People are often confused by what equipment to bring and where to buy it, so we thought we would give you some advice to help you out.
Most walking equipment can be purchased at any outdoor’s shop such as Tiso and Millets in Corn Market or Blacks on Boucher Road. There is also a good selection of reasonably priced equipment in Sports Direct on Boucher Road.
Boots – are preferable over shoes as they offer additional protection to the ankle and tend to be waterproof up to the ankle. Boots are constructed in either traditional leather or new non-leather materials such as Gore-Tex or other breathable material. Generally leather boots are hard wearing and reliable but they need ‘broken’ in and need more maintenance. Ultimately we recommend trying on a selection of boots and purchasing the one’s which you feel most comfortable with.
Coat – a good waterproof anorak type coat is important; while a breathable material such as Gore-Tex would be desirable, they can be very expensive, so we wouldn’t recommend them unless you want to take up walking seriously.
Base Layer – a base layer is a thin Tee-shirt type clothing which can be either short or long sleeved. They can be made from various materials, but they all share the following function; they keep you warm and they have ‘wicking’ properties which wick the moisture away from the body when you perspire, helping to keep you dry, warm and comfortable. A number of base layers can be worn so that the wearer can regulate their own temperature
Fleece’s – These come in a variety of types, colours and thickness. We recommend wearing two thin fleeces rather than one thick one, as this will allow the wearer to regulate their temperature better.