Any keen walkers out there?

[JonB]

Hey. I've just aged myself yet another ten years (I must have the mental age of a 60 year old surely now) and have taken up walking off road, surprisingly Shell has taken to the idea well as well so finally an active hobby that we can both enjoy! Anyway the on Saturday we looked on the internet for recommended walks in Warwickshire and found an easy 8 mile walk starting from Henley in Arden across the hills to the East and an easy walk alongside the Stratford Upon Avon canal towpath, with some smartie cakes and coffee halfway through.

We enjoyed it thoroughly, however the lack of light meant we had to briskly walk back to my car so we didn't get stuck in a field in complete darkness with no torch, so we know to be better prepared next time around!

Anyway main problems were that we walked in our running shoes. My nice White Asics were promptly covered in a brown mud, so I stuck em in the washing machine. Shell and I ventured to the Go Outdoors store in Coventry and bought some proper walking shoes, some gaitors to stop our trousers and shoes getting too wet and dirty and some walking socks.

We want to go walking more often, however due to my overstretched budget to get exactly what we want is going to take more time. I'm currently thinking of getting a decent jacket to go in the elements in, I can't decide if I want a 3 in 1 jacket or to just get a waterproof jacket? Can anyone advise?

Here is a list of what we have/know what we have to buy, but is there anything we are missing?

Got: -
Walking shoes
Gaitors
Decent walking rucksack
walking socks
Hat/scarves/gloves

Know we need: -
Flourescent jackets
A waterproof jacket of some kind
Maybe some walking trousers, Worth it?
Torches
First Aid Kit

We would need a compass, but Shell's phone is pretty snazzy and has a built in GPS receiver with a compass built in.

Opinions greatly recieved.

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Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[EDBANGER]

I can highly recommend the north face of tryfan in Snowdon. It's classed as a scramble and is fantastic fun. You don't need any equipment just a strong nerve as some parts of the scramble can seem a little daunting. When you get to the top it's fantastic.

https://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=r9xtuYWeL6I&feature=related
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[MarJay]

If you join the ramblers association... then you die.
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Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[MarJay]

[pyx_e]

Leki Stick, for balance and support.

Sustenance. (at least power bars, at best; stove,gas, water, tea, boil in bag meal.

Pocket knife.

Survival bag.

Breathable Waterproof Coat.

Camera.

I would not bother with gaters or w/p trousers, tend to wear shorts as much as possibile (trousers in bag).

Lycra running shorts, saves chapped thighs, less friction in general.

Maybe Sealskin socks.

Travel towel, good neck scarf anf to wipe sweat/tears from eyes.

Litre of water in soft bottle, no long tube to drink it, you just end up drinking it cos your bored.

Sour sweets, to refresh mouth.

Bog roll, trowel, wet wipes.

And that would be just for 8 - 10 honest miles without any overnight stuff.

Any yes I don't need any of it to cover 10 miles but a bit of comfort and bit of safety and a bit of just in case never hurt anyone.
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Shiney!
Kawasaki: ER5, Versys, VN900.

[rac3r]

I used to but haven't in a while but i did a mixture of climbing and walking and i'm 18

Cat bells was quite good, at least i think thats what its called
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Bikes : 2006 CBR125R - 2004 Monster 620ie - 2004 ZX-6R B1H - 2005 Monster S2R 800 - 2011 Street Triple - 2009 Streetfighter 1098 - 2014 ZX-6R 636

[Tonka]

Priority when out walking is to know where you are and be able to keep warm. Good OS maps and compass (cheap one's fine) don't rely on gadgets in case things go wrong make sure you know the old fashioned way to get you out of trouble if needs be. As far as keeping warm is concerned it's layers and being windproof You don't have to spend a fortune, just keep it simple to start with and build up from there once you have a better feel for what you feel you need. Thin fleeces layered up and a waterproof jacket will probably be ok depending on where you're headed. First aid kit is ok, but keep it small (Boots do a good one) and make sure you know what to do with it!!

..........and NEVER forget the golden rule "Let someone know where you're going, which route and what time you expect to be back"

(but don't forget to let them know when you are back, else they'll send out the Search Party! )
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'The core of a man's spirit comes from new experiences'
Suzuki SV650S (Clean); Yamaha XT250 Serow (Dirty)

[Ste]

Suicide would be a good option if you're considering taking up rambling.

[silky666]

can this be topic be removed due to its offensive nature please.
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[.....]

Stay off the byways.

[colin1]

First the bcf forum switches to cars, now its rambling.

Nice that bcf can grow as its members pass through the stages of life with their associated pastimes.

Maybe it will change its name to bowls chat forum at some point when the bcf massive are too old to walk very far.

To be fair, I do like a good walk in the countryside too.
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[Catalyst]

Walking? Thats not a past time, it's what we do naturally!

You should buy an off roder then you can ride and see the countryside at the same time, winner.
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SlimRick - I can cook really well - but it's a useless skill, as I'm not a woman and it's their fucking job!

[Flip]

Walking without a dog is just sad.

[Fisty]

Am I the only one who read "any keen Wankers"?
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Fatter and faster than Fret

[Annabella]

I would suggest that the things you *really* need are:

Decent wicking base layer (think Helly Hanson) stay warm, dry and flexible, thus comfortable.

Waterproof jackets - make sure they're breathable and really don't skimp on these, if there's one thing that is sure to make you feel rubbish it's being either wet or wet and sweaty.

Lightweight trousers that will dry quickly. Walking trousers are worth the money because they will dry from your body heat and you'll therefore not get anywhere near as cold. Though it does depend if you think you're likely to be out in the cold and wet regularly.

Personally I'd have gone for boots rather than shoes as they're much more durable, you're less likely to get a twisted ankle* and if you buy full leather (single sheet) boots they'll stay waterproof for the rest of your life. I use a boot + yetis (gortex fully boot covering things) so I'm completely waterproof up to the knee.

OS map + compass is always a far better combination than satnav. Most numptys we rescued were relying on SatNav in the mountains then got lost because their battery died/it did something funny.

Chuck a torch in, but make it a headtorch - yes you look special, but trust me, when you're trying to read a map and hold a torch in wind at night you'll LONG for a geeky Petzl.

First aid kit - be sensible about what you will and can use. There's very little point in taking much, just make sure you have plenty to drink - squash with a pinch of salt and sugar in will keep you hydrated, eat - a couple of "emergency" Mars Bars, is probably enough if I'm honest.

Invest in a whistle and an emergency orange survival bag - if you do need to be rescued whoever is on their way to rescue you will be VERY grateful of either and love you forever for both.



*Actually the most number of people requiring MR assistance had twisted an ankle, but generally, they weren't numptys in the same way as our very special 'SatNav-ers' were
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[Flip]

[Annabella]

[mooserx]

ray mears or bear grylls, just incase you get lost
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TL1000r-handful.

[WildGoose]

I quite like the idea of walking, but the way that it always turns into a "must buy shit" extravaganza, as exibited above, when the whole point is a get back to nature twists my head a bit.

Chuck yourself up a mountain around the Brecons, and expect to find people on a 20 minute jaunt, dressed like a walking Millets outlet store.

I enjoyed the walking forced upon you in the forces in a twisted kind of way, because they took care of all the 'gear' worries for you, all you had to do was walk. Ok, so buying all the expensive shite will make you more comfortable, but then it becomes just as expensive as the next hobby.

So yeh, nice idea, but too much stress developed from an original idea that was supposed to be relaxing.
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So in other words, he stopped you for being flagrantly in posession of a motorcycle in direct contravention of the Hippies, Darkies and People Whose Face I Don't Like The Look of (Police Powers) Act. 1976

[Annabella]

[WildGoose]

I promise I won't call the mountain rescue
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So in other words, he stopped you for being flagrantly in posession of a motorcycle in direct contravention of the Hippies, Darkies and People Whose Face I Don't Like The Look of (Police Powers) Act. 1976

[JonB]

Goose I had the same thinking as you. I just wante to grab a bag, fill up a thermos and go for a walk. However I only have one pair of durable trainers, they are my running trainers and the paths and fields are so muddy it would just be a chore to clean them every time. The boots I got were some Regatta jobbys that cost under £40, they are proper boots, though not leather. So will get ankle protection as some sort of bonus.

The other bits and pieces are merely for piece of mind. Like every hobby, motorcycles included they end up sapping the wallet.
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Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[Shaun]

Goose in finding something negative about a subject none shocker.

[WildGoose]

Which was mainly my point, and my dislike of sapped wallets. The must have latest/greatest, new technological thing trend of modern life ends up creeping into everything.

I bought a 'HGV drivers handbook' a while ago, the recommended list of things 'they' would have you take a long with you for a days work, would have filled a caravan, quite staggering. I push for minimalism. But I digress.

Me dragging up the Brecons was a bad example perhaps, rather than say walking in the Chilterns. I have spent several short periods of time in unhospitable climes UK and abroad, and wouldn't recommend nor have any sympathy for those who chuck themselves into that climate without preparation.

Think of the kittens.
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So in other words, he stopped you for being flagrantly in posession of a motorcycle in direct contravention of the Hippies, Darkies and People Whose Face I Don't Like The Look of (Police Powers) Act. 1976

[WildGoose]

Shaun in adding his thruppence ha'penny but ending up being unfunny, again, none shocker.

Meow.
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So in other words, he stopped you for being flagrantly in posession of a motorcycle in direct contravention of the Hippies, Darkies and People Whose Face I Don't Like The Look of (Police Powers) Act. 1976