Author Topic: What's Your Latest Walking Kit Purchase?  (Read 292281 times)

Innominate Man

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Re: What's Your Latest Walking Kit Purchase?
« Reply #240 on: 08:20:20, 26/05/17 »
I'm of that age where I hate it when people talk to me and don't take them off, especially when I cannot see their eyes at all, so rude in my book.


Totally agree (could be a small rant of the day).
Sunglasses are a peculiar item as I have tended to go for cheapish brands, but I noticed the lenses can give a slightly distorted view that wasn't enough to change the general landscape but was clearly noticeable when walking over rough terrain:- if you looked without the glasses and then popped the glasses on - the distance between you and the ground when placing your feet was very slightly distorted. I found it very disconcerting and gave up on a particular pair as it wasn't worth the chance of a twisted ankle.
Only a hill but all of life to me, up there between the sunset and the sea. 
Geoffrey Winthrop Young

DK

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Re: What's Your Latest Walking Kit Purchase?
« Reply #241 on: 10:41:34, 26/05/17 »
I'm of that age where I hate it when people talk to me and don't take them off, especially when I cannot see their eyes at all, so rude in my book.

I'm of the age when my shades are prescription issue so tough titty if you don't like looking into them  ;D
We weren't born to just pay bills and die...

jimbob

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Re: What's Your Latest Walking Kit Purchase?
« Reply #242 on: 17:27:52, 26/05/17 »
Quote
I'm of the age when my shades are prescription issue so tough titty if you don't like looking into them  ;D

I also wear prescription sun glasses when out and about on the three or four days God allows us to have very bright days. being extremely, short sighted I also don't think I can be bothered with the (in) sensitivities of others ;D to go scraffling for my normal glasses when they intrude on my walks. 8)
Too little, too late, too bad......

- Dave -

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Re: What's Your Latest Walking Kit Purchase?
« Reply #243 on: 15:26:28, 30/05/17 »
Just bought a raft of Montane AW18 samples from Sportspursuit. Sadly I have to wait until mid-June before they arrive :(
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gunwharfman

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Re: What's Your Latest Walking Kit Purchase?
« Reply #244 on: 15:54:56, 30/05/17 »
Sorry folks did not think my sunglasses matter through properly! But I still think it rude (I am of that age group) when people talk to me without taking their sunglasses off, unless of course the individiual need the for, e.g. medical reasons. I really and truly like to look at people eyes.

I bought a Lifeventure showerhead today, looking forward to trying it out. Never been a fan of camping site shower cubicles so hope this will be my answer?

BuzyG

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Re: What's Your Latest Walking Kit Purchase?
« Reply #245 on: 23:21:39, 30/05/17 »
Hopefully I have bought another pair of boots.  I say hopefully as the last two pairs I ordered didn't turn up.    Identical to my current pair, some may recall I split the stitching by over heating/drying them.  Will not make the same mistake with the new pair.  Assuming they arrive this time.

Dyffryn Ardudwy

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Re: What's Your Latest Walking Kit Purchase?
« Reply #246 on: 11:02:11, 31/05/17 »
A carbonfibre Smatree pole for my GoPro.
It's £29, and is supposed to be the highest quality and lightest bit of kit available.

Jonfun

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Re: What's Your Latest Walking Kit Purchase?
« Reply #247 on: 17:13:54, 01/06/17 »
Just bought a raft of Montane AW18 samples from Sportspursuit. Sadly I have to wait until mid-June before they arrive :(


Whats this website actually like? I've refrained from signing up as I'm weary of website like that. What sort of sample gear did you buy?

forgotmyoldpassword

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Re: What's Your Latest Walking Kit Purchase?
« Reply #248 on: 14:41:09, 02/06/17 »
Hi Jon, my own experience of Sportpursuit has been good.  I tend to use it for premium kit which usually isn't on discount elsewhere.


The way it works is pretty much like this, you join the site, which gives you access to their catalogue.  It appears the reason they do this (so they say), is to reduce the visibility of the deals in search results, thus letting premium brands dump stock to Sportpursuit members without affecting their new season range/the majority of their customers.  You find what you want, buy it, and then wait for Sportpursuit to finish the sale - when they order all of the items together, along with everyone else's order.  These get dispatched to your door.


Some lessons I've learned:


- The sizes go quickly on in demand brands, if you buy medium or large like me, order quickly or prepare to miss out.  In most cases, once they are gone, they are gone.
- Generally they have been the best price available online for an item, I understand they will guarantee this if you find someone selling it cheaper. However, do consider P and P costs, which unusually they do not grant after you spend a certain amount.
- The cost of reduced prices is you have a long lead time, sometimes be prepared to wait 3-6 weeks for your item depending on how close to the end of the sale you order.


Personally find them useful, it's a well designed website, has some excellent kit on there, and a lot of companies dump samples at much reduced prices.  If you buy outdoors kit all the year round for different activities without wanting something 'last minute', I'd say go ahead and use it. There are some notable gaps in their range of outdoors equipment, little technical climbing stuff, little camping kit - but that is balanced by good kit with usually solid descriptions coming up often.

gunwharfman

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Re: What's Your Latest Walking Kit Purchase?
« Reply #249 on: 16:05:22, 05/06/17 »
I've merino baselayers and bamboo baselayers, never really happy with them. I popped into Snow and Rock yesterday and they were having an Odlo synthetic baselayer sale so bought myself two long sleeved tops. I buy long sleeves these days as a few years ago I had to have a pre-cancerous mole removed. The dermatologist told me that like so many older men and women I've spent too many years resting my right arm on the car door in hot sunlight. The Odlo sizing really seemed odd, I tried on Small but couldn't get it on, it was so tight! I then tried Medium and that didn't feel much better. In the end I decided to buy Large, still close fitting but comfortable. I wonder how firms work out their sizing? When I bought my Merino the Small fitted me really well, as do my bamboo tops. I'm not sure if I've purchased well, I'll find out next week when I start a new hike.

buntonn

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Re: What's Your Latest Walking Kit Purchase?
« Reply #250 on: 16:19:24, 05/06/17 »
Picked up a Ortlieb Waterproof Map Case whist in Keswick, preferred the roll over seal to the Silva push seal model.

Desperately trying to escape and venture in the wild outdoors...

pauldawes

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Re: What's Your Latest Walking Kit Purchase?
« Reply #251 on: 17:32:35, 05/06/17 »
I've merino baselayers and bamboo baselayers, never really happy with them. I popped into Snow and Rock yesterday and they were having an Odlo synthetic baselayer sale so bought myself two long sleeved tops. I buy long sleeves these days as a few years ago I had to have a pre-cancerous mole removed. The dermatologist told me that like so many older men and women I've spent too many years resting my right arm on the car door in hot sunlight. The Odlo sizing really seemed odd, I tried on Small but couldn't get it on, it was so tight! I then tried Medium and that didn't feel much better. In the end I decided to buy Large, still close fitting but comfortable. I wonder how firms work out their sizing? When I bought my Merino the Small fitted me really well, as do my bamboo tops. I'm not sure if I've purchased well, I'll find out next week when I start a new hike.


I like Odlo gear, but thought most of range was for cold weather/ cool weather. Certainly the ones I've got, tend to use cool weather only.


Of synthetic stuff I've tried in same price range (as Odlo), one I'd suggest as worth considering is Paramo's Parameta base layers.


They (Parameta base layers) are reversible...wear one way round in warm weather, other way round in colder weather. Sounds gimmicky, but found it works quite well. I'd prefer Odlo in winter conditions though.

gunwharfman

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Re: What's Your Latest Walking Kit Purchase?
« Reply #252 on: 18:55:35, 05/06/17 »
You have reminded me of a decision I had to make when purchasing the Odlo products. One set was labelled 'cool', the other set labelled 'warm', the 'cool' garment was slightly less weight than the 'warm' version. I stood there dithering about what should I buy, I asked myself do these 'cool' and 'warm' words actually mean anything, or is it yet more marketing nonsense? Each pack even had a little graph printed on the label showing the temperature range of each product. My problem is, that when I was at university in the 60s I read 'How to lie with Statistics' by Daryll Huff. Only a small book but its had a lifelong and possibly negative effect on me, in that I cannot bring myself to believe any marketing guff without feeling cynical, after all their primary function is to make a profit!

So I decided to dismiss all of the box wording and graphs and thought, I live in the UK, we do not have many hot days in a year normally, so based on this simple criteria I chose the buy the 'warm' version. I thought to myself, I'd rather be a bit hotter than to be a bit colder, so I told myself to buy the 'warm' product in the hope it will be useful to me throughout the year. The mind knots I wind myself into, I just can't help it, I'm a hopeless case!

photonut

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Re: What's Your Latest Walking Kit Purchase?
« Reply #253 on: 19:35:19, 05/06/17 »
Just purchased a Garmin 64s.


Having read many of the threads on here about handheld GPS units I find it very easy to use and I'm thoroughly pleased with it.


I bought it as a back-up, just in case my map and compass reading abilities go awry  :)


Cheers
Lee
« Last Edit: 19:38:46, 05/06/17 by photonut »

pauldawes

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Re: What's Your Latest Walking Kit Purchase?
« Reply #254 on: 19:36:48, 05/06/17 »

So I decided to dismiss all of the box wording and graphs and thought, I live in the UK, we do not have many hot days in a year normally, so based on this simple criteria I chose the buy the 'warm' version. I thought to myself, I'd rather be a bit hotter than to be a bit colder, so I told myself to buy the 'warm' product in the hope it will be useful to me throughout the year. The mind knots I wind myself into, I just can't help it, I'm a hopeless case!


Odlo's "background" is in making specialist ski wear...the warm stuff is "designed" to keep you warm in winter.


In my case, like you I'd sooner be too warm than too cold (and I walk slowish now, so don't generate much heat via speed)...but wouldn't go out in Odlo gear on an average British summers day.


But...people vary enormously, well worth giving it a go in various conditions...in my opinion it's pretty good stuff, it's just a matter of finding what "temperature range" you want to use it in.

 

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