Where do you buy winter outdoor wear? Is Mountain Wearhouse good?

[UntilYourNextHairBrainedScheme]

Is stuff from Mountain Wearhouse any good? Looking for properly waterproof and breathable, non sweaty winter jacket for longer walks, plus maybe hiking trousers and layers. Every coat I buy isn't properly waterproof or is sweaty so I end up soaked anyway!

I buy my outdoor stuff from Tiso as they have a great selection of very good brands at a variety of price points.

I’d second sport pursuit - I get loads of running kit from there. Some really good bargains to be had.

I've gone for a sale price Burghaus for now, but am coveting several things from the Rohan site!

@AWiseWomanOnceSaidFuckThisShit

Can I ask - is a North Face jacket worth the expense? They are so expensive!

I 100% swear by mine. I have the 3 way jacket and a couple down gilets (my first one has been relegated to dog walking after 8 years)

I have a north face lightweight waterproof and 2 seperate Helly Hansen jackets (1 is shorter and for land use (for me), the other goes over my hips so i use that on various boats - where I can get pretty wet on the outside!). Both HH work well even in very wet conditions. North face is generally good but I haven’t put it under so much pressure.

I wash and re-waterproof my coats every year (or more often if needed). (And my Isle Jacobsen long trench for commuting by train and standing on a very open platform by the seafront).

I'm very happy with my Jack Wolfskin jacket, and have had North Face, also good. I got a cagoule from Go Outdoors branded Dare2b which is v satisfactory - it's quite substantial so provides some warmth over a fleece, too. I don't rate Mountains Warehouse other than for cheap fleeces and t-shirts.

You should look at the waterproof and breathability ratings on the coats.

adventurebagging.co.uk/technical-clothing-metrics-ratings/

If you are really looking for something super waterproof you need no less than 20,000mm. I have coats for all conditions and activities because I camp and walk all year round but anything less than 20,000 will eventually get wet in a downpour. I'm in Scotland so there's plenty of rain. As a PP said Sportpursuit have some great offers on outdoor gear

I've just looked at Berghaus and that's realistic - I've never had anything from them although I live in Germany!

Despite the name, I'm pretty sure it's a U.K. company originating in the NE of England.
It's what I usually seem to get for waterproofs, fleeces and walking boots, often after trying on other more expensive brands.

Craghoppers for walking trousers.
Hawkshead sometimes.

MW is fine for t-shirts, shorts and base layers, and for kids stuff. I do do buy quite bit from them but not the main items.

I have a wonderful Paramo waterproof. It’s more than 10 years old but they still make the same model now.

I'm on my 2nd Berghaus in 21 years, bought it in the sale this year. Mine I can button in the fleecey gilet I got with the previous waterproof jacket for winter.

I've not had a North Face waterproof, but am currently wearing my beloved North Face promaloft coat which must be about 13 years old now, it's been to Mongolia twice. The cuffs are quietly begining to wear but not obviously, and it's so snuggly and comfortable that it often stays on long after I enter the house. It's had a LOT of hours of wear!

I have 2 mountain warehouse waterproof coats and both are excellent and still in new vindication after 3 years. I live in the west of Scotland where it tips down a lot.

I wanted to return to this thread to ask about shoes, as it sounds as though you all know what you're talking about!

I have my Berghaus coat now so annoyingly the weather is beautiful but my feet and ankle are hurting today after a long walk yesterday - I had to cut my walk short today because of pain.

I'm going shoe shopping this afternoon - any suggestions for good all purpose, all weather walking shoes? What are your favourite brands? I don't have hiking boots, I usually just walk in good trainers. I think the problem comes when they're getting worn down, as these have been fine for 6 months. I have wide feet and a not brilliant gait (my shoes wear unevenly) so would like more supportive walking shoes - something between trainers and hiking boots.

Any recommendations?

I have a pair of MW hiking boots for actual hikes, but a pair of North Face hiking shoes for less strenuous activity, and north Face runners as more everyday wear. (The runners have proven surprisingly good!! I had wanted a decent pair but all the actual sports ones were way too fashionable rather than functional).

If your shoes wear unevenly, try a pair of insoles in them - so that your feet are spread more evenly across the shoe and don't wear so much on one side or the other - you might need advice the first time to know what type to look for, but then should be able to get OTC types once they need replacement. (I have similar issues).

But that said, I don't have insoles in any of my current shoes (I need to take my own advice again) - my Ecco flat leather shoes for work have worn badly but the NF runners and hiking shoes have both been great - runners are over a year old and worn a LOT, shoes are 4 years old now and had been worn a lot before I got the NF runners, and still get reasonable use.

NF runners are very like these

These seem to be the current equivalent of my hiking shoes.

Thank you BiddyPop that's really helpful, will look!

I actually had my feet scanned and insoles made about ten years ago but they hurt and I never got used to them and stopped using them... wonder where they got to...

Columbia is good, I have some berghaus that I think is older than Christianity, I don’t know if you bought it now the quality would be as good but my god the stuff I have has lasted!
North face if you can stretch to it is really good too

I find Decathlon own brand generally good quality/value too but haven’t tried their waterproofs- thanks for the recommendation

I bought these: failed to act on recommendation but tried several things on and when I had these laced up my aching foot and ankle stopped hurting and felt supported. They're CMP - never heard of the brand before but apparently they're waterproof and breathable... Anyway they're really comfortable!

I walk a lot - doing the Wainwrights at the moment and trek in Nepal regularly. The trick is to layer - base layer then warm layer then waterproof - if you’re going to be out for a while. Am perimenopausal so layering is essential for me! I rate Montane and Rab for warmth and Patagonia and Berghaus for waterproofs.

Footwear - La Sportiva Goretex boots for my hardcore stuff and also for quick dry walks with my La Sportiva trail shoes. For longer dry stuff I really rate Salomon (who now do Goretex boots which I am going to try) and Columbia.

I tend to get my stuff either at George Fisher in the Lakes or online or in store at Cotswold Outdoor. Cotswolds always have decent sale stuff online all year through, and for the full price stuff I get 15% off for being a member of Cycling UK and also the same as a member of the British Mountaineering Council. Every man and his dog can get discounts at Cotswolds - teachers, union members, blue light workers, mountain leaders, scout and guide leaders etc - so look into this too.

Oh we used to get ds1 Salomon shoes for school (no school uniform) as they were the only ones he didn't destroy in under a week! I bought him Clarkes shoes to start school in and they lasted 3 days! It was football on wet grass twice a day that destroyed them I think. Worked out of was cheaper to buy a pair of expensive Salomon hiking trainers each time he went up a size than a new pair of any other brand weekly!

I have weird feet so absolutely have to try shoes on in person, but I like recommendations to know what might be good in use not just what fits... I hope I'm not going to regret today's purchase, I tried a few better known brands first but didn't find a good all around fit until the CMP ones in the photo.