Thread: Hill Walking Clothing Advice

Originally Posted by JayCam

Wearing issue gear doesnt make you a walt. I am a civie and hike in 95s and norgie tops. Reason being they are great for the price and do the job well. For the same reasons I DONT wear Combat Boots..

If you are on a budget get a pair of 95s, a norgie, some thermal underwear (mountain warehouse always have offers on), a decent waterproof jacket, cheap over trousers and a thinsulate hat and you will be sorted.

Dont skimp on boots and socks.

J.

AH, you see army gear is designed for a very different purpose to civvy gear.

any mountain leader worth his salt will tell you not to wear it in non military environments.

the reason is the same as why you can almost always only get jackets coloured red, blue, yellow etc from big brands.

your cs95's are designed to help you remain unseen. this is a major feature, as being wet and cold probably wont kill you, but getting spotted by the enemy probably will.

if you are in a group, wearing clothing designed to blend in, especially in fog, heavy rain etc, a member of the group could potentialy become invisible, when only a couple of hundred metres away.

if they are seperated (even because they are trailing behind a bit) it doesnt take much for them to go comlpetely the wrong way. even if you get mountain rescue involved, they too will probably struggle.
'eer..yeh, im the guy in green camo gear, in a big green field.'

a black/blue/red etc top is visible from quite a distance, and if you fall or have an accident, especially when on your own, you have a far better chance of getting rescue. in snowdonia for example, there are towns and small villages which can see most of the mountains. many of the locals are quite switched on, and if they see a red dot that hasnt moved for an hour or so, will probably have a look through some binoculars, and in turn raise the alarm.

if your in gear designed not to be seen, somebody has to walk fairly close to you, for you attract attention.
if your life depended on it, which would you want to rely on?

IT Guy. You just need to keep it simple and not get carried away. Kit envy can come later when you've got more of a taste for it

Base layer - HH Lifa top, or a merino wool one
Mid layer - Fleece, go for one with a zip so you can increase ventilation. Half zip or full zip is up to you, and how hot you get.
Outer layer - you need something windproof and waterproof. Montane featherlites are awesome for this. I know a lot of guys who swear by them. They're relatively cheap, online you could pick on up for about 40 quid. They last forever and pack well.

Trousers - basically anything but jeans. If it's uber cold, nick a pair of your missus' tights or whack some ron hills on underneath. (white stilettoes optional )
Socks - nothing major to think about here, I've always been happy with Millets/Blacks own brand. Bridgedale are pretty good too.
Boots - don't scimp too much on boots. If you want them to last, you'll need to spend a bit. I'd recommend a Vibram sole, but for budget stuff I think Hi-tec do fairly good boots for occassional walkers.

Daysack - head to one of those bargin basement sports shop like Sportsworld. Last week I picked up a karrimor for a tenner reduced from over 30 quid. Failing that Blacks and Millets have good own brand options.

Hats and gloves are a given. Mitten type gloves are warmer but a bit more cumbersome when you're scrambling or climbing.

There are loads of deals on at the mo in Blacks and Millets, so it would be worth finding one near you www.blacks.co.uk www.millets.co.uk or I like cotswold outdoor for more spanky kit.

What's your next 'walk' and when are you planning on doing it?

Originally Posted by BaggyInBlack

Buy a Páramo. It's better than Gortex as it has a lifetime guarantee. I have had the same jacket for over 8 years now and it's a fantastic bit of kit, still keeping me as dry as they day I bought it. I am a MLT, so it gets its use. Top recommendation from me anyway.

Web page: http://www.paramo.co.uk/en-gb/index.php

From another MLT, sound advice above, spend the money, nothing better!

Originally Posted by flowers

IT Guy. You just need to keep it simple and not get carried away. Kit envy can come later when you've got more of a taste for it

Thats the idea, I don't need the flash kit - I look good enough already...

Originally Posted by flowers

Base layer - HH Lifa top, or a merino wool one

So the layer thing is still the best way then, to that end I have some nice aircrew vests with long sleeves and roll necks.

Originally Posted by flowers

Mid layer - Fleece, go for one with a zip so you can increase ventilation. Half zip or full zip is up to you, and how hot you get.

I have a Army fleece liner somewere as well....

Originally Posted by flowers

Outer layer - you need something windproof and waterproof. Montane featherlites are awesome for this. I know a lot of guys who swear by them. They're relatively cheap, online you could pick on up for about 40 quid. They last forever and pack well.

I've got a rather nice Parka,Mens,(Cold Weather) around here somewhere........maybe not. The Montane featherlites look good though.

Originally Posted by flowers

Trousers - basically anything but jeans. If it's uber cold, nick a pair of your missus' tights or whack some ron hills on underneath. (white stilettoes optional )

I refused to wear ron hills when I was in so I'm not going to start now! I see that Montane featherlites do the trousers as well, any good do you think?

Originally Posted by flowers

Socks - nothing major to think about here, I've always been happy with Millets/Blacks own brand. Bridgedale are pretty good too.

I'm happy with the sock situation, I wear a thin inner sock and a wool outer one.

Originally Posted by flowers

Boots - don't scimp too much on boots. If you want them to last, you'll need to spend a bit. I'd recommend a Vibram sole, but for budget stuff I think Hi-tec do fairly good boots for occassional walkers.

I got a pair of light, waterproof, incredibly comfy boots already.

Originally Posted by flowers

Daysack - head to one of those bargin basement sports shop like Sportsworld. Last week I picked up a karrimor for a tenner reduced from over 30 quid. Failing that Blacks and Millets have good own brand options.

I took a cheapo Daysack I got in Canada and discovered its not waterproof . I'll pick up another

Originally Posted by flowers

Hats and gloves are a given. Mitten type gloves are warmer but a bit more cumbersome when you're scrambling or climbing.

Wolly hat and fingerless gloves are my personal choice.

Originally Posted by flowers

There are loads of deals on at the mo in Blacks and Millets, so it would be worth finding one near you www.blacks.co.uk www.millets.co.uk or I like cotswold outdoor for more spanky kit.

I have a Mountain Warehouse local, I'll wander round there this afternoon I think.

Originally Posted by flowers

What's your next 'walk' and when are you planning on doing it?

Looks like next weekend now, to much happening this week -gotta find another route around the dales somewhere....

Thanks for the ideas. :D

Also a climber/mountaineer and would add a couple of things. A whistle and head torch are essential items of safety gear. Also if you're going far from the beaten track and there is a real risk of being benighted then a bivvy bag & insulation mat are also musts.

Stick to the essentials and try to keep weight to a minimum. The best way to keep warm is to keep moving briskly. I agree with the layers and would highly recommend a merino wool base layer - expensive but well worth it. I would then wear a thin fleece and a light waterproof shell according to weather conditions. When climbing I also pack a thicker spare fleece which I use when belaying or if I stop for food/serious navigating and it's really shitty. This is also where the woolly hat comes in. Make sure you have a waterproof liner for your spare gear in your Daysack.

Avoid cotton clothing at all costs - this includes t-shirt and pants. If you know that you're going over boggy terrain or through lots of bracken then Gaiters will help keep your feet dry for as long as possible. Make sure you get waterproof trousers which zip up the sides so you can quickly put them on over boots without any hassle.

Learn to climb - it will give you so many more options in the hills (traversing the Cuillin Ridge on Skye for example is awesome).

All the best and have fun.

Do not wear combats in the hill, as ex RAF mountain rescuer, they are incredibly difficult to spot if your the one looking for people wearing them.

Norgie's are crap too, unless you like wearing something that hold all the moisture, and will lead to hypothermia in colder conditions, in general don't wear cotton at all if possible.

I wear Montane trousers, cost me £50, but hardwearing, windproof and very quickdrying, Helly Hansen top, windproof top and salomon boots.

In my hillbag i carry Goretex jacket, as said before they don't keep you dry if it's pouring it down! Also carry an old buffalo jacket and trousers, with a bivi bag, incase i have to spend a night in the hills or i meet someone in trouble.

I also carry cylumes, readily available from your friendly QM's! and a good first aid kit.

If you want decent kit your gonna have to put your hand in your pocket i'm afraid Fella ! I like to use this saying "If You Buy Sh*te You Buy Twice"
The Civvi's you are encountering on your Walk's may look like they've just fell off a Catwalk but you can Bett your last Sheckle that they are Warm and Comfortable,and in most case's Dry ! So go on treat yourself,and get away from that "Compo" from the Last of the Summer Wine Look... :D

I always find that green wellies and speedos do the job

Also join the BMC - the British Mountaineering Council. Not least because lots of shops (Snow & Rock for example) give discounts to members. They also provide very cheap insurance (very important if you're walking/climbing in the Alps) and do lots of good work with respect to paths and access rights etc.

http://www.thebmc.co.uk/

You can get some good decent gear here mate and it's quite cheap.

http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/

buy cheap, buy twice.

a cheap baselayer, whether that be a cotton t-shirt or a polybollox 'wicking' top, will ruin your day. you'll be wet, smelly, cold and you'll feel like tracy emins armpit.

go Merino. expensive - £30 a shot - but it can be worn indefinately.

cheap midlayer, go outdoors are flogging half-zipped 100wt fleeces for £7. bargain.

a Paramo Feura windproof is the ultimate outerlayer - simply wash it in nikwax waterproffing agent and you have a very comfortable, wind proof, waterproof and extremely breathable top for £35 on fleabay. should you wish you could push the boat out and buy a £15 pac-a-mac as well.

£20 pair of craghopper 'kiwi' UNLINED trousers from TK Max and a pair of £20 waterproof overtrousers and you're sorted. kind of.

you'll then need (utterly essential in winter) hat, gloves, headover/neckwarmer, plus spares, maps/compass, plus spares, a headtorch (Alpkit.com do them for £5, fantastic kit) a bivi bag/bothy bag incase you get benighted/injured/lost/fancy eating your lunch out of the sleet and driving rain, snickers bars, and decent boots.

decent boots will cost you at minimum £80. rather more likely is £120. Gore-tex boots are Satan's instrument of doom, don't buy them.

have fun, it seems a bit steep (ha ha!), but its honestly worth it.

a bivi bag will set you back a fair bit, i suggest one of these:

they are sort of like a big plastic bag. iv forgotten the name, but they conserve like 98% of your body heat. cost about a fiver, most mountaineering shops sell them.

you can get variations to hold up to about 8 people. if your not planning to spend time overnight, taking that will be fine. most are orange on the outside,

see here for example.
http://www.survival-school.org/Defau...2&ProductID=71

weighs like 100g, and if things go tits up, all you need to do is crawl under a rock, and get inside. probably would be fairly miserable, but would keep you alive and stave off hyperthermia.

also, a nice knife. iv got a 5 inch blade frosts mora knife, got it off ebay brand new for about a tenner, and its bloody good.

if you are doing anything involving ropes, you MUST keep a knife on you that is easy to get at.

waterproof some matchs by dipping the head in melted wax. you can drop them in water, pick off the wax and they will still light.

i also second the advice to learn to climb. alot of routes up mountains, via passes and such, will be fairly easy scrambles, meaning you dont need ropes and climbing gear. a few hours on a wall, and some confidence will be enough to talk basic traverses and such.

Jesus, steady on guys, I'm going for a bimble in the Derbyshire Dales not doing the Arctic and Mountain Warfare Cadre course!

Thanks for the ideas though, got some good ideas for outer water and windproof wear......that Nikwax stuff looks useful as well - why didn't they have that in the 80's, would of been great on the old combat jackets rather than wearing the crisp packet waterproofs.

As for emergency kit I always take a Torch (LED wind up), Mobile phone, map and compass, spare clothing, hot flask and some food. All in ziplock bags where appropriate.

I do have a bivvy bag (Big green one, even got the green sleeping bag to go with it. ) but feel that its a bit overboard for the Dales.

Right, Mountain Warehouse here I come.......

buffalo shirt off ebay thats your top sorted ronhills hat gloves
paramo if you can afford it though

Just an opinion, but Lifa vests and similar eat my shoulders if I'm carrying any weight. Anything man made and essentially knitted plastic isn't going to be cummfy if it is rammed into you. And they're dear. And a little tear really expands...