In photos: Columbia Hike Society turned a laundrette into a gear hub
- Text by Noah Petersons
- Photography by Columbia Hike Society
Dirtbags — It kicked off the initiative’s latest season, which will feature 30 guided treks across the UK in 2026, with cleaning and repair stations, and upgrades to well-worn tech.
On the face of it, a laundrette isn’t the most obvious place to talk about the great outdoors. But on Friday, April 17, among the Barbican Laundrette’s washing machines and tumble dryers, the Columbia Hike Society turned the historic ’70s laundromat into a gathering space to clean and refresh tired outdoor gear.
The initiative’s Dirtbags pop-up provided hikers with a free-entry, kit care hub – somewhere hikers could bring their beaten-up gear for a wash, a repair, or an upgrade heading into the spring. The logic was simple: looking after your kit means it lasts longer, and gear that lasts longer means more time outside.
But the event wasn’t just about jackets. It also served as the launch for a series of guided hikes across London – free, open to everyone and built around the idea that getting outdoors shouldn’t feel like something you need to earn or afford.
“The Columbia Hike Society has always been about removing the barriers between people and the outdoors. Dirtbags is a celebration of that. It’s about getting your kit ready, meeting your community and getting out there,” said a spokesperson for the group. “With so many of us feeling chronically online and experiencing digital burnout, there has never been a better time to disconnect and reconnect with like-minded people outside.”
Five years in, the Columbia Hike Society has quietly grown into one of the UK’s biggest free outdoor communities. This year there are 30 guided hikes across the country, from green city spaces to some of the most remote terrain in the UK, spanning west London, the Lake District, the Peak District and beyond.
For Columbia Hike Society’s full 2026 season schedule, visit Columbia Sportswear’s official website.
Noah Petersons is a freelance journalist. Follow him on Instagram.
Buy your copy of Huck 83 here.
Enjoyed this article? Follow Huck on Instagram for more from the cutting edge of sport, music and counterculture.
Support stories like this by becoming a member of Club Huck.
You might like
The hikers inspiring a new generation of outdoor enthusiasts
In partnership with Columbia — Founder of All Terrain 95, Kian Patel, thinks mountain sunrises deliver as big a buzz as a good night out and he’s on a mission to tell as many people as he can.
Written by: Sam Haddad
Seeking adventure in the heart of the Lake District
Kendal Mountain Festival 2017 — Taking place between November 16-19 this year, the Kendal Mountain Festival promises a range of films, talks and arts events catered for all outdoor enthusiasts.
Written by: HUCK HQ
Eating concrete with London Skate Mums
Parental steeze — Founded during the pandemic, the group has ballooned into a community, giving mothers of various ages and abilities space to pull tricks, fall and express themselves. Sydney Lobe meets them at the legendary Southbank Undercroft.
Written by: Sydney Lobe
“Madness can be overcome”: Robert Del Naja releases statement after Palestine Action arrest
“Small price to pay” — The Massive Attack frontman was one of more than 500 people detained on Saturday on suspicion of supporting Palestine Action, a group that has been banned under the Terrorism Act 2000 by the UK government.
Written by: Ella Glossop
New film champions women surfers tackling the huge waves of Nazaré
Undercurrents — Filmmaker Maddie Meddings’ latest documentary focuses on big-wave superstar Laura Crane as she helps prepare 16-year-old Imari Hearn to take up big wave surfing.
Written by: Sydney Lobe
Joe Bloom’s View From a Bridge
More stories, more human — The artist and creator of the vertical video generation’s most loved storytelling platform explains the process behind creating the show, and the importance of bucking trends.
Written by: Isaac Muk
