Steph Wetherell is one of the co-founders of Every Body Outdoors, which fights for clothing, gear and representation for plus-size bodies in the outdoor movement. Here she talks exclusively to The Journey about how and why the organisation came about.
What motivated you to start Every Body Outdoors?
Five of us met about three years ago through social media. Each of us had separately been dealing with our frustrations around not being able to get access to outdoor clothing and kit in larger sizes. Between us we cover a load of different activities: hiking, climbing, swimming, mountain biking and so on. We were inspired by some of the stuff that was happening in America around similar issues, so decided to try to do some work within the industry to change things here in the UK. We set up an Instagram page at the end of January 2022 and hit a thousand followers within 48 hours. At that point, we realised that maybe it wasn’t just us.
What were your goals?
We set up originally with the aim of working with brands and retailers to try to bring about more size-inclusive clothing. We still do that, but the second half of our work is about creating safe and inclusive spaces for plus-size people to get outdoors. As well as regional group walks, we also run hill skills and navigation courses with a qualified mountain leader, often basing ourselves in YHAs.
The courses have been hugely popular. A lot of our community have worries about going on regular courses or going walking in a group, so these are spaces where you don’t have to worry about being too slow and being left behind, or getting out of breath going up a hill. We run everything at a very inclusive pace. The confidence and skills that people come out with can be really amazing.
Our community is predominantly female and non-binary. I think some of that is due to the fact that women often struggle with lower confidence, especially in outdoor spaces.
You’re also pressing for more representation for plus-size people in the outdoor world. Why is this a key issue?
Firstly, it’s important on a practical note. When trying to buy kit, it’s so much easier if I can see it on someone’s body that looks like mine. But it’s also about seeing yourself represented in a space. If you see somebody who looks like you, you feel like you belong there. A lot of brands and media portray a certain type of person in the outdoors — ultra-fit people doing the harder, faster, stronger, more difficult things — but actually, when I go outdoors, what I see is a lot of people just going for a walk having a nice time. We need to see more representation of that experience.
It’s also about how other people treat me. I get treated all the time as though I must be an outdoor beginner, I must not know what I’m doing. People have preconceptions and judgements because they never see plus-size people represented in the outdoors.
How about the kit itself? Have you seen much of a change in what’s available?
Yes. We have a partnership with Cotswold Outdoor and they’ve been really actively working on expanding their extended size range. In 2024 they’ve worked with Rab to expand their sizing up to a size 24 for women and XXXL for men, and these are now available at 20 of their stores. Alpkit, Patagonia and Mountain Equipment also now have clothing that goes up to a size 20, and Osprey and Gregory Packs have produced extended fit rucksacks to fit larger bodies.
Three years ago, the only places I could buy a waterproof jacket in a size 20 were Regatta or Mountain Warehouse, so it’s incredible to see the change. At the same time, I think there are still some brands that genuinely don’t think that plus-size people can do these things.
You’re a dedicated hill-walker. Do you have a favourite place to hike?
I walk a lot in the Black Mountains in South Wales. Aside from the Sugar Loaf, it’s a really overlooked part of the country with some beautiful hills and some brilliant routes. For me, there’s something really lovely about getting to know a group of hills like that.
Every Body Outdoors is a member of our Outdoor Citizens community. Every Body Outdoors has two upcoming courses for the spring: a navigation course from 28th-30th March in the Yorkshire Dales and a hill skills course from 25th-27th April in the Brecon Beacons!Â
