Many Capetonians are guilty of taking their own city for granted. Two gents who certainly don’t fit that mould are the Cape Town Twins, Sifiso and Sibusiso, who are regulars on the city’s most popular hiking trails.

In the hopes of jolting us off the couch this spring, we asked the twins to take us along on their latest mission, a visit to one of Canal Walk’s flagship stores.

Here’s their story…

We recently went to Cape Union Mart’s biggest Cape Town store in Canal Walk, and were pretty amazed by what we witnessed and got to experience.

First and foremost, the store is beautiful, and for adventure geeks such as ourselves, it’s insanely beautiful. We were especially stoked with the sight of the rock-climbing and boot-testing stations, where you get to test boots you’re considering buying on the different rocks they have set up.

This is great because you get to figure out which boots are suitable for you and your activities right there and then. Whether you’re into steep hikes, or prefer flatter terrain, the testing stations help you make the educated choice.

Both stations have in-store experts ready to assist, armed with extensive knowledge of their products, so you’d be advised to make use of them.

Another awesome thing is that the kids have their own mini rock-climbing station, so your youngsters will be kept entertained under adult supervision whilst you get kitted out.

We also love the whole cold-chamber idea, which is an ice-cold room where you get to put the winter clothes to the test. Grab a K-Way jacket and step inside, and you’ll realise just how effective these jackets are in protecting you from the elements.

Every staff member we spoke with was very helpful, and helped to create a warm and welcoming customer service experience.

Whether we were exploring gear and equipment for hiking, camping, or everyday use, the store had us covered.  When it came to camping, the in-store expert gave us a tutorial on how to set up the various tents – talk about making people’s lives easier.

They also have a mini-aquarium, and glass displays of some of the spiders you might encounter when out hiking and camping, so that you are clued up on which ones you need to worry about.

All in all, visiting the Cape Union Mart Canal Walk store was thoroughly enjoyable. The store makes you feel like you’re already on an adventure, and will ensure that you’re both kitted out and hyped up for your next trip.

Do yourself a favour and go check it out if you haven’t already. You can thank us later!