Trousers? Boots? My miscellanious questions..

[Highbinder]

Hello guys,

Couldn't find anything appropriate through the search but I was looking for recommendations on for trousers. Looking for a llight and packable pair with leg (map) pockets. I'd prefer them to not be 'too military' looking (no camo but subdued block colours prefered, so greens, greys, or browns) and on the cheaper side, so <£30 a pair, though less would be better as I am about to drop a good bit of cash on other gear

I grudge paying £70-80 for 'bushcraft' trousers so I'd like to know if there are any alternatives out there?

Also,

My layering system atm is a cotton tee, a microfleece, and then if need be a woolen jumper followed by a waterproof jacket. I keep a set of base layers (long johns and thermal tee) in my sleeping back and a spair old tight fitting (nowadays...) berghaus microfleece in my ruck along with a change of socks and a spare tee. Can my current system be improved?

Can anyone recommend me a compression bag?

Finally,

Boots.. Are there any guides out there so I can pick a set suitable for my needs? They'll be used for camping and light hiking across 3 seasons both here in Scotland and also in Spain and France. My pack at the moment is a 88litre bad boy but I'm downsizing to a 50litre pack so I'm not lugging huge weights around, so the boots don't need to be hugely supportive (I'd use them both with and without the pack). They must be lightweight and breathable. Waterproof (gtx lined) would be handy too. Price I'd like to keep it under £150 but ideally <£100. Traditional looking would be good as I don't like flashy gear and it'd be good if they 'suited' a kilt as I'll be packing my kilt next time I'm abroad

Any help would be much appreciated!

 

[MartiniDave]

For trousers I would suggest the Craghopper Kiwis. I just about live in them year round.

Dave

 

[Silverhill]

Possible options for trousers are the 'Dickies 'Redhawk or 'Combat''. I use them for work and when I'm in the woods and they are very user-friendly (if you can apply such a term to trousers?!)
They are reasonably cheap <£20 per pair, and come in a range of colours. The only down-side is that they only come with one map pocket on the R/H leg on the Redhawk version.

 

[drewdunnrespect]

seconded for kraghoppers perfect for what your after

 

[johnnytheboy]

I have a pair of The north face meridian trousers, they are excellent, light, dry well and the trousers have a tab where you can roll them up at the bottom!!!!

 

[Laurentius]

I have a pair of Berghaus trousers, can't remember what they are called but they are lightweight, not overburdened with pockets but do have the side 'map' pocket and they dry very quickly. They are a lot more comfortable than Craghoppers Kiwis that I can't get on with.

 

[Barn Owl]

Craghopper kiwis for trousers,usually about £20 in TK Maxx or the bay.

Get some army self wicking T shirts,c. £12 for five on the bay,brilliant piece of kit,don't wear cotton next to the skin if exerting yourself and make sure the thermals have merino in them.

Boots don't need to be goretex lined...if it's warm they'll be soaked with sweat anyway,good leather boots kept polished are waterproof enough,e.g. Lowa supercamp boots or meindl non gtx models.

 

[Miyagi]

I used a pair of brown cord trousers from Tesco £8 IIRC.

Will need to get a new pair as I tore them badly (I was moving as I caught the nail) when building decking.

Cheap, very comfortable and dried quickly - no need for expensive trousers.

 

[gsfgaz]

army dpm's u cannie wack them

 

[Highbinder]

Craghopper kiwis for trousers,usually about £20 in TK Maxx or the bay.

Get some army self wicking T shirts,c. £12 for five on the bay,brilliant piece of kit,don't wear cotton next to the skin if exerting yourself and make sure the thermals have merino in them.

Boots don't need to be goretex lined...if it's warm they'll be soaked with sweat anyway,good leather boots kept polished are waterproof enough,e.g. Lowa supercamp boots or meindl non gtx models.

Barn Owl,

Just bought a set of 5 selfwicking tees from the bay for £8.70. Bargain!

As for boots, how breathable are leather boots? End of the day I need something flexible enough to take the colder scottish climate as well as summer weather around the mediterranain, I'd rather ask you guys than a salesman in a shop...

 

[Barn Owl]

Leather boots will probably be warm in the Med,

I have Karrimor fabric boots that are good but the company was sold on and the ones nowadays aren't as good I believe.
Don't have experience of other fabric makes.

 

[Highbinder]

Well I've been looking to it a bit further and I think unlined leather will be best for my feet as well as my wallet. The Meindl Borneo's seem to have a good rep, I think I'll drive into Glasgow tomorrow and have a look around and try on a couple of pairs

 

[dave53]

karrimor trainers for the med i dont wear anything else regards dave

 

[Chance]

Hijacking the thread and going back to the Kiwis... my Craghoppers, although comfortable, need far more regular re-stitching than my Dickies. I met someone else at a recent gathering who had the same problem.

Addressing the question to people who've tried a few options: is there any benefit in going for a brand with black knee patches (i.e. paying a little extra)?

 

[gordonmac]

Can anyone recommend me a compression bag?

I've been on the hunt for a decent compression sack, and this is what I settled on:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sea-Summit-eVENT-Compression-Sack/dp/B000OPPARO

They squeeze the air out, without letting the water in The difference in the level of compression possible is quite noticeable too!

 

[Rebel]

Hijacking the thread and going back to the Kiwis... my Craghoppers, although comfortable, need far more regular re-stitching than my Dickies. I met someone else at a recent gathering who had the same problem.

Addressing the question to people who've tried a few options: is there any benefit in going for a brand with black knee patches (i.e. paying a little extra)?

You could try 5.11 tactical pants. They are about the same price as Craghoppers at full retail (but Crags are easy to find discounted in TK Maxx) and are a bit more durable. If you do a lot of kneeling they have a slot in the knee for inserting knee pads. I've used the neoprene knee pads from 5.11 and they are pretty good and they are discreet so you don't look like a wally if you end up walking in a built up area.

You can get a 10% discount on 5.11 gear (and anything else) at Intelligent Armour using this code UKF09, making them cheaper than Craghoppers. (No affiliation, just a satisfied customer.)

I do have some Berghaus pants with black knee patches and a black bum patch but I've found no advantage to these and they make them look a bit too specialist for anything other than wilderness wanderings and gardening. They were also stupidly expensive.

 

[The Lord Poncho]

I too have a pair of the 5.11s from intelligent armour- a good trouser, and arrived very quickly. I might sew a zip into one of the leg pockets (as standard they are fastened by a couple of patches of Velcro) so i can't lose my chip money for the Friday evening. I went for the Taclite type- to be a bit faster drying than the pure cotton version.

They also have two little pockets on the front for magazines (according to the literature). Try as I might, I can't seem to roll up this months coy of FHM small enough to fit.

 

[Chance]

IThey also have two little pockets on the front for magazines (according to the literature). Try as I might, I can't seem to roll up this months coy of FHM small enough to fit.

Magazines will be a military term: I assume that Combat & Survival must be available in one of those smaller formats you see in airports.

If it's still in print.

 

[Opal]

Another one for Crags and Berghaus Explorer Ridge GTX, got mine from Gooutdoors for £72:99p after showing him a price match, happy daze.

 

[The Lord Poncho]

Magazines will be a military term: I assume that Combat & Survival must be available in one of those smaller formats you see in airports.

If it's still in print.

To be honest, i was taking the mickey. I believe the magazines they refer to are the type that take 9mm parabellum destined for ones blaster.

I recall poring over a borried copy of my friends Combat and Survival magazine when i was at school- from the original 12 edition (or so) print run. Probably my first exposure to survival/bushcraft!