Why gear needs to change… for good
INTERVIEW
Meet the group bringing larger-bodied walkers together – and changing the way outdoor kit is made.
“WHEN OUR INSTAGRAM page hit 1000 followers in the first 48 hours, I think that’s when we realised how much of a thing this was,” says Steph Wetherell.
“There were a lot of people out there thinking ‘maybe it’s just me’. And suddenly we were all realising that it wasn’t.”
That moment, back in February 2022, was a landmark for Steph. She and a small team of friends had just set up Every Body Outdoors, a community created to support larger-bodied people who want to spend more time outdoors, but feel hampered by issues of clothing, confidence or comradeship.
Every Body Outdoors has four key aims:
● To get more outdoor gear manufacturers to offer plus-size options (and to work with them on the design requirements which come with doing that)
● To advise and upskill plus-size people so that they feel able to enjoy the outdoors with confidence
● To create communities of walking groups (and running, cycling and climbing groups too) where no member is made to feel self-conscious, slow or poorly kitted out
● And to call for better representation of plus-size bodies in the outdoor industry and across the media.
Since launching two years ago, its success has been phenomenal. Several major gear brands are working with Every Body Outdoors to increase and improve their plus-size offerings, and regional groups for walkers, runners and cyclists have sprung up across the country.
“The bonds that are being created are incredible,” says Steph.
“People who never felt like they belonged in the outdoors now have a place to come together and know that they do belong and their experience is absolutely valid.”
It was all born from personal experience. Steph got into walking eight years ago, and quickly realised it could change the way she saw herself.
“I’ve not always had a positive relationship with my body but walking was absolutely transformational. I know now that my body can take me to amazing places.”
But she soon discovered the limitations encountered by plus-size hikers.
“As I got more ambitious, I really struggled to find the right clothes to wear,” she explains.
“If you’re just going for a few hours on easy paths you can put on a pair of leggings, a fleece from the supermarket and an ill-fitting waterproof jacket, and you’ll be okay. But if you’re going into the hills, where the weather can change dramatically, or if you want to carry your kit for multiple days, then what you’re wearing really starts to matter.
“I’m a size 20, which is at the lower end of the plus-size range, but there was almost nothing out there for me. There was a hard drop-off at size 18. Above that you would get maybe some entry-level kit, particularly from Mountain Warehouse and Regatta, which was great for what it was. But almost nothing of a higher technical spec.”
Steph started posting about these issues on social media, triggering a vocal response from others in the same situation. It wasn’t just about the gear, either.
“People would talk about their experiences in walking groups, or even guided walks, which in some cases were very negative,” Steph explains.
“We heard from people who’d been left behind on professionally guided walks because they were slower-paced. Guides pretty much saying, ‘sorry, you’re on your own’. People tutting and huffing if they had to wait for someone who was a bit slower. It was mind-boggling.”
In short order, Every Body Outdoors was born. In addition to setting out their goals, Steph and her friends established training courses which are designed to help plus-size walkers learn core outdoor skills and to become confident walk leaders themselves. There are now regional groups across the country, offering activity programmes led by volunteers who’ve trained with Steph and the EBO team.
“Even in a plus-size group, I see how anxious people can be, worrying if they are going to hold everyone up,” says Steph.
“But then I see how transformative it is when people realise they CAN do this walk; they CAN climb that mountain. They can do it at their own pace and that’s okay.
“We also teach map-reading, which is obviously vital in itself, but also so that if a friend says ‘hey, come on this walk with me’, you can look at the distance and the contours and say ‘well that might not be right for me, but here’s how we could adapt it’.”
CHANGING THE INDUSTRY
There has been an encouraging response from the gear industry. Derbyshire-based Alpkit got in touch on the very day Every Body Outdoors was launched.
“Alpkit’s entire clothing range goes up to size 20, and we’ve done some fit testing with them, which has been a real positive. It’s the same with Keela. They both understand that it’s not just about the sizing, it’s about the structure and the fit.
“For instance, a lot of brands might offer larger sizes but without thinking about the ratios. They just scale up from a size 10 or 12. A size 10 jacket might have a two-inch difference between bust and hips, but often that stays exactly the same on the size 20 version, when really it needs to increase in proportion to the sizing. The more brands understand that, the better.”
Another key partner is rucksack brand Osprey, who offer Extended Fit versions of some of their bestselling 20, 25 and 65 litre packs. Fellow rucksack brand Gregory also offer a specific Plus Size range. Craghoppers have improved the fit of their renowned Kiwi trousers at plus size, while German brand Maier Sports already make a point of offering larger sizes across their entire range of jackets and trousers.
“I see how transformative it is when people realise they CAN do this walk; they CAN climb that mountain.”
In retail, EBO partner Cotswold Outdoor now groups all its plus-size kit together under an Extended Sizes tab on its website and is aiming to provide consistency across its size charts. The company also wants to get more plus-size kit onto its shopfloors.
“It has always been very hard to find larger sizes in outdoor shops,” says Steph.
“Mostly you have to look online, which of course means you can’t try it on. So for Cotswold to be trying to offer more in store is brilliant.”
Several brands have donated plus-size products to a kit pool used on EBO’s group walks and training courses. Anyone joining the group can try on the gear to see what works for them.
“When people try on a rucksack with a waist belt that actually fits them, or a waterproof they can zip up properly, it’s often a fantastic moment,” says Steph.
“They’re like, ‘oh, I just assumed I wasn’t supposed to be able to have gear that fitted me’.”
CHANGING THE VISUALS
The group’s final priority is representation. They want to see more plus-size people in outdoor media and marketing campaigns.
“We want to see our clothes on bodies that look like ours,” Steph adds.
“How are we supposed to know if brands are making size 24 or 26 kit unless they show us – with real people – in adverts, on their websites and on social media? It’s about making us feel like we’re welcome in the outdoor community, and that our needs are as important as any other consumer’s.”
Brands including Berghaus, Findra, Alpkit and The North Face have already embraced the concept, and Steph hopes that hope more will join them soon.
The progress made in two years has been amazing. But Steph says there is a long way to go. “We accept that this is a journey,” she adds. “But it’s already having a fantastic impact. It’s changing people’s relationships with their bodies, and empowering them to see and do things they have always wanted to do.
“It’s such a simple and long overdue idea: creating a space where people can be comfortable in the outdoors, whatever their body size.”
Find out more at everybodyoutdoors.co.uk You can find the group on Facebook @everybodyoutdoorsuk and Instagram @every_body_outdoors and follow Steph on X @steph_wetherell. And in our July issue, Steph will be reviewing plus-size kit in a Gear for All Sizes special, including plus-size and petite-size kit from across the industry.
CASE STUDY: OSPREY
Sean Laverack, brand marketing manager for Osprey, says working with Every Body Outdoors has been ‘incredibly rewarding’.
“Osprey has for several years offered a separate extension through our All Mighty Guarantee that enabled the hip belt and chest harness to be lengthened. While this was a good starting point, we received feedback that it hindered the carry comfort the packs were designed for.
“The Extended Fit range was developed to ensure that comfort was not compromised while retaining all the key features and durability Osprey is known for.”
The range includes day-hiking packs like the 20L Talon and Tempest, and the 65L Aether and Ariel trekking packs. This year the range will expand to include 30-35L overnight packs.
“Steph and the crew at Every Body Outdoors have given us so much insight about the lack of availability in plus-size clothing and gear, and we will continue to support their mission.”
CASE STUDY: ALPKIT
Derbyshire-based Alpkit have been working with Every Body Outdoors since the organisation was first set up in 2022. For head of clothing design Ronnie Legg, the mission couldn’t be more crucial.
“We truly believe the outdoors is for every body, no matter their size or background. Anything we can do to lower some of the barriers that prevent people from enjoying their time outdoors is clearly the right thing for us to do,” Ronnie explains.
“Working with Every Body Outdoors has really helped us understand the specific fit issues related to technical clothing in larger sizes. It’s not just about making larger sizes, but adjusting shapes to achieve truly functional fit that works for active use. Our fit session with Steph and Kumbi was equally enlightening and gratifying. Seeing the smile on Steph’s face when she found a down jacket that she’d coveted for years which actually fit her correctly was really special.
“We’re committed to offering larger sizes across our whole product range. However, we’re not immune to the commercial challenges that come with increasing the range of sizes we ask our factories to make, and our stores to stock. We are constantly balancing these factors with our desire to do our bit to make outdoor gear more inclusive.”
