The Importance of the Right Kit [Part 1]

 

Before I get into the descriptions of the actual walks, I want to stress the absolute necessity of having the right gear, whether it’s the clothes you wear or the items you carry with you. For the purpose of this article, I am assuming a day walk, with no overnight camping.

First Aid Kit

Basic FAK from Boots, endorsed  by St John's Ambulance

Of first importance is the First Aid Kit. If you have little else with you, you MUST carry an FAK. You should never leave home without one, no matter how basic. You can catch your fingers on gate closures, fall into a rabbit hole and twist an ankle, or just have blisters on your feet and heels making walking very hard work. I have seen a person with blisters so bad they had to go to the hospital, when with a little forethought and care, she might have been able to cover the tender places before they became such a major issue. And even if you don’t need to use it yourself, you might come across a casualty who could do with some assistance.

What should it contain?

Some of the contents of my kit - not only what the kit originally came with

First and foremost, blister plasters. I use Compeed. They come in different sizes or a box with mixed sizes, for everything from large blisters on the heel to smaller ones on the little toe – and everything in between. They are made from a gel-like substance that adheres well to the skin, covering the blister and acting like a second skin. Some people find they do not suit them, but I swear by them and wouldn’t use anything else.

Ordinary blisters for those moments when you get a splinter from a gate, or a small cut on the finger.

Sanitising fluid/wipes and creams

Tick remover - if not for you, then for your dog if you have one with you.

A tube of eyewash

Safety pins – useful for more than just joining the ends of bandages; for instance, they will also substitute for a  broken zip pull

Tweezers

A bandage or two

Antihistamine cream/tablets

Anti-bacterial cream

Headache tablets – the sun and wind can often cause headaches unexpectedly. I carry paracetamol (less likely to cause digestive upsets than aspirin) and, because I am prone to migraines, Paramol in case of an emergency.

Clothing

People really don’t understand even the basics of proper clothing. Flip flops and t-shirts when going up Ben Nevis? While it might be hot at ground level, 4004 feet up in the air is going to be COLD! Yet people frequently wear the flimsiest of clothing without really thinking about it. Jeans when hiking through long wet grass? Never! Denim is like blotting paper; it soaks up the water and the material then chafes your legs, sometimes rubbing them raw.

So what should you wear? Personally, I like to wear layers – you can then add or remove one or more layers depending on how warm or cold it is. I start with a warm base layer, unless it is summer, when I start with a t-shirt. And I always wear a t-shirt with long sleeves. That’s right – long sleeves, no matter what the weather. Sleeves can be an invaluable protection layer against the burning sun.

On top of the t-shirt, I wear a fleece – lightweight when not too cold, heavier when walking in winter; sometimes I will add a fleece jacket on top of this so two fleece layers, but usually I don’t walk much when it’s that cold.

Waterproof jacket – lightweight pac-a-mac type in the summer against those sudden summer showers and a heavier weight one for cooler weather. My lightweight jacket folds up and stuffs inside its own pocket (no more losing that stuff sack then! It is very light so is not much weight to carry in the backpack. My personal heavier weight jacket is a men’s  Berghaus Mera Peak – men’s because for some reason the designers of walking jackets for women think women don’t actually need pockets for anything! Men’s jackets have plenty of pockets – my current jacket has four external pockets, a semi-external pocket right by the zip behind one of the breast pockets and two internal pockets.

Trousers – I use Ron Hill jogging pants with a stirrup. Not everyone likes a stirrup, but I prefer my trousers to stay round my ankles rather than ride up my leg! An alternative would be thin craghoppers or cargo pants., but as already mentioned, never, never denim. If it's cold, I wear a thermal under layer too.

There is no reason not to wear shorts if you wish, though bear in mind midges and ticks can be a nuisance. I prefer to keep my legs covered because midges et al have a definite preference for my skin/blood compared with anyone I’m walking with!

Footwear

a.    Socks – the best socks I own are a pair of smart wool socks. They keep you cool in summer, warm in winter, cushion the feet well and are so soft to the touch. I also have a pair of Brasher socks and several pairs of Bridgedales. Choose socks that suit your feet and that you feel comfortable in, but it really does pay to have proper hiking socks as they protect the feet.

b.    Shoes/Boots – There are several brands of good walking shoes and boots on the market. I tend to use trainers designed for hiking in the summer and boots with high ankles when it’s wet. The high ankles are intended to protect you from twists and other damage. The soles of the shoes and boots have heavy tread to assist with awkward terrain. Always get them fitted by a good walking sales person. They are expensive, but they will last several years. Having said that, I once bought a pair for £25 and they lasted three years and were very comfortable. They should of course be waterproof and ‘breathable’.

Head gear – hats are good for keeping the sun off and avoiding headaches and sunstroke. Anything from a baseball cap, to a bandana style scarf, aka a buff. In winter you can’t beat a thermal fleece hat. I also wear a velvet headband under my fleece hat, because, if you wear it the right way round, it prevents the hat slipping on your hair and means you are not constantly pulling the hat back down over your ears.

I also sometimes wear a bandana round my neck to keep the sun off in summer and inplace of a regular scarf in the winter.

Gaiters – keep your lower legs dry and afford some protection against ticks getting into your socks and under the lower edges of your trousers.

Gloves – useful to avoid splinters, trapped fingers on gate fastenings, keeping your hands warm and dry (if waterproof); uselss if trying to use your touch screen phone to take photographs or turn the pages of a map or guidebook!