A Guide to Hill Waking Gear and Accessories
Whether you are following the latest trend of the `stay-cation` or simply want to take up hill waking to improve your fitness levels, for pleasure or to expand your social life - you will find yourself spoilt for choice when it comes to hill walking trails, trips and treks within the UK. Choose from the Pennine Way, the Peak District, the Munroe`s, the South Downs Way or even a local trail to get you started and you will find yourself stunned by the breathtaking scenery and the engaging wildlife the UK has to offer.
However, before you lace up your old trainers and set off with nothing more than a stick of chewing gum and a Visa Electron card, be aware that hill walking has certain equipment requirements, which include hill walking gear, clothing and accessories. By taking heed of some simple tips and advice you can ensure that your hill walking experience does not leave you with blisters on your toes, lost in the wilderness and eyeing up a wild rabbit for your dinner!
Your body is your tool when you hill walk, so you must protect it at all costs. Wear the correct equipment and spare no expense whenever possible. Choose hill walking clothing, gear and accessories from brands that specialise in outdoor equipment. Icebreaker, the North Face, Berghaus – top outdoor clothing companies that have developed their design and clothing technology to be body responsive and allow you to achieve your maximum output with minimum compromise on comfort.
Dress for outdoor hill walking in layers. Your base layers should be close to the skin and be designed to wick sweat away, ensuring less irritation and reducing chances of friction and rubbing. Outdoor clothing should be breathable but durable. Gore Tex technology allows material respond to your body whilst maintaining weatherproofing. A lightweight waterproof jacket is essential for hillwalking and is ideal if you are layering your clothing. As you can regulate your body temperature, removing /adding layers as required and adjust to your surrounding environment.
Specially designed Hillwalking shoes and socks are essential, as you do not want to risk damage to your feet. Have hillwalking shoes fitted correctly, a top tip to remember is to allow room for inevitable foot expansion from the pressure of waking for long periods. Again, to ensure quality, choose trusted brands such as Targhee and Merrell Siren.
Bring along essential gear such as a first aid kits, map or GPS, mobile phone, water (including sterilisation straws or tablets) and high energy calorie dense snacks, such as chocolate or nuts. Always tell someone what route you will be taking and when you expect to returns from your trip.
Do not discount hill walking and outdoor sports underwear! Companies such as http://www.webtogs.co.uk/Icebreaker Icebreaker in the UK do an extensive range of aesthetically pleasing underwear specifically designed for exerting activities. Remember, chafing is never fun, especially if you are three hours walk from camp!
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Neil Feltham |