Did you know that May is National Walking Month here in the UK? It’s a reminder to us all of the benefits of getting out and going for a walk, no matter how brief.
What can really help is having the right gear to make your walking experience as comfortable as possible.
Our walking boots gear guide gives information on finding appropriate footwear for walking and there’s our guide to waterproof jackets too. And you can find out more about National Walking Month here.
Meanwhile, here’s a round-up of some of the kit you might end up considering as essential for your outdoor walking activities when on your static caravan holidays, no matter how far you choose to roam.
Top walking gear buying tips
- Remember the mantra: Any fool can be uncomfortable. Get products that you know will enhance your walking experience. There’s always room for a bit of style, but practicality and comfort are foremost.
- You’ll always get good advice from any specialist outdoor retailer. The best ones will soon understand any specific needs of yours and be able to demonstrate some helpful walking gear.
- Check out washing and cleaning instructions… a properly maintained walking kit will always perform better than anything that’s left unclean.
Star Player 1
Keela Kintyre
Choose your walking jacket carefully. Make sure you know the difference between waterproof and rain resistant, for starters. The first will protect you from all wet conditions but you might find you get too hot in other weathers.
The Kintyre from Keela is available in men’s and women’s designs and boasts waterproof and windproof qualities thanks to its unique Rainlife 5000 fabric, which also has high wicking capabilities to take wetness away from the skin.
Another tip. Jackets for women are often sized for a comfort fit, whereas you might prefer a looser fit so you can add layers of clothing underneath as well as not restricting movement. For the Kintyre, if you’re usually a size 12 you therefore might want to try a 14. There’s a full range of sizes on offer here for the men’s and women’s versions, with colour choices for both, too.
Note the longer cut for the Kintyre, which means that bit more protection. For more warmth, you could zip in one of Keela’s own fleeces.
Key features Waterproof/windproof, breathable and high wicking, wired and peaked roll-away hood, zipped hand pockets with storm flaps, two-way front zip with double storm flap, map pocket, shockcords for adjustment of hood/waist/hem
Expect to pay £94.95
Star Player 2
Páramo Bentu Fleece/Windproof Jacket
Layering up is a great way of monitoring your own body heat when out walking on your static caravan holidays – a combination like the Bentu Fleece and Windproof being a great example. When worn together, you can still access the pockets of the fleece, for instance.
The fleece also makes for ideal everyday wear as well as when you’re out walking. It too has a DWR (Durable Water Repellent) finish to its stretch fabric.
The Bentu Windproof is a top layer that is windproof as well as giving a bit of rain resistance. It’s lightweight and breathable, with a stow-away hood and two chest pockets.
Both products are available in men’s and women’s variants and a good choice of sizes and colours. Shown here are the men’s Fleece in Midnight and Windproof in Blue.
Key features Fleece: Nikwax Duology fabric, two-way front zip, zipped hand pockets, chest pocket for maps etc. Jacket: Nikwax Windproof fabric
Expect to pay £130 (Fleece) £130 (Windproof)
Star Player 3
Darn Tough Critter Club Micro Crew Lightweight Hiking Socks
Sadly, the socks we buy for normal daily wear these days will wear out much quicker than in previous times. It’s often a similar story when it comes to so-called walking socks.
That’s certainly not the case here, with Darn Tough really living up to its name. The Vermont, North America-based company made its first socks in 2004 and it’s been backing its products with a lifetime guarantee ever since.
Today’s portfolio extends to a massive range of styles, colours, sizes (women’s, men’s and children), weights and fabrics, covering off a wide selection of activities, too. And their designs can be fun, as you can see here.
The Women’s Critter Club variant here comes in five designs and four sizes. Micro Crew refers to their low height (19cm form heel to cuff), while Darn Tough recommend them for use with hiking boots, hiking shoes and trail runners.
They’re made from merino wool which provides a natural wicking action, taking moisture away from your feet and keeping them fresh as well as dry.
They also have a cushion design that features soft terry loops underfoot and around the ankle and heel.
Why superior socks for walking? Get the right products and they won’t slip or bunch, they’ll also keep you blister-free because they won’t rub in the wrong places.
Key features 43% merino wool/54% nylon/3% Lycra Spandex, unconditional lifetime guarantee, machine washable
Expect to pay £28
Star Player 4
Komperdell Explorer Zero walking poles
No matter what level of walking you do – trips across the holiday park to extended hiking and beyond – you’ll benefit from the use of walking poles. They can improve your balance, help overall stability and reduce stress on your knees, hip and back. Austria’s Komperdell has been making such products since 1922 and is widely considered a leader in the field.
The Explorer Zero poles here are part of its Trekking/Trail range. They’re made from superior quality aluminium and are adjustable for length, also coming with foam grips. Its vario basket system allows you to adjust between summer and winter use. For walking poles, baskets are the plastic inserts that prevent them sinking too far into the ground.
Key features Adjustable from 105cm-140cm, packed length 65cm, forged aluminium locking system, weight 237g, three-year free repair service
Expect to pay £105
Star Player 5
Nikwax Hiking Kit
Your walking products will certainly last longer – and perform better – if they get a bit of TLC. Nikwax is a major brand in that respect, claiming global leadership in PFAS-free (i.e. synthetic “forever chemicals”) aftercare treatments for outdoor gear.
Its Hiking Kit comprises a footwear cleaning gel, branded brush and spray-on waterproofer. The gel is designed for breathable, waterproof footwear and won’t leave hydrophilic (i.e. water-attracting) residues. It’s suggested for regular use to revitalise water repellency and breathability.
The Fabric and Leather Proof is simple to apply, air drying naturally to provide a DWR (Durable Water Repellency) finish that still allows breathability.
Sold separately, Nikwax’s Footwear Refresh will eliminate odours and deodorise as well as cleaning away any build-ups of dirt and body oils. This, in turn, will help prolong the life of your footwear.
You’ll find Nikwax products in all leading specialist outdoor retailers.
Key features 125ml Footwear Cleaning Gel, 125ml Fabric and Lether Proof
Expect to pay £10.99 (Fabric and Leather Footwear Kit)/£3.99 (Footwear Refresh 125ml)
Star Player 6
Buff Merino Lightweight Neckwear
You wouldn’t think such a small product could make such a difference… Meet the company that’s pretty much covered the market for neckwear… so much so its name has become synonymous with such products.
The Solid Poppy here is one of 17 colours in its Merino Lightweight range. It’s in 100% ethically sourced merino wool and Buff says it’s ideal as a base layer in cool weather. It’s a natural fabric that offers excellent temperature regulation and its fibres stop any bacterial growth that can lead to bad smells; and it’s reckoned to be six times more durable than cotton. It’s also a seamless tubular construction with a natural stretch to it, so there are no potential rubbing points.
Sized for adults, it will protect your neck from sun and wind as well as colder temperatures.
Key features 125gm2 merino wool, hand wash only
Expect to pay £22.95
Star Player 7
Humangear GoToob
If you just want to carry a small amount of liquid with you (to keep things lighter, perhaps) in a leakproof container, something like this could prove ideal.
GoToobs are made from soft, squeezable silicone (so you won’t have to worry about glass breaking, for example). They’re also reusable and can be used for all kinds of liquids, including medicines, and can be especially helpful where you don’t want to be burdened by a heavy weight. The collar is textured so you can write on it.
Available in Small (53ml), Medium (74ml) and Large (100ml) individual size as well as in multi-packs.
Key features Silicone construction, FDA food-safe, BPA-free, Phthalate-free, removable cap, dishwasher safe
Expect to pay £9.99 (Medium)
Star Player 8
Stanley Café to Go Travel Mug
A bit of liquid refreshment when you’re walking can make all the difference. Better still if you can choose between keeping things hot or cold.
Stanley’s Café to Go Travel Mug comes in three sizes and includes a two-piece lid that’s totally leakproof. Stanely reckons it can keep drinks hot for up to four hours or chilled for up to 24 hours.
There are three sizes (0.47l, 0.35l, 0.23l) and up to a dozen exterior colours to choose from.
Key features Recycled stainless steel base with double-wall vacuum insulation, Dimensions 77.6mm diameter x 190mm, weight 290g, dishwasher safe, lifetime warranty
Expect to pay £30 (0.35l)
Star Player 9
Berghaus Omeara long jacket
Here’s another long jacket promising full waterproof protection as well as being shaped for style. Berghaus uses its own Hydroshell 2L fabric to keep the Omeara breathable as well as waterproof. It’s pretty lightweight, too – typically a size 12 is around 590g. Sizes are 8-20 in a choice of four colours (pictured here is the Red).
Key features 100% polyester shell with 100% polyurethane membrane, 100% polyamide lining, adjustable hood, storm flaps, two-way main zip, double cuff design with internal elasticated cuff, free repair service
Expect to pay £175
Star Player 10
Lifesystems Trek First Aid Kit
Well, you would take a first aid kit with you on your walks if you could, wouldn’t you? Here’s a solution, as you can probably guess from its name, Lifesystems provides a huge range of first aid kits covering all kinds of scenarios, with the Trek here providing all you need for treating cuts, grazes, blisters and more in a pack that can be tucked away in a backpack or looped onto a belt.
Items included range from plasters to dressings and bandages, saline wipes, safety pins, tweezers, scissors and more.
Key features 31 individual items, total weight 240g, dimensions 140mm x 110mm x 50mm, integrated belt loop, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award recommended
Expect to pay £19.99
Star Player 11
Diveblues JetForce fans
Wow, talk about a storm in a teacup. This might be the tiniest of hand-held fans, but it delivers a real blast of cooling air when you most need it. That’s anywhere!
It’s rechargeable and has a six-blade design that can deliver wind speeds up to 10m/s and 13,500rpm via five settings. You can also get up to 12 hours of cooling between charges – check it via the LED display. It’s also incredibly light.
Use it in three ways – handheld; around the neck; or free-standing on a flat surface.
Key features Dimensions 17.02cm x 5.59cm x 4.57cm, weight 190g, supplied with neck strap, USB portal, three-phase brushless motor, compatible with laptops, power banks, car chargers etc
Expect to pay £22.95
www.diveblues.com and www.berryuseful.co.uk
Star Player 12
Jack Wolfskin Litestride
A 3-in-1 jacket like this is a great way of being prepared for all weather conditions and temperatures. Here’s a great example from Jack Wolfskin, using recycled materials that also give it a particularly light weight which, in turn, also makes it all the more feasible for walking, whatever the weather.
Its design comprises a waterproof and windproof jacket with a removable inner that can be used on its own as a fleece. It fixes into the jacket using three press studs.
Sizes are S through to 3XL (men’s) and XS to 2XL (women’s) and there are two colour choices – Midnight Sky (dark blue) or Oyster (light brown).
Key features Made from recycled polyester (jacket)/100% polyester (lining), two-way zip and zipped hand pockets, adjustable fixed hood, water repellent zips, 20,000mm hydrostatic head rating, windproof, typical weight 0.58kg/0.49kg (size L men’s/women’s)
Expect to pay £250
Over to you…
Got any advice on gear for walking when on your static caravan holidays? Feel free to add your comments below.
