8 Marion Street, Te Aro, Wellington
Coffee Outdoors offers outdoor clothing and equipment for everyone — but it’s not just any old gear. Owners Tom Cappleman and Siobhan Oldale (Shev) are fussy about what goes on their shelves. The store specialises in high-quality, ultra-lightweight outdoor clothing and equipment. But the couple also consider a third criterion often overlooked. “We do take into account how [products] look more than other outdoor stores,” says Tom. “It’s important to us. Being functional and looking good doesn’t need to be separate.”
On the shelves, you’ll find a global selection of brands. Titanium cookware from Japan, Norda trail shoes from Canada, Pa’lante hiking skirts from America. Among them are ingenious gadgets to solve every backcountry conundrum. Everything is deliciously stylish and practical.
Coffee Outdoors is quite often the only New Zealand supplier of the brands it stocks. Browsing the shelves comes with a sense of discovery. The store itself adds to this feeling; tucked away down a long driveway off Marion Street, it’s well deserving of the moniker ‘hidden gem’.
Whether you’re a seasoned trail runner or a casual park stroller, the shop is always fun and approachable. “We try and lead with generosity in everything we do,” says Tom. “We offer people a coffee, we try not to make it a selling environment.”
Coffee Outdoors owners Siobhan Oldale and Tom Cappleman.
Key to the success of Coffee Outdoors has been its engagement with the community beyond its bricks-and-mortar. Since opening in 2022, Tom and Shev have partnered with a local running club to get people out into the hills. They also teamed up with film photography store Splendid to run a photography competition. For the couple, it’s about connecting with like-minded people and engaging with the city they love. “Every Friday morning, we do a sea dip down at Freyberg Beach at 7am,” says Tom. “So many people come. Coffee Supreme sponsors us. I brew seven litres of coffee and everyone brings a mug. It’s such a mean way to start the day.”
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