David's Walking Gear | Gear - general

Wanderlust Home

Walking Gear

David's Walking Gear

Written by David

Saturday, 29 December 2007

Here's my gear preferences, accumulated from experience on short and long distance walks, Alpine and UK mountains, in all seasons. Plus I ride a motorbike and I sail (not at the same time), so it becomes necessary to learn quickly how to keep warm and dry.

In principle, to keep warm, lots of thin layers are preferably to bulky gear which can also impedes movement.

Hat

Mostly the adverse weather in this country is rain, so I have over recent years gone for a wide-brimmed waxed job. It also helps to keep the rain off the specs. Fits tight on the head but you can get the ones with a draw string for contrary winds. My spare is a wool hat which converts to a balaclava. I also carry a third balaclava which is wrapped around my head torch at the bottom of the rucksack. One balaclava can be worn under the brimmed hat if necessary.

Scarf

One of the most under-rated essential items of equipment for the winter walker. A wool scarf around the neck will keep the blood flow to the head warm, and prevent cold draughts going down inside of your jacket.

Jacket

Gore-tex or equivalent "breathable" is a must. Mine is a Mountain Equipment, getting on for 15 years old, but good quality lasts. It is lattice lined, so a bit like a string vest inside. Hood with peak. It is short, down to groin length, which is better if you want to attempt any scrambling.

Shirt etc

Never use cotton as it absorbs sweat (or the glow of ladies) and doesn't dry quickly. Even in summer you can still get cold from a clammy cotton tee shirt. Over long years I have settled on a thermal vest, wickable, next to the skin. This has long sleeves, a polo neck and a zip to open the neck down to the chest to regulate heat. I have several of these by North Cape. On top of that, any thin micro fleece-type jacket. Plus a wool - real wool - jumper to go on top or underneath the fleece in extreme conditions.

Gloves

I always travel with my trusty all-wool Dachstein mits in winter. Mits are generally regarded as warmer than gloves. Tie them on in winter like your mother did for you when you were a toddler. And always carry spare gloves in winter - you'd be surprised how many pairs of gloves I have found on the hills, put down and forgotten about.

Trousers

Never walk in jeans. They are made of cotton and soak up water like blotting paper and refuse to dry out. And they chafe like the devil. Sports shorts in summer - whatever doesn't hurt your or your companions' eyes. In the winter, I don't like overtrousers as I don't like the feeling of restriction so I tend to use lightweight, wind-resistant trousers which, if they do get wet, dry quickly. A pair of wickable long johns underneath in sub-zero temperatures. My experience is that legs don't get cold on walks if the body core, head, hands and feet are warm. I've found overtrousers useful for sitting glissades down snow-covered slopes, but a bivvy or other large plastic bag will do equal service. I stay away from cotton underwear in winter, too; they just refuse to dry if they get rained on or if you sit on damp grass etc.

Gaiters

I used to wear them a lot when I lived in the Dark Peak and spent my days bog-trotting across the likes of Kinder, Bleaklow and Black Hill. Now, I don't like the restriction so put up with pebbles in my boot and muddy socks.

Boots and Socks

I can't properly recommend boots as it is very much a personal preference. I have size 12 hooves so finding good boots has always been a challenge. I find that the lightweight, flexible, artificial material, rugged trainer types are good on mostly rocky routes in the summer months; and Gore-tex lined leather, and stiffer soles, for winter walking. Socks are the same - get them to fit the space between foot and boot. Seems obvious, but I've seen people trying to cram feet and thick socks into boots - and pinched toes and blisters result. There is no rule about one or two pairs, I have found, it is whatever you are comfortable with. I always buy wool.

Rucksack

I have three, to suit the length and type of walk. I always line the rucksack with a thick plastic bag. If you are scrambling, don't go for side pockets as they can impede arm movement.

Bottom of the rucksack contents

Emergency bivvy bag, first aid kit including a thermal blanket, head torch and spare battery (always when winter walking), toilet paper, spare gloves, hat and jumper. Pen and paper. Sun cream and anti-midgie spray. Foam pad for sitting on (and keeping underpants dry).

Glasses etc

Sunglasses to enjoy the summer sun. In winter I carry a spare pair of my spectacles - just in case. Also, I strongly recommend a pair of ski goggles. Driving rain at ground level can turn into painful hail at 2,000 ft, and ski goggles can protect your eyes and make you safer (and a little bit warmer).

Navigation

Silva compass and the requisite OS Map. And the knowledge to know how to use them in extremis. These days I prefer a coated map to a map case. I have a mobile phone cum PDA with GPS and Memory Map OS mapping software on it. Not at all good for gauging the lie of the land, but invaluable for route planning before setting out and, in an emergency, for position finding.

Camera

A full SLR (I use a Canon 350D) plus suitable hi-res compact for those quick shots, both with true optical (ie not digital) zooming.

In the end, all of this comes down to personal preference and there are no hard and fast rules. Safety is paramount. Uncomfortable clothes, socks or boots, or a poorly-fitting rucksack, can be both tiring and distracting so don't set off unless you are certain you can complete your walk without blisters, reasonably dry and warm, and with none of your bits chafed away.

Comments

Add New

RSS