by Tuesday Ibbotson, Bristol Women’s Voice Volunteer
Championing Plus Size Bodies in the Outdoors with Every Body Outdoors
On a mission to open up the outdoors to every body, we had the opportunity to hear from Steph Wetherell, the inspiring co-founder of Every Body Outdoors, an organisation and community working to make outdoor spaces more inclusive for plus-size people.
Creating space for plus-size adventurers
Steph is an enthusiastic hiker with a love of long distance paths, and also loves bike touring and cold water swimming — but her experiences have often been shaped by exclusion
A lack of technical clothing above size 18, poorly graded garments that don’t fit plus-size bodies, and safety gear that simply isn’t designed for everyone are just a few of the barriers she’s faced.
Add that to a culture where “fast is good and slow is bad,” and it’s clear the outdoors haven’t always been a welcoming place for all.
In early 2022, Steph and four other women (who met over Instagram!) came together over this shared frustration, launching Every Body Outdoors. What started as a campaign to improve the size inclusivity of outdoor clothing has since grown into a thriving, supportive community. Their work has already made waves, partnering with major brands like Cotswold Outdoor and Osprey, and encouraging companies like Rab to extend their size ranges up to a UK 24.
Challenging perceptions and growing community
Steph shared powerful stories of her own experience in the outdoors: being underestimated, receiving patronising “encouragement,” or being judged for not having the right gear, often through no fault of her own. She spoke about the anxiety of being the slowest person in a group, the fear of being left behind, and the loneliness of not feeling welcome. These aren’t rare experiences for plus-size people — they’re everyday realities that too often go unseen.
But the response to Every Body Outdoors has been huge. Within 48 hours of launching their Instagram account, they had over 1,000 followers. Since then, they’ve run over 16 outdoor skills courses in just three years, with events ranging from hill skills and navigation to climbing and wild swimming. All sessions are led by mountain leaders with experience working with underrepresented groups, and always move at a gentle, inclusive pace — no one gets left behind.
They now support 26 regional walking groups across the UK, from Cornwall to Inverness, helping people rediscover joy and confidence in nature, on their own terms.
Building something lasting
Steph also shared insights into the process of setting up Every Body Outdoors as a Community Interest Company (CIC) — a model that allowed them to stay focused on impact and community. The journey, she says, was a positive one.
For Steph, one of the greatest rewards has been seeing the difference the work makes — new friendships, life-changing experiences, and a growing community of people who feel seen, heard, and empowered in outdoor spaces.
The message is clear: the outdoors should be for everybody.
Every Body Outdoors is showing what’s possible when people come together to challenge exclusion and rewrite the narrative — one hill walk at a time.
At the end of the session, attendees had a chance to try on a wide range of plus-size waterproof jackets, trousers, and rucksacks — a practical, empowering moment that underlined how important access to the right kit is for comfort, safety, and confidence outdoors. And with Steph in the room to advise and discuss fits, technical aspects and more, it was the perfect opportunity to try before you buy!
Find out more about Every Body Outdoors: https://www.everybodyoutdoors.co.uk/
Find our next Migrant Women Talks here.
