If you're just starting off in the outdoors, don't get the idea
that you have to have the latest, most technologically advanced high
spec' wonder clothing to have a good time. A good day scrambling on
Snowdon is a good day scrambling on Snowdon regardless of whether
you're wearing a pair of 100-quid trousers or a 20-quid pair.
Of course, good kit can make you more comfortable and in extreme
conditions may even be safer, but you really don't need to spend
thousands, especially when you're starting off. In the first of a new
Beginners' Basics series, we'll help you decide where you
should spend slightly more and what to look out for in different
areas of your (ahem) clothing system.
There's a load more useful information on different kit on the
site, check the articles linked to at the bottom of this one for
specific advice and buyer's guides on different bits of kit and
clothing.
The Layering System
You'll
probably hear a lot of people banging on about something called the
layering system. Here's how it works in theory - you have three
layers of clothing.
- Base layer which sits next to the skin and is designed
to transport moisture - sweat really - away from the skin and keep
you dry and comfortable.
- Mid layer which is usually fleece and designed to trap
warm air and keep you warm by holding that air and minimising heat
loss.
- Shell layer that's waterproof and / or windproof and
sits on top of the other two layers in wet or windy conditions and
protects you and the other layers from getting soaked and losing
heat when the warmed air from your body is blown away. It also
needs to be breathable or you'll get soaked from the inside out by
your own sweat - nice...
All well and good, the next bit is that the layering system
theoretically allows you to control your temperature by adding or
shedding layers - just wearing an outer shell layer over a baselayer
for example if it's mild and wet, or using a thicker mid layer if
it's really cold. In reality, struggling to remove clothes in a
raging gale doesn't really appeal, so it often remains just that, a
theory...
Baselayer Stuff
A
lot of beginners and, surprisingly, more experienced walkers, use
cotton tee-shirts. Don't bother, for any of your other kit to work
properly, you need a wicking baselayer, either synthetic or possibly
made from fine merino wool. Cotton will just hold sweat like an old
flannel and leave you wet and cold.
You don't have to spend the earth either, baselayers from the
likes of Regatta and Field and Trek's own brand perform really well
and at half the price of more expensive kit, the Berghaus Tech Tee is
a decent intermediate step. The top end stuff will work slightly
better, but the main point is not to wear cotton.
We like long-sleeved, zip-necked tops with collars because they
provide some protection from sun - particularly at the back of the
neck - but also allow a little ventilation at the next as well.
Buyer's Tip A close fit will work better by contacting the
skin and wicking moisture away more effectively.
Midlayer Stuff
Fleece
is the classic insulation layer and the good news is that there's
very little difference in performance between budget fleece and
expensive branded fleece. The branded Polartec stuff may last a
little longer and look sharper, but both will happily trap warm air
and keep you snug. Even Polartec - the original Malden Mills fleece -
is coming down in price. Later this year, Regatta wil be introducing
Polartec fleeces at sub £40 prices.
Fleece is a good choice as it wicks okay, dries fast and traps air
to keep you warm. A zipped jacket design is most versatile as you can
open the entire front to cool down. The big choice for most users is
which weight to go for.
- Microfleece or 100-weight fleece is a thin, lightweight
fleece that's great for active use, particularly if you run hot.
It's also light and easy to carry.
- Midweight fleece usually 200-weight fleece, it's the
standard weight and quite warm, too warm for a lot of people when
they're actually moving. Good for stops though or if you run on
the cool side.
- Heavyweight fleece usually 300-weight fleece, is very
thick and very warm. Too warm for most people to actually walk in,
though great for slumming around campsites in winter. As a
beginner, we'd simply ignore this option.
Buyer's Tip Don't get hung up on labels if you're on a
tight budget, instead think about thickness and how warm you run. A
neater fit will, again, be more efficient.
Waterproof Jackets
Do what it says on the box - keep water out. Just as important
though is breathability - without it, the sweat you produce when
moving will simply soak you from the inside out. The bad news is that
even very expensive, high tech breathables will still have trouble
coping with sweat and heat output once you're moving. The very best
are Gore's Paclite and eVENT, but neither are cheap.
The
economy brands like Regatta, Wynnster and Gelert, now produce very
reasonably priced designs that aren't as breathable or as 'designed'
as more expensive kit, but should still keep you dry from the
outside.
Look for a waterproof guarantee, but also pay attention to the
hood design - you want a hood that you can adjust to a close fit and
will protect your neck and the lower part of your face in foul
weather. You should also look for a stiff or wired peak that will
stand up to strong winds and stop water from dripping down into your
eyes.
Don't worry about cunning ventilation features like arm-pit zips -
you can always just open the main zip if you get hot. Oh, and don't
bother with the interactive zips that let you zip a fleece into the
jacket as a liner. Fine around town, but they leave a big cold spot
right down your front, which isn't such a good idea.
Buyer's Tip Lightweight waterproofs are great for summer
use when they will be carried a lot of the time, don't expect them to
last as long as heavier weight fabrics though.
Trousers
A bit like baselayers, your prime objective should be to avoid
wearing jeans - here's why, thick cotton fabric like denim may be
comfortable when dry, but once it gets wet, the material soaks up
water and sticks to your legs like chewing gum to a dog. That's not
only uncomfortable, it can be dangerous as well since the wet fabric
will transmit your body heat outwards and make you very cold, very
quickly.
Better
options are either Ronhill-type tracksuit or running bottoms or a
pair of light ply-cotton or other synthetic cargo pants or similar.
Both will be far more comfortable when wet and will dry much, much
more quickly as well. For a real bargain basement option, look for
Army surplus 'lightweight' trousers, which are made from a thin
cotton.
Tracksuit trousers are more flexible and stretchy, while cargo
pant-type legwear has greater wind resistance, fits more loosely and
comfortably in warmer weather and gives you handy pocket options. If
you're feeling flush, the best legwear fabric for all but hot weather
use is Schoeller fabric or similar - it's water and wind resistant,
stretchy and tough, but expensive.
Buyer's Tip Zip-off variants look like a great idea, but
it's hard to engineer the zipped interface for comfort, so try very
carefully before sploshing the dosh. The zips have a tendency to rub
uncomfortably against your delicate skin.
Windproof Tops
On
days when it's dry but blowy or even damp, but not really raining and
blowy, a basic windproof top is a good substitute for a full
waterproof jacket. Most windproof fabrics are more breathable than
waterproofs, so you're getting protection from the wind, but in a
less sweaty package. A lightweight Pertex top, for example, will pack
really small, think tennis-ball sized, but stiff offer great
protection against wind. Well worth thinking about, though you should
always buy a waterproof shell first.
Buyer's Tip Small and light is the way to go, that way you
can pack it away without worrying about the extra bulk and pull it
out for stops and when it gets blowy.
Softshell
Softshell
is the latest buzzword in outdoors gear. Effectively the kit is an
alternative to a waterproof shell layer which is windproof and highly
water resistant and more breathable than pure waterproof shell
clothing. The idea is that you can wear it in any conditions short of
a full deluge and benefit from increased breathability. The snag is
that it's very expensive, comes in a lot of confusingly different
fabrics with varied qualities and doesn't suit everyone.
Our advice is to give it a miss for now and think about it later
when you have a better idea of what works for you.
Buyer's Tip Hold fire till you have more experience or win
the lottery...
Hats and Gloves
You
can lose a lot of heat through your head in winter and suffer badly
from overheating in summer. We'd suggest a fleece hat or beanie for
winter use - the caps with waterproof shells seem good, but in our
experience are too warm for most people, a windproof, thin fleece
beenie works brilliantly and can be supplemented with a hood when
things get wild.
In summer look for a hat which has either a wide brim and or a
peak and neck flap for basic protection from the sun. Light colours
work best.
Buyer's Tip Shelled mountain caps are generally too warm
but also cover the ears so it's nigh on impossible to understand what
anyone says to you.
Footwear and Socks
We'll
cover boots in another article, but it's worth spending a little
extra to get your footwear right - sore, blistered feet will ruin
your day, so don't economise here.
The same is true of socks. Modern walking socks are very effective
and use wicking fabrics and padded construction to maximise comfort.
You shouldn't need more than one pair of socks, forget the old days
when a liner and wool sock were normally worn. Brands to watch out
for include Smartwool, Bridgedale, Brasher, ThorLo and X-Socks, all
of whom make a mean walking sock.
Buyer's Tip It's worth investing in good socks and boots -
a shonky jacket may be irritating, but a badly fitting boot will be
misery all day and beyond. Good socks will also help you prevent
blisters and are worth the investment.
On A Budget?
Don't
panic if you're on a tight budget. It's worth spending on good boots
- see our boot buyer's guide linked below - but it's perfectly
possible to get serviceable kit at decent prices. Try shops like
Marks and Spencer and supermarkets for alternatives to outdoors
specific baselayers and fleeces, plus there are often bargains to be
had in outdoor shops at sale time - check out the OM shopping
partners on the top left of this page for web buying.
Finally, don't forget the OM
Classified section where you can browse sellers' ads and post
your own 'wanted' ads.
Buyer's Tip Buying clothing online can work well, but try
to check sizing guides before buying. We'd be wary of buying boots
online unless you're already familiar with the particular fit of the
brand you're buying - it's not worth getting it wrong.
More
Help and Advice
Hopefully this article will have given you some basic pointers.
The good news is that there's a load more advice on
OUTDOORSmagic:
- Ask on the gear
forum about general issues or specific items.
- Check the member
reviews section for user experiences of kit.
- See OM editorial reviews on the front of the site for our
impressions.
- Ask
Richard Gear if you have a specific question you need
answering.
Ron Graves
