" yes we're all individuals ".............


sorry came over all monty python :)

I'm not!

;-)

talking of technology, there are now jackets with their own battery operated heat system. I wonder how manyfolk will actually wear one on the hill? Just imagine the coriners report. "Said individual died of hypothermia, due to the fact his central heated jacket failed at a critical time.Re his batteries failed due to low temperatures. As this individual relied almost totally on his afore mentioned jacket as his main heat source, thus death by misadventure. He failed to carry spare batteries" ????????

actually, I have worn ventile, wool etc. Ok, that may date me a tad. Nothing wrong with that,early climbing history dates back to a period when Norfolk jackets, woollen britches etc where the norm on the hill. The layering system was alive and well even in those days, re string vest, woolen shirt, woolly pullovers and so on. Technology has moved on light years since then. However, what suits one person may be anathema to another. You wear what you are comfortable with. Probably most of us would admit that at one time or another we have purchased some fancy high tech garment because Joe Bloggs wore it on his latest expedition to the blue planet or wherever and strongly reccomends it. Unfortunately it was not sutable for our personal need and now lies at the bottom of a drawer along with many other similar items. In summer I may wear a travel skirt to potter around the camp site, other women may well choose to stick to shorts or trousers. It is a case of personal choice. We are indeed all individuals, with our own foibles and ways and dress codes.

I'm an individual, and I'd just like to pop in to this thread and disagree with myself.

Good work on the P***** thread though, most exciting one for a while!

Dawn, your post reminded me of a chapter in a book I found in my parents' loft.

On socks:
"the colour of these items may be important, and recently I have started to wear red because in case of accident this colour can be seen from a great distance ....... some readers may smirk at this, but it is a factor that if adopted universally ould recude the unhappy toll of our hills"

On clothing:
The author suggests string vests, shetland wool pullovers, and a closely woven cotton (ventile?) "alpine jacket"

On headwear:
"the feathered velour Austrian hat is seldom seen nowadays"
Thank goodness LOL!!

oops, in first para, last line should be "could preclude"

Mr Poucher (it was him) also favoured the use of Yardley foundation cream and lipstick to ward off the effect of cold weather.

Thank God Paramo don't make cosmetics.

I like to wear red socks in a jolly rambler sort of a way, dont know why it just makes me smile :)

Yes indeed Marcus, Mr Poucher it is :)
Fascinating book - was being thrown out by my parents until I rescued it!

At last some sense being written about what we wear and why we wear it .

I chose the clothing I use as it met certain requirements I needed from my clothing for the walking I proposed to do. These requirements were based of my own experiences, talking to others, reading sites such as this and being baffled by shop assistants, a few of whom seemed to think grey hair meant no brain, but that’s another whinge. Cost was also a large part of the choice process. The clothing I wear and carry when walking mean that I can have a comfortable and safe walk in a variety of locations and weather conditions.

I suspect most of us would have selected our clothing by a similar process and update it as and when necessary.

We should respect people who wear P****** but envy their disposable income.

Only joking.

I agree wholeheartedly with C.Alexanders post, but would like to know how come it took him six months to walk the SDW.

I used to have disposable income but I spent it all on Paramo

Just had to mention that this thread also proves how hard a job Chris and Graham have testing gear for us as we all have different requirements.

But most things they rate top or recommended I usually go for after trying them on myself and there more often than not spot on. But it must be hard for them to make these decisions sometimes knowing that there opinion may not be the same many other walkers due to our differently functioning bodies.

and there was a period of time when those great, macho climbing heroes wore tights, with the feet cut off, as a base layer in cold, winter conditions.



Paramo cosmetics??? Now there is a thought, storm proof foundation, nail varnish that will not disintegrate on that interesting bit of scrambling. Some fetching lippy for that perfect day out on the hill????

"feathered velour Austrian hat" have i got to get me one of those. it may even make my tilley look smart. or me less like a lamp standard.
but i wonder what i would look like?

capt!!!! where can i get one?

gotta use this disposable income somehow.

I'm imagining a Robin Hood style thing!

We have one - but nephew now has it....
You need to go to Austria, Parky. It looks like the hat worn by Chris Plummer in the Sound of Music but in green....

I wear whatever works for Me according to the conditions and the nature of my activity.

I would never wear an Austrian Alpine hat. In summer and mild weather I have a rather fetching South African bush hat complete with croccodile teeth. It's amazing how many people this annoys.

"I would never wear an Austrian Alpine hat." - but when you live in Austria it's de rigeur for small boys at the hands of their grandparents / Aunts / Uncles....

> capt!!!! where can i get one?

I'm not quite sure what he means by a 'feathered velour Austrian hat', but the thing that comes to mind is the traditional German/Autrian alpine hat, from felted wool, that features as part of traditional Bavarian dress (along with the Lederhosen, etc). So, I'd suggest one of the tourist shops in Munich (sadly, you're too late for this year's Oktoberfest, which occurs at the end of September, just to confuse things), or around the Eiger.

And I wouldn't get one of these. Not echt.

ps. don't get one of the Festhuette; the big, grey felt 'wizard hats'. Not even if you've drunk four litres of Bier and four large Schnapps...