Some plus-size people think the outdoors is not for them. They should think again, urges size-20 Steph Wetherell. With some smart gear choices and support from others, every body can enjoy the benefits of being active in the countryside
Five years ago, I spent a fortnight solo walking and wild camping along St Olav’s Way, a pilgrimage trail in Norway. I walked more than 160 miles, camping on hilltops and in sleepy woodlands, wearing leggings I’d bought at the supermarket, tops from a high street retailer and a cheap ill-fitting men’s waterproof. You might presume I was unprepared, but the reality is I couldn’t find suitable outdoor clothing to fit my size-20 body.
As I developed a love of long-distance trails, I discovered the limits of these items – my clothes were heavy and bulky, the only jacket that fitted me was uncomfortable and not very waterproof, and my layers weren’t quick-drying or breathable. This didn’t stop me from getting outdoors, but it made it uncomfortable and more challenging.
Over the next few years I began to connect with other UK-based plus-size outdoors enthusiasts over social media, and inspired by groups such as Unlikely Hikers in the US, five of us decided it was time to try and create change within the UK outdoor industry. In January 2022, with little more than a vague plan, we created Every Body Outdoors (EBO), bought a domain name and set up an Instagram profile.
The response was overwhelming, from plus-size hikers, cyclists, paddleboarders, climbers, kayakers and more, all struggling to find the clothing and kit they needed to do these activities comfortably and safely.
While EBO was set up by women, it was clear that larger men were facing a lot of the same issues accessing gear, confirming that our work needed to span across genders. The problems aren’t limited to clothing either – there are similar issues with rucksacks, climbing harnesses, personal flotation devices and sleeping bags.
As well as appropriate gear, people spoke about other barriers faced when getting outdoors, including common incidents where people were left behind by group leaders or made to feel unwelcome by other participants, and the widespread issue with judgemental comments or verbal abuse from others in the outdoor community.
LEARNING NEW SKILLS
As our community grew, it became clear there was a need for physical spaces where people in larger bodies could gain skills and confidence in the outdoors. This led to the crea
