Pinkeyes said:
I think that sort of thing would be useful for everyone in this thread.
Beyond packing some waterproofs and lots of water I tend to forget most things. Do you have an essentials checklist or something ?
Depends where your going and how long your going for.
Since I go mostly in UK, I have two pairs of walking boots.
Summer and Winter.
Winter ones are Meindl Borneo Pros, nuback leather heavy but with a lining sock (cool max) and boot sock (Bridgedale thermals) are great. Subsequently 1000 mile socks are just as good but slightly thinner so make sure you try winter books on with a lining and thermal sock on (to accomodate size) as your feet swell in the afternoon.
Summer ones I have a pair of Brasher Gortex-Superlites, great lightweight boot and I use them for walking to work, very comfty and snug. Neither boot enabled my feet to develop blisters infact my theory ( and it works in practice) is a good wicking base layer sock will prevent blisters untill your feet harder up well.
As for kit, if I am walking at night I do late night walks into 3am over hills and that near where I live so I pack two torches, a pretzl tika-xp led torch and a hand torch (wind up led one from america which is also led) Reason for this is emergencies. Normally I walk in familiar terrain (that is hills) but take alternate routes. A map is also ideal (obviously) and if want to plot your route at home a standard GPS will do, no need for a fancy £500 one thats just pants and rubbish as its battery life you want and number of satelites it can connect to (12-16 iirc is good).
I wear wicking pants hate chafing on my bum and also pair of craghoppers kiwi trousers, they are light and fairly warm. I wear a techie tee base layer which sucks off the sweat and keeps me dry followed by a fleece, whether armless fleece (berghaus) or a Rab micro lite fleece. Bag wise I carry a 20L Low Alpine bag. With walking stick pockets (I have a dodgey right knee so sometimes I take a stick (carbonite). Food is important I carry two lots of water sometimes. A Stig bottle of water, stays cool and is good for when I stop and also a flexi bag (platypus) hydration bag for on the move with anaconda drinking straw. Good for moderating water intake but bad as you never quite know how much you have left. Also I carry a whistle in case of the inevitable, spair laces incase they snap and a small first aid kit.
Urm think I got everything...can't remember..
Oooo coat wise I carry a Sprayway Tollian coat, mainly used in winter big moutnain coat very comfty, bit nosey though.
