Topic: hiking kit advice (Read 12017 times)

Al Fresco · « **on:** October 03, 2011 »

As I am starting to backpack again after quite a few years I have to renew most of my kit and have a budget ie: can excuse it with my better half.
I am trying to get the best kit i can for as little as possible and would like some advice on the following;
Keela Munro jacket @ £119
KSB Peak event boot at £36
coleman bedrock 2 man tent @£30 (big 1 man tent)
Snugpak sleeper extreme sleeping bag at £36
MSR pocket rocket @£21

I have already managed to get everything else i need from field and trek, Amazon or tk maxx, for great prices and good quality products.

If anyone has used or owned any of these your advice or alternatives will be appreciated.

LandyLiam · « **Reply #1 on:** October 03, 2011 »

never tried any of the above but the boots sound like a bargain, even if they weren't the most comfortable i'm sure a good pair of socks would make the difference

hud · « **Reply #2 on:** October 04, 2011 »

Hey there! Good luck on building the kit back up again...its an expensive job!

Could maybe offer you an alternative on the tent - Coleman Cobra 3, brand new, pitched once in my garden and decided it was too big for my purposes - but a great large 2 man tent or 3 at a squeeze...

PM me if interested - on offer at £60

Oisín · « **Reply #3 on:** October 04, 2011 »

Never had any of the above, but I know I'm currently using a Coleman tent and its a great job.

You are on the right path with visiting TK maxx etc, bargains to be had.

RedLeader · « **Reply #4 on:** October 04, 2011 »

I'd ditch the Pocket Rocket for the Vango Compact. Is half the price and has served me well.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Vango-Compact-Stove/dp/B0039VOWUQ

LandyLiam · « **Reply #5 on:** October 04, 2011 »

Quote

I'd ditch the Pocket Rocket for the Vango Compact. Is half the price and has served me well.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Vango-Compact-Stove/dp/B0039VOWUQ

and i thought my trekmates volcano stove from tk maxx was a bargain at £10, and it didn't even come with the nice wee plastic box

twentyclicks · « **Reply #6 on:** October 04, 2011 »

An eVent boot for that price sounds amazing, but do make sure it fits as the others say!

The jacket looks heavy, but sounds like a good system - something like Paramo. Probably warm. The likes of the Marmot Aegis is a quality jacket around that price that would be a lot lighter if you just need a shell to throw on for downpours and stuff in the bag when the sun's out.

The Coleman tents are good, but that is heavy for the space and features. The Cobra is a lot better for £30 more. They have alloy poles, higher foot room, and Hud's 3man is a lot bigger for a little gain in weight. I've had a 2man for years and it's great.

The Snugpak bags are great value. Heavy, but everything is at that price. Of anything similar I'd have the Snugpak. You can get a better tent for a little more, but you'd pay 3x for a better sleeping bag, so this is probably your best option for now.

The Vango stove as the others have mentioned is basically a copy of the pocket rocket for half the price!

LandyLiam · « **Reply #7 on:** October 04, 2011 »

if you had to buy one expensive item i'd make it the jacket as you've done, its guaranteed to get used a lot in this country, and if it has plenty of big pockets then you can use it as a rucksack too

next i'd spend good money on boots, but i'm currently using a set of £50 goretex brashers, not luxurious but with a good sock it does the job and i haven't had any blisters

after that your really spending money to save weight, so buy cheap to keep you going then keep an eye on ebay etc for some quality gear at affoardable prices, and save something for the new shed to accomodate all this extra gear, it sort of builds up unexpectedly

dean1970 · « **Reply #8 on:** October 04, 2011 »

Boots boots boots!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So important in my opinion.

Yes clothes etc etc, but if you are not comfortable with the footwear your in trouble all day everyday. Get the best you can afford and prepare to save for that bit more quality, support and comfort. Make sure they are correct for the use and weight you will carry.

I thought I was mad buying my La Sportiva boots, never looked back. Great, but very very expensive.

Rumblebum · « **Reply #9 on:** October 04, 2011 »

Boots are a weird one to figure, but its where id put my money.
I had an idea of a boot that i was going to buy when i started to get into this malarky, I then went to cotswolds and got my eyes opened.
Its all about the shape and width of your foot, its got to be a snug fit, or as they explained to me and it makes sense, if its too loose, when your going downhill your toes are bashing off the front of the boot and theres only so much of that you can take untill it becomes unpleasant.
Although that may be more of a problem with a leather boot.
I use Asolo Fugitive GTX and i think they rock!!

Ive also got the coleman bedrock 3 man tent, which is a good tent but its ideally suited for 2 people, we had 3 of us stay in it one night on Rathlin, it was tight, i never realised how fluffy 'Whoryas' ears were!
Good tent all the same but i wouldnt want to carry it far.

whoRya · « **Reply #10 on:** October 04, 2011 »

Quote from: Rumblebum on October 04, 2011

Ive also got the coleman bedrock 3 man tent, which is a good tent but its ideally suited for 2 people, we had 3 of us stay in it one night on Rathlin, it was tight, i never realised how fluffy 'Whoryas' ears were!
Good tent all the same but i wouldnt want to carry it far.

Rumblebum · « **Reply #11 on:** October 04, 2011 »

LOL....... see what i mean, you could hang a tarp off those bad boys!

Fred · « **Reply #12 on:** October 05, 2011 »

Regarding the stove, I have the pocket rocket. Whilst it is light and compact, it has a very small burner head so you need to be careful not to burn the middle of your pot. A possible alternative might be the hi gear blaze, available for under £20 on ebay.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HI-GEAR-BLAZE-TITANIUM-GAS-LIGHTWEIGHT-STOVE-BRAND-NEW-/150667547286?pt=UK_SportingGoods_Camping_CookingSupplies_ET&hash=item23147c5296

fred

Tim · « **Reply #13 on:** October 05, 2011 »

I had the ksb peak event boot and found it to be really good. I bought it on a whim from amazon when they had it on sale for £20 with the opinion that if it didn't fit i'd just return them. When I got them I was a bit iffy but they started to break in fairly soon. They lasted me a good 2 years before they started to leak, and I did some serious mileage in them and never had any problems with them. When they did start to leak though, they really did leak but for £20, 2 years and probably a good few hundred miles I can't fault them.

clav · « **Reply #14 on:** October 05, 2011 »

tim, how are ya?? wot in the name of god did you waterproof them with? cos i bought a pair of ksb event 2 boots and the buggars have let all sorts of water in from their 4th outing!!!
for all the rest of the guys, thanks for your recommendations and reviews ( i know i really should have have introduced myself,but being shy i was waiting for a comment that i knew something about!!)

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Al Fresco

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LandyLiam

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hud

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Oisín

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RedLeader

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LandyLiam

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twentyclicks

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dean1970

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