Hi there,
I’m Andrew Marshall, and Simple Days Outside exists because my partner and I have spent years exploring the west coast of Scotland and beyond with our three kids — and we’ve learned a lot along the way about what gear is actually worth buying.
We’re based near Glasgow, and Loch Lomond is practically our back garden. Over the years we’ve gone paddle boarding, built lochside fires, explored caves, climbed hills and mountains, wandered through abandoned castles, and camped in places that made us genuinely grateful to be alive. We’ve sat on beaches watching the sunset with a fire going and three tired, happy kids beside us. We’ve jumped into the crystal clear water at Glen Etive on a hot summer day with a BBQ on the go. We’ve hiked further than we planned, stayed out later than we meant to, and come home with memories that none of us will forget.
Our kids have kayaked, scrambled, swum in cold water, and hiked further than they thought they could. Getting outside together — whatever the weather, whatever the plan — is one of the best things our family does. It’s sometimes an adrenaline rush and sometimes pure peace. It’s always worth it.
The problem was never the adventures. It was the gear.
Working out what’s actually worth buying versus what looks good in photos and falls apart after one season is genuinely hard. Between tents, waterproofs, walking poles, kayaks, base layers, boots, hats, gloves, and everything else — we’ve spent more than we’d like to admit figuring out what works for real UK family adventures. Some of it was great. Some of it went in the bin after one trip.
Simple Days Outside is what came out of that process.
Built by Parents Who Actually Use This Gear
We’re not gear specialists or outdoor industry insiders. We’re parents who’ve stood at the top of a Scottish hill in horizontal rain wishing we’d bought better waterproofs, who’ve set up a tent in the dark with three tired kids, and who’ve learned — usually the expensive way — which bits of kit make outdoor days easier and which ones aren’t worth it.
We know most families don’t need expedition equipment. They need kit that works reliably in UK weather, doesn’t cost a fortune, and won’t cause regret after one trip.
How We Evaluate Gear
We don’t run laboratory tests or sponsored expeditions. Most of the gear we recommend has been used on real family trips across Scotland — from rainy woodland walks to weekend camping trips and long days exploring lochs and beaches.
When we recommend equipment, we focus on things families actually care about:
• Reliability in typical UK weather
• Ease of use when camping or travelling with children
• Value for money compared with similar gear
• Durability after repeated use
If something feels overpriced, poorly designed, or unnecessary for most families, we say so.
What You’ll Find Here
We write straightforward buying guides and honest comparisons for families doing real outdoor days in the UK, not sponsored expeditions.
If something is overkill for most families, we’ll say that. If something looks cheap and probably is, we’ll say that too. The goal is to help you decide faster and pack with more confidence — so the planning feels lighter and the actual day out feels better.
A Quick Note on Recommendations
Some links on this site are affiliate links. That means if you choose to buy through them, we may earn a small commission — at no extra cost to you.
It helps keep the site running and allows us to keep producing detailed, practical guides for free.
You can read more about that on our Affiliate Disclosure page.
Who Writes This Site?
Simple Days Outside is written and maintained by Andrew Marshall, with input from his partner and three kids who regularly join the adventures. Between them they’ve hiked, paddled, camped, and explored their way across most of the west coast of Scotland — and spent far too much on outdoor kit doing it.
If you ever have a question, spot something we could improve, or have an idea for a guide you’d like to see, we’d genuinely love to hear from you.
Drop us an email at hello@beige-aardvark-444719.hostingersite.com and we’ll take a look.
Our Goal
Our goal with Simple Days Outside is simple: help families spend less time worrying about gear and more time enjoying the outdoors together.