Hiking & Climbing | Sports & Leisure Classifieds

With today's emphasis of a healthy lifestyle, both hiking and climbing have increased in popularity in recent years. The following seeks to provide guidelines to the purchase of appropriate, safe equipment for both activities.

HIKING BOOTS
The wrong type of hiking boots can lead to extremely painful blisters or even injuries, and bring a swift end to the enjoyment of the "great outdoors." When contemplating the purchase of hiking boots, careful consideration of the proposed hiking environment will allow the selection of boots with the appropriate degree of support and protection for the conditions.

Trail Shoes
For use in dry weather on established paths, trail shoes may prove to be ideal. They are appropriate for use for up to a day, whilst carrying only light equipment.

Waterproof Boots
For steeper, wet terrain or longer periods of hiking, waterproof boots are required. These give additional ankle support and stability.

Hiking boots should be chosen to suit the weight carried. The larger the amount carried, the greater the support required form the boots. Advances in material technology have meant that today's hiking boots are lighter than their previous counterparts, while still offering the same level of support. Whether boots are of all-leather construction, or from fabric and leather is a matter of personal preference. Leather boots are more durable and offer better protection, along with being breathable and water-resistant. Fabric / leather boots are lighter and easier to break in. In order to obtain the best fitting boots, try them on at the end of the day (your feet will be at their most swollen), wearing the socks generally worn when hiking. Polyester liner socks (to "wick" away moisture), along with heavy woollen socks, for cushioning, are recommended. New boots should be "broken in" over the course of a number of short hikes. It is essential to clean and waterproof boots regularly. Seams on leather boots can be problem areas as they become porous after a time. For boots with a Gore-Tex lining, use a silicon-based waterproofing treatment, as wax-based treatments stop the boots from "breathing."

HIKING CLOTHING
Hiking means dealing with rugged terrain and windy, often wet weather, so warm, waterproof clothing is vital. The most effective method is to wear various layers of clothing, starting with a layer of wool or a "wicking" synthetic fabric, next to the skin. This should be followed by one or more layers of wool or light fleece and perhaps a windproof top. For wet conditions, a waterproof jacket with an adjustable hood with stiffened brim will protect your face from lashing rain. Different combinations of layers can be used for different prevailing conditions. Other important points to bear in mind are:

1. The neck loses heat rapidly, so a high zipped collar is important.
2. Except in the hottest summer weather always carry a hat and gloves.
3. Thin "inner" gloves, followed by thicker, fleece-lined waterproofed mitts are the most efficient way of keeping hands warm.
4. Fleece-lined waterproof hats are excellent in cold weather.

OVERNIGHT CAMPING
For an overnight stay outdoors, several further items are required, predominantly a large rucksack, sleeping bag, tent and camping stove. A rucksack shouldn't be bigger / heavier than required, making up less than one-tenth of the total load. It should be able to hold all your kit, without becoming unbalanced on rough terrain. The sack will need to be lined with a waterproof bag.

Sleeping bags
Sleeping bags have down or synthetic fillings, each with pros and cons.

Down bags are:

Very Warm
Lighter
Less bulky
Durable
Expensive
Slow-drying
Lose their insulation properties when wet

Synthetic bags are:

Heavier
Bulkier
Less durable
Cheaper
Quick-drying
Retain much of their insulation properties when wet

Tents
One-man tents shouldn't weigh in excess of 4lb, while two-man tents shouldn't be more than 6lb.The "best" design depends on the application:
1. Single hoop tents are small and suited to solo use.
2. Tunnel tents have the best space : weight ratio and are stable if pitched into the wind.
3. Dome tents have plenty of headroom but lack stability.
4. Geodesic domes are stable but heavy.

Stoves
Camp stoves can run on bottled several fuels.
Gas stoves are lightweight, but petrol and paraffin are more effective in cold weather. Meths, while safe and quiet, gives out less heat than other fuels. Practise with the stove at home, to determine cooking times.

Other Essentials
Other necessary items are a reliable torch, first aid kit and compass.

CLIMBING EQUIPMENT

Footwear
Rock climbing shoes are tight-fitting with "tacky" rubber soles that mould to the shape of the rock, significantly enhancing grip. They are generally worn without socks. The primary differences in shoes are to do with ankle support and type of lacing. Ankle protection is in crack climbing where the ankles are most vulnerable. Fastening methods include traditional laces, Velcro and elastic. Climbing in icy conditions requires a rigid leather or plastic boot, combined with crampons, for solid footholds in ice and snow. As "mixed" climbing has developed, crampons have been developed with single front points, for use on rock as well as in ice. Rear facing points are available for more technical ice climbs.

Headgear
Again, as a result of improvements in material technology, helmets are lightweight, with improved aesthetic design. If whether you should be wearing a helmet, wear one anyway!

Climbing equipment has improved out of all recognition, from unwieldy, unreliable equipment, to "cutting-edge", lightweight kit, with strength in abundance. Common climbing equipment includes:

Karabiners
These are the so commonplace that they have almost come to symbolise climbing. A karabiner is simply a device to link to objects together. They are usually made from aluminium, but steel versions are still produced for certain uses. The two major types of karabiner are "screwgates" and "snaplinks." The gate of a Screwgate karabiner has an attached collar, which can be adjusted so that the gate cannot be opened. These are used in critical situations, where it is imperative that the gate is kept shut, such as in belays. Snaplink karabiners have no way of being screwed shut, and are the most commonly used. Snaplink karabiners come in either solid gate or wire gate versions, with the wire-gated version becoming the standard.

Ascenders / Descenders
A rope can be locked into place via an ascender or have its movement controlled without having the ability to lock it, via a descender. Ascenders are generally used to ascend a single rope. Various models exist, the more compact being used in emergencies only. Descenders allow the flow of rope in such as way as to allow a climber to easily control themselves (abseiling) or another person (belaying). They require only a small degree of strength.

Ropes
Nylon rope is available in popular lengths of 50-70 metres. Ropes can be either static (for abseiling) or dynamic (for lead climbing). For most applications, the elasticity of dynamic rope helps to absorb the force of any impact. Rope diameter is a critical factor. Dynamic rope is available in diameters between approx. 8-12mm. Ropes less than 10mm are designed for use in pairs, while rope 10.5mm and above in diameter can safely be used singly.

Harnesses
In days gone by, the choices in harness were "full body" or "sit" harnesses. Full body harnesses are now defunct, except for young children and aid climbers. The factors influencing the choice of harness are:

1. The ability to adjust leg loops (useful in winter).
2. Amount of padding (a comfort issue for long, steep climbs).
3. Number of gear loops (more for traditional climbing, less for "sport" climbing).

Today's harnesses are so lightweight that they will not influence climbing and all are equally safe.

SECOND-HAND EQUIPMENT
If contemplating the purchase of second-hand equipment, particularly for climbing, condition is vital (literally!). However, the climbing fraternity are generally responsible, and would be unlikely to sell any unsafe item to another climber. If in any doubt as to the safety of any item, DO NOT USE before seeking expert advice.