Outdoor Equipment Buying Tips and Advice

Here at Storm we're pretty experienced in the hiking and outdoor lifestyle and have some tips below that have definitely made our life a lot easier in the past! Take a moment to read through our outdoor equipment advice, who knows it might even save you some money too!

Rucksacks

The best place to carry your walking gear is in a rucksack which sits on your back. Most of us have a rucksack already for general day use (daysacs or day-sacs) and these can be adequate for use "in the field". However do make sure the day sac is up to the rigours of outdoor use before setting out.

Most rucksacks are not waterproof so it is worth ensuring you get yourself a "rucksack
liner" which is sturdy enough to fit in your bag and keep your outdoor gear dry. Failing
that plastic bags will do but they generally are not strong enough, usually tearing as you
take items out of your rucksac - usually when its packed to the brim and in very wet
weather!

There are a few points to consider when buying a rucksack:

Do you need a rucksack for simple walks on a weekend or are you after one for prolonged
expedition use?

Do you wish to have an all in one rucksack or one that has seperate compartments?

Can you strap tents and poles to the outside of the rucksack so giving you more room inside
for other kit?

Do you need all the "clever" features on one rucksack, some are essential but you do need to carefully weigh up their value if all they do is just add to the cost.

Usually a 35 to 40 litre rucksack will suffice for day trips and shorter expeditions perhaps
without wild camping. 65 to 80 litre rucksacks are perfect for weekender or 3 day trips in
wild areas. 80 to 100 plus litre rucksacks - perfect if you are the sort of person who just
wants to throw everything in and go off for a week or long expeditions but they do represent
the pinnacle of rucksac design so you will pay a premium.

Try on the rucksack in the shop (if possible with a load inside) and check that it fits your
back correctly and is comfortable for you. A chest or waist belt can take some of the weight
off your shoulders when walking.

Sleeping Bags

On any camping trip you are going to have to bring a sleeping bag to sleep in. We do not recommend you bring a duvet as they do not compress very well into a rucksack! Lots of people tend to have sleeping bags as they can be useful when crashing over at someone elses home. Sleeping bags generally come with a "season rating" (i.e. 2, 3 or 4 season) and a minimum temperature they are comfortable to use in. Sleeping bags usually make use of two filling materials:

• Synthetic sleeping bag - dries easily when wet, keeps you warm when wet and is cheap to buy
• Down sleeping bag - will keep you amazingly warm, packs up VERY small but is awful when wet

A 3-4-season synthetic bag should cost £50-100, while a 4-season down bag is likely cost
about £200.

Waterproof Jackets

After boots, a waterproof jacket is the next piece of essential gear you're going to want to
have! If you walk in Britain you are going to get rained on (we can almost guarantee it) and
walking along when soaking wet at best is miserable, at worst it could be fatal!

Cheap waterproof jackets are not breathable, though they stop most rainwater from getting in they don't allow sweat to get out. This can cause your clothes inside to become very damp as condensation will form on the inside of your jacket. Not a pleasant feeling and once you stop working hard the dampness will make sure you start to feel cold very quickly. So do make sure you try to buy a BREATHABLE waterproof jacket. You do not have to spend lots of money, but paying a little extra maybe be worth it for the extra comfort. More expensive jackets do perform better but they will not stop all condensation inside though they do reduce it by a lot. The best scenario when shopping for a jacket is to try before you buy. As they are in different shapes, colours and cuts you will want one that is the most comfortable. As with rucksacks go for quality of the jacket rather than the number of gimmicks it has.

We recommend Gore-Tex (there are other similar systems) for breathability in your rain
jacket. Make sure the hood is not too restrictive and is easy to use, wired hoods are
great as they keep their shape and do not flop down and stick to your face when wet.

Underarm zips and other venting zips are a must-have to stop yourself from overheating.
Inside pockets are useful for keeping things such as pens and maps dry. Where jackets allow you to zip in fleeces, consider carefully if that is important to you, as you want to be
able to remove layers gradually. With a fleece zipped in you're making that task much harder to do!

Finally a word about colours - some hikers and walkers feel people should blend into their
surroundings whilst others love the bright colours that jackets can come in. Its a personal
choice but bear in mind if you have an accident or are lost on the hills and Moutain Rescue
come to find you a bright coloured jacket may well help them find you sooner.

Walking Boots

No other piece of kit on the hills is more important than a well fitting pair of walking
boots. It is paramount that they fit well and good ankle support and grip.
Most of todays walking boots are either fabric or leather (the odd exception are plastic
boots used for winter mountaineering).

Boots come in seasons (i.e 2,3,4 seasons etc) and this affects the price, materials and features of the boot. It is not essential that they are waterproof but in wet weather or moorland conditions (such as Dartmoor) it can help keep your feet dry and comfortable.

Traditional leather walking boots are more useful in wetter conditions and offer more support though are generally heavier because of this. Fabric boots are usually lighter but do give less support around the sides and ankle.

For winter walking in ice or snow you may need to wear crampons (these are spikes attached to your boot). For this you will need a stiff boot. All boots have a stiffness grading:
either B0, B1, B2, or B3.

When shopping for walking or hiking boots the most important thing to your feet is fit and
comfort. You MUST try on the boots before buying them – remember to take your walking socks along to try them on.

You can get a reasonable pair of hiking boots for £60, but like all things you do get what
you pay for. The best boots can cost £90 or more but considering how essential they are to
your enjoyment of a walk it is worth investing as much as you can afford.

Sleeping Mats

A sleeping mat insulates your body against the ground, so minimising body heat loss allowing a comfortable nights sleep. Cheap sleeping mats can be purchased for as little as £5-00 and offer a surprising amount of protection though don't expect too much in the way of comfort as padding at best is minimal.

Ranges such as Therm A Rest self inflating mattresses are top of the range sleeping mats
that offer incredible comfort but at a price. Therm a rest sleeping mats usually start from
£40.

General Clothing Tips

"Walk cool - rest warm"

Remember the above saying and you won't go far wrong when walking outdoors.

The best way to achieve this when out on the hills is to make use of several thin layers of
clothing rather than 2 thick layers. Fleece tops are generally fashion items these days and
most people have one. These are ideal as a mid layer in between a waterproof jacket and a
"base" layer (one that is next to or close to the skin) - a cotton T shirt can be ok but we
recommend for optimum comfort and performance you purchase a "wicking" top. These transfer sweat from your skin to the outside so helping to keep you drier. Costing about £20 - not much if you value your comfort!

Tents

From low-level 2 season tents to classic or technical mountain tents, a tent is a major item of equipment.

When you are considering a tent most do look similar on the outside but in a lot of cases that may not be true. Tents offer various levels of performance, though this really only becomes apparent in windy, wet or bad weather.

Take time to find out what material the tent is made from and whether the seams are taped.

Ask yourself if you really need a mountaineering tent when your camping is going to be done mostly at low level. From lightweight, quick pitching one man tents to huge 12 person family expedition tents, you might be surprised at the number of tents available on the market.

Tents do come in different shapes as well as sizes, usually dome or tunnel. Emergency lightweight tents are great for expeditions where weather conditions can quickly change and there is nowhere to take cover.

Ensure groundsheets are waterproof and abrasion resistant, most are made from heavy-duty rip stop nylon. Disregard tents with a poor grounsheet.

You should find a measurement of how waterproof the flysheet of your tent is. Usually the higher the number means the better the tent is against resisting water..

The tent's seams should be "heat sealed taped" - this prevents water seeping in through stiching holes.

Polyester is a popular fabric for tents, it stretches less than nylon and the fibres absorb far less water and polyester also offers greater resistance to UV rays that can harm the tent.

Camping Stoves

Todays modern mountaineers, hikers andcampers use portable, lightweight stoves, which are generally quick, clean and very convenient and to use. Stoves usually fall into three categories. These are:

• stoves that use liquid fuel
• stoves that use liquid fuel & may also be pressurized
• stoves that use gas cartridges
  

Pressure Stoves

Pressure stoves do burn very hot and are very fuel-efficient. They have the added advantage that they can burn a wide variety of fuels. They are often a little complicated to use at first and can be quite expensive. Pressure stoves do not light instantly and some of the fuels are volatile so need handling with care when in use. For best performance and ensure a long life the cleanest fuels available should be used.

Gas Cartridge

The ease of use and predictability of a gas cartridge out in the field can be said to be second to none. Inside the metal cartridge rests a Butane/propane - a mix of two liquid petroleum gases contained under pressure.. When opening the stove valve, the pressure is released and the fuel emerges as a vapour. It lights instantly and being very easy to control makes simmering simple. Just turn the control knob and ignite the burner like the gas stove at home! Gas camping stoves do suffer a disadvantage when the cartridge empties and pressure inside reduces. This cause the heat output to drop so taking longer to cook or heat food or liquid.

Gas camping catridges are usually easily obtained in Western Europe from many camping shops and hardware stores. They can be difficult to obtain in other parts of the world. Not all cartridges are compatible with all gas stoves so do check with the dealer before purchasing.

Methylated Spirits

Methylated spirits (or 'meths') is a form of alcohol and burns burns as a liquid not as a gas. As a liquid it does not need pressurisation. It lights instantly, does not need pre heating, and is safer in use. When spilt the fuel evaporates quickly but care needs to be taken when refilling stoves as the vapour can be ignited. In bright daylight the flame can be difficult to see. To find out if a stove is lit or not drop a dead match into the burner to find out rather than injure yourself trying to relight an already lit stove.

Meths can be bought at many camping and hardware stores though overseas is dependent on location, so checking in advance is advisable.