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The Lake District in July
What should I wear?
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Hi

off to the lake district at the end of July and need to refresh my walking gear which has been in use for the past 6 years!

SO, what should I be looking to get to replace my kit?

I already have the base layer sorted, but need some good recommendations for mid-layer and outer.

I have tried searching but there is so much proliferation of soft-shell/fleece/windstop/waterproof ..... etc that it is all too confusing.

I need help and this forum is the place to ask.

TIA

Mike
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Some of my kit has been in regular use for well into double figures of years... if you can identify the particular shortcomings you perceive with what you have then it will be easier to suggest improvements, but just being 6 years old actually isn't much of a problem in itself.

So, what do you have, and what don't you like about it?

Pete. 

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Well .......

Apart from an old berghaus jacket the rest of my walking gear is largely cotton based, tee shirt, thin fleece(unbranded) and an old pair of brasher boots (still comfy but little tread left).

So I guess my requirments are to have a gear selection that allows some versatility in weather/thermal protection for Lakeland walking.

Mike
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Okay, that's a fair candidate for tweaking.  If you're going to the Lakes then you've got about the best selection of stuff to try on as you'll fine anywhere in the UK, so for anything where fit makes a difference (and that's... most things, to be honest) I'd take advantage and get it while you're there.  You might lose a day, but you'll have stuff that you know works well on you for fit and you won't really get a good comparison of stuff shopping by web.

It might be possible to get the boots resoled.  Otherwise, if you liked them before you've got a good place to start with a replacement, so check out Brasher's wares again.

If the jacket doesn't leak then might as well stick with it, though over the last few years weights of waterproofs have come down and breathability has gone up. eVent is more bretahable than goretex, Gortex Proshell is more breathable than XCR.  But it may pay to spend your money on stuff where you'll get more than an incremental improvement (like your base layers, as you've already worked out).

You mention you've sorted the base layer... hope that applies to unerpants, as the difference between a good wicking pair of undies and the usual cotton fare we wear in "normal" life can be huge on a wet day.  I would say wicking undies are the most useful sing;e improvement in my gear I've made in the last  dozen years or so.  Another often overlooked thing that makes a big difference at relatively low cost is 1st class socks.  Many folk think £12 for socks seems ridiculous, but it'll typically make a bigger comfort difference than moving from a £100 waterproof to a £300 waterproof.

Fleece is pretty generic stuff.  Noname fleece isn't really a problem area as it will keep you warm and is easy to care for.  The more technical fleeces available are better, but well inside the laws of diminishing returns.

Soft shell is probably worth looking into as a way to spend money that gives a flexible outcome.  The idea is it will keep most of the clag out while being far nicer to live in most of the time than a full waterproof, though you'll still need a full waterproof for heavy and/or prolonged rain.  There's no shorthage of different garments or approaches with different points of compromise between full weatherproofing and maximum breathability.  They may or may not include insulation.  The Rab vapour Rise top is a popular light shelled fleece, which takes care of the midlayer and a soft outer layer in one, but of course you can't have one bit not the other...  The most cost effective approah is probably a pertex windshell to pull over your fleece.  The lightest are things like the Montane Featherlight are very minimalist but light and not too expensive, and pack away to almost nothing.   More elaborate ones like the Buffalo Windshirt are a bit more expensive, a little heavier and bulkier (yet still light and small in absolute terms) and give you things like vents and pockets which make them useful as general wear to a greater degree.

That any use for starters?

Pete. 

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Excellent summary and good advice, especially on the wicking pants!

Soft shell jacket with some weatherproof "ness" sounds like a good idea as does the windshell. How fragile is the Montane featherlight?

Thanks

Mike
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The featherlight is not nearly as fragile as you might think from looking at it.  I'd draw the line at serious abrasion against rocks on a regular basis, but I've fought my way trhough large tracts of gorse while orienteering and it's not been particularly bothered.  Mine is a few years old, gets regular use and isn't looking at all troubled by age.

The Buffalo windshirt is made of the same stuff and is similarly tougher than you'd think (extra weight from a big pouch pocket and two side vents).

Pete. 

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I have a Litespeed. Pretty much the same as the featherlite, but with a full zip and a hood.
To be honest I was sceptical about it despite the glowing reports I'd heard.
It got it's first real test on the Glyders this weekend. Dragged about a bit on rocks. Very strong wind, fine but persistent rain and pretty chilly for the end of June!

It performed really well with just a base layer underneath while moving. Topped it up with a micro fleece when stopped for a while. In fact for shorter days I'm very tempted to ditch the waterproof altogether. You get a lot of usability and versatility for not a lot of money, which is what it's all about

Like Peter said it probably wouldn't stand heavy abuse, but at that price you can pretty much afford to replace it once a year if your scrambling technique involves a lot of full body and rock contact like mine!
Edited: 30/06/08 19:20
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Thanks guys!

Appreciate the advice

Have now acquired a Montane featherlight which I will use over my old fleece until I get a new one while I am in the Lake District and updated my trekking underwear!!.

Will be sorting the boots out this weekend .... hopefully for a good price.

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Depending on how much you want to spend I've found that going into Millets and getting a peter storm micro fleece for £20 is a bargain buy, they are warm and light and to be honest I dont know what the difference is between more expensive makes on the rack. Also TK Max is worht a look if you are on a budget. They do craghoppers corey microfleeces. Again these make a good lightweight mid layer for summer use. You can also pick up craghoppers waterproofs in TKmax although their beach wear has taken over the store in my area.

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What not to wear Link!! or is that to wear????

...

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Somehow I don't think I will be walking in the fells quite like that!
Even in July.
DIDDY*THE TENT DEMON* wrote (see)

What not to wear Link!! or is that to wear????

...


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