As a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award supervisor, I need to ensure I have the best equipment suitable for all weather and terrain. As I suffer from Raynaud’s, ensuring that I am warm and dry throughout my entire body is of the upmost importance to ensure I can fulfil my duties.
The Maier women’s Helga walking trousers are a great fit, comfortable and keep you toasty warm thanks to the fleece lining. They were the perfect windbreaker for the top of Ingleborough. The Patagonia women’s R1 Air zip-neck fleece is great for layering, not bulky so easy to pack away. Ideal for windy, cold conditions this was the perfect layer on top of all 3 Yorkshire peaks, especially when coupled with the Patagonia women’s Torrentshell. The 20K shell ensures you stay warm while the pit vents allow for great ventilation. The 3-layer, 50 denier construction makes it perfectly hard wearing with a great fitting hood. The stylish design means I can also wear it around town and not feel overdressed.
Tecnica have a long history in footwear including the legendary Moon Boot, ski boots, Rollerblade and outdoor footwear! Therefore, if you are looking for a lightweight pair of walking boots, then you may want to consider the Magma Mid S GTX walking boots from Tecnica
The Magma has been designed to hike, run and scramble in all types of terrain but for this review, I’ll be walking locally in Lincolnshire.
The first thing I notice was the weight, only 500g for a UK10, they are light! Once on my feet the boots felt very comfortable, plenty of room in the toe box and snug around heel – the proverbial great fit out the box! Simple traditional lacing ensured a secure fit and I was ready to stroll through the local woodland.
The terrain was relatively flat, but a mixture of stone paths, muddy tracks and pine needle covered forest floor. I hadn’t broken the boots in, by wearing them about the house, so I was please to walk the five-and-a-half miles without any issues. The support was good over rutted ground, and the EVA midsole provided enough cushioning and rebound to my stride. That and their lightweight made the hike feel less tiring. Vibram, always a reliable sole, was very grippy thanks to its ‘Megagrip’ whatever the terrain. The boots are waterproof, thanks to a Gore-Tex lining, however the morning dew on the grass wasn’t the greatest of challenges but I’ve known plenty of people who’ve ended up with wet socks and feet in such conditions!
There are other features which provide downhill shock absorption, stability and breaking. They also feature Tecnica’s AST (formally CAS) which enables customisation of the heel area – if required.
So, hiking – tick! And if that performance is anything to go by the run and scramble will be a ‘tick’ too!
Picture Organic is a French based company who have an established history in sustainably produced technical mountain apparel. At 11 years old they have spent the last decade revolutionising how the ski industry manufactures their clothes. Renowned for unique styling combined with the latest technology their popularity has grown year on year. In the last couple of years, it has been exciting to see them apply their knowledge to the wetsuit market, with eye catching designs that offer incredible performance with a sustainable approach.
What’s new?
Picture Organic have developed a neoprene called Eicoprene that will feature in all their wetsuits this year. Eicoprene is made from 30% recycled tyres and 70% limestone. All the linings are made from recycled polyester and connected using Aqua-A glue, a water-based glue which is solvent free. These technologies ensure that you are purchasing a wetsuit with minimal environmental impact.
Eicoprene has been rigorously tested by the Picture Organic team, from cold winter days off the UK coast to summers in the SW of France. Durability has been a priority in the design process with the belief being that the longer your suit lasts the better it is for the environment.
Picture Organic Women’s Oksana 3mm 2mm Dark Blue Sparrow Full Wetsuit
How do they perform?
Eicoprene is an extremely flexible material that performs incredibly for a whole host of activities. Whether you are surfing, Sup’ing or wild swimming they will allow you move with ease through a full range of motion. The wetsuits have taken design ideas from triathlete suits offering features that haven’t been used in surfing before. The suits have “Motion Pattern” which removes seams from under the arm, the chest and around the shoulders increasing mobility so you can perform at your best. They have also used a silicone coating called Power Grip which increases resistance in the water meaning increased efficiency for paddling.
As a Podiatrist, I regularly talk to my patients about shoes and footwear fitting and every new patient that I see has their feet measured, so I am acutely aware that a large number of people, across all genders and age groups, are in incorrectly sized and poorly fitting shoes. A review of the evidence on shoe sizing and fitting published in 2018 in the Journal of Foot & Ankle Research confirmed that, ‘a large proportion of the population (between 63-72%) are wearing inappropriately sized footwear based on length and width measurements’. The evidence also demonstrates that, ‘incorrect footwear fitting is specifically associated with foot pain, poorer overall foot health, painful hard skin and even ulceration in older people with Diabetes’. There are also differences in the fitting issues between men and women, which I regularly see in clinic. Women are statistically more likely to suffer foot pain compared to men and whereas more women wear shoes that are too narrow (50% of women compared to 34% of men), men wear shoes that are too long (31% of men in comparison to 13% of women).
There are lots of reasons for being in an incorrectly sized shoe. Sometimes this is because of a lack of facilities to measure and fit shoes properly (such as a Covid-19 pandemic!), but it is also the case that footwear manufacturers often don’t offer enough range of sizes, especially half sizes in length and width fittings at the forefoot. This often means that it is necessary to go up in length to get more width or down in length to get a narrower shoe. However, this is hurting our feet and contributing to problems such as bunions, toe deformities, thickening of nerves between the bones of the forefoot, blisters and hard skin, some of which might not be correctable, therefore, knowing the true size of your feet and then getting a shoe correctly fitted around it is vital, especially for more active pursuits such as hiking and running.
Another aspect of shoe fitting is the function of the shoe. If your foot is sitting in the incorrect position in the shoe, the technology in the sole that is designed to stabilise, cushion, flex (or not flex) during a certain part of the step is not interacting with the correct part of your foot and, subsequently, the rest of your skeleton. The upper of the shoe or boot will also be interacting with the foot in the incorrect places meaning that more rigid or too flexible parts of the upper may either irritate prominent parts of the foot or allow the foot to move around in the shoe too much.
Therefore, here are my top tips for finding out your true foot size and getting into the correct shoe!
Have your feet measured! The team at the Tallington Lakes Pro Shop have all the tools to do this and Podiatrists like myself will often measure feet as part of our practice. The Society of Shoe Fitters also has a register of qualified shoe fitters such as myself.
Buy your shoes from a shop and not online if possible (especially for new models or types of shoes) – walking boots / shoes and trail shoes / running shoes should always be tried on. Only order online if buying exactly the same pair as what you have already
For active shoes like walking boots and trainers, make sure there is a maximum of 15mm and a minimum of 10mm from the end of your longest toe to the end of the shoe. For less active shoes, this can be a maximum of 10mm and a minimum of 5mm
Try to make sure the widest parts of your forefoot (the width from your big toe joint to your little toe joint) are not painfully compressed or spreading and falling over the sole of the shoe as this means the shoe is too narrow and you may need to get a specific width fitting
Make sure your foot is not moving around in the shoe – when your foot moves, your shoe should move with your foot and not within it. If it does then the shoe is too big (either too long, too wide or too deep)
There are countless ways that I use shoe technology and fittings in clinic every day to treat pain and improve function, but the tips above are a great starting point and may prevent or relieve your foot pain!
I was brought a pair of the Maier Lulaka shorts as a gift prior to my annual trip to the Lake District and from the moment I put them on I loved them! I am very particular about my clothes and often struggle to find something I feel comfortable in, however these have definitely become a staple in my wardrobe!
The mSTRETCH pro 4 four-way stretch not only means these are super comfortable but allows for ultimate freedom of movement. While scrambling up some rocks through some of the trickier parts of my hike I had unlimited stretch to ensure I had the best foot holds, the only thing that held me back was my own flexibility! Thanks to the Dryprotec when it rained I hardly noticed it on my legs, not like normal shorts that stick to your skin, these dried extremely fast, which was especially handy after my dog jumped in some puddles then jumped at me!
The stretch doesn’t stop at the waist like many others on the market it carries on to provide the perfect fit, especially when coupled with the easy lock belt. The four pockets provide plenty of storage to stash your snacks or essentials, and again you hardly feel these thanks to how stretchy the shorts are!
I’m really happy with my Ronix Vault wakeboard (2019). I’m finding my jumps and landings are much cleaner, and easier. I love riding this wakeboard and it looks great – I want to be on the water more than ever!
What’s great about the Ronix Vault board is whether it’s your first time getting up on a wakeboard or you’re an advanced level rider it’s an easy board to ride, it’s really stable, and will adapt to any situation you put it in.
This wakeboard is perfect for all levels of riding and feels awesome on the water. The amount of effort you have to put in to getting up on the water is minimal and it’s easy to use and manoeuvre.
Ronix classify the Vault for beginner or intermediate riders. It has a nice wide platform and a 3-stage rocker design to help give you that extra boost and launch you off the wake.
A cool feature to this wakeboard is it’s asymmetrical rail line that makes cutting and caving a breeze. The fins are different on the heel side to the toe side. On the heel side the fins are a little shorter, little shallower compared to the toe side that run longer which helps the toe side to be really stable, helping build confidence on the toe side edge when jumping the wake, giving you a nice clean take off and landing. Also built into the rails on the backside edge a little bit sharper over rail helping to hold the edge all through the wake.
Jaiden enjoying his Ronix Vault wakeboard at Tallington Lakes
This is a perfect wakeboard that helps build the riders confidence. the wakeboard is made from a foam cord with a fibre glass wrap its a solid board. I would highly recommend this board for all ages and all levels of wakeboarding.
Jaden – Tallington Lakes
To view our wakeboard selection why not pop in store or visit our website!
After buying these lightweight, breathable Montane women’s Claw shorts for hot sunny days at work, the last thing I expected was to be wearing them out on the water every evening! After one wakesurfing session in them I’ve fallen in love, and not for the reasons you’d expect. From a trail short I expected a loose comfy fit and maybe some moisture wicking properties, but I was not prepared for how quickly the shorts dried – they were dry within minutes of getting out the water!
The Aeroflyte stretch fabric made them really comfy both in and out of the water and also protected my legs from sunburn! The inner mesh lining not only helped wick away the moisture but also once dry, felt and smelt fresh and ready for another wear.
During
these unique times of isolation, having a dog is the best thing in the world.
As we know they are not just ‘a man’s best friend’ but the whole family’s. They
share our time, our companionship and our emotions so it’s obvious we need to
look after them as much as they look after us.
With the new
restrictions regarding Covid-19, we are all limited to only one walk a day. For
some little dogs this is acceptable but for many like my energetic cockapoo, we
are going to have to start using our imagination. When dogs have too much
energy, things can start to get infuriating for both parties. Bad/cheeky
behaviour is more likely to occur and a short temper on our part can slowly
creep in. So what can we do to make sure the love stays in the air?
Firstly it’s good to focus on the time we do have outside. During any outings we make, our number one priority is for us to stay safe, follow the government guidelines and help prevent the spread of Covid-19 (please read all the government guidelines to keep up to date with all current restrictions as they are regularly changing). While the necessary restrictions are in place we can still be sensible and enjoy the great outdoors. After all, this is where all the good smells and poop spots are for our dogs, and the all important vitamin-D and fresh air for us.
As we are unable
to go for our usual long walks, throwing balls and playing fetch are great and
easy ways to tire out our dogs. Also it’s amazing how much energy they use up
through mental stimulation. Examples include playing ‘find it’ where our dogs
have to find something we’ve hidden or for a bit of fun, we can even hide from
them ourselves. Hide and Seek is also a great game for in the house and fun for
all the family. Through using their noses, their sight and through interacting
with us, our dogs will wear themselves out faster. Which in theory should keep
their mischievous behaviour to a minimum.
With all the current uncertainties of shops closing, restrictions changing and the unknown of how long it’s going on for, it’s best we be prepared for all occasions. While the sun is shining and the days are still, it’s hard to imagine rain, sleet, wind or anything other than bliss, right now. But being British, we all know it’s best to be prepared for all weather conditions so we can make the most of our limited time outside. This means good waterproofs and wind protectors for both us and our four-legged friends. With pet stores closing we can be organised and buy online now before the time comes when we get wet and start shivering. With a good quality jacket, like those made by Ruffwear, we will have happy puppies in all weather. Ruffwear also provide handy tips for measuring and sizing-up our dogs at home so we can be confident in ordering the right size. Plus, the bonus of having our dogs wrapped up is that our furry friends stay dry which means less time battling them with the towel when we get home.
The Ruffwear Cloud Chaser dog coat extends activities during inclement weather, protecting against rain, snow, wind, and cold.
With all this
extra time we now have at home with our dogs, we have an opportunity to be
imaginative. Including Hide and Seek, there are many fun activities we can do
with our pooches which use mental stimulation as well as physical. In the
garden or inside we can make obstacle courses and try to teach our dogs how to
complete the course using a step by step approach. We can use tasty treats, a
tennis ball or whatever gets their attention to encourage them up, over or under.
The learning process is just as much fun for us as it is for our dogs, as the
trick is in the teaching. There is also an endless array of tricks we can
attempt to train our dogs. Some pointless but entertaining like ‘roll over’,
while others can be handy like picking up litter or ‘shut the door’.
During these
unprecedented times, we are the fortunate ones who have dogs to encourage us
off the sofa. By getting equipped for all weather conditions and becoming
imaginative in our interactions we can be sure to reap the rewards of our
‘family’s best friend’. Let’s not forget they keep us active, they give us
companionship and unconditional love in times of social distancing, and are
wonderfully entertaining in their own unique ways. So let’s take this
opportunity to have some tail wagging fun!
New to our Pro Shop for this Spring/Summer season, the
British brand Montane have dedicated over 25 years to carefully craft their
reputation as a leading provider for technical outdoor apparel. Known for
developing the lightest weight clothing with the highest breathability
possible, to ensure maximum comfort; Montane’s equipment has been purpose built
and tested to endure extreme activities in extreme conditions. All this affords
you the best protection against the elements and everything in between.
Montane are the go-to brand for any mountain professional who
wants innovative clothing, accessories and equipment that have the durability
and tenacity needed to brave the great outdoors. This is why we thought it
essential we stock them in our store!
Montane works with the world’s leading fabric suppliers to
produce industry-leading materials built specifically for outdoor trails, pushing
the boundaries of what is achievable for outdoor product design. In 2016, they
were the first British brand to be given a GORE license in decades from GORE-TEX®.
GORE-TEX® provides extreme breathability
combined with durable wind and waterproofing within outerwear clothing. Not
only that, with Montane’s garments including technologies from the likes of: COOLMAX®,
PrimaLoft, Pertex and Polygiene to name a few, all contribute to a products
ability to regulate temperature, manage moisture and odour whilst optimising
the comfort for you.
You can still wear Montane’s apparel for a run around the park or a walk through the woods; though to use their gear to the best of its ability, try pushing yourself onto rougher terrain and step outside your comfort zone! Those that choose Montane demand the most from their clothing and equipment; something that Montane’s happy to provide in spades. A minimalist, functional design that’s built to last is the epitome of their range; having been tested to the absolute limit so you can go even further, even faster.
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