Where's the best place to buy outdoor gear and why?

This of course largely depends where you are.

Generally speaking, a knowledgeable store is going to be of more use to you than a 'bargain' store. I personally use Cotswolds, Go Outdoors and Berghaus for my shopping; for their areas, they've always guided me well.

When buying anything (and this doesn't necessarily only apply to outdoors gear), ask questions and ask the store to explain WHY they're recommending that particular product, they should be able to.

If they can't, I would seriously question why they're recommending that product [range].  Some stores push certain labels, some will have sales targets to hit on varying lines, but a decent place will suggest the product that's right for you (it's not always the one you can afford, so they should be able to guide you there too).

Where do you shop?  How do you choose which stores or brands to use?

This question originally appeared as a question asked by a Klout member and has been included here and expanded on.