[Closed] Hill walking - recommend me some kit

I'm selling my favourite winter walking soft shell jacket as I no longer fit it (chest was 38", now 42")..

[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1508/23561652953_e6df0108db.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1508/23561652953_e6df0108db.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/BU4CxK ]Rab Baltoro Guide Jacket[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/ ]Ben Freeman[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1477/24162343346_a71047ec6d.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1477/24162343346_a71047ec6d.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/CP9jSE ]Rab Baltoro Guide Jacket[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/ ]Ben Freeman[/url], on Flickr

£50 posted....

A good waterproof jacket - as breathable as you can afford. Goretex and Event fabrics are still the most likely you'll come across. Rab, Mountain Equipment and Montane are all good brands.
Decent waterproof trousers - you might want to save a bit of cash on these as you'll only want to put them on when it's really wet.
Gaiters - great for when it's muddy.
A mid-layer of some sort. Fleece still works well. No need for something really heavy.
Baselayer top. Wicking. I like zipped necks for adjustability. Avoid merino or cotton as they will soak up too much sweat, take ages to dry and feel cold on the skin.
Polycotton trousers are OK if it's more poly than cotton 🙂 I prefer something like the Montane Terras. You can go for something fancy like Schoeller Dryskin though as that tends to be cosy, stretchy, water-resistant and fast drying.
A decent rucksack. Don't make it huge or it'll sag uncomfortably. Too small and it will also be uncomfortable on the back. 20-25 litre range.

Map, compass and the skills to use them.

You don't need much more really. No need to get hung up on the big brands either. A trip to Decathlon would sort you out.

Get a good few miles under your belt before you consider winter walking (i.e. in snow). Get trained in the use of ice-axe and crampons and then you'll likely need different boots too, warmer kit, goggles a bigger bag, spare clothing etc. TBH, winter walking is a whole different thing and worth a thread on its own!

Wear your bike stuff. Based in what you've said you don't need to buy much at this stage. I have virtually no hiking specific gear I double up other kit, eg sailing trousers. If its really cold I have ski gear I can wear (although again my sailing/biking base layer doubles up for this).

Pen Y Fan - cheap commuter bike top. Out of shot cotton sailing trousers, windproof gilet underneath. Can post simila photos from top,of Snowden on bitterly cold and windy October day

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EDIT: how was your beach ride ?

Pretty much what Scotroutes said, I use the same kit almost year round just layering appropriately:

Endura Baa-baa merino long sleeved top
Micro fleece mid-layer if cold
Montane windproof jacket (the one that stuffs into a wee tennis ball sized sac)
Goretex shell jacket.
Quick drying trousers (mountain equipment or berghaus)
Osprey 33 litre rucsac (feels a little empty on summer dayhikes but is just big enough for single overnighters so a good compromise)
Fairly basic overtrousers that I keep meaning to replace with something lighter and more packable. Full length zips are handy on the overtrousers, means you can 'vent' them if one side isn't being exposed to the rain.

I would almost prioritise nice long sleeves with adjustable cuffs and a roomy adjustable hood over the quality of the material for the shell jacket, I reckon if you're paying over £100 for a shell jacket they're probably all much of a muchness for breathability (i.e. if you're working hard in your rain jacket you'll probably get sweaty, I certainly manage to work up a sweat inside my Gore Tex Pro Shell...).

Winter gear is a different ball game, you could get lucky just sticking a pair of microspike crampons over your summer boots but all it takes is one steep or slippy slope and suddenly you'll be wishing for an axe and crampons and proper winter boots etc...

Gore-Tex shell jacket - loads in sales this time of year. Shell only not padded or insulated like ski jacket

Insulated jacket - primaloft or equivalent (artificial down, stays warm when wet)

Thin fleece

Base layer - Helly etc

Lightweight/mid weight fast drying trousers

Cheap waterproof pants. As mentioned only put on if it suddenly rains loads, breathability not essential

25l bag

Hat, gloves and buff

Compass, map, head torch and ability to use them

Cheap silver survival bag

Knife - because.

I like Bridgedale socks based purely on there durability, other than that most stuff is ok. I have a crag hopper coat and a cheap berghaus fleece bought in a sale 10 years ago that have served me well.

Walking sticks are useful if your doing long distances or gradients.

TBH if you are only going up the likes of Pen-Y-Fan, under normal conditions (i.e. no snow/ice), then you can get away with stuff you probably mostly have already. Only essentials are a waterproof coat & trousers (Berghaus Deluge are good for the price) fleece, hat, gloves, map and compass. Oh and NO jeans.

Scotroutes, Monk and Rogan have it.

Only addition would be a small first aid kit and phone. BUT DON'T RELY ON IT! Often zero signal and if you start fannying around following the GPS, the battery will be flat when/if you need to call reinforcements.

Minor point, I'm stuck in the '90s and personally can't be arsed with fancy troos. I'm still in running tights/Ron Hill's rather than modern troos. I also can't abide merino as it gets soaked then cold then you do likewise. Stick to synthetic; smelly Helly if budget is an issue. Carry a Primaloft jumper as an extra backup. They're light and fantastic.

Last; something like Montane Atomic for overtroos. Cheap and light. You'll be carrying them mostly and if you really need them, wet soon enough. No point spending lots.

Pen-Y-Fan, under normal conditions (i.e. no snow/ice), then you can get away with stuff you probably mostly have already. ....... Oh and NO jeans.

It would appear that jeans, superdry hoody and addidas trainers (do not do up the laces) are the de rigueur attire for Pen-Y-Fan 🙂

Best article of clothing I've ever had for Winter walking is my Montane Active Smock. Cheaper and better (IMHO) than a Buffalo.

Jeans, flipflops, cotton t-shirt.

Asda sandwich and a can of coke in a plastic bag.

Off the beaten path? A road atlas.

It would appear that jeans, superdry hoody and addidas trainers (do not do up the laces) are the de rigueur attire for Pen-Y-Fan

TBF in good conditions and coming from the A470 car park Pen-Y-Fan is a piece of p*ss and you'd be fine in those clothes. I'd not recommend it, but 99 times out of 100 you'd be perfectly fine.

Some people overdo it a bit in this country if you ask me, all the gear and no idea usually comes to mind when i'm out and about.
They walk into GoOutdoors and write a blank cheque it seems. Many times seen people on glorious days walking with enough stuff on there back to survive in the wilderness for weeks, and that's Rivington.
Then there are the dangerous ones half way up striding edge with trainers and a t-shirt on, wading through 3 feet of snow.

Fancy clothes don't matter, they can be more comfortable sure but navigating and general knowledge is what counts.

All that they said, plus a torch.

I buy cheap, thin fleeces, good baselayers and waterproof jacket, cheaper overtrousers (they get trashed), most comfy boots I can (and usually waterproof trainers these days, unless snow/ice/waterlogged).

Footflaps - I've just bought a softshell (Dare2Be, Go Outdoors, more expensive than yours and not as good). Thats my size too d'oh!

Other than getting a decent hardshell (I've got an old Berghaus cheap one that I wouldn't trust up a mountain) I reckon I've got most of that from cycling anyway. May have to get the wife some kit though.

I carry a small first aid kit (and know how to use it!) and foil blanket when cycling. Is it worth getting a 2-person survival bag/shelter?

Also I'm a map and compass man and can use them too!

PS last time I was up Pen Y Fan (June) it was freezing and pissing down, and there were hoards up there in flip flops and cardigans

Jambalaya see [url= http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/urban-beach-riding-new-niche ]HERE[/url]

The only non bike stuff I wear for walking up the moontains, are underwear trousers and boots. Everything else doubles up.

I'd be shocked if you couldn't walk up in your biking gear.

I stopped wearing boots for hillwalking years ago, just wear trail runners now (though I'm usually biking rather than walking if I'm in the hills!)

footflaps I'll take the Rab jacket if it's a medium

footflaps I'll take the Rab jacket if it's a medium

Yep, M

[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1604/23560261094_9eeb5cafb5.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1604/23560261094_9eeb5cafb5.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/BTWuNb ]Rab Baltoro Guide Jacket[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/ ]Ben Freeman[/url], on Flickr

Drop me a mail to footflaps at yahoo co uk

Any shouts on decent approach trainers for 70 quid?, I need something a bit lighter than my boots.

Hill w*nking is all the rage nowadays.

Nobeer

[url= http://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/merrell-mens-ridgepass-waterproof-shoe-b1222650?id_colour=110 ]merrill[/url]

FH - I used to always buy Merrell, but the last 2 pairs haven't lasted well at all.

Nobeerinthefridge - Member
Any shouts on decent approach trainers for 70 quid?, I need something a bit lighter than my boots.

I got some north face ones from Blacks in the sale although more for general use.

FH - I used to always buy Merrell, but the last 2 pairs haven't lasted well at all.

I cant stand merrells. Cant abide cheap vibram soles too.

Comfiest Ive found lately are the Karrimor Hot Rock Low approach shoes. £31 from [s]Sports Direct[/s], [s]Mike Astley's a nasty bastard R Us[/s] Field & Trek. They last about 18months used every day, with a hefty 95Kg lump balanced on top of them. Ive not had approach shoes of any price last any longer.

I have some big leather scarpas for wet winter walking, some fantastic Ecco syntheic mid boots which are light as a feahter but wonderfully supportive which I keep in the Alps. And the rest of the time I just use approach shoes.

I like Paramo clothing, but not everyone does.

they always look like some kind of drenched-duvet-dressed-dishevelled geography teacher-wear.

They certainly do. It's a great disguise 🙂

I'm still on old stuff, I think there are newer garments that are not specifically targeted at the elderly.

Hills, you'll need some hills.

Artisan ones though, not the bland old normal ones.

Stoner. How do those Karrimors size up? I need some cheap walking shoes for work.

I'm a "big" 12, so wear the 13/47.
Fit very well, even with chunky socks.

Thanks mate,I'll have a punt for that price.

I use cordura type fabric work trousers (when it not wet) as I find they are tough, cheap, dry well and quite good in the wind. Wadd some over trousers and I'm fine.

Evening. See if you can find any nearly new Altberg field & fell Microlite boots. Mine are soooooooooooooo nice 🙂

Any sock recommendations? Merino blend too warm?

For Clothing i Use a few different brands that i would recommend, Arcteryx and fjall raven for sheer quality, paramo too but all fairly pricey. Rab, montane and berghaus i have too and all quality gear and some of their ranges more affordable than the ones first mentioned.
If you can afford it Arcteryx is second to none in my eyes for attention to detail, i buzz when i get the chance to wear any of their gear, superb!!

Kendal mint cake, good quality snuff, strong coffee in a decent flask, jam sarnie and a shot of whiskey to bless the summit 🙂

Perfected over 30 years

Cycling jerseys as base layers - Decathlon, mostly.

Selection of fleeces, depending on weather - Decathlon, from the hunting section - cheaper than the hiking specific stuff, fine if you like green.
🙂

Softshells from the sailing section - much nicer and cheaper than the hiking ones.
😀

I do tend to buy good Gore-Tex/Event shells though - they are certainly worth the cash.
Current Mountain Equipment one is about 18 months old, half price because it was 'last years colour'.
That was £100 saved.

I do have a Gore bike jacket too, but it's a bit snug for winter walking over a fleece.

My normal hill kit is a berghaus 3 layer gore tex shell jacket. HH base layer and 5.11 tactical tdu ripstop trousers with brasher boots and decathlon hiking socks with a decathlon soft shell or montane primaloft top in my rucksack (karrimor hot rock 30).
I got the 5.11 trousers as an alternative to fjallraven after reading some good online reviews. They're great and pretty inexpensive considering the build quality.

A whistle.

It's worth keeping an eye on paramo 2nds and paramo xtras on eBay. Some real bargains now and again.

Worth getting a nice hat and gloves. It can make a big difference in rubbish weather.
I like my Lowe Alpine Mountain Cap - it is waterproof, pretty warm, and has a peak which helps keep the rain off my face.

@Nobeer, I have Northface (very good) and prior to that Salomon which lasted donkey's years till the soles wore out. See what's in the sales.

Not exactly kit but have a look on the Mountain Rescue website for their advice. Start small and never be afraid to turn back if you're not feeling confident or you're worried about the weather - which can change quickly on the high hills.

Get more than one base layer so you can get changed after the inevitable sweaty backpack back. Same maybe for socks depending on the distance and weather outlook.

Maybe invest in a few decent water/tea carrying flasks and bottles that are sturdy enough to withstand being dropped. Your backpack will inevitably be really heavy if you take alot of fluid but its a good feeling as this reduces through the day with the more you drink.

There is no shortage of great brands, many listed above.

2 additional things I would consider,

Firstly the fit of garments, fit, cut, styling can vary a lot across brands, try before you buy, lots of outdoor shops, its not unusual to be between sizes across certain brands & find neither an ideal fit.

Secondly, the various technology, your spoilt for choice these days, various forms of gore-tex, e-vent, polotec neo Sheild for waterproofs, power stretch, power dry etc for a fleece base or mid layer, again look at them in the shops & try them on.

I would second a good pair of boots / gloves / hat at this time of year though!

You do not need to spend a lot of money to get kitted up in basic but good gear for the hills. Budget offerings from Craghoppers (Fleeces and trousers), Keela and Decathlon will see you fully kitted out in brand new and durable gear for a fraction of the cost of main brands.

Boots/shoes are where I would spend money on, no substitute for trying on as many as you can get your hands on. Buy the best and most comfortable you can afford.

An avowed Paramo fan here although it isn't for everyone. For people who have reservations of the 'traditional' Paramo fit, the newer stuff has addressed this and is bang up to date. I've just bought a new Alta 3 jacket and the fit is light years away from the Alta 2, which is why I bought one TBH.

Cheers, all good stuff.

Being a sweaty bugger, are the rucksacks with the mesh back panels and gap to the sack any good? Do they stop sweaty back syndrome?

I really like sitting mats - hardly a necessity but a great bit of kit which cost next to nothing - a few hiking buddies of mine poo pooed them initially but after trying out mine they've all bought one - A nice little luxury when one stops for a brew - you have to stop for brew ..

Mesh panelled rucksacks work well but aren't recommended for scrambling or climbing as they hold the weight too far from the body.

Things have come on since my earliest days on the hills - Aran jumper, cord breeches, wax jacket and, de riguer, red socks.

Modern kit, even the cheapest, is brilliant by comparison. My standard kit is
Helly Hansen vests
Light fleece
Rab softshell jacket
Mammut Basejump trousers
Cheap Pertex windsmock
Rab Event jacket
Arcteryx overtrousers

(or if it's really hot, Coolmax top and Rohan shorts)

Hat, gloves
Map, compass, headtorch, whistle (though on well known walks in good conditions I might not bother).

I've always preferred close fitting sacs, I think they carry better. Usually an Arcteryx Needle with a water proof inner bag.
Sigg bottles, Vango stainless steel flask.

In winter I add
North Face down vest or Mountain Equipment duvet depending on conditions
Extra hat and gloves (possibly Dachstein mitts)
Silk inner gloves
2 man bivi shelter

If it's really grim I might wear long johns, fleece salopettes, a heavier Berghaus Mera Peak jacket - or stay in!

Boots and socks
3 season - Scarpa SL, Coolmax inner socks and Bridgedale outers
Winter - Scarpa Manta, Coolmax inners and Thorlo mountaineering socks.
Axe and crampons if conditions require them.

If you want to get out in the snow it depends where you are going. Stomping around in soft snow on flat ground, or modest gradients, you'll be OK in boots alone. A pair of trekking poles can be useful. Once it starts getting steep, technical, exposed, hard snow/ice, that's when you'll be needing proper winter gear and the knowledge to use it without stabbing yourself.

Mesh panelled rucksacks work well

Not in my experience, waste of time you still get sweaty and they definitely mess with your center of gravity.

I really like sitting mats

+1 and they double up to provide lightweight rucksacks a bit of extra back padding.

Not in my experience, waste of time you still get sweaty and they definitely mess with your center of gravity.

I agree with that. Completely pointless and they make the pack an annoying shape to pack.

And another. I love my simple Lowe Alpine and Karrimor Alpiniste bags with flat, padded, simple backs.

Montane is probably my favourite kit manufacturer - very well designed IMO, especially their mountaineering / climbing gear. The featherlite smock is a great bit of kit that gets used all the time - weighs nothing, makes a great outer shell with just a base layer if very active or add over multiple layers if moving slower and not raining.

I've got some size 42 approach shoes for sale if anyone is interested? £35 posted. They're unused, just a bit big for me. Berg Serval - got them off Sports Pursuit. Don't know much about the brand, but look decent & have a 'climbing zone' on the toe so good for scrambling/standing on thin edges. Vibram sole.

I have both types of pack, I didn't buy the Lowe Alpine airzone based on its mesh back but simply based on comfort when trying on. Id agree when working hard in mild climates I struggle to feel any real benefit, I do however find it good in very cold conditions for helping regulate temps, odd I know but my experience.

Personally no issues when scrabbling with a mesh pack, but I travel light & I'm a big lad, personally I would go with comfort first & foremost.

On Karrimors - I got a pair and you get sweaty in them, not as breathable as they look but good for cooler weather. Sod wearing them in summer though. My 18+ yr old Merrell moon boots on the other hand are great in summer, go figure.

Might nab some of those Merrell Ridgepasses though, look identical to the Karrimors but not Tight Bastly made...

Just bought a new Paramo Helki which seems a fair bit lighter than my previous one, got £50 off as well for recycling my old one!
Pretty much any gear you buy from an outdoor retailer will suffice for hillwalking, however you can never stop the jeans and t-shirt brigade walking up the fan in December!!

@Loddrik - how are you getting on with the Alta 3 jacket?
I've been looking at one for winter walking

Love my mesh backed pack, Osprey Exos, really keeps my back dry, and really comfy.

A pair of wellies, a sheepdog and a dose of common sense. About all you need really 🙂

A pair of wellies, a sheepdog and a dose of common sense. About all you need really

only if you insist on going over-prepared!

Proper hill walkers do it in a pair of flip-flops and a copy of Pigeon Fancier's Monthly shoved up their string vest.