“The cool stuff isn’t for you”: gear offerings for girls

I had a great time at the Telegraph Outdoor Adventure and Travel Show this weekend. I saw loads of innovation, sampled lots of energy food and had an excellent climbing masterclass thanks to DMM.

However, I was also slightly disappointed throughout the day as I enquired about gear available for women at various stands. One of those stands that I was particularly drawn to was Jöttnar with their beautiful branding and “conquer giants” motto.

But then I saw the sales rep’s face drop as I asked that question: “what’s your range for women like?”

The conversation that followed went something like this:

“Erm, quite small, we only offer down, mid layer and accessories.”

“No shells?”

“No, most women just buy the men’s version in a size smaller as long as it fits their hips. We’ve kept the colouring gender neutral to allow for this.”

“That’s a bit unfair.”

“Well, we have to think about the commerciality of the range. We do have three athletes though, one of which is female, and she gives us great feedback.”

“Oh, right.”

At that point I went back to my friends who were ogling salopettes. You always think of something better to say after an encounter, and I’ve been pondering about Jöttnar over the past few days.

To me, whenever brands offer such a limited female range compared their male one, it sends the message of “the cool stuff isn’t for you.” It just feels like they’re saying “put the ice axes down, step away from the crampons and wait until summer when you can go on an amble.”

How do you know making full female range isn’t commercial if you don’t even offer us the chance to buy the gear in the first place?

Furthermore, “just buy the male one in a size smaller” doesn’t sit very well with me. The rep even said himself “as long as it fits the hips.” And that’s the problem here – my body is very different to a man’s body of the “same size.” My hips are probably bigger than his whilst my shoulders narrower. I go in more at the waist and I’m probably going to need a bit more room at the front of a jacket to cater for the female anatomy.

If I’m spending £450 on a shell, I’m not going to settle for shoddy fit. For that amount of money I want impeccable tailoring so I’d head straight to other premium brands (like Haglofs, Mountain Equipment or Arc’teryx,) who actually understand that women’s bodies are different.

The isn’t the first time I’ve had a good moan about the gear on offer for women, and it most probably won’t be the last. This isn’t a personal attack on Jöttnar – they’re not the only ones. I’m just really fed up with being treated as inferior when it comes to the outdoors because I’m female. #GirlsGoAdventuringToo and girls conquer giants too.

Fashion Friday: Nike Flash

On my drive home from work the other week I nearly ran over a jogger. It was dark, she was wearing all black and ran into the road from no-where. Winter is well and truly here, with the nights drawing in earlier and earlier. If running in the dark, it is so important to stay safe by being seen.

However, reflective clothing isn’t known for being trendy. Many people refuse to wear it because it can look hideous. Now Nike has come up with a fabulous solution. Nike Flash:

Nike Flash is a range of reflective and water resistant running clothes, ideal for running in those winter months. The range is awesome – snazzy as well as safe. My favourite item has to be the Women’s running tights.

Left to Right: Nike Shield Flash Max Women’s Running Jacket (£350) // Nike Flash Women’s Running Tights (£90) // Nike Free 5.0 Flash Women’s Running Shoe (£100)

Karrimor Xlite Reflective Tights Ladies (£19.99)

If I had a spare £90, I’d snap up a pair of the running tights in an instant. Unfortunately I don’t, so I’ve been eyeing up the Karrimor equivalent instead. But they’re no-where near as striking.

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What do you think of Nike Flash? Have you come across any awesome reflective clothing?

Intrigued by the Rise of High Street Fashion Sportswear

It wasn’t long ago when a baggy t-shirt and an old pair of tracksuit bottoms was acceptable attire for a run. Nowadays I must see at least one lycra clad cyclist on my drive to work everyday.

Recently there has been a massive boom in people’s interest in fitness – my local leisure centre apparently can’t keep up with the demand for exercise classes.  I’m no business expert, but I’m sure social media, technology and increased interest in healthy eating all have a part to play. This has had a dramatic effect on what we’re all wearing whilst we’re active.

There’s always been the gear junkies out there who meticulously research every new technology that comes along. There’s also those people with all the gear and no idea. But especially for women, sportswear seems to be taking a turn towards fashion over function. This year, many high street fashion retailers have introduced a sportswear/activewear line and I’m starting to wonder if this stuff is any good.

H&M seem to have one of the most comprehensive offerings. The website even has the option to narrow it down by category, including outdoor. Here’s a few items that caught my eye:

1. Padded Lightweight Jacket £29.99 – I saw this item in store the other day and it looks fairly good quality. Would be intrigued to see how it performs.

2. Softshell Jacket £34.99 – Softshells from outdoor brands can be very pricey. Once again would be very intrigued how this performs against them.

3. Outdoor Trousers £34.99 – I’m still on the quest to find the perfect pair of hiking trousers. I like the look of the fit of these from the website, and I’m wondering from the ‘water repellent’ description whether these are actually softshell.

But it’s not just at H&M – activewear lines are popping up everywhere:

1. Mango Yoga Relaxed Plush Shorts £17.99 – I’ve seen “yoga shorts” starting to appear from place to place but I have no idea what they are or why they are different from normal shorts.

2. New Look Dark Grey Workout Vest £9.99 – It seems as if you can pick up ‘technical’ tops from anywhere these days. Does the price reflect a difference in quality?

3. Forever 21 Medium Impact Strappy Back Sports Bra £11.50 – I’m really sceptical of how much support crop top style “sports bras” actually offer, especially if the sizing scale is xs to l. I’ve found that when ever I’ve tried on a sports bra without under-wiring, it’s been useless.

4. Forever 21 Runner Athletic Ankle Socks £2 – These would make a great gift.

5. Fat Face Activ88 X-Front Running Leggings £45 Now  £20 – I bought a pair of these in a different colourway in a sale earlier in the year. They’re super comfy and I was really impressed with the length. They were great to climb in.

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How much effect does our attire have on our performance? Wearing Lycra won’t turn you into Bradley Wiggins. I’ve had people come into the shop before, demanding that their child must have high-wicking tops for their D of E so that they don’t get hypothermia. I did mine in t-shirts. Yesterday, I even went for a walk in a New Look skirt *shock horror*.

After looking at some of the details of this so called “sportswear”, I often can’t see any significant difference between the items and normal t-shirts or leggings, apart from the sporty colourways. I think that the area I’m most concerned with is footwear – a £12 pair of Asda trainers may be alright for a P.E. lesson but if you’re hitting the gym or going for a run every day then you’ll probably want something that actually suits the shape of your feet.

I understand that by putting sportswear in a fashion store, it’s making it more accessible. Firstly, it can be cheaper than specialist items which means that people aren’t put off by having to invest in an expensive pair of trainers. Also, many people who are deciding to take the plunge into some kind of activity might not feel comfortable going to a specialist sports shop in fear of being judged or feeling inferior. By having sportswear in a fashion shop or supermarket, it normalises it.

But I’m also worried about our obsession with how we look whilst we work out. I understand that if we feel we look good, then we are more confident and less self concious. But I’m one of those people who sees no point in wearing make up whilst doing sport. If I go on a two day hike then I expect to come back a bit smelly and looking a bit worse for wear. I’m being active for the sake of being active, not to make some kind of fashion statement.

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Recently I’ve also noticed this effect inverted too – with outdoor and active brands being worn as a fashion statement themselves. Everyone seems to have a pair of Nike trainers and North Face jackets and gilets seem to spread like the plague.

I’m really intrigued to see how the trend plays out…

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What do you wear when exercising? How do you think high street activewear compares to well known brands?

July Round Up

How did August creep up that fast? The end of June and the start of July saw some big changes for me. But since then I’ve slipped into a hectic routine, predominantly centred around work.

What I’ve been up to:

In a nutshell: work. I’ve been trying to work as much as I can. As an outdoor activity instructor, August is one of the busiest times of year. But I love what I do. I’ve been spending some of my days off working in an outdoor shop so busy busy busy.

I did have a bit of a break last weekend though, going to two festivals in one weekend – the Cambridge Folk Festival followed by the Y Not? festival in the Peak District. At the age of 22, these were the first festivals I’ve ever been to (except for the local beer festival)… more to follow on them later.

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What I’ve been living in:

The North Face Horizon Valley Convertible Pants – because I’ve been at work so much, I’ve spent recently spent the majority of my time in these. They’re super comfy and come in ‘long’ length 🙂 The zip offs have been so useful in the typically British weather, along with the sun protection and quick dry properties. Worth every penny.

Culottes – When I haven’t been at work I’ve been chilling in culottes. I love them – they look like a skirt but they’re actually shorts, so no more awkward Marilyn Monroe moments. Genius. They’re ideal for festivals and I’ve recently invested in a pair of strawberry print culottes from boohoo. So summery.

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Gear I’ve been eyeing up:

Since I’m trying really hard to save, I need to stop buing uneccessary gear. However I’ve been eyeing up Mammut Ally Pants. Ideal for winter and reduced to £40 from £110, I’ve been rather tempted.

Mountain Warehouse Bivvy Bag – I’ve been looking to upgrade my bivvy bag to something that isn’t a bright orange survival bivvy. I was a bit miffed as I saw these in store but they weren’t available online, since I have a 25% off online only code. However, I was assured that they should soon be back in stock.

Haglofs Womens Vertigo II Q GT Approach Shoe – My approach shoes are currently falling apart so I’ve started to research a new pair. The fact that these lovelies are bright purple has nothing to do with my gravitation towards them.

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What I’ve been nibbling on:

Dried mango. I love mango, but I find its a rather expensive fruit. (Apart from at the suspiciously cheap greengrocers at the seaside where you can get 6 for £1.) A bag 100g bag of dried mango will set you bach £2.49 in Holland and Barrett. However, I have recently discovered that Poundland sell 100g bags (no prizes for guessing the price.) Win 🙂

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What I’ve been reading:

Tales of Ancient Egypt by Roger Lancelyn Green –   I picked this up for 50p from a charity shop, mainly because of its very portable size. Its an excellent book to travel with because it’s is comprised of short stories and is very easy to read. It is also something a bit different – I know my Greek and Roman mythology pretty well from my History degree, so Egyptian was a very welcome change.

Travelling with Pomegranates by Sue Monk Kidd and Ann Kidd Taylor – This is my less casual read, which requires a bit more focus. I’ve been trying to dedicate more time to reading for leisure but need to try a bit harder. I haven’t got that far with this book yet but I’m not quite sure how I feel about the way it’s written. Nevertheless, travel book relating to Greek mythology, I’m there.

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Excellent online reads:

Running Drawing – Claire uses Nike + to draw pictures when she runs. Her blog made its way onto my follow list straight away.

Be a Better Photographer in Under 30 Minutes (As the Bird Flies) – I thought that this post was excellent because it was honest and simple. Many a time has a friend tries to explain to me the mysteries of capturing a photo and half of the time it goes straight over my head. Frankie gives bitesize but informative chunklets of advice that any simpleton can follow.

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What I’ve been listening to:

One of the best things about music festivals is discovering new music. One of my favourites from Y Not was Beans on Toast. We weren’t planning on watching him, but heard his set from our tent. We were so glad that we did. Here’s one of the songs I think you’ll appreciate:

To the Guys… FYI #GirlsGoAdventuringToo

Photo Credit: Stephen Rutt

Dear Outdoorsy Men,

Some of you are amazing – you’re lovely, respectful and all round good eggs. Some of you are not. Some of you are sexist arseholes and I’m fed up with having to put up with you.

At work a few months ago I was chatting to a male colleague, who said something along the lines of “we don’t really need feminism anymore, everything’s equal.” This is a massive statement and many a person has spent an awful long time rebutting it. But one place in particular where sexism is still rife is in the world of outdoor pursuits.

I have to put up with your disrespectful attitudes every week at work. The guys who reject my offer of help, and then instantly take up my male colleagues. That guy who asked me whether I knew what I was on about and then took out his iPhone to Google to make sure. That customer who made up a jacket that didn’t exist and and said “Look, girl, it’s not that difficult…” to me in the most condescending of  tones. (Seriously, learn the difference between synthetic and down.) My former manager, who asked “are you sure you’re alright with that?” when I’m putting a bag on the shelf, followed by “are you done with the ladder now, I’ll put it away for you” when I’m still on it – it’s patronising, I may be small but I can do my job just as well as anyone else.

Just because I’m wearing nail varnish and massive earrings, doesn’t mean I don’t know what I’m on about. Like everyone, I have a few holes in my knowledge that I’m working on – I’m not that great when it comes to skiing (I’ve never been, we’re not a specialist snow sports shop and we only stock it for the season), but I can fit a backpack amazingly well.

I admit,  I can be a right girly girl sometimes. I love my hiking trousers, but when round town I’d rather wear a mini skirt, that’s just the way it is. I don’t feel that I should have to ‘be one of the lads’ to gain your acceptance.

Also, why do I have to mention that I sometimes sleep in a bivvy rather than a tent before you respect my interest in the outdoors? People can enjoy the outdoors at whatever level they like, that’s what’s so great about it. But don’t assume that the girls don’t do the gnarly stuff too – however good you think you are at an activity, there’s almost certainly a woman out there somewhere who will be better at it than you. Which leads to anecdote from another of my colleagues, she was giving advice on climbing gear to a customer who asked if she actually knew what she was on about. Turns out she had just returned from a climbing trip where he was headed to, and ended up giving him advice on routes. He actually apologised to her afterwards.

And the outdoor companies themselves can be just as bad. You’re getting pretty good at offering us technical gear, but you’re still lacking. Black Diamond, how come the guys get 120 garments to choose from whilst you offer the girls a measly 30? Girls need technical gear just as much as the guys do! Ellis Brigham frustrates me immensely when it comes to selection – when I went in their Covent Garden store, they stocked Haglofs and Mammut menswear, but not womenswear. And some of you companies just ignore us altogether. (Bear Grylls, I’m looking at you and your male only clothing range.)

Furthermore, some companies need to be reminded that womenswear isn’t just menswear that’s been “shrinked and pinked”. I don’t like feeling frumpy and I like outdoor gear that flatters – I’m still on my quest to find my perfect pair of hiking trousers. Is it too much to ask for outdoor clothing to fit well?

And then there’s the colours. Women’s kit usually comes in 3 colours – pink, purple or turquoise. Eventhough I’ve been told you now apparently hire designers specifically to appeal to women, many of them don’t seem to be able to branch out from this much over-used colour scheme.

Outdoor shops, please sort your stock issues out. In many of your stores men have double the choice that women have when it comes to technical waterproofs – we like to stay dry too, and we need a variety of different cuts and fabrics to choose from too.

Whilst on the topic of cuts and fabrics, lets get back to trousers. Women come in all different shapes and sizes, so how come when different leg lengths are actually offered, its usually regular and short? What about us tall girls? (We tend to have an advantage when it comes to climbing.) I’m not even that tall at 5.8″, so it really narks me off when your “long” trousers are too short for me (cough Craghoppers cough). How do the 6 ft ladies cope?

And that thing you really can’t take – when we’re better than you. One of my past boyfriends (who I taught to climb) even admitted to me that if he went into an outdoor shop he wouldn’t like to be advised about “manly things” by a woman.

Sort it out boys, because we’re here to stay.

#GirlsGoAdventuringToo

Fashion Friday: FieldCandy Tents

Picnic Perfect Tent £395

Today’s Fashion Friday is a little different – instead of beautiful outdoor clothing, I’m taking a look at some beautiful outdoor gear. FieldCandy is a fabulous UK company (yes to manufactured in the UK) that makes beautiful quirky tents.

Animal Farm Tent

Every bored of the monotony of tents today? Struggle to find your Vango Banshee amongst the countless others at the same campsite? Then maybe you should take a look at the stunning designs at FieldCandy. There’s so many to choose from that I’m struggling to pick a favourite.

Fully Booked Tent

And one of the best things about FieldCandy tents is that they have substance as well as style. There’s plenty of cheap pretty pop up tents on the market, designed for festival goers but lets face it – they’re a bit shit.  Composed of an inner and an outer layer, you won’t be getting wet in a FieldCandy tent.

The Inner Tent

A FieldCandy tent will set you back a bit, priced at £395, but they are so awesome!!! I’m definitely putting one at the top of my wishlist.

World’s Smallest Pub Tent

Poundland Finds – 8/4/14

I’m spending this week at home for the Easter break, and since I don’t really have a Poundland near me, I popped into the one in my hometown. Although I’ve seen a few recommendations online, I was still pretty surprised at the amount of outdoor bargains to be found and have decided to give some of them a go:

1. Sistema 400ml Aluminium Bottle – When I was in Australia, I saw Sistema homeware everywhere and it was usually very innovative. I haven’t really seen it since being back in the UK but I really like this bottle. It’s a great size, 400ml easily fits into a handbag and isn’t too heavy when full. I also like the fact it has a carabiner on the top.

2. Work It: The Complete Workout Package – Amazon tells me that this CD/DVD combination set is from 2004. I’m always on the look  out for new work out tunes and retro is sometimes best. I like that this collection is divided into sections such as high impact, stretching & relaxing and yoga & pilates. I’m also rather intrigued by the included DVD, especially the ‘Latin Dance’ section.

3. Outdoor Solutions Combination Torch – I haven’t heard of the Outdoor Solutions brand before so I’ve been wondering whether it is exclusive to Poundland. This torch was a bit of an impulse buy – pigs are my second favourite animals (after koalas) – but I’m sure it will be pretty useful.

4. Outdoor Solutions Foldaway Shovel – I’m planning on going camping later in the year so this could come in handy. That’s all I have to say about that.

5. Nivea Soft Rosé Lip Balm (RRP: £1.65) – I love lip balm, especially tinted ones. They’re especially essential in harsh weather, but I always seem to have at least one on me at all times. I’ll be interested to see how this one goes but I’m already slightly sceptical since it doesn’t seem to have any SPF.

6. Outdoor Solutions Cutlery Set – I used to have a similar set to this when I was in in the Air Cadets, but I have no idea what happened to it. Once again this will come in handy whilst camping later in the year.

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Ballroom Bargains: As well the outdoor bargains that I picked up, I couldn’t help getting a few bits for ballroom too. I’ve become a bit of a magpie when it comes to sparkly things lately so couldn’t resist the sparkly hair comb. I also picked up some Sinful Colours nail varnish in Social Ladder and a Rimmel Glam’eyes HD eye palette in Royal Blue (RRP: £6.99).

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What bargains have you managed to find in a pound shop?

Rediscovering Outdoor Bargains at T K Maxx

When I was younger I remember T K Maxx being the go to shop if I ever needed a formal dress (this was before I discovered ebay.) But I found it the most tiresome store – you really have to hunt for that gem, and many a time you would go home tired and empty handed. And soon enough I just stopped bothering all together.

I broke that trend today. I had some time to waste between a meeting with the dissertation supervisor and seeing a friend, so wandered into the Covent Garden store. I was so impressed that I also popped into the Charring Cross store as I was passing. The store still has the jumble sale feel that I remembered but once I managed to tear myself away from a Valentino gown, I found the activewear and outdoor section.

My expectations were pretty low, but what I was found was definitely a pleasant surprise. I was expecting the overload of Trespass and Regatta, but I wasn’t expecting to find Patagonia, The North Face, Merrell or Berghaus. I even came across some Goretex Active and Proshell jackets – one reduced from £250 to £75. (However I was disappointed with the way that they were security tagged – you get a nice new waterproof jacket with a hole in the sleeve. Sort it out T K Maxx – use your brains.)

One on the downsides of shopping in T K Maxx is you might find something fantastic in one size, but it probably won’t be available in anything else. (You will have a much more enjoyable visit if you are a size 14 than if you are a size 8.) So I decided to have a look on their website. The advantage of the website seems to be a much greater selection of sizes available as well as not have to go rummaging yourself – you have a handy search bar at the top of the page and can sort by size and price (none of this wrong hanger malarkey.)

The major downfall of the website is the the product descriptions. Whilst in store the items have their original labels with all of the technical info you desire, online many of the items don’t even have their original names, let alone product info. And since many of the items are from last season, you have to do some proper detective work if you want to know more.

Nevertheless, here are some of my favourite picks from the website:

1. Berghaus Blue Soft Shell Zip Up £36 RRP £85 (Save £49 – 57%) // 2. High5 Bottled Race Faster Set £8 RRP £18.13 (Save £10.13 – 55%) // 3. Asics Purple Running Jacket £19 RRP £60 (Save £41 – 68%) // 4. Icebreaker Purple Woolen Jumper £24 RRP £84 (Save £60 – 71%) // 5. Icebreaker Pink Bodyfit Baselayer £32 RRP £88 (Save £56 – 63%) // 6. Smartwool Black Mid Layer Zip Up £56 RRP £134.99 (Save £78 – 58%)

I think I’ll definitely stop ignoring T K Maxx anymore and start making more frequent visits to both store and website.

 

Fashion Friday: 9 Non-Floral Women’s T-Shirts

Recently I’ve been watching in anticipation as the spring/summer ranges creep into outdoor stores. One think I’ve noticed, as happens every year is that the menswear contains graphics of mountains and other adventurous outdoorsy things whilst the womenswear always features flowers, feathers and abstract patterns instead.

Why not just buy a male t-shirt if you like the pattern so much I hear you say? My response – I would like an adventurous t-shirt that fits. So I went on a bit of a hunt to seek out some non floral outdoorsy t-shirts for women:

1. Mountain Equipment Women’s Emotion Tee £25 // 2. Berghaus Women’s Ranges ARGENTIUM T-Shirt £26 // 3. Mountain Warehouse Great British Weather W0mens Tee-Shirt £9.99 // 4. The North Face Women’s Short Sleeve Save Me T-Shirt £25 // 5. Mountain Hardwear Women’s DrySpun Mountain Logo Short Sleeve T $35 // 6. Mountain Equipment Women’s Groundup Tee £40 // 7. Peter Storm Women’s Three Cycle T-Shirt £13 // 8. Sitka Women’s Outdoor Life T-Shirt £20 // 9. BMC Women’s Organic Lake Distrct T shirt £20.

(Please Note: all prices and links were correct at time of writing.)

No, your child does not NEED a Goretex jacket or merino wool base layers for their Bronze DofE

Source: Creative Commons

D of E practice expeditions must be soon underway because their has been an influx of 13 year old kids accompanied by their parents in the shop, demanding massive backpacks.

But I am slightly perplexed by some of their kit lists, and yes, I have seen one recommending Goretex jackets and parents insisting on merino wool base layers for their kids. When I did my Bronze D of E, many moons ago, I wore cotton t-shirts and some quick dry trousers I got for £10 in Tesco, and I personally can’t remember having any issues. I wasn’t even aware that technical clothing existed at the age of 13.

The outdoors may be free, but the gear can be bloody expensive. Firstly, I have been slightly bewildered that these families have been asked to buy this gear at all. I did both my bronze and silver Duke of Edinburgh awards with Air Cadets, and my squadron was able to lend me the rucksack, cooking equipment and tent. So I find it very hard to understand why D of E providers are making people buy these themselves. The Duke of Edinburgh award is meant to be an accessible scheme that allows kids to learn new skills, for some participants this will be the first and only time that they do anything like the expedition component. By demanding families spend on all of this kit which may never be used again, is putting a massive price tag on the scheme which means many disadvantaged kids won’t be able join in.

My parents weren’t particularly outdoorsy when I was younger, (they are now, the turning point seemed to be the dog,) so it was cadets alone that really sparked my love of the great outdoors as a teenager. When it came to kit, my mum was all too aware that this outdoor phase could just be a fad. So I want to highlight some budget kit that I bought 6-7 years ago that has served me well:

During a downpour on a cadet camp, probably in the Lakes, it became apparent that a cheap pac-a-mac was not going to cut it any longer. So we went to Millets and bought the cheapest waterproof that they had – a Peter Storm one on sale for around £50. It’s not pretty but it did the job. This jacket has gone places. It saw me through all subsequent D of E expeditions and and cadet camps including the Peak District, Lake District, Snowdonia and the Brecon Beacons amongst others. The jacket came with me to the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro and accompanied my trek to Everest Base Camp. I took it to the other side of the world with me and it served me well in over a year long stint in Australia and New Zealand. And I can’t say I’ve been kind to the jacket either – I’ve barely washed and waterproofed it so it was no surprise when the other month the rain seeped through during a downpour. Not too bad in my opinion – it’s only recently been retired and upgraded.

So if you are an anxious parent reading this, basic kit will do! Be savvy! You don’t have to kit your kid out in Arc’teryx from Ellis Brigham. Firstly, have a read of the official literature as well as whatever you D of E centre gives you, it offers some great advice. Also see what you can scrounge or borrow – you’d be surprised who has a tent or backpack in their garage. It may be worth looking into hiring some gear like tents – have a Google, there’s plenty of companies out there. Also don’t be afraid to buy fitness clothing from the likes of Matalan or Primark if every penny counts and some of the best places to pick up outdoor bargains are Mountain Warehouse and Field and Trek (although I am pretty choosy when it comes to Karrimor, and tend to mostly avoid it). The two areas that I would advise you to spend more on are boots and a backpack – take advantage of any free rucksack and boot fitting services in outdoor shops, these people know what they are on about. I’m hoping to write a commentary at a later date on how to get the official gear in the most cost effective way.

And if you are one of those D of E providers who demands families buy all of the kit themselves, do some fundraising and get some basic kit! Even if it is just a handful of backpacks and a few tents. Also, just because you may like to spend your holidays hiking in Patagonia of hanging from a crag in Thailand remember what the D of E expedition is about! Opening eyes and providing access to the great outdoors. You never know what it will inspire next.

The most important thing is having fun!