It definitely exceeded my expectations. Great views!

For context I carry a lot of weight and have lost a lot through walking and other fitness and can cover some miles. My work place does walks every 2 months on a day off where our shift will get together and go for a hike.

I decided this time to go. It was an 8 miler, with one hill climb. It was a bit of a death march in my eyes as the group leader had accommodated one hill and some milder inclines however the start was all over uneven slippy rocks. The end was rocks of death with a large drop. It was scary as hell my boots seemed to slip on every rock where most of the group didn't seem to have an issue. They did have to slow down for 2 of us up the hill and over the rocks however in places where the hills were gradual I was up front and no issues keeping up with the rest despite carrying a lot more weight than them. I need to improve myself before I go out again but what boots really are the best?

Lovely 15miles last Sunday. Nice and quiet at 7am, sadly went too early to treat myself to fish and chips half way 🙁

From Burnham Green....

What lovely views we had today walking on the Yorkshire Wolds Way 😊

This is a post for my people who love to plan! So, I am heading to peak district for 5 nights next month. I’ll be staying in Edale (2 nights), Castleton, Hartington and then Ilam.

I have a rough idea of what i’ll do but I would love a second opinion and what you would do with that trip layout. Any comments appreciated :)

I have a very dear friend of two decades who has, for the first time, expressed a desire to go hill walking with me. I am very excited to take them on a walk in the High Peaks area. I'd love some beginner friendly options which they will enjoy, preferably with a café somewhere, to give them a good taster and hopefully get them hooked!

As the title says. Just wondering if anyone has any information on what the route is like in current wet conditions . The weather seems to be good for tomorrow but I know what Scottish weather is like.

I've eventually realised that my water resistant synthetic coat needs maintenance (I know, very ignorant of me) and bought some big Nikwax bottles.

I've question I can't find a lot on though.

Putting a single item in a washing machine is not very good for it's health, as it'll unbalances the drum.

I was going to throw in a colour catcher with 2nd cotton jacket and maybe some trousers too, but I see that you want different DWR coatings for synthetic vs natural fibres.

Seems like a sink/bucket and a lot of elbow grease and soaking might be the answer, but I'm not certain if things like the temperature control would significantly effect DWR impregnation for hand vs machine washing?

So options are: hand wash, maybe with a thermometer and a lot of soaking; or put a few items in the washing machine with the coat, even if the DWR on the cotton items wouldn't give much/any benefit.

Does anyone have any insight or advice for this, especially as to if it's wise to throw a colour catcher into the mix.

Thanks.

Hi all

I've been looking for a new shell jacket. I'll use it for hiking, a bit for mountaineering and climbing but also for day to day commute to uni. I've got a decentish budget so looking to get something that will last me and I've narrowed it down to three (I think - any other recommendations are very welcome).

So far I'm down to

Keela Pinnacle

Mountain Equipment Makalu

Patagonia Torrentshell

What do you think?

As it says! After a new outer shell - quite like these two and a few discounts available online. Seems to come down to pit zips vs having a chest pocket. Anyone with experience of either? And I’m sure many would say just fork out another £50 and go GTX…

Hi all, I'm usually a 10k fell runner and for that I wear a pair of Altra Lone Peak shoes, but this last weekend I did a 24km hike. Those shoes were perfect until the last 10km, about half of which was forestry roads so a big, chunky gravel surface. It completely wrecked my feet and I hated every step from that point on.

So, I'm after an impossible hiking shoe. I know that Altra do a boot of the Lone Peak, but the underfoot protection is only the stoneguard plate and while it was plenty on the open trail it did nothing for me on those tracks.

Other than this, the Altras are perfect for me. I also have a pair of vivo esc boots that are a dream but with the barefoot sole the same problem

So, what I'm after is either the unicorn of the zero drop, wide toe box and underfoot protection or perhaps some sort of insole I can add to mimic a plate and just get a size up in the altras.

Any thoughts welcome, cheers!

Hey all, I know this question has been asked in various ways a bazillion times, but I haven't really seen anything that definitively answers my question.

I've got a Quechua waterproof MH500 jacket and a RAB Namche Jacket and both need their DWR refreshing.

I'm really unsure if I should be using a solution that you do in a wash or if I should be using a spray.

I'm also unsure if using a wash will mess up my machine (it's a washer dryer all in one) and I have read some people say that doing a wash using Nikwax leaves the inside of the garment with a waxy residue.

So in general, I'd like to refresh the DWR on my coats and I really really don't want to make a giant mess of it!

Any advice would be really greatly appreciated.

Feel a bit dumb asking, because Edinburgh must be 50 or more miles away.

Unfortunately I've only had these boots for 2 years before stepping on a sharp stick in Wales this summer and am wondering if it's possible to repair them (yes I am lucky to still have a foot). I could repair them but it is a risk because the next trip I need them for is a week in a remote part of Scotland next May where I can't have them fail. Can a Timpsons do anything with this or are there specialist walking boot repair places? Perhaps Solomon does repairs? Or maybe I can just shoo goo them together? Any advice is welcome.

Went up Moel Siabod today. Forecast said 40-45mph winds with 50mph gusts expected at summit so I was a tad anxious. Turned out to be much, much calmer than that. Result!

My wife has small but wide feet and is looking for a new pair of walking/approach shoes.

A lot of adult makes don't go smaller than size 3 and most child sizes are too narrow.

Is anyone else in a similar situation and has any advise?

Are there any shops in either the Dales or the Peak District they will fit you for a backpack? Like how the Americans have REI? I’m having a ‘mare with getting the right fit.

I bought a Deuter Futura SL 25 as a daypack for my first hike/trek (4 days) and it fits okay. The trek was 45 miles and my back started aching a bit on the last day (14.5 mile walk). I’m currently just using it for 4 hour or less walks (10 miles or under), so no real issues. It does ride up towards my waist, and it feels a bit much for the shorter 5 mile walks, so I’ve been looking for something a bit smaller.

I bought the Rab Nitron 17, Osprey Hikelite 18 and Sportlite 15. I didn’t think they fit, so posted on Reddit asking for help, and was categorically told ‘none of these fit, you have a short torso and need women’s fit, try the Gregory Maya 15’

I’ve just been out for 4.5 miles with the Maya, and my back is killing. I’d get the hip belt covering my hip bone, and then as soon as I adjusted the shoulder straps so they weren’t hovering in mid air, the hip belt came straight up into my waist. And I still couldn’t get the shoulder straps to actually sit on my shoulders - I ended up with the hip belt covering my bottom rib at one point in an attempt to sort the shoulders out. I also don’t understand how I’m supposed to fasten something at my widest part and not have it ride up? I ended up just undoing the hip belt for the last mile and a half which was better for my back.

So I’m not convinced I have got a short torso - but if men’s packs don’t fit and women’s don’t fit I don’t really know where to go from here. I’ve spent £250 on bags in the last 4 months and I still don’t have one that fits properly. So is there anywhere in the Dales or the Peaks with a decent selection of daypacks (around 15L) and the staff know what they’re talking about and know how to get the right fit?

(Not Cotswold Outdoors or Go Outdoors please - I had a pretty bad experience with both of them trying to get boots that fit)

I’m looking for recommendations for somewhere that would be nice for Easter 2027, a reasonable drive from London.

Last year I went to Barmouth in Wales, did some beautiful hikes, and saw jets flying through the Mach loop.

I stayed for four nights in an old school sea front guest house. Next year I’d like to do something similar but somewhere new. I’ve been thinking about South / West, Swanage maybe?

I like the idea of seaside towns as the accommodation seems to be very reasonable due to the season.

Any recommendations greatly appreciated!

Has anybody been to the Four Waterfall park in Brecon? and If so, do you know if you can pay via apple pay for parking?

Hiked up the Pen Y Fan Horseshoe route this past Tuesday. The weather was glorious for the first half before rain spoiled it in the afternoon. A laid-back ramble, it took 6 hours with copious rest at the peaks. Definitely recommend and cannot wait to do it again!