Every man and his dog is walking more at the moment, cos there's fuck all else to do. 

Now i'm not talking trekking in the Himalayas in January, but i walk 5 miles every single day in all weathers through fields and woodland  and there's nowt worse than getting pissed wet thru, or freezing cold or worst of all having cold wet feet.

Anyone any recommendations for reasonably priced walking gear that just does the job? 

I've had my fingers burnt with Decathlon stuff in the past, their stuff looks ok ish, but in reality it's just shit.

Footwear wise i'm pretty sorted with waterproof hiking boots form TOG24, coupled with Sealskinz socks - so feet are warm and dry.

Leg wise i've just bought some waterproof over kex from Mountain Warehouse, but it's too early to tell if they're any good or not yet.

Waterproof jackets? Fleeces? etc 

1 hour ago, Burndens Bogs said:

You could wear your Decathlon “Superboots” 👍

I'll see you at the top 😉 

13 minutes ago, ErnestTurnip said:

I've found British army lightweights to be as good as any pwoper walking pants I've ever had, dry quickly, comfortable and hard wearing. If you aren't bothered by wearing it a lot of the army surplus becomes a no brainer because it's made to be functional and last. 

Did they make you bring out the gimp?

14 minutes ago, Not in Crawley said:

I'll see you at the top 😉 

It shouldn't take long, i'm not having it there's anything near the height of Winter Hill within a 50 mile radius of that there London.

24 minutes ago, Burndens Bogs said:

It shouldn't take long, i'm not having it there's anything near the height of Winter Hill within a 50 mile radius of that there London.

Our heighest point in our borough is Betsom's Hill (highest point in London and Kent) its half the height of winter hill.

Although Winter Hill is a bit of a foothill really in terms of decent hill walks. I mean, even I've managed to run up the thing.

 

11 minutes ago, Youri McAnespie said:

@Rudy

Yokohama? Won't gear there be about £300 in Yen?

Might be a bit snug an' all if intended for use by the man in the black pyjamas...

Those ponchos are ace - they can be adapted into a rudimentary tent.

If you watch a lot of survivally stuff (Ray Mears, Grylls, Steve Backshall) you notice a lot of military surplus gear amongst the more modern stuff.

I didn’t ask the prices because I asked the price for a nirvana T-shirt, before I knew it the shirt was over my head and the yen was out of my hand

5 hours ago, boltondiver said:

Tell you what I could do with; something to stop my specs steaming up on days like this

Get a bit of glycerine from the supermarket. A tiny dab on the end of the finger onto the lenses. Sorted. 

14 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Get a bit of glycerine from the supermarket. A tiny dab on the end of the finger onto the lenses. Sorted. 

Ta v much

1 hour ago, boltondiver said:

Ta v much

Works on inside of windscreens too!

Will wash/wipe off eventually, so will need to reapply. 

It makes the surface more hydrophilic which allows moisture to 'wet out' and therefore form a more even layer which you can see through, as opposed to tiny droplets which bugger up light passing through and thus mist up.

All on a very small scale of course.

Its the opposite of waterproofing that we were discussing on the walking gear thread.

I get a lot of my stuff from sportsshoes.com they sell all manner clothing and footwear related to running, walking/hiking and exercise in general

I used to go pwoper fell walking  and still wear a  Paramo Breathable "Nikwax Biological Analogy" coat brought 30 years ago when the rain and wind blows, I very occasionally wash it with LOFT Nikwax.

It's never let me down, keeps me dry and being breathable I don't get sweaty. Cost a few bob at the time (£100 or so in the early 90's) and one guy in a specialist shop referred to it as "old technology" but why should I change it? 

3 minutes ago, Dimron said:

I used to go pwoper fell walking  and still wear a  Paramo Breathable "Nikwax Biological Analogy" coat brought 30 years ago when the rain and wind blows, I very occasionally wash it with LOFT Nikwax.

It's never let me down, keeps me dry and being breathable I don't get sweaty. Cost a few bob at the time (£100 or so in the early 90's) and one guy in a specialist shop referred to it as "old technology" but why should I change it? 

Absolutely. 

Personally, still get sweaty in goretex to an extent, and can't imagine a coat that is so breathable that everything gets let out.

On 13/01/2021 at 15:58, Burndens Bogs said:

Every man and his dog is walking more at the moment, cos there's fuck all else to do. 

Now i'm not talking trekking in the Himalayas in January, but i walk 5 miles every single day in all weathers through fields and woodland  and there's nowt worse than getting pissed wet thru, or freezing cold or worst of all having cold wet feet.

Anyone any recommendations for reasonably priced walking gear that just does the job? 

I've had my fingers burnt with Decathlon stuff in the past, their stuff looks ok ish, but in reality it's just shit.

Footwear wise i'm pretty sorted with waterproof hiking boots form TOG24, coupled with Sealskinz socks - so feet are warm and dry.

Leg wise i've just bought some waterproof over kex from Mountain Warehouse, but it's too early to tell if they're any good or not yet.

Waterproof jackets? Fleeces? etc 

iirc you’re a mountain biker like me. I just wear my MTB gear and layer it like I do on the bike. It’s designed to wick the sweat away so is perfect imo. I bought some trousers from GroundEffect.nz over 20 years ago for winter riding and I’m still using them for riding and walking in the wet. Can’t go wrong with baggy MTB gear for multi-use imo. Costs a bit more but lasts for ever. 

8 hours ago, MancWanderer said:

iirc you’re a mountain biker like me. I just wear my MTB gear and layer it like I do on the bike. It’s designed to wick the sweat away so is perfect imo. I bought some trousers from GroundEffect.nz over 20 years ago for winter riding and I’m still using them for riding and walking in the wet. Can’t go wrong with baggy MTB gear for multi-use imo. Costs a bit more but lasts for ever. 

Yeh i do MTB'ing myself, but if i went walking in my MTB gear at this time if year i'd be freezing cold. In this weather on the Mtb i use maybe 2 thinnish layers topped by a softshell jacket  and shorts, my body heat keeps me warm.Walking with the dog obviously doesn't build up the same body temp, so my top layer is usually a waterproof baggy jacket with a fleece underneath and a long sleeved T shirt under  that, i wouldn't use that attire whilst out on my bike - too hot .Although i like to wear shorts while i'm out on the bike, i wouldn't go out walking in  shorts at this time of year.

Edited January 15, 20215 yr by Burndens Bogs

Me and a few mates did the 3 peaks a few years ago. I got some Jack wolfskin boots still got them now they've been great. Got a proper north face rain coat that had a removable fleece and that as been perfect in all weather. It's not the type of North face stuff you see the little bastards in on the streets cost quite a bit too. Well worth the money though 

5 minutes ago, Aidy82 said:

Me and a few mates did the 3 peaks a few years ago. I got some Jack wolfskin boots still got them now they've been great. Got a proper north face rain coat that had a removable fleece and that as been perfect in all weather. It's not the type of North face stuff you see the little bastards in on the streets cost quite a bit too. Well worth the money though 

Yeh the proper North Face technical  tackle is worlds apart from the tat sold in JD Sports.

Edited January 14, 20215 yr by Burndens Bogs

Alternatively move to a country that doesn't piss down all the time 👍

On 14/01/2021 at 13:47, Burndens Bogs said:

😀On that particular occasion (15 years ago omg),  new footwear (pre broken in Timberlands iirc)cost me dearly! What i wouldn’t give for a “re-yomp” right now 😂Physically i’m in a far better place than i was back then P,with daily 5-6 mile yomps & regular cycling blasts. It’s our mental states that are perhaps suffering over here at the moment mate,with all the mind numbing and seemingly endless Draconian restrictions 🤪. A day on the lash, watching the Whites,followed by a few more beers,a lovely drunken curry,then a painful yomp up COR would be absolute heaven right now.

Aye mate - I feel your pain. Beltin' drunken curry that was 

4 hours ago, jayjayoghani said:

Alternatively move to a country that doesn't piss down all the time 👍

That’s a fair point, although that is going to become more difficult to do post brexit.

21 hours ago, Burndens Bogs said:

Yeh i do MTB'ing myself, but if i went walking in my MTB gear at this time if year i'd be freezing cold. In this weather on the Mtb i use maybe 2 thinnish layers topped by a softshell jacket  and shorts, my body heat keeps me warm.Walking with the dog obviously doesn't build up the same body temp, so my top layer is usually a waterproof baggy jacket with a fleece underneath and a long sleeved T shirt under  that, i wouldn't use that attire whilst out on my bike - too hot .Although i like to wear shorts while i'm out on the bike, i wouldn't go out walking in  shorts at this time of year.

Yeah get where you’re coming from. I’ve bought so much MTB gear over the years that I’m reluctant to buy separate walking gear other than boots. I just mix and match, thick and thin layers, etc. The long MTB trousers def the biggest winner 

Someone once said “forget the gym take up running and walking. It’s free.”

Yeah, right. I’ve spent well over 4 figures in the last 8-9 months on gear.

A coat for every season - I’ve cheap in Regatta, mid price North Face, upper price Rab and a couple of Belstaff jackets. 3 pairs of trousers (2 zip off into shorts) TNF, Rab & Montane. Berghaus fleece (hardly ever wear it). A variety of mid layers TNF and Montane. And tons of base layers Montane, Inov8, Nike, Under Armour. 

Also plenty of cheap stuff from Sports Direct (base layers) and Decathlon.

As for boots - got both leather and Goretex. My Timberland’s were bought off the cuff at the airport for a trip to Iceland when I realised I had no suitable footwear. They took a long time to break in, but been great. Rarely get wet or cold in them. However they did get breached up Goatfell in Arran in the summer. I’ve recently added a 2nd pair - Inov8s. Goretex uppers with graphene grips. Very comfy. Expect them to be bombproof. I’ve already got the equivalent trail shoes from Inov8.

Added a Nike wafer thin gilet to my collection. It’s perfect for cold weather runs but now also acting as a mid layer under my Rab rain jacket (which isn’t particularly warm on its own). 

Conclusion: buy cheap buy twice. Most expensive walking gear is expensive because it’s good quality and not necessarily because it’s got the branding. However, there’s stuff to be had at Decathlon, Regatta, etc that’s perfectly adequate. 

Buy for the activity, not the brand.

Edited January 16, 20215 yr by Not in Crawley

Dunno if this of use to anyone, but I just got 200 quid worth of stuff from jd for under a ton- including a pair of timberland killington for £42. 

Need an NHS code, 40% off sale items. Ends today (only just found out) some nice gazelles, jeans, superstar on there too

 

If anyone needs me to ask the missus where she got her code from let me know; one for Adidas too

 

@kent_white@bolton_blondie

3 minutes ago, Dr Faustus said:

Dunno if this of use to anyone, but I just got 200 quid worth of stuff from jd for under a ton- including a pair of timberland killington for £42. 

Need an NHS code, 40% off sale items. Ends today (only just found out) some nice gazelles, jeans, superstar on there too

 

If anyone needs me to ask the missus where she got her code from let me know; one for Adidas too

 

@kent_white@bolton_blondie

Is it with the blue light card? 

3 minutes ago, bolton_blondie said:

Is it with the blue light card? 

Don't think so, gimme 5

Just now, Dr Faustus said:

Don't think so, gimme 5

Yeah it is, just looked at my app. Really really don't need more trainers! 😂