The Outdoorsy "Sofa".
- Thread starter chilango
- Start date
Voley
🐭
Current kit:
Meindl boots that I've had about 5 years and are ace. Liked them so much I bought the shoes in the same range. They're good if it's not muddy, otherwise the boots can take anything I might throw at them.
Got an army surplus small rucksack that does the trick. 12 quid off EBay. Regatta jacket that was in a sale. Twenty quid, hooded, totally waterproof, loads of pockets, squishes down to fit in my little rucksack, ideal. Maxpedition EDC with a torch, knife, lighter, multitool, first aid kit etc. I've used the knife to cut some cheese and that's about it.
Water bottle, Lunch box and that's me sorted for 10 miles or so.
It's funny, I went through a kit-fetishism stage and spent oodles on Mammut gear and all that but the stuff I've stuck with is cheap army surplus by and large. Boots excepted, they were worth spending good money on. 'NATO standard issue' is my favourite brand. I am just going for a walk mind you. Not into camping.
Meindl boots that I've had about 5 years and are ace. Liked them so much I bought the shoes in the same range. They're good if it's not muddy, otherwise the boots can take anything I might throw at them.
Got an army surplus small rucksack that does the trick. 12 quid off EBay. Regatta jacket that was in a sale. Twenty quid, hooded, totally waterproof, loads of pockets, squishes down to fit in my little rucksack, ideal. Maxpedition EDC with a torch, knife, lighter, multitool, first aid kit etc. I've used the knife to cut some cheese and that's about it.
Water bottle, Lunch box and that's me sorted for 10 miles or so.It's funny, I went through a kit-fetishism stage and spent oodles on Mammut gear and all that but the stuff I've stuck with is cheap army surplus by and large. Boots excepted, they were worth spending good money on. 'NATO standard issue' is my favourite brand.
I am just going for a walk mind you. Not into camping.
Lorca
Call in Sick Tomorrow
forgot i posted this! what a gorgeous area the scottish borders is, full of history, i highly recommend a visit
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heinous seamus
Perfect in an empty room
How long did it take you in the end?
UnderOpenSky
baseline neural therapy
I've enjoyed playing with a new phone running in the evenings recently.
Lorca
Call in Sick Tomorrow
Best part of three weeks! Feet were in a right state by the end, but beautiful place. Had everything from sub zero temps to blazing hot. Next on the wishlist is either the kungsleden or the cape wrath trail.
chilango
Hypothetical Wanker
kebabking
Not a Girly Swot, but I like them....
it looks like Go Outdoors are in trouble - they've had a 'website problem' for several months which means than nothing ordered online actually arrives, but they take the money anyway, and they've stopped taking phone calls and on doing emails only, except they aren't replying to those either.
if you go instore its all looking a bit Soviet - whole ranges/brands are just missing with empty shelves everywhere. the gossip appears to be that the parent company, JD Sports, have stopped them ordering stuff from the big brands like Berghaus, Paramo etc.. and forced them to flog off a load of low end tat that JD Sports had clogging up their warehouses instead. it is of course quite possible that those same big companies have decided not to continue providing stuff to GO because they are having the same problem getting money out of them that unhappy customers are...
i poped into the one in Kidderminster last week and they had no gas cannisters, and no food packets from either Wayfarer or Adventure food, and a very limited supply of OS maps - and thats just the stuff i took an interest in.
GO Outdoors is rated "Poor" with 4.6 / 10 on Trustpilot
i'd probably reccommend avoiding them for the moment...
if you go instore its all looking a bit Soviet - whole ranges/brands are just missing with empty shelves everywhere. the gossip appears to be that the parent company, JD Sports, have stopped them ordering stuff from the big brands like Berghaus, Paramo etc.. and forced them to flog off a load of low end tat that JD Sports had clogging up their warehouses instead. it is of course quite possible that those same big companies have decided not to continue providing stuff to GO because they are having the same problem getting money out of them that unhappy customers are...
i poped into the one in Kidderminster last week and they had no gas cannisters, and no food packets from either Wayfarer or Adventure food, and a very limited supply of OS maps - and thats just the stuff i took an interest in.
GO Outdoors is rated "Poor" with 4.6 / 10 on Trustpilot
i'd probably reccommend avoiding them for the moment...
chilango
Hypothetical Wanker
kebabking
Not a Girly Swot, but I like them....
oh they are - some of the stuff they sell is awful crap, and no cheaper than stuff that actually works, their 'amazing offers' are no better than what everyone else sells it at most of the time, and i'm astonished (appalled) that the Advertising Standards Agency doesn't go after them for RRP that no else else sells it at, or indeed no one else sells it. i'd never buy something important there like boots - nor Cotswolds - but if you need a daysack, some gas, a map, some socks and a stuff sack, and your nearest decent gear shop is an hour away, they have a use.
Sports Direct without the three stripe...
UnderOpenSky
baseline neural therapy
I like Go Outdoors. They price match anything you find online and knock another 10% off. Plus you aren't paying postage. Ive been to the counter and pulled out 3 different websites for the different things I'm buying.
kebabking
Not a Girly Swot, but I like them....
The shiny fairy has visited, and brought me a rather exquisite pair of Alt-berg Nordkapps..
Took about a km to bed in, but now they fit like gloves. After several, doomed-to-failure, attempts to get decent boots that fit me by being idle and on the internet, I took the plunge and got a proper boot fitting done.
The Outdoor Depot in Church Stretton were excellent. Bloke who owns it is called James and there's nothing he doesn't know about bone structure, tendons, collapsing arches. Good selection of boots - and it's next to the fantastic Long Mynnd...
kebabking
Not a Girly Swot, but I like them....
Very nice!
We're there this weekend. Got a wedding on the Saturday in Bishops Castle(?) and thought we'd go up early and do Long Mynd on Friday. Will check out that shop
Fantastic location. The Castle in BC is an amazing pub/hotel, Cardingmill valley at Long Mynnd is great for paddling, swimming and the cakes at the NT shop are excellent.
Ash Hollow is gorgeous as well.
baldrick
hmmmmm
We're staying at Mellington hall, there appears to be a dearth of accomodation in Bishops Castle itself. Presumably family booked all the available rooms! Still, should a good weekend, have never been to Shropshire and now I'm beginning to wonder why. Hopefully the hangover on Sunday will be minimal and will have time to check out a bit more of the area.
UnderOpenSky
baseline neural therapy
They are lovely.
I've been on a gear buying spree. Paramo Valez arrived today and I've got a Palm Cag on order from a place I'm working, so paying trade for that. Both appropriate for this summer.
I've also bought second hand a Bell Voodoo paddle. It's a carbon blade with a wooden shaft. Can't even find an equivalent in the UK new. Still a £100 battered, but they are going for close to 300 dollars on US sites!
UnderOpenSky
baseline neural therapy
Next job is spending more money getting the canoe ready for its trip to Scotland. Had it a few years now, but not had the use it deserves and this will be its longest trip to date as well as the hardest. It will also be the longest exped style camping trip I've done in many years. Probably over a decade which is kinda scary.
What's actually vexing my slightly at the moment is finding a cheap roof rack for the mondeo as it doesn't have rails.
What's actually vexing my slightly at the moment is finding a cheap roof rack for the mondeo as it doesn't have rails.
UnderOpenSky
baseline neural therapy
Can anyone spot what is wrong with this photo?
UnderOpenSky
baseline neural therapy
Wouldn't put it past them.
baldrick
hmmmmm
how long have you got?
UnderOpenSky
baseline neural therapy
Bloody waterproofs. I ordered a Palm Cag through a center I do some work for and got it yesterday when I went in. Couldn't have been a better day for it. Driving rain out on the lake and it kept me comfy and dry.
Except my waterproof trousers have now chosen to give up the ghoast. TBF they don't owe me a lot as I've had them a while, but seem to have bought a lot of kit these few months. I'm sure the inland revenue won't mine their replacements going on my tax return, but am always slightly nervous it may look like i'm taking the piss.
Except my waterproof trousers have now chosen to give up the ghoast. TBF they don't owe me a lot as I've had them a while, but seem to have bought a lot of kit these few months. I'm sure the inland revenue won't mine their replacements going on my tax return, but am always slightly nervous it may look like i'm taking the piss.
LDC
On est tous des pangolins
I hate wearing waterproof trousers. They never fit right and are often sweaty and horrible to wear. Has to be proper pissing it down for me to wear them (and if I can't avoid going out) and I think the NZ idea of shorts and gaiters in pissing rain is usually the better option.
Although I've just bought a pair of these as they get great reviews and really needed a pair, and even though I've only tried them on in the house they're really good, feel much more like softshell, alright against the skin, and even look so OK they could pass as normal(ish) trousers. Not too expensive either. Plenty of reviews out there if you have a look.
Kinetic Alpine Pants
UnderOpenSky
baseline neural therapy
They look very similar to the Mamut softshells I indulge in. As you say waterproof trousers are for when it's proper pissing it down or when you are quite static. They definetly work best with a very light softshell trouser underneath.
I actually got about 5 years out of my last pair and they very cheap compared to my jackets, so think I'll just replace like for like...
https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/15896337/berghaus-deluge-waterproof-overtrousers-regular-15896337
