Explore more places using Ordnance Survey

Product/Skill: GPS/Navigation/Maps   Interest: Walking

If you're looking for somewhere new to go for a walk at the weekend - why not have a look at http://explore.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/. Not only is the explore portal on the Ordnance Survey website an ideal tool for planning and sharing routes, it is also totally free to use. See where other people have suggested where to gho walking or cycling or upload your own favourite routes - you'll never be short for an idea of where to explore next.

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Belt Attachments

Product/Skill: Travel Equipment   Interest: Walking

Keep a lightweight karabiner clipped to the belt of your walking trousers then anything with a belt loop attachment can be clipped on or off quickly and easily without the need to undo and remove your belt. No need to take the krab off when not in use as it will lay flat on your side naturaly if its leaned on.

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Get waterproof trousers on with ease

Product/Skill: Waterproof Clothing   Interest: Walking

Keep a plastic carrier bag with you, they weigh nothing and pack down small.

If you get caught out in the rain, put the bag over your foot and your waterproof trousers will slide on effortlessly!

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For the 'perfect boot fit'

Product/Skill: Hill Walking boots   Interest: Walking

To give us the best possible chance to get that 'perfect fit' try and follow as many of the following:

•   Come in with your favourite pair of walking socks- Better still consider a new pair (Treat your feet!) as we have all been guilty of wearing socks far beyond their used by date

•   Try to come in having spent time on your feet - ideally if you can go for a walk before coming into store your feet will be prime for fitting.

•   Allow plenty of time, there are no prizes for finishing quickly. Instead take time to make the right informed decision.

•   Check your nails don't need trimming, it is likely you will only get a little on the embarrassed side and they tend to get in the way ... all be it just a little.

•   Be sure not to come in with fresh or healing blisters - a foot in pain is never a good starting point for a boot fit.

Most importantly - have confidence in our abilities. All staff are given full footwear fitting inductions that have come out of our years of experience as a leading Outdoor specialist, all training is also followed up on a regular basis. Not only is training provided but staff are selected based on their experience as outdoor enthusiasts, meaning your not speaking to somebody who ‘talks the talk’ but has … walked the walk!

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Clever lacing...

Product/Skill: Hill Walking boots   Interest: Walking

When walking through areas with brambles/gorse/forest debris, tie your laces with a reef knot rather than a traditional bow. The latter tends to escape from the neck of the boot and the loops of the bow can become caught.

If you find yourself lacking a pair of ankle gaiters (or if your trousers are a little long and collect in a fold on top of your boot), run your laces in opposite directions around the outside of the boot neck before tying off. Tuck the remaining lace inbetween the tongue fold and the outer neck. You can then tuck the base of your trouser up under the loop of lace at the sides and back, which will give you a few extra inches of clearance to keep your trouser leg tidy and dry in short, wet grass and through shallow streams (anything taller/deeper and you really need a gaiter). The same can be improvised with an elastic band or a military-style 'trouser twist'.

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Icy Footpath?

Product/Skill: Winter Skills   Interest: Walking

If it's icy first thing in the morning, don't forget your magic spikers, no matter how short your walk to work ;-) It's the right time of year to leave them in the boot of your car, maybe with a warm coat, decent pair of boots - just in case

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Easy Compass Access

Product/Skill: GPS/Navigation/Maps   Interest: Walking

Use a retractable ski pass holder and attach your compass to it and attach the holder to the bottom of your rucksack. The compass will hang free and will be instantly accessible to use on your map and then retract back when you don't need it.

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Watch out for rope burn from boot laces!

Product/Skill: Hill Walking boots   Interest: Walking

When walking/climbing in the winter and you are tying your boots with cold hands, be careful not to pull too tight as you can easily get rope burn from wet laces as your numb hands won't feel the friction. Try getting used to tying your laces with gloves on...

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How to practise for (D of E) hikes

Product/Skill: Expedition/Route planning   Interest: Walking

If you are going to be off on a long walk with a heavy rucksack/ a walk living off your back go out for a walk for 1-1.5 hours with a bad full of filled water bottles much heavier than what you are going to carry, this will amke it easier to walk further with a lighter rucksack

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Walking poles as tripod

Product/Skill: Other Outdoor Equipment   Interest: Walking

I have got a pair of walking poles where you can screw off the top and replace it with a camera that has a standard tripod mount - great for cutting down on kit and still taking good photos!

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Take time to get the perfect fit

Product/Skill: Hill Walking boots   Interest: Walking

When your looking to buy a new pair of boots, put aside plenty of time to spend in store getting measured up and trying some on.
Remember, you might be walking for 8 or more hours in them in a day, so its worth spending time in them in store to make sure they are going to be right for you.

If your having problems finding the right pair, its well worth booking an appointment with your nearest store so you get a more personal fitting session.

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Rucksack Fitting

Product/Skill: Rucksacks/Luggage   Interest: Walking

When wearing a rucksack, your hips can take a greater amount of weight than your shoulders. With this in mind, whenever you wear a rucksack, try and keep 'most' of the weight travelling down your body and resting on your hips. Shrug up your shoulders, and then tighten the waistbelt. Try not to restrict breathing (!) but also ensure that it is comfortable. This way, your shoulders carry very little of the weight and your movement is not restricted. If you notice discomfort on the hips, swap the weight around by releasing the hip-belt slightly and tightening up the shoulder straps.

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Remove the cord from your compass and replace it

Product/Skill: GPS/Navigation/Maps   Interest: Walking

Ian Smith wrote: Remove the cord from your compass and replace it with a bootlace. Knot the end of the lace and loop it round the belt on your trousers or waist strap on your rucksac. Then pop the compass into your trouser or jacket pocket. The compass is always convenient to hand and you will never lose it.

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Buy a knitting counter from a wool shop. Attach

Product/Skill: GPS/Navigation/Maps   Interest: Walking

andy hodges wrote: Buy a knitting counter from a wool shop. Attach this (thread it) onto your compass lanyard (which are never long enough anyhow so repalce it with some thin accessory cord) and you have a great counter for pacing.

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ever walking in winter and realise you should have

Product/Skill: Winter Skills   Interest: Walking

charliem wrote: ever walking in winter and realise you should have got your walking axe off the back of your rucksack a while ago on flatter terrain?
before you set off, once you have your rucksack on slide the axe down between the shoulder straps and out to one side.
its rarely uncomfortable as you are wearing a few layers, and quick and easy to access without taking your rucksack off :)

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Replace shoe laces with para cord, which is much

Product/Skill: Other Outdoor Equipment   Interest: Walking

Miles Falkingham wrote: Replace shoe laces with para cord, which is much stronger than normal laces, and as the cord is made up of many cords it can be stripped down to provide about 6 times the length in survival cases.

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When winter walking that requires an overnight

Product/Skill: Crampons/Ice axes   Interest: Walking

Daniel Brooks wrote: When winter walking that requires an overnight camp bring an ice axe even if you know it will not be neccessary for the walking/climbing part of your trek - they can be v. useful for hacking into ground that may have been frozen for days to create a place to secure tent pegs.

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To prevent laces working up over the top of your

Product/Skill: Hill Walking boots   Interest: Walking

Dan Dennehy wrote: To prevent laces working up over the top of your boot and becoming loose on boots with hook-type eyelets, hook the laces through the final eyelet from the top. This allows the laces to be tied off in a position between the final and penultimated eyelets, keeping them nice and tight and preventing them from moving up

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If you need a new shoe lace and have forgotten to

Product/Skill: General Outdoor Skills   Interest: Walking

Will Sayer wrote: If you need a new shoe lace and have forgotten to bring a spare simply shorten your guy lines and use them.

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If you're map case is of the shiny plastic variety

Product/Skill: GPS/Navigation/Maps   Interest: Walking

colin henderson wrote: If you're map case is of the shiny plastic variety and isn't sticky, loop an elastic band around your compass. It makes it easier to use and read your map.

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When winter walking and crampons may be required -

Product/Skill: Winter Skills   Interest: Walking

Iain Coker wrote: When winter walking and crampons may be required - put your crampons and helmet on before you actually need them, preferably on safe level ground. Inevitably when it becomes a forced situation, you are on sloping ground, leaving you having to perform a delicate ballet to prevent yourself and or your kit disappearing downhill.

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When contemplating buying new boots, first clean

Product/Skill: Hill Walking boots   Interest: Walking

Iain Coker wrote: When contemplating buying new boots, first clean your old worn out boots and wash your favourite sock(s). Carefully wrap them up and take the to the shop in the late afternoon. When in the shop try on the new boots and compare them with the old ones in every concievable combination. You may get some strange looks, but being able to compare what you know feels good to something new should prevent the "For sale - hardly used" advertisment being required. Why late in the afternoon - your feet can swell by about half a size during the day.

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It is often easy to route find your way to the top

Product/Skill: Navigation/Map reading   Interest: Walking

Ian wrote: It is often easy to route find your way to the top of a hill but coming back down in limited visibility it is easy to go in the wrong direction. In poor viz check your descent heading with a map and compass: better to take a minute to do that than hours regretting it in the wrong valley later.

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When walking in wet weather always put your

Product/Skill: Waterproof Clothing   Interest: Walking

Doug Wilson wrote: When walking in wet weather always put your waterproof trousers on over your gaters: stops the water running down your between gater and trousers into your boots.

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On wet winter daywalks, especially if river

Product/Skill: Hats/Socks/Headwear   Interest: Walking

John wrote: On wet winter daywalks, especially if river crossings might be required - save weight by taking a spare pair of socks instead of a spare pair of gloves. If you lose your original gloves or they get soaked, you can use the spare socks on your hands as gloves - and they could also be use as spare socks.

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