In photos: Columbia Hike Society turned a laundrette into a gear hub
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.
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