Walking/Hiking clothes/boots

[whatever1980]

Doing some camping/hiking this year.

I'm vain and not athletic but not too overweight. I'll be out of my comfort zone so want some good quality kit that is also flattering is that possible?? Prepared to spend money on boots and coat (longline).

What should I get?

Boots? I saw Meghan's kamik boots but don't think they're hiking boots?

Trousers? Leggings (showerproof/fellow lined) seem to be in?

Coat? Want longline waterproof to cover bum and thighs

Please help!

Yes they’re own brand mountain warehouse. Bought with advice from the manager there but have already started leaking. To be fair I don’t look after them brilliantly, just put them near the radiator to dry out.
borntobequiet are yours leather? Mine are a fluffy snow boot type, very warm and comfortable until they leak.

I don't rate Acai, my sister in law and I both have some, her leggings bobbled straight away and they're not as waterproof as they claim to be.

I like my fjallraven leggings, they're very comfortable and are good quality. They have an area for the bottom and knees for protection. Rab make great jackets. Patagonia have great base layers. I'd recommend Mendil for hiking boots, you need to choose quality over style as grip makes a big difference on the hills. Osprey make the best bags, they have some designed for females. Have fun!

There are two Cotswold Outdoor stores in Belfast, the one at Boucher Road has a better range than the city centre one. I was there recently when visiting family in NI. The staff are really nice and they have a decent selection of stuff now - Fjallraven, Arc'teryx, Patagonia, Rab and Mountain Equipment. Decathlon, Go Outdoors and Mountain Warehouse have cheaper options depending on how much you want to spend.

I'm from NI but live in Canada and hike pretty much every weekend. Good boots/hiking shoes and socks are essential. I have Salomon and Zamberlan boots and Salomon, La Sportiva, Keen and ON shoes but it's important to try on to find what works best for your feet. Smartwool socks and Icebreaker base layers are pricy but well worth the money. Ditto Osprey backpacks, they last forever. You definitely don't want a long, heavy coat for hiking or hill walking, far too restrictive and hot. Lightweight layers in good quality technical fabrics are the way to go.

In summer I tend to wear lightweight hiking trousers or leggings (Fjallraven, Patagonia or Lululemon) and carry Gore-tex overtrousers in my backpack. On top I typically wear an Icebreaker t-shirt then an Arc'teryx Kyanite or Patagonia R1 as a mid layer. I take a lightweight, synthetically insulated jacket (better in damp/rain than down) in case of a cold start/changes in the weather or to put on if sitting down for a while etc. This is my favourite but Rab and Mountain Equipment also have some decent options:
arcteryx.com/cz/en/shop/womens/atom-lt-hoody

I always carry a Gore-tex shell jacket, spare pair of socks, warm hat and a pair of gloves in my pack just in case.

borntobequiet are yours leather?

No, they’re fabric - Gore-tex or similar. They were about £80 full price but I paid half. I bought them because they were comfortable, I have shortish stubby feet and find most walking boots too long and narrow as well as uncomfortably high at the ankle. I let them dry out on newspaper and then brush dry mud off with a stiff brush. I’ve never had wet feet when wearing them.

Walking and hiking are on my New Years list to do too and I've been looking for boots, etc. I've a pair of bogner boots for ice and snow I use when ski-ing, would these be ok for hiking/walking? They're lined so unsure if they'd be too hot.

I bought my first pair of walking boots and I can’t recommend them highly enough - they were like walking on air from the very first time I wore them. I love them so much!

www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/p/zamberlan-womens-frida-gtx-boot-B2124163.html

Wow! Brilliant thanks for all the suggestions! Very much appreciated!!

Boots - it's really a case of what fits your feet. I'd recommend going to a specialist shop.

Trousers - love my Craghoppers kiwi Pro, their short length is great for me. They dry quickly too. Also have Berghaus waterproof trousers that zip all up the side of the leg so you can get them on quickly when rain starts.

I tend to wear cheap wicking tshirts and a BAM long sleeved layer. Lots of people recommend merino but I sometimes struggle with it making me itch.

Rab down jacket - I really want to replace with the thinner one and I want the thin gilet too.

I love my montane waterproof for summer hikes. I need to get a new one for colder months as its not big enough to go over lots of layers - I've got my eye on a Ron Hill one.

Paramo are really good quality but pricey so they're also on my wish list.

@actiongirl1978

I wouldn't go longline coat. It wouldnbe like spending a day walking wearing a dress over trousers. You need something hip or even waist height.

I'm as vain as the next woman but I can't even walk the dog in longline coats as my legs are trapped otherwise.

Unless you are actually climbing and need to wear a harness a bum covering coat should be fine. I find it makes a huge difference to how warm I stay if my coat covers my bum.

A two way zip allows a bit more movement.

You get much wetter in a shorter coat too. I don't want to have to put waterproof trousers on unless it is vile, so I would rather my coat kept the worst of the weather off.

My Paramo Alta II is designed for mountaineering and covers my bum. I have never found it too long, even on graded scrambles but I don't do anything that requires ropes or harnesses. I have a mid thigh one too which is great for walking but could be a bit of a nuisance scrambling. My heavy weight goretex is also thigh length. My shorter jackets are strictly for summer or warmer climates.

I wouldn't walk in anything knee length or longer though.

Unless you are actually climbing and need to wear a harness a bum covering coat should be fine. I find it makes a huge difference to how warm I stay if my coat covers my bum
When people talking about long linecists I was picturing the knee length padded ones that's fashionable at the moment. I love mine for being in the city and bimbles but not wouldn't want one going across Sharp Edge!

@positivelife I have the thin down jacket. Despite DH's scepticism I was lovely and warm in -14 in Finland over Christmas along with the Craghoppers fleece lined trousers, a t-shirt and a thin fleece . He's gone out and bought one now.

@countrygirl99 and just after posting I gave in and ordered one and the gilet

Now if only I could find the paramo smock I want in stock anywhere (apparently its likely to be April before the next batch is sent to retailers)

[quote PositiveLife]@countrygirl99 and just after posting I gave in and ordered one and the gilet

Now if only I could find the paramo smock I want in stock anywhere (apparently its likely to be April before the next batch is sent to retailers)[/quote]
Have you tried ordering from Paramo direct? Either their website or their eBay stores? They often have stuff that never gets to the stores.

Scarpa are decent boots if you want to do a lot of hiking. They’ll suit both country walks and hills!

Natalia

@notacooldad

Unless you are actually climbing and need to wear a harness a bum covering coat should be fine. I find it makes a huge difference to how warm I stay if my coat covers my bum When people talking about long linecists I was picturing the knee length padded ones that's fashionable at the moment. I love mine for being in the city and bimbles but not wouldn't want one going across Sharp Edge!

That was why I was trying to give examples. I think some people were at cross purposes.

A knee length puffa or a stockman's style coat would be awful but a coat that covers your bum is invaluable!

Lots of people will tell you what their “best boots” are. Bear in mind that there are many brands of good walking boots, and manufacturer makes a few styles, with different types of walking in mind, but the “best boots” are the ones that fit you best. A good boot fitter will find those which suit your feet best, and use lacing patterns and insoles to get the best fit for you.

OP, do travel to a good outdoor shop to get boots fitted. I promise no journey is too long when it comes to getting your boots fitted, uncomfortable feet will make you utterly miserable.

Good walking boots will last years with a bit of care, my first pair of Meindl boots lasted about 15 years of regular use before I bought a new pair but they are still wearable.

The best pair will depend upon the shape of your feet, I love my Meindl boots but Scarpa and Altberg are great too, (I would love a pair of Altbergs). Brasher aren't quite as long lasting quality but are still good boots and are easier to break in. If you are sticking to trails or more straightforward walks a pair of Merrell or Solomon trainers would do the job and fitting is a bit less crucial as they are softer.

Someone earlier on mentioned the Craghopper Kiwi pro trousers - they're currently 1/2 price on the Blacks website., along with a really good selection of other trousers. I've just bought some, and I look forward to testing them. I got very wet walking between Christmas and NY when wearing jeans, and this spurred me on to getting something more comfortable. I also bought some Nikewax to re-waterproof my Mountain Warehouse boots which have started letting in water. Here's hoping!

I bought a longish waterproof Didriksons coat after seeing the brand recommended on MN. Bought from Go Outdoors. Cost me £200 - between sales - but worth every penny. Definitely waterproof and I find jackets just leave me with a wet bum. (I have a long back.)

A knee length puffa or a stockman's style coat would be awful but a coat that covers your bum is invaluable!
Too true!! A coat that is a little longer cut not only keeps your bum warm but also hidden (which exactly what my arse needs to be!)

My DH loves Craghopper walking keks. I find them too short in the leg tbh, but they seem comfy and unrippable!

Decathlon do have some really good stuff and it's a lot more affordable than the fancy outdoor shops. I used to get my boots from the "proper" shops, but now have some Decathlon boots I really rate, for half the price and also a lot lighter than the ones I had before! They also do some really nice bootcut women's (and kids') walking trousers that actually look quite stylish(!) but are good to walk in too. It's especially good if you're not sure how much walking you'll do after this, so don't want to spend a fortune and maybe don't need things to be as hard-wearing as if you would be out every weekend.

My other tip though is don't think that you need every item to be special walking/hiking stuff. Yes you'll need decent boots, suitable socks (don't forget these!!) and waterproofs etc, but for other layers I tend to just wear my running tops/ski base layers or similar (depending on the weather obviously!) rather than buying a whole load of different ones for walking - if they are comfortable and sweat-wicking for those activities they're usually good for walking too.

For camping you will probably want a lot more warmth than for hiking, as you're not exercising and will be there in the evenings when it gets colder - so for that you may well want a longer coat and might want to look at down jackets if you can afford it, and definitely a warm hat. I hate being cold camping!!

Going against the grain a bit here, but I hate walking in walking boots as they're so heavy, inflexible and clompy compared to a fell running shoe. Worth trying on a tail shoe, OP, like the inov8 Roclite, and see how you get on.

@fellrunner85

Going against the grain a bit here, but I hate walking in walking boots as they're so heavy, inflexible and clompy compared to a fell running shoe. Worth trying on a tail shoe, OP, like the inov8 Roclite, and see how you get on.

I agree, i only use boots in snow, trail running shoes the rest of the time. I am thinking of investing in some waterproof socks. Even when out in the Alps i used trail shoes up to the hut and then boot with crampons onwards.

I agree it's worth getting good boots and a waterproof, and you need to get boots that fit you. I prefer walking shoes to boots (and I have
history of ankle injures.) A good shop should have a small ramp to try them with. Remember feet will swell over a day of walking, so you don't want them too tight. Also one foot may be slightly larger than the other.

A lot of the online stories have buying guides on their website and tell you what to look out for when you are getting new boots etc. It's worth looking at those before you get to an actual shop.