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 

3 minutes ago, Not in Crawley said:

There's a lot of guff on this thread.

You get the same on running sites about gear.

Actually on most hobby sites, remember loads of the same stuff with guitar gear.

Always from blokes funnily enough.

I'll take my guff over yours, H

How many miles did you walk last year?

Just now, boltondiver said:

I'll take my guff over yours, H

How many miles did you walk last year?

I walked a thousand miles, and then I walked a thousand more.

I've sacked off fully water proofs if I'm moving as I  just get dead hot and sweat like feck.

Got a water repellent wind proof that I generally just wear with a t shirt. If it's property Baltic I'll wear a micro fleece under. If it hammers it down I'll get wet but stay warm and it dries out really quick. 

4 hours ago, MickyD said:

Tog24 at Middlebrook give 10% on production of valid season ticket.

Is that true or some sort WW running joke that's gone over my head?? 

I've bought a fair bit from there over the years as I like their stuff for walking clobber, but never knew this if it is true FFS!

9 minutes ago, Escobarp said:

Do you not wear this sort of clobber and footwear for work in winter etc given nature of your job? 

Yes and no.

Bought a coat (2 layer gore tex or similar iirc) when I started. Paid £60 for it; didn't want to spend too much as it would be getting covered in shit regularly. Turned out not to have as good a construction quality as walking coat, but does what I need it to.

Have had steel toe caps before, but tend to move away from them as they can be colder. I actually bought a pair of karrimor boots from Ashley's place (spit) for working in- they're not what they used to be now, as he bought the brand as you'll know, and they're now cheaper and of lower quality than they used to be. However, again they have done the job and I have been surprised at their value.

Don't need absolutely top stuff to be honest: if the weather is that bad, its better to fuck off some jobs as it can end up causing damage and problems for later.

Unlike the team I once saw mowing some daft cunt's grass in snow in February. 

2 minutes ago, boogs said:

Is that true or some sort WW running joke that's gone over my head?? 

I've bought a fair bit from there over the years as I like their stuff for walking clobber, but never knew this if it is true FFS!

Fucking hell I thought you had caught bad aids and popped off 

5 minutes ago, boogs said:

Is that true or some sort WW running joke that's gone over my head?? 

 

Both

11 minutes ago, DaisyHWanderer said:

Great minds!

Some typical household detergents are too strong and can strip the hydrophobic treatments. Hence the tech wash type stuff.

Ifs worth spending a reasonable amount if you're going to use it a lot, and want it to last.

When the Halifax became public, I got around 400 quid from the shares. That was last century, I used the money to buy us both a goretex at £200 each.

We both still have them and they work fine. Mine is a bit small now though, so I bought another bigger one.

The construction quality is tremendous. 

5 minutes ago, mickbrown said:

I've sacked off fully water proofs if I'm moving as I  just get dead hot and sweat like feck.

Got a water repellent wind proof that I generally just wear with a t shirt. If it's property Baltic I'll wear a micro fleece under. If it hammers it down I'll get wet but stay warm and it dries out really quick. 

Good idea, same really. If it really belts ill have a lightweight waterproof to put on, but generally OK with two or three lighter layers

13 minutes ago, DaisyHWanderer said:

Got an arcteryx goretex waterproof. It was expensive but it holds its own against any rain. Had it a year, no signs of wear, it will last forever. 

 

Need to look after waterproofs/goretex, wash them with tech wash and then with a rewaterproofer. Once the pores start to clog with sweat and dirt it starts to be less waterproof and needs to be re-done.

I got a few bits, its expensive but its quality, and you can get discounts if you look around, have a Beta SL goretex a Cerium down jacket and a lighter inner down jacket. 

Managed to get good discounts at Sports Pursuit on two of them. Keeps me warm as toast and dry as a nuns chuff.

2 minutes ago, Escobarp said:

Fucking hell I thought you had caught bad aids and popped off 

Oh I got it, but I beat it. Couple of Jaipurs and a spliff seen it right off. Don't believe the hype. 

2 minutes ago, Bigtoe said:

I got a few bits, its expensive but its quality, and you can get discounts if you look around, have a Beta SL goretex a Cerium down jacket and a lighter inner down jacket. 

Managed to get good discounts at Sports Pursuit on two of them. Keeps me warm as toast and dry as a nuns chuff.

What are these down jobs like when doing a decent walk?

They look like they could melt you- don't get too hot?

1 minute ago, Mr Grey said:

Tip:

Don't buy North Face, its fucking shit, when completing the Yorkshire 3 peaks a couple of years ago... again 😃, a fella with us had NF on, only light rain, but he was drenched to the skin.

Decathlon have plenty of decent stuff, check the waterproof rate, generally 1 to 5, 5 being top, always invest in 4 or 5.

Get leather boots and buy decent padded walking socks, they dont have to be thick, ones that grip to your feet to stop blistering. Always pack a spare pair.

I always wear lightweight shorts, easy dry, pack a pair of waterproof pants in the rucksack in case its torrential rain.

You don't have to fork out on the posh expensive gear, even some of that is shite and just for fashion, you gotta be practical, Gonzo had it right earlier.

Dont forget your cereal bars, bananas, Chocolate and jaffa cakes, its all energy food, and a small flask of coffee, and at least 2ltr of water.

We've had some base layer stuff from Decathlon- perfectly decent; I couldn't justify some of the prices of other stuff in walking shops, whether they're superior or not.

Footwear though, meh.

Had plenty of foot problems and experienced poor boots both cheap and expensive, so always keen to get them properly sorted.

2 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

What are these down jobs like when doing a decent walk?

They look like they could melt you- don't get too hot?

I think it depends on temps, I wore the down jacket with a baselayer and light fleece, i did 10 miles round winter hill during the snow, felt fine, but probably too warm at other times

This is what I'd normally wear

Base layer, then this

https://www.trekitt.co.uk/clothing/jackets/arcteryx-mens-atom-sl-hoody-black__39051?currency=GBP&chosenAttribute=26439-BLA-L&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIyqGdh-GZ7gIVCr_tCh1Dwgd_EAQYBCABEgKLevD_BwE

And a gtx jacket

Lots of breathability and the waterproof has zips under the arms to help air circulation

  

My next pair of boots will be German army surplus paraboots

I've got some Berghaus Goretex jobs, but again if they get wet inside they ain't drying for ages.

I do tons of walking because I walk 2 dogs, the old saying is you get what you pay for is true imo, can't beat my North Face and Berghaus gear, proper quality gear.

Whats the recommendation for base layers?

I need another set, got a Helly Hansen set about 10 years ago, to be fair its still going but its either shrunk or my stomach has grown

6 minutes ago, Mr Grey said:

Footwear is vital, I bought some Hi-tech walking boots 4 years ago, 70 dabs, that are fantastic, I've got arthritis of the trotters, so need something with a hard solid soul. You've just gotta get the right gear for you, at the end of the day its walking gear, it needs to be practical and long lasting.

I have a Quesho decathlon coat, 5 rating, again 80 dabs, best coat I've had, and I had a Jack Wolfskin prior to that and it wasn't as good. Also used to use a Ron Hill running jacket, because it was light and waterproof, had that for 20+ years, its lost its waterproofability now though 😃 

 

Reproof it!

I too quite like hi tech footwear. Find it a bit wider than some others and usually comfortable. 

23 minutes ago, Mr Grey said:

Tip:

Don't buy North Face, its fucking shit, when completing the Yorkshire 3 peaks a couple of years ago... again 😃, a fella with us had NF on, only light rain, but he was drenched to the skin.

Decathlon have plenty of decent stuff, check the waterproof rate, generally 1 to 5, 5 being top, always invest in 4 or 5.

Get leather boots and buy decent padded walking socks, they dont have to be thick, ones that grip to your feet to stop blistering. Always pack a spare pair.

I always wear lightweight shorts, easy dry, pack a pair of waterproof pants in the rucksack in case its torrential rain.

You don't have to fork out on the posh expensive gear, even some of that is shite and just for fashion, you gotta be practical, Gonzo had it right earlier.

Dont forget your cereal bars, bananas, Chocolate and jaffa cakes, its all energy food, and a small flask of coffee, and at least 2ltr of water.

NF actual waterproofs are decent, as I said 12 years and not a problem with it.

With materials now, I think you don't have to go leather if you don't want to. You'll.pay more.for a.4 season boot, but leather certainly isn't essential anymore.

11 minutes ago, Mr Grey said:

Footwear is vital, I bought some Hi-tech walking boots 4 years ago, 70 dabs, that are fantastic, I've got arthritis of the trotters, so need something with a hard solid soul. You've just gotta get the right gear for you, at the end of the day its walking gear, it needs to be practical and long lasting.

I have a Quesho decathlon coat, 5 rating, again 80 dabs, best coat I've had, and I had a Jack Wolfskin prior to that and it wasn't as good. Also used to use a Ron Hill running jacket, because it was light and waterproof, had that for 20+ years, its lost its waterproofability now though 😃 

 

I've used Ron Hill jackets for running and walking (lots of gear is interchangable) love the one I have at the moment.

You are right re the decathlon tops, for under 100 you are getting good stuff.

Much more accessible than when you only had specialist walking shops years ago.

Much prefer leather for walks where the terrain is wet.

Had the lighter half and half type stuff that is waterproof, but found that walking through long, wet grass, the waterproofing treatments wear off.

Discussed it once in a boot shop, and the lady agreed that leather, when looked after will retain its waterproof nature longer.

Prefer to use traditional wax type treatments too, rather than the water based reactive stuff that you wipe on.

I wear quite a bit of Jack Wolfskin which has always been good for me. My winter boots are Cotswold, never had damp feet with them.

Get over to Winfields at Haslingden, some decent stuff in there

21 minutes ago, Bigtoe said:

Whats the recommendation for base layers?

I need another set, got a Helly Hansen set about 10 years ago, to be fair its still going but its either shrunk or my stomach has grown

Merino. Doesn't whiff.

2 minutes ago, Mr Grey said:

Here's a man who knows his walking boots ⬆️👌

Used to work for a company (first proper job) that made a number of leather treatments amongst other things.

Leatherbrite was excellent, and also fun to 'play' with before it had fully cooled.

 

2 minutes ago, mickbrown said:

Merino. Doesn't whiff.

I'm convinced that woolen products and wool blends will grow in popularity in the future. 

Its a great, natural product and with modern technology I'm sure we'll see more of it.

MiL still hand knits sweaters, and I prefer them to a fleece when under a waterproof.