusive offers, including discounts on both sale items and full-price gear. Members also earn points and receive a $10 voucher for every $250 spent.
This report was written by Canstar Blue’s home & lifestyle journalist, Tahnee-Jae Lopez-Vito. She’s an expert on household appliances, grooming products and all things grocery and shopping. In addition to translating our expert research into consumer-friendly ratings reports, Tahnee spends her time helping consumers make better-informed purchase decisions on all manner of consumer goods and services, while highlighting the best deals and anything you need to be aware of.
Canstar Blue surveyed more than 3,000 Australian adults across a range of categories to measure and track customer satisfaction, via ISO 26362 accredited research panels managed by Qualtrics. The outcomes reported are the results from customers within the survey group who have made a purchase from a camping or outdoor equipment store(s) in the last 12 months– in this case, 408 people.
Brands must have received at least 30 responses to be included. Results are comparative and it should be noted that brands receiving three stars have still achieved a satisfaction measure of at least six out of 10. Not all brands available in the market have been compared in this survey. The ratings table is first sorted by star ratings and then by mean overall satisfaction. A rated brand may receive a ‘N/A’ (Not Applicable) rating if it does not receive the minimum number of responses for that criteria.
Here are the past winners of Canstar Blue’s outdoor equipment stores review:
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