The outdoor gear and clothing sector can be an absolute minefield is you don’t come from an outdoorsy background.
Gore-Tex this, packable, lightweight and breathable that. Base layers and insulated mid-layers. It can be so overwhelming to know what you need to buy.
With the clever marketing techniques of the big brands, you can also easily be tricked into spending £100’s if not £1000’s for something you don’t really need.
We also understand that when you come on your adventure with us, you want to make sure that your time is as enjoyable as possible and that your not soaking wet and freezing cold during the winter months. But also not sweltering during the summer months.
So, we wanted to break down, in the most comprehensive way, what you actually need when joining the adventure. As well as what you really don't need. Which should hopefully help you avoid spending your hard earnt money on on kit you don't really need.
Now this is a pretty lengthy guide, so if you’re clued up about rucksacks but want to know more about what layers to bring, you’ll be able to navigate to each section below:
The Essentials
Extra Bits
Male - £125.00
Female - £115.00
Male - £225.00
Female - £215.00
Male - £350.00
Female - £335.00
Best Places to Shop - For Each Centre
Chesterfield
Top Valley
Mansfield Woodhouse
Online
You'll Already Have A Lot Of This Stuff
You Don’t Have To Buy It All At Once
The Essentials
First, let’s start with the bare essentials. These are the items that you will need in summer, spring, winter or autumn, heavy rainfall or beautiful sunshine. Whether your going caving, climbing, paddling or out into the woods to perfect your bushcraft skills. This is the kit you’ll certainly need with you, at the start of your adventure.
Rucksack:
A comfortable rucksack is a must. This is probably your most important piece of equipment. If you’re out walking, you will be carrying the rucksack for long periods of time. If you’re heading to the bushcraft site, you’ll need your rucksack to carry your lunch and waterproofs.
Equally, if you’re heading out climbing the instructor may ask you pop some of the equipment in your pack, to carry it up to the crag.
So, the rucksack you bring with you will make a big difference to the enjoyment and comfort of your day.
Important Considerations
Not Too Big: You don’t need anything too big. Anything over 35L is too big and will just be cumbersome for your sessions.
Not Too Small: Anything smaller than 15L bags won’t have enough room for you lunch and additional layers.
The Sweet Spot: Between 25 and 35 litre rucksacks are perfect for your adventures with us (outdoor shops normally refer to these as daysacks)
Straps: Waist and chest straps on a rucksack can take some of the heavy load off your back and support you whilst walking.
What To Ask For In The Shop?
In the age of the internet, you can get a rucksack from pretty much any corner of the world.
However, you can also pop to Go Outdoors (Nottingham or Chesterfield) who have a wide range of bags on offer for you to pick from.
There’s also a fair few outdoor shops at Mcarthur Glenn and a couple in Mansfield Town Centre, too (unsure of where to shop - see Best Places to Shop - For Each Centre below).
Top Tip: The rucksacks in these shops that fall into the 30L category are usually called daysacks (between 25L and 50L) so if you ask the customer assistant they will be able to point you in the direction.
What We Recommend
Eurohike 28 Day Pack - Buy It Here
Why we like it:
Slightly under the 30L recommended size, the Eurohike is a sturdy rucksack with the right amount of room for all your gear, with a water bottle pouch of the side and supported shoulder and waist straps (which are always useful). Reasonably priced and in a neutral blue it’s the perfect sack for your adventures with us.
Looking For A Few Extra Features?
Mountain Warehouse - Pace 30L Rucksack - Buy It Here
More expensive than the Eurohike, but more still very reasonable, the pace 30L rucksack from Mountain Warehouse is another great option. With slighter better straps for the waist support, as well as pockets within those straps for handy little items (great sweet pouches on long walk!) it’s a great choice for those looking for a little extra back support, as well as a touch more space, compared to the Eurohike.
It also comes with a really useful rain cover, which when we head out in the winter months will make sure that the contents of your bag stay nice and dry.
Happy To Spend A Little More?
AlpKit - Ledge 35L - Buy It Here
Now, you can spend much more on a bag than the one below but there really isn’t any need to.
Even the rucksack below is excessive, but it’s our favourite choice of rucksack for it’s versatility and useability.
With plenty of room to store all of your stuff, big pockets on either side for your water bottle and big straps on the front to support your back, the Ledge 35 is all you’ll ever need in a rucksack when attending our day service or short breaks. It’s slighter on the bigger side, coming in at 35L, so we wouldn’t recommend anything bigger than this.
Alpkit are also a local business, having being founded in the peak district, back in 2004. So not only are they been around for some time, so they know how to make good kit that will last. They’re also very big into being as sustainable as possible, so they tick every box for us.
What To Avoid:
You don’t need anything bigger than 35L. Anything bigger than that and you’ll be carrying around a big rucksack that’s not very full.
You’ll also need to avoid buying one that is too small. Anything under 20L and you’ll struggle to fit all the kit in you need.
Outdoor Speak: You might be wondering what on earth L refers to? Well, L refers to litres. So, 20L mean 20 litres. So they bigger your rucksack, the bigger number it will have in front of the L.
Having the right rucksack is one of the most important pieces of kit to get right.
This is why we’d suggest going into a store and trying them on first, instead of buying online. You’ll be carrying it for large portions of the day so you want to know that it’s comfy!
Layering Up
As we mentioned at the very top of this article, you can end up spending significant amounts of money on outdoor gear and you usually get stung the most when it comes to the top half of your body.
However, to be comfortable in the outdoors (whatever the conditions) you don’t have to spend too much to stay warm and dry.
When it comes to layering up, there are a couple of important things to note:
Base Layers - this is usually a close fitting top that not only keep you warm in the colder months but cooler in the summer months too. A good base layer is an important part of the layers you have on.
Mid Layers - this is your warm layer. So, in the winter months a slighter heavier, thicker layer is recommended, especially if you’re due to do a bushcraft session, where you might be stationary for a period of time. You may be able to get away with a lighter layer if you’re out for a hill walk or caving session, but it’s always useful to have a couple of extra layers in your rucksack if this is the case. Lighter layers are also good for the summer months when you stop for lunch. You can pop your lighter layer on to stay warm if there’s a bit of a breeze.
Outer Layer - the final layer protects you from all that mother nature has to throw at you. To avoid buying lots of different jackets, we will refer to this layer as a waterproof jacket. There 100’s of different types of jackets you can buy, but a waterproof usually ticks the boxes you’ll need, in terms of comfort and keeping you dry. You won’t need anything more technical than a good waterproof.
Now, there is a hundred and one million different layering jackets, waterproof jackets and insulated jackets that you could buy, but the three layers we have picked below are reasonably priced and do they job they are designed to.
Waterproof Jacket
Starting with the second most important item you’ll need for your time at The Adventure Service, a good waterproof jacket.
If you’re going to spend a little bit more on anything after your rucksack then this is probably what we’d recommend. A nice lightweight waterproof that you can slip on over the top of your other layers. It will work well in a summer downpour or in the April showers. As well as being a good outer layer for your winter sessions.
How Waterproof Jackets Are Rated:
When looking for your waterproof jackets or trousers, you want to read the tag to see what the breathability and waterproof scores are
Waterproofing - Again, the higher the number the better the jacket is at keeping you dry. The coat has a rating of almost 10,000 which is great for showers. But it will hold up in worse rain for a period of time. All waterproofs have their limits when it comes to staying dry, so don’t feel as though you need to highest rating.
Breathability - how easy the jacket gets rid of the sweat build up. The higher the number the longer you’ll be able to spend in the item without getting too hot. The coat above has a fairly high breathability rating.
Again, if you tell the shop assistant what it is that you’ll be doing and how much you want to spend and they should point you in the right direction.
Males
Peter Storm - Men's Downpour 2-Layer Jacket - Buy It Here
A perfect, reasonably priced jacket that will keep you dry during the downpours you might experience whilst you’re on session. It is also hardwearing, so it won’t mind being banged and scraped against the rocks when you head out climbing or scrambling.
Female
Peter Storm - Women's Downpour Waterproof Jacket - Buy It Here
A similar jacket to that of the one above for the males. Severing the same purpose it will hold up well when you head out in the rain or across tricky terrain.
Mid Layers
When it comes to mid layers, buying more of them, that are less expensive is the way to go. Having an extra layer to put on, is a much better option than having one really expensive one, that isn’t quite warm enough for the conditions that day.
A perfect option are the 3/4 zip fleeces that the majority of outdoor brands sell.
Females
Stating in the summer months?
OEX Women’s Ardmore Half Zip Fleece - Buy It Here
Not too expensive and does the job. You can even buy two (one size up from the other) to pop over the top , to give you that extra layer in the colder months.
Starting In The Colder Months?
OEX Women’s Ardmore Half Zip Fleece - Buy It Here
A slightly bigger and warmer mid layer is this option from Peter Storm. Again, there are so many different options out there, but a full zip is sometimes a little easier to get on and off than a pullover.
Males
Starting In Summer
Regatta Montes Half-Zip Fleece - Buy It Here
As for the ladies, the 3/4 zips are one of the best items of clothing you can have in your rucksack. They pack down really small, are often fairly lightweight and can be layered on top of each other. These quatre zip fleeces from Regatta are not only cheap, but well made to keep you warm when you’re arching or scaling a crag in the Peaks.
Starting In The Colder Months?
Craghoppers Men's Evans Full-zip Fleece - Buy It Here
For the winter months this full zip fleece from Craghopper should see you steer away the cold
Base Layers
North Ridge Women’s Resistance Short Sleeve Baselayer - Buy It Here
Designed to wick sweat away from the body, the base layer is super important. Many options again, but here is one we’d recommend.
Top Tip: You can also buy base layers for your bottom half too. To keep your legs warm in the colder months of the year. They can be really useful when the temperature really drops!
Males
Base Layers
Peter Storm Men’s Active Long Sleeve T-Shirt - Buy It Here
Long sleeve base layers are usually the best option, as they can be worn all year round. That’s not to say that the short sleeve version can’t be, but they’re just a little more versatile. Here’s a great example of a long sleeved base layer that would be worth picking up before you start your adventure with us
Waterproof Trousers
Similarly to your rucksack, waterproof trousers are vitally important to you enjoying your time with us.
As you will already know, we are outside come rain or shine. So, given the climate here in the UK (which is even more turbulent up in the hills) a good pair of waterproof trousers is a must.
Again, there are 100’s of different pairs of waterproof trousers you can buy, but we find that you don’t need to spend all that much to get a pair that will keep you dry.
Important Considerations:
Put Your Good Look To One Side: Now they may not be the most fetching or fashionable item, and you might feel a little silly wearing them, but waterproof trousers will massively increase the enjoyment of your day.
Being Dry = Being Happy: Being wet and cold is not something you want to be if you’re going to be out all day. So a good pair of waterproof trousers can really change your experience of the outdoors.
Zips: Zips on the bottom of the trousers are super useful to help you get them off and on over the top of your boots. Waterproof trousers are popped on over the top of your normal trousers, so you will have your boots on whilst putting them on. So, a zipped leg is really helpful. Plus, they’re much easier to take off when you’re out and about if the weather dries up.
What We Recommend:
Males:
Peter Storm Waterproof Packable Pants - Non Zipped - Buy It Here
Peter Storm Waterproof Packable Pants - Zipped - Buy It Here
A perfect pair of waterproof trousers that come in at just £20. There’s no need to spend any more than this on a pair of waterproofs.
There going to get muddy, potentially get ripped, dirty, smelly, really anything you can think of associated with the outdoors and rain. The only issue is that they don’t come with the zip we mentioned is useful above. Nevertheless, they are a perfectly suitable pair of waterproof trousers for gents.
If you do want those zips and are happy to pay an extra £15, then the second link are virtually the same pair of trousers, but with the zip at the bottom for easily slipping them over your trousers.
Females:
Peter Storm Women's Packable Waterproof Trousers - Buy It Here
There is an equal to the men's trousers for women as above. They don’t have the zip but have an option similar to the above that are slightly more expensive, but have a button that allows them to be opened and closed to allow you to pop them over your trousers.
Happy To Spend a Little More?
Males
OEX Men's Arimo Waterproof Overtrousers - Buy It Here
A slighter better option for the males is the OEX waterproof trousers. They are more waterproof and have a nice long zip down the side for easily pulling them over your trousers. A great pick if you want to spend a little bit more.
Females:
Berghaus Women's Stormcloud Waterproof Overtrousers - Buy It Here
For the ladies, the Berghaus over trousers are a great option. They are more than you’d ever need when heading out on session, but you can be sure that they will certainly keep you dry.
Top Tip - Buying any outdoor is about how good it is at what it’s designed to do. Spending a little more can always be beneficial, if it’s going to keep you warmer/drier or cooler. The mid range clothing is where you want to be looking. Anything more expensive then becomes too technical for what you need whilst you’re out with us.
Walking Boots
So, we’ve worked our way around the body, from what you need for your legs, to how to stay warm, to staying dry, to putting the last bit of the jigsaw together by chatting about your shoes.
In order of importance, it could be argued that a good, sturdy pair of boots trumps even your rucksack. If your feet are uncomfortable, then you are going to be uncomfortable too, no matter how comfy your top half is.
Boots are also super important for you to stay steady on your feet. If your boots don’t have good tread, then you can be slipping and sliding all over the place. It also makes life tricky when heading out into the woods to do bushcraft if you don’t have suitable footwear.
Regardless of the session, we’d highly suggest that you invest in a good pair of boots.
Important considerations:
Try Them On - Heading to your local outdoor shop and trying your boots on is super important. You can be on your feet for long periods of time during your time at the service, so you want to make sure that they fit right, as well as being comfortable. Outdoor shops are often on hand to show you how they should fit correctly and the point you in the right direction as to what boots to try on.
Waterproof - Spend that little bit extra to get yourself some waterproof boots. It is certainly worth it. If your feet are comfy, most of the time, so are you.
Sole - A good sole with deep lugs can provide better grip and traction.
Ankle Support - Ankle support can help protect against sprains and other injuries. Trail running shoes may look more fancy, but they don’t support your foot sufficiently enough. make sure that your boots have good ankle support.
Material - Leather boots can be more durable than synthetic leather boots, but synthetic boots may be cheaper
Use the Walking Area - most outdoor shops have an area of uneven ground you can walk over in your boots This is useful to walk over in your boots, to make sure that they fit correctly when walking over the rough terrain.
What We’d Pick
Males
Peter Storm Buxton Waterproof Mid Walking Boot - Buy It Here
These boots from Peter Storm fit the bill well. They are sturdy and will support your feet during your days adventure.
Females
Women's Buxton Waterproof Mid Walking Boot - Buy It Here
The equivalent boot for the women is also a good choice and can be found here.
Footwear That Isn’t Suitable:
What you certainly don’t want to wear when you come out on an adventure with us, is any of the following:
Trainers
High heels
Flip flops
Crocs
All of the above are not suitable for a days adventure.
Now, you can arrive in whatever footwear you see like. So you might choose to arrive to the centre in your crocs but you must ensure that you have a pair of sturdy walking boots in your bag ready to pop on, before you head out for the day.
Top Tip: Caring for your walking boots can help them last much longer. There are lots of products you can buy that will keep your boots in a good condition. This goes for your waterproof jackets too (the stuff that we like to use - NixWax).
Extra Bits
So, you’re all sorted. You’ve got your essential bits of kit and now your ready to head into the great outdoors with us.
There’s a million and one different add ons that you can buy to make your day a little better, and depending on your needs some of these will be really worthwhile investments. However, most are silly bit of kit you don’t need.
Here are some extra bits that we would recommend you buy as well, if your budget stretches:
Socks
A good pair of walking socks can be the different between a miserable and great day down a cave or up a crag.
Again, there are a variety of different socks you can pick up for your adventure. Smartwool, Bridgedale and 1000 miles all do good ranges of all seasons socks.
A couple of winter pairs and a few lighter pairs for summer will see you well for a good 5 years or so.
What To Buy?
All outdoor brands do a wide range of socks and at most outdoor shops there is a broad selections.
Expect to pay £10 a pair for the the cheaper brands and £20 a pair for the higher end pairs. You don’t need anything over that £20 threshold though, as after that point they tend to become very specialist.
Again, your best bet with socks is to head to an outdoor shop and there’s plenty to choose from.
Top Tip: We’d also recommend trying them on with your boots. To see how they feel and fit when you have your boots on.
Insulated Jacket
Keep you nice and toasty in the winter months, especially if you’re doing an activity that doesn't involve much moving around.
What to Buy?
Don’t go and spend silly money on a jacket like this. For some of the top end coats you can expect to pay £600+, which is overkill for what you’ll need for your adventure with us.
Mountain Warehouse do a good range of jackets that will keep you warm in the colder months of the year. Expect to pay between £50 and £100 for a jacket like this.
Avoid buying a huge jacket though, as if you’re out walking you will heat up too quickly and want to take it off. Plus, contrary to what most people think, the weather we get in the UK isn’t actually that cold. Some of these coats are designed for alpine weathers and are simply too warm for the UK climate.
Here’s the type of jacket we’d recommend if you’ve got a little bit of budget left over after picking up your essentials:
Male:
Featherweight Extreme Mens RDS Down Jacket - Buy It Here
Female:
Skyline Extreme Womens Hydrophobic Down Jacket - Buy It Here
Top Tip: These jackets can also be referred to as down jackets. This is just the material that they use to keep you warm.
Walking Trousers
a good few pairs of walking trousers are always good to have. You can get away with jogging bottoms (not the cotton ones) but walking trousers are always a useful bit of kit to have.
What to Buy?
As you’ve already picked up a pair of waterproof trousers in your essential kit, you don’t need to worry about your trousers having any waterproof qualities.
There’s no real art to buying walking trousers, like there is with the other items. Yes, there’s still specialised pairs you can buy (like climbing trousers, alpine etc) but most brands tend to do a range of simple walking trousers.
Pockets are something to look out for. Some brands have pairs without pockets and then have pairs with 100’d of pockets. So it’s something to bare in mind when buying.
You can expect to pay between £30 and £70 for a pair of walking trousers. If you wear these 2 or 3 times a week (the great thing about walking trousers is they wipe clean so you only really need one pair!) you can expect to get a good couple of years out of them, and more still if you pay a little extra.
Here’s what we’d recommend:
Male:
Peter Storm Men's Ramble II Trousers - Buy It Here
Females:
Brasher Women's Stretch Trousers - Buy It Here
Little Extra Items
Sunhat - in the summer months it’s always a good idea to protect your head from the sun. This cap can be whatever you like as long as you don’t mind wearing it all day!
Hat and Gloves - two items that are worth having in your bag all year round. It can get cold up on the hills, even in summer! Again, £20 should be more than enough for a warm pair of gloves and a woolly hat.
Water Bottle - Drinks are taken out with the group, but having your own water bottle is a good idea. Don’t buy a massive one, just one that will fit nicely in the bag you’ve bought/have.
Boot Bag - A really useful item that you can pick up for less than £5 that means you can arrive at centre in more comfortable footwear and bring your boots with you without them making a mess of your rucksack. It also means that you can carry your boots with you and leaves space in your rucksack for more important items.
Dry Bags - Dry bags are tiny bags that fit inside of your rucksack to keep the contents inside them dry. They’re not too expensive and help make sure that your important kit is kept dry. What they’re also good for is keeping wet kit away from the dry kit in your bag. So if your waterproofs get wet and dirty, you can pop them inside of your dry bag to stop the other kit in your bag from getting wet and dirty too.
What NOT to wear:
Okay, so you should now be a guru on what you need to wear before coming out on your adventure with us. Fantastic, you could even teach our instructors what you’ve learnt.
However, though you can buy all different kinds of jackets, fleeces and footwear, here’s something to stay well clear of when you attend the day service:
Jeans - Jeans are great when you want to hit the dancefloor, but coming for a day out with us, jeans are not a good idea. They take a long time to dry, can become uncomfortable when walking, make you hot in the summer and even colder in the winter.
As stated, a good pair of walking trousers or non-cotton jogging bottoms are always a good idea.
Just leave your jeans at home!
Inappropriate Footwear: Noted above is (link to above) about what footwear not to bring with you to The Adventure Service. Stick to a good pair of sturdy walking boots.
Handbags: You won’t fit much of your lunch inside of a handbag. Nor will it be very easy to move around with one hanging from your arm. Stick with a good sturdy rucksack, this isn’t Paris fashion week.
Open Toed Footwear: This is a recipe for disaster. Make sure that you footwear doesn’t have any bit of the toe peeking out the top of the shoe.
This includes sandals, flip flops, sliders and crocs. As mentioned, you can arrive in whatever makes you feel most comfortable, but please ensure you have the correct footwear on for your days adventure. Otherwise we will have to leave you in the centre all day, and make you do the hoovering up or something really really really boring and not outdoorsy.
Clothes You Want To Keep Nice : There's going to be times when your out adventurering and you need to walk/squeeze through a really muddy space.
Or you’ll be down at the bushcraft site, making fire and cooking and creating all sots of a mighty mess.
Because of this, we would recommend that you don’t wear your favourite t-shirt or Sunday best.
Bundle of What to Buy
Still Unsure What You Need To Buy?
Or just skipped straight to this bit because you’re lazy and just want us to tell you what you need to buy? Yeah, that’s what we'd do too.
Below are bundles of kit that we’ve put into different budget categories, that cover all of your essential kit needs.
Essentials
Here is a list of the kit that we’d recommend you’d buy as the essential bits of kit.
Males
Rucksack - £25.00 - Eurohike Ratio 28 Daypack - Buy It Here
Waterproof Jacket - £25.00 - Peter Storm Men’s Cyclone Waterproof Jacket- Buy it Here
Mid Layer - £15.00 - Regatta Men's Montes Half-Zip Fleece - Buy It Here
Waterproof Trousers - £20.00 - Peter Storm Men’s Waterproof Packable Pants - Buy It Here
Walking Boots - £40.00 - Gelert Horizon Mid Waterproof Mens Walking Boots - Buy It Here
Total cost: £125.00
Females
Rucksack - £25.00 - Eurohike Ratio 28 Daypack - Buy It Here
Waterproof Jacket - £25.00 - Peter Storm Women’s Cyclone Jacket - Buy It Here
Mid Layer - £15.00 - Columbia Women’s Glacial™ IV Half Zip Fleece - Buy It Here
Waterproof Trousers - £20.00 - Peter Storm Women's Packable Waterproof Trousers - Buy It Here
Walking Boots - £30.00 - Lynx WTX Womens Walking Boots - Buy It Here
Total Cost: £115.00
Essentials Plus A Few Extra Bits
Got a little bit of money left over after buying all the essential bits of kit? See below for a few extra bits of kit that will make your time out on session much more enjoyable.
Males
Rucksack - £25.00 - Eurohike Ratio 28 Daypack - Buy It Here
Waterproof Jacket - £25.00 - Peter Storm Men’s Cyclone Waterproof Jacket - Buy it Here
Mid Layer (x2) - £30.00 - Regatta Men's Montes Half-Zip Fleece - Buy It Here
Waterproof Trousers - £20.00 - Peter Storm Men’s Waterproof Packable Pants - Buy It Here
Walking Boots - £40.00 - Gelert Horizon Mid Waterproof Mens Walking Boots - Buy It Here
Socks (2 pairs) - £20.00 - 2 Pack Samaris 3 Season Sock - Buy It Here
Walking Trousers - £30.00 - Men's Travel Light Packaway Trousers - Buy It Here
Sunhat - £10.00 - Adult's Waterproof III Cap - Buy It Here
Gloves - £10.00 - Peter StormMen's Thinsulate Gloves - Buy it Here
Winter Hat - £15.00 - OEX Men’s Fleece Lined Beanie - Buy It Here
Total cost: £225.00
Females
Rucksack - £25.00 - Eurohike Ratio 28 Daypack - Buy It Here
Waterproof Jacket - £25.00 - Peter Storm Women’s Cyclone Jacket - Buy It Here
Mid Layer - £15.00 - Columbia Women’s Glacial™ IV Half Zip Fleece - Buy It Here
Waterproof Trousers - £20.00 - Peter Storm Women's Packable Waterproof Trousers - Buy It Here
Walking Boots - £30.00 - Lynx WTX Womens Walking Boots - Buy It Here
Socks (2 Pairs) - £20.00 - Brasher Women's Light Hiker Socks - Buy It Here
Walking Trousers -£30.00 - Brasher Women's Stretch Trousers - Buy It Here
Sun hat - £15.00 - Peter Storm Nevada II Baseball Cap - Buy It Here
Gloves - £7.00 - Peter Storm Unisex Thinsulate Knit Fleece Gloves - Buy It Here
Winter Hat - £7.00 - Peter Storm Unisex Thinsulate Knit Beanie Hat - Buy It Here
Total Cost: £215.00
All You’ll Ever Need
The kit below will see you through no matter the session, the weather, the time of year and as long as you look after it, it will last a long time too.
Whether you’re with us 5 days a week or just the 1, this is all the kit you’ll ever need.
Males
Rucksack - £45.00 - Pace 30L Rucksack - Buy It Here
Waterproof Jacket - £60.00 - Craghoppers Men's Creevey Jacket - Buy It Here
Mid Layer (x3) - £45.00 - Regatta Men's Montes Half-Zip Fleece - Buy It Here
Waterproof Trousers - £20.00 - Peter Storm Women's Packable Waterproof Trousers - Buy It Here
Walking Boots - £30.00 - Lynx WTX Womens Walking Boots - Buy It Here
Socks (2 Pairs) - £20.00 - Brasher Women's Light Hiker Socks - Buy It Here
Walking Trousers - £30.00 - Men's Travel Light Packaway Trousers - Buy It Here
Sunhat - £10.00 - Adult's Waterproof III Cap - Buy It Here
Gloves - £10.00 - Peter StormMen's Thinsulate Gloves - Buy it Here
Winter Hat - £15.00 - OEX Men’s Fleece Lined Beanie - Buy It Here
Insulating Jacket - £25.00 - Peter Storm Mens Blisco II Hooded Jacket - Buy It Here
Boot Bag - £4.00 - Peter Storm Boot Bag - Buy It Here
Base Layer - £15.00 - Peter Storm Men’s Active Long Sleeve T-Shirt - Buy It Here
Dry Bag - £15.00 - OEX Drysac 2 - Buy It Here
Total Cost: £350.00
Females
Rucksack - £45.00 - Pace 30L Rucksack - Buy It Here
Waterproof Jacket - £50.00 - Peter Storm Women's Malham Stretch Waterproof Jacket - Buy It Here
Mid Layer (x3) - £45.00 - Columbia Women’s Glacial™ IV Half Zip Fleece - Buy It Here
Waterproof Trousers - £20.00 - Peter Storm Women's Packable Waterproof Trousers - Buy It Here
Walking Boots - £30.00 - Lynx WTX Womens Walking Boots - Buy It Here
Socks (2 Pairs) - £20.00 - Brasher Women's Light Hiker Socks - Buy It Here
Walking Trousers -£30.00 - Brasher Women's Stretch Trousers - Buy It Here
Sun hat - £15.00 - Peter Storm Nevada II Baseball Cap - Buy It Here
Gloves - £7.00 - Peter Storm Unisex Thinsulate Knit Fleece Gloves - Buy It Here
Winter Hat - £7.00 - Peter Storm Unisex Thinsulate Knit Beanie Hat - Buy It Here
Insulating Jacket - £25.00 -Peter Storm Womens Blisco II Hooded - Buy It Here
Boot Bag - £4.00 - Peter Storm Boot Bag - Buy It Here
Base Layer - £20.00 - North Ridge Women’s Resistance Short Sleeve Base layer - Buy It Here
Dry Bag - £15.00 - OEX Drysac 2 - Buy It Here
Total Cost: £335.00
Best Places to Shop - For Each Centre
So now you know what you need to have an awesome adventure with us in the great outdoors, here are some of the best places to pick up that gear.
As we’ve said above, buying your kit in store is certainly worthwhile, especially when you’re buying your boots and rucksacks.
Chesterfield
Go Outdoors Chesterfield - 2 miles from St Thomas’ - If you live or have ever been to Chesterfield, you’ll more than likely know where Go Outdoors is. They have lots of affordable outdoor gear and always have someone on hand to help you pick out what you need.
Sports Direct (Town Centre) - 1.5 miles from St Thomas’ - There isn’t an extensive range of outdoor clothing at Sports Direct, in the centre of town. Nevertheless, they do stock some items that might be of use, such as woolly hats and gloves. It is normally reasonably priced too.
Sport Direct (Shirebrook) - 13 miles from St Thomas’ - A little bit further to go, but there is a huge outdoor retailer on the sports direct site in Shirebrook. The clothing is mainly Karimoor and you can pick up good quality gear for much cheaper than some of the items you find in Go Outdoors.
Hathersage - 15 miles from St Thomas’ - If you travel into the Peak District, you’ll find numerous outdoor shops. In Hathersage there is a Go Outdoors and some specialist outdoor shops (such as AlpKit and Outside).
Bakewell - 10 miles from St Thomas’ - Again, heading into the Peak District you’ll find many outdoor shops in Bakewell. They are less specialised than those in Hathersage and often have some good sales. Ideal for what kit you’re looking to buy for you adventure with us.
Mansfield Woodhouse
Mansfield Town Centre - 2 miles from Mansfield Woodhouse - There are a few shops in Mansfield town centre that have some decent outdoor gear. Millets on the main street as well as sports direct on the retail park, along with TK Maxx at certain times of year have some good stuff at reasonable prices.
Sport Direct (Shierbrook) - 6 miles from Mansfield Woodhouse - As was the case for Chesterfield, there is a wide selection of outdoor clothing at Sports Direct in Shierbrook. Plenty to choose from as well as a large range of walking boots.
Mcathur Glenn - 7 miles from Mansfield Woodhouse - Mountain Warehouse, Regatta and Tog24 all have an outlet store at Mcarthur Glenn which tend to do end of line or last seasons stock for cheaper than retail price. Always a good port of call.
Nottingham - 15 miles from Mansfield Woodhouse - A little further out than the other options, but if you live in the southern areas of Mansfield, Nottingham might be your best bet for outdoor shops. There’s plenty, check out the Top Valley list below for details.
Top Valley
Go Outdoors Nottingham - 3 miles from Top Valley - As was the case for Chesterfield, Go Outdoors is a great bet for outdoor gear at cheap prices. The Nottingham store is just round the corner from Top Valley.
Cotswold Outdoors - 6 miles from Top Valley - A shop that tends to be more expensive than those we’ve listed above, Cotswold does similar gear but slightly more high end. They tend to do the same job, but if you like to be a bit flashy than this just might be the place.
Nottingham City Centre - 6 miles from Top Valley - there’s also plenty of outdoor shops in the middle of the city too. Blacks, Sports Direct and a few independent shops all stock a range of outdoor gear.
Online
There are 100’s if not 1000’s of places you can buy outdoor gear now online. You can probably get away with ordering it all on amazon now. However, we really would recommend buying your important bits (rucksack and walking boots for sure) in store. Not only so you can get some assistance but because you’ll get to try a few different pairs and variations on.
Getting your rucksack and walking boots fitted correctly and comfy can really help you enjoy whichever activity you’re doing that little bit more.
You'll Already Have A Lot Of This Stuff
Living in the UK there's a high chance that you already have a waterproof jacket, some warm clothes and plenty of layers for when the weather turns it a bit cooler. You'll also likely have some shorts for the warmer months and plenty of t-shirts too, that you don't mind getting dirty, wet and smelly.
What we're trying to say is that before going out and buying anything, have a good rummage around in the wardrobe and use clothes and equipment you already have. You certainly don't have to go and buy everything new.
Used Gear Can Be Just As Good
There’s no dedicated place for buying used outdoor gear as of yet (not that we’re aware of anyway) but there are plenty of places like Facebook Marketplace/Groups, Vinted, and Depop that have people selling old outdoor gear.
The online marketplaces take a lot of navigating though and it can sometimes take a long time to find what you’re after. There’s also the chance the item you’ve bought might not be quite as described.
Some of the big brands like The North Face, Patagonia and REI have second sections on their websites. But you can still end up paying a pretty penny for these items.
Charity shops are another good bet. Especially the closer you get the Peak District and outdoorsy area. Though those in the middle of Nottingham and Mansfield can be just as good, if you’re willing to spend more time looking.
You Don’t Have To Buy It All At Once
This is really important to remember. You don’t have to buy all the kit at once, or even at all. There’s a chance if you’re joining us for an outdoor adventure that you already have some of the kit anyway.
Buying throughout the year, as and when you need it or want to improve it, is the best way to buy outdoor gear. It’s also better for the planet too. The best waterproof is the one you already have.
This is also just a guide too, it isn’t set in stone and you don’t have to buy anything if you don’t want to. But to make sure that you have the most enjoyable experience and gain as much as you can from the day, a few simple bits of kit can go a long way.
The kit will also last you a long time too, so you’re not going to be splashing out numerous times a year. Once you’ve bought it, it should do its job for a number of years.
Don’t feel like you have to buy the most expensive items either. We’ve banged on about this a lot, but your clothes are going to get dirty and wet and smelly. So don’t spend that much that you’re then afraid for it to dirty, smelly and wet.
Don’t Feel Overwhelmed!
There’s a lot of information to take in there. If you’ve read it all (if you have kudos to you, we’re not sure many on our team could sit still long enough to read all that) you might be feeling like your brain is a bit fried.
Well don’t feel overwhelmed. If you haven’t got the right kit on day 1 it doesn’t matter. Nor does it matter on Day 2 or 200. The main aim of the service is for you to get outside and learn and develop in the great outdoors.
However, we know (because we’ve spent a lot time out there) that the British weather can be somewhat unforgiving and having the right kit at your disposal can be the difference between a good day, and a great day.
Enjoy The Adventure!
As we’ve just touched on, kit isn’t everything but it can help. Ultimately though as long as you’re comfy, you have a sturdy pair of boots on and comfy rucksack, everything else is just a bonus.
We hope you’ve found the information useful and if you have any questions you need answering, just get in touch and we’ll be happy to help.
See You Out There!
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