University of Leeds Staff Walking Club

Equipment Tips

In brief
The many enjoyable aspects of walking are made more so if you are comfortable. This means chiefly not being hot and sticky in the summer or cold and wet in the winter. So, if you want the briefest of advice, avoid wearing cotton next to your skin, get a decent waterproof top and waterproof overtrousers with long enough zipped lower legs so that they can be put on or taken off while wearing boots. If you have the time for a longer discussion, read on!

Next-to-skin clothing
In the warmth of summer you may well glow or perspire; you may also do so in winter when muffled up against the elements. Because of this, what you wear next to your skin can make a big difference to your comfort. The wonderful comfortable feel of cotton rapidly disappears when wet. Cotton takes a long time to dry and you can get uncomfortable and even cold while it does so. Polyester garments dry quickly and the weave of the fabric of many garments can help to transfer the moisture away from the skin so you remain dry too. You can get all this and even greater comfort by wearing woolen garments… no, not any woolen garments but only from those merino sheep that live at high altitude in N.Z. Their ultra fine wool is wonderfully comfortable in summer or winter, doesn’t itch, shrink or smell and has a superb ability to take or “wick” moisture away from the skin. In addition it is machine washable and to cap everything there is a Leeds based company www.chocolatefishmerino.co.uk that supplies it. In the summer you may well use shorts but in other seasons, trousers have advantages. In the wet, cotton trousers – particularly jeans – can be dangerous as they will cool your thigh muscles that power your walking. Man made fabrics have the advantage here and can have a high degree of wind resistance, dry quickly and have secure pockets.

Socks
Socks made of cotton are again best avoided and you are then left with three choices. There are merino wool socks usually about 80% wool and 20% nylon for durability. Wool has many benefits including keeping your feet warm should you get them wet! The other extreme is to have an all man-made fibre sock e.g. Thorlo socks that have a high tech. construction. In between there is the big British brand, Bridgedale, whose socks have a high lambswool content supplemented with high tech. fibres. All these have their devotees. None are hugely expensive so you may be able to “dip your toes” and find the sort that suit you best.

Layering
Experience shows you get can get a better control of your “personal climate” by using several light layers of clothing to moderate your temperature, rather than one light and one heavy. But there are times when a more substantial garment is welcomed… at lunch stops for example. Fleece jackets rule the roost here and come in all colours, weights and prices. There are alternatives though including some from N.Z merino wool or artificial down fillings in wind proof shells [try e.g. Rab or Bergahus makes]. The latter have the advantages of being lighter in weight and windproof. They also stay warm when wet.

Hats
A warm hat in the winter will help conserve about a quarter of your potential body heat loss and in the summer a good sun hat is essential, the rolls-royce being a Tilley hat.

Boots
Walkers like them though in the summer there is much to be said for the use of lighter trail shoes. It is very difficult to buy boots in the U.K that do not have waterproof membranes. These certainly help to keep your feet dry and warm in the winter but in the summer they can keep your feet too warm and sweaty. The membranes can develop leaks and cannot be repaired. Non-membrane, traditional all leather boots are made by Altberg (in Richmond) and Aku.

Outer layer
To keep you warm and dry a windproof, waterproof layer is needed and to remain comfortable it needs also to be “breathable”... so rubber clothing won’t do! The big names use Gortex or EVENT membranes which rate highly in efficiency though there are many other membranes with the same purpose Be aware that in continuous heavy rain the breathability of all membranes diminishes. Operating on a completely different principle are the waterproofs made by the British company Paramo. These are much more comfortable, breath much better and are pleasant to wear all day. They seem to last indefinitely in return for a little tender care. They are warm in the summer though. They are very popular with members of the walking club. Accompanying your waterproof top, you will need similarly protective overtrousers. These are available in same fabrics as the jackets but before you commit yourself to buying a pair, make sure you have your boots with you and try the overtrousers out in the shop. If you can’t get them on over the boots in the shop, you certainly won’t do so standing on one leg in mud on rough ground and your enjoyment factor will drop rapidly. They need zipped legs… some indeed have zips to the waist!

Poles
Many people use walking poles, either one for balance or two for greater security on difficult ground. Prices range from about £10 per pole to £50. Again the British-designed Pacerpoles (www.pacerpole.com), not only give you great support but they also are terrifically efficient in enabling you to use your arms to help propel you along and walk tall and breath well.

Packs
FINALLY you will need a small pack in which to carry your spare clothing, food and drink. A 20 to 30 litre pack should be adequate. Take all the things that you intend to put in it with you to the shop, load the pack and try it out. Not to do so is the equivalent of buying shoes without trying them on first! Tell the shop what you intend doing, they are usually quite understanding. To complement the pack, buy a strong, large polythene liner in which to keep your belongings dry. Outdoor shops sell them – as will builders merchants, for a fraction of the price.

Happy Walking.

Bill Griffiths
(p.s. Remember the sun tan cream.)