Kit and Preparation
A small day-walk first-aid kit, plainly listed
A day-walk kit covers blisters, cuts and your own medicines. It does not replace a first-aid course or a call for help.
Kit and Preparation
Kit and Preparation
Gaiters: when mud makes them worth it
Gaiters keep mud and seeds out of your boots. On a dry lane they are clutter. Here is when to bother with them.
Kit and Preparation
How much water to carry on a day walk
There is no single bottle that fits every day. Start from the weather and the gaps between taps, then add a margin.
Kit and Preparation
Sun, glare and a brim on open summer hills
British hills can burn you on a bright day. A brim, shade at lunch and enough water matter as much as the waterproof.
Kit and Preparation
Paper map and phone: using both without fuss
A phone is a fine helper and a bad only map. Paper still works when the battery, the signal and the blue dot do not.
Kit and Preparation
Choosing socks for a long day on your feet
The right sock manages damp and seams. Cotton, wrinkles and a sock that slips will end a walk before the hill does.
Kit and Preparation
Stopping a blister before it stops the walk
Blisters are easier to prevent than to walk on. Fit, socks, a stop at the first hot spot, and a pharmacist if it worsens.
Kit and Preparation
What belongs in a hip-belt pocket
A hip-belt pocket should hold what you need without stopping. Everything else belongs in the sack, or at home.
Kit and Preparation
Walking poles or none: a fair comparison
Poles help some knees and some crossings. They hinder stiles, quiet wildlife and any path that needs your hands.
Kit and Preparation
Choosing Walking Boots: Fit, Break-In and Care
How to pick walking boots that fit: when to shop, what to test in the shop, how to break them in and how to look after them for years.
Kit and Preparation
Dressing for British Weather: A Walker's Guide to Layers
How to layer clothing for walking in changeable British weather: base, mid and outer layers, what to avoid and how to stay dry and warm.
Kit and Preparation
The Day Walker's Kit List for British Hills
What to carry on a day walk in British hills: navigation, layers, food, first aid and emergency items, without overloading your rucksack.