Isle of Lewis - the guidebook lied and said good paths, so I was wearing the Wrong Trousers for the occasion. They took FOREVER to dry. Oh, the glamour…
A significant number of women avoid exercise because they worry about how they will look. I haven’t found you a reliable figure for that – somewhere between 40% and 70% depending on the research – but lots of us.
Mostly, those studies are asking about how people feel about being in lycra in a gym or swimming in a pool. By comparison, hiking is easy to dress for. As long as you don’t mind looking like a hiker.
And if you are about my age you might remember “anorak” being a deadly insult.
Now, serious hikers would give you complex advice about gear at this point. Poles. Technical fleeces. £120 trousers.
Unless you are engaging in winter Munro bagging, it’s not that complex. You need to focus on things that don’t rub, keep you warm, and keep you dry.
So first, not your jeans. I don’t care how comfortable they are. How long does it take you to air dry jeans in your house? Right? And how heavy are they? You don’t want to sit down on a damp rock and have jeans chafing you for the next four hours.
The squashed roll of glamour!
Then…
Decent coat, with one of those flappy things that cover the zip. If you don’t have a good waterproof with a flappy zip protector you’ll end up with water coming in and soaking your top.
Boots. Sturdy soles, waterproof, and protecting your ankles.
Underwear that will not drive you nuts.
Socks. I have had more blisters from bad socks than bad boots. Check where the seams lie. Warm, wicking, and not twisty. You can buy waterproof – I’ve never tried them – but I’d want to make sure moisture wasn’t stuck inside them.
Base layers. Thermals in winter, but in milder weather your best friend might be the work out t-shirt you got for the gym.
Mid layer – I wear a flannel shirt in everything other than high summer, but then I always did work the grunge look well. Again, you just want wickable, quick drying, and easy to throw in your bag if you’re boiling.
Warm layer – this is what fleeces were made for, but actually, any jumper that will dry. And machine washable, for if you fall bum first in a bog. See exhibit A above…
Hat – largely to keep your hair out of your eyes. You want one that won’t sail off in a high wind. Optional from April to September, otherwise bring it.
Buff – ditto, and optional.
Trousers – quick drying. That’s the most important thing. In summer that can even be your comfy leggings.
Oddly you don’t see many hikers in sunglasses despite often remarkable glare. I take mine. And binoculars, although not at the same time.
Then, just lean in to looking like a bog monster. No one looks glam on a hillside. Get about 200m and it’s not about the Instagram for any of us