Blacks

I’m not really what you could call an outdoorsy type but I do like a spot of camping (no jokes) of a summer so Blacks is what you’d call an essential stop-​off point. Recently opened right in the town centre the swanky logo and shop front seems to be keen to put any ‘fuddy duddy’ images of camping and hiking behind them.
The ground floor is split into two areas and there is an amazing amount of outdoors clothing in there. It’s actually quite impressive to see all weather gear that doesn’t come in black, blue or green. A large selection of women’s clothes also hints that this is not your usual Millets-​type deal… all the bigger brands like North Face and Berghaus are well represented.
Upstairs is the ‘hardware’ section and again the selection is pretty comprehensive. Loads of tents, sleeping bags, climbing gear and boots plus all the usual kit you’d need to survive on a trip or if the apocalypse comes early.
The staff are really nice as well, they gave me ample time to browse unhassled in this great shop.
Pros: Great selection.
Cons: You either dig being outside or you don’t.

Blacks is the latest addition to Belfast’s camping scene (yes one does exist) and with the infamous Mourne Mountains so close, Blacks is entering into a market that has so far been pretty much owned by it’s little brother, Millets.
However, whereas Millets says hello with a handshake, Blacks gives you a bear hug and keys to your own Porsche. Everything in this shop is bigger, better, cheaper, and much more appealing to the non-​campers amongst us.
Having only recently opened its store in the city centre, it is the prime location to enter the market with a bang. The staff are fresh faced, the store is well thought out, well laid out and well stocked. Everything just looks much fresher and funkier. Millets have (if reports are to be believed) struggled with this old recession but with Blacks as it’s older and better brother, there really is very little point in keeping Millets open.
We went to a Blacks store in Liverpool and it was better than any Millets stores I had been in before. Thankfully, and luckily for us, the new Blacks store in Belfast is even better than that.
Mourne Mountains, here I come.