Go for Quality Every Time

Outdoor clothing seems to be big business, these days. Every market in the UK has at least one stall dedicated to ‘outdoor’ gear, generally in khaki camouflage, aimed at all those paramilitary insurance salesmen who spend their weekends pretending they’ve skinned rabbits on the Brecon Beacons.

My advice? Don’t spend your hard earned cash on a whole range of cheap items that don’t do the job. Instead, take yourself off to a decent, specialist outdoor clothing shop where you can be guaranteed plenty of good advice from salespeople who know what they’re talking about.

Spend a bit of time browsing the range of clothing on offer – and, more importantly, try the clothes on. Don’t always head for the trendiest looking clothes, either – you’re going for practicality here, after all.

Don’t neglect comfort, either. That slightly too-tight waistband might prove a slight niggle at the time of purchase, but it’ll be a major pain when you’re half way up a mountain and it’s boiling hot.

To the horror of clothes shop owners, my mother always has a good tug at the seams of clothes to check the stitching. It embarrassed the life out of me as a child, but it’s a good lesson! Check the construction of the clothing before you buy. The last thing you need is a gaping seam in your clothing when the icy wind is howling across the plain!

Check that fastenings, such as buttons, are covered by an extra piece of fabric [known as a 'placket'] to make your garment more durable, wind and water proof.

Footwear is probably the one area where skimping on expense really will cost you dear. Go for the best quality that you can afford – cutting back on the cost of footwear is a false saving, and you could end up paying for it in the form of a twisted ankle, at the very least. You need solid, quality Brasher shoes that won’t slip or slide, and cushion and protect your feet in the right way.