Equipment 1

Equipment can be a thorny issue and everyone will have their own ideas on what to take, what make to buy and what works the best. All I can say is that Ian and I do not have identical equipment (we never have done). We have bought what we think suites us as an individual. It is really down to cost and personal preference as to whether you want to walk along looking like the latest out of the London fashion show or whether you are more practical and would want to wear something that works well. By the way just because it costs a lot of money doesn't mean it’s the best! But there again you get what you pay for! The previous post listed equipment that you should consider, this and subsequent posts will explore the items in more depth.

When it comes to equipment there is a vast range out there and choosing can be very difficult. The following blurb is not an endorsement of a particular product but just an idea of what I have used over the years. My first rucksack was a Karrimor with an aluminium frame on the outside (groan). I was immensely proud of this because a. it was a Karrimor and b. because the frame was aluminium and not steel! Technology has moved on since and I purchased a Karrimor Jaguar Supercool 65+15 litres (for my son at the time who was trailing out for a trip to Peru). Internal frame, lightweight, strong, lots of straps and pockets/compartments. This was great for the Pennine Way with all the camping kit we (I) had to carry. For the Weekly long JOGLE walks I have switched to a Vango Sherpa 65 Litre. I didn’t need the extra room for camping gear and it came with a built in bright orange rain cover along and a whistle built into the chest strap. It has space and outlets for a water bladder and a fully adjustable frame for height. It also comes with the usual amount of pockets, compartments and straps. As an aside Ian uses a Berghaus and is very happy with it.

The tent was decided upon after a lot of research and we went for the Vango Spirit 200+ best value for money against size and weight. The first time we used it was in April in a snow storm on a camp site in Crowden, it served us well. There is plenty of room for two adults and a large alcove for storing kit and cooking in if necessary. We used the tent for a second time on the Cheviots at Davidson’s Linn. Since the Pennine Way we have abandoned the idea of camping purely because of the extra weight one has to carry and to be honest, there is nothing better than a warm welcoming B&B with all the facilities.

Now it looks as though I heavily favour Vango. It has to be said that you can’t go far wrong with their kit. I have used one of their Force Ten tents on Dartmoor for the Ten Tors and a winters “Yomp” with the Army also on Dartmoor many years ago and it didn’t let us down.

I use a Softie 10 for sleeping in, very light and very warm and compresses down to a very compact size (a season three bag). The trick with sleeping bags is to store them when not in use outside the compression sack. That way the fibres do not become crushed and the sleeping bag stays aired and doesn’t get mouldy. From a personal point of view I would use a season three bag for seasons one and two, because in this country it still gets cold at night no matter how hot during the day it is. A bivi bag is useful and can double up as a survival bag if you want to go camping without the tent. My original Pennine Way plan was to walk until dark and then sleep out using the bivi bag. Setting off at first light, the idea being that I could stop off every now and then at a Hotel for freshening up and meals – have to say I’m glad I didn’t.

I have purchased two pairs of walking boots, both were Salomon’s. I didn’t like the first pair as they lacked a curved dip by the Achilles tendon and to the front of the ankle. The subsequent restriction of movement for the ankle led to poor circulation and caused severe shin splints. The sole on the boot wasn’t too clever and I lost total confidence in the ability to grip on wet surfaces, having slid down a grassy slope and twisted my knee and also slipping on wet rocks. The second pair I bought (MTREX 6 Light GTX) is much better with a good shape around the ankle, a good grip on the sole and ultra-light. There is a shop in Richmond, North Yorks that makes boots to measure and comes highly recommended, the name escapes me right now.

Blisters are always a problem for walkers. I take the position that if you can avoid them then do so. The key is clearly well broken in boots and seamless socks but more importantly is to reduce friction areas. Firstly hardened your feet up by bathing them in methylated spirit several weeks before you go )a good tip for divers to harden up the out ear canal. Avoid taping the feet as the edges if on pressure areas will lead to blisters along the tapes edge. To avoid friction (rubbing of skin on socks and boots) you need to stick the sock to your foot. I use a compound called Tincture of Benzoin. Apply the substance all over the foot and in between the toes and whilst still wet apply the sock. The first sock is then stuck to the foot and won’t rub or crease up. The second sock will then rub against the first sock and boot and the friction created is not next to the skin. The drawback is that your foot does go yellow and you do have to peel the sock off at the end of the day, a minor inconvenience compared to walking with blisters all day. There is a warning with this stuff, do not apply to broken skin as it really hurts – however if you do apply it to an open blister (after you get over the shock) you’ll find that the blister will heal and dry very nicely – but it is not recommended.

Clothing layers are very important. The recommendation is that you start with a base layer (1st Layer) – usually a long or short sleeve top with good wicking properties that removes perspiration from your body and keeps you dry. Helly Hanson “Dry” is pretty good at this; they also do long johns should you be walking in colder climates. The mid layer (2nd Layer) should be something that keeps you warm and allows air to circulate, I use a Paramo Parameta Reversible Explorer Pull On and the top layer (3rd Layer) should be a total protective against the elements. I use a Paramo Men’s Alta II jacket, fantastic all round weather protection, a drawback is that wicking away moisture is not so clever, but it dries out very quickly. For trousers the Paramo Cascada trousers are good, with unrestricted leg movement, rapid temperature adjustment, in fact an all-round versatile garment. I wore these trousers in temperatures ranging 0-30o C and felt comfortable in them all day long (never too hot or too cold) and more importantly I didn’t get bitten by anything! You could wear a base layer under these trousers but it isn’t really worth it.