Suggestions for a half decent jacket and walking boots?

Indie_Kid

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

The gloves are the serious expense because I keep losing one. :mad:

The gloves I have, have a clip so you can clip them together. I don't do this - I don't have the co-ordination or sight to stand there and put them together.

Mme.Hibou

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

aliasojo, I'm a fair weather walker,

Where do you go walking Savvy? I used to do a bit of hiking when I lived up in the Peak District, but haven't done any since I moved to Bristol (and now have a husband and 1 year old in tow)

aliasojo

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

aliasojo, I'm a fair weather walker, and I take a cagoule out with me 'just in case' .......

I needed a whole catalogue of stuff the other day.....at the bottom of the hill it was beautifully sunny, halfway up it was raining, at the top it was snowing and reverse all that on the way down. You gotta love the Scottish weather, 'tis never boring.

Glad

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aliasojo

Katie-Kat-Kins wrote: »

Fitting boots really needs experienced help, and it is worth its weight in gold if it avoids you getting blisters.

Just thought I'd update you all. I got a pair of these today.....Berghaus Explorer Ridge




They were suggested by a chap in Tiso, after he asked me where I would be wearing them etc. He was helpful I have to admit (not pushy) and they were really comfy on and I walked over their stone path thingy and felt nothing, none of the sharper or pointed stones made any difference so the sole felt sturdy enough. It was between these and a pair of Scarpa boots but these looked like they'd be easier to clean, lol, as the Scarpa's were nubuck and mesh. I hope they're going to be ok otherwise it's an expensive mistake. I paid £110 and have come home and found them on the net for £90. I did get him to throw in a free bottle of cleaner that normally retails for £5 though so not all bad.

I had a look at jackets but they are sooooooo expensive, I was quite shocked at the prices of good ones. I'm clearly very naive when it comes to this stuff. I'll need to hunt around the net for cheaper versions I think. Even the layer stuff was shockingly (to me) expensive so I will definitely be trying to hunt down better prices online.

Thanks again all. :beer:

Savvy_Sue

sh1305 wrote: »

The gloves I have, have a clip so you can clip them together. I don't do this - I don't have the co-ordination or sight to stand there and put them together.

I wondered about a clothes peg or clip of some kind, but really the reason I wear two thin pairs is so that they are small enough to fold together (like socks?) and keep in my pocket. I try to do that folding thing, but sometimes I forget, and when that happens one of them jumps out of my pocket and runs away ...

Lydia82 wrote: »

Where do you go walking Savvy? I used to do a bit of hiking when I lived up in the Peak District, but haven't done any since I moved to Bristol (and now have a husband and 1 year old in tow)

Ooh, lots of walking opportunities in Bristol! Personally, I walk with the Stoke Lodge Ramblers, we start in BS9, I'd link to their website if they had one, but let's just say I bring down the average age a bit, and at the AGM someone said "We could start our evening meetings earlier than this, none of us work any more" and I had to heckle and say "Speak for yourself!" :rotfl: They are a lovely friendly lot despite that, but our walks are not child friendly IYKWIM.

There are various other 'serious' groups, I see one lot up on the Downs at least once a week. I think they are a Ramblers Association Group.

What you might find good are the Healthy Walking groups. What's showing on that link is the lunchtime walks, but if there's a group in your area they'll probably do a range of longer walks, some of which will be pushchair friendly. Look at the list on the lh side of that page.

I occasionally go out with the St Pauls group which is near where I work, but not very often!

claire07

I've been reading this thread with interest as I'm after a good pair of walking boots and I'll be following up the suggestions. But just wondered if it is better to get leather or that suedey/nubuck fabric in terms of keeping them clean? I know in the winter a cheap pair I had with the fabric covering were really difficult to keep looking nice once they'd been covered in mud! I realise a dearer pair might be ok but just wondered if leather was better.

Savvy_Sue

I've moved on from leather to fabric / nubuck - they're lighter and IMO easier to clean - in a bucket after a couple of walks earlier this year! And frankly, I don't really care what they look like in terms of 'smart', I just don't want half a field stuck to the bottom of them next time I get them out!

From memory, more of my walking friends also have the more modern rather than traditional leather boots, and they're not generally the young and trendy type! I'll sneak a better look on the next walk.

aliasojo

claire07 wrote: »

I've been reading this thread with interest as I'm after a good pair of walking boots and I'll be following up the suggestions. But just wondered if it is better to get leather or that suedey/nubuck fabric in terms of keeping them clean?

I'm no expert (as you can see form this thread, lol ) but the chap instore said it mattered more about where and when you'd be walking. So if you are more likely to be walking on forest trails on decent weather days for instance, nubuck and mesh is fine and easily looked after. If you're going to be climbing up muddy hills or regularly out in poor weather facing big puddles etc perhaps leather might be better as the mesh can get blocked with dirt particles which interferes with the breathing process of the material. He did say at the end of the day, it's just personal choice.

I'm in the Highlands of Scotland, our weather here is known for it's erratic properties, lol. I erred on the side of caution.

Savvy_Sue

Yes, it is very true that what sort of terrain you're walking through matters. The salesman did warn me that my boots wouldn't stay waterproof if I was trekking through very wet long grass for extended periods. And the first pair I bought were hopeless, but we established pretty quickly that they were faulty! I had to test them by putting them in a bucket of water and seeing if they filled up - they did! :eek: Of course by then I'd done a walk with very wet cold feet, but the pair I swapped them for have been fine, with one re-spray in a couple of years.

BTW, I got mine from Oswald Bailey and found they very helpful, unlike in Blacks where I've always been pretty much ignored!