Hiking Weather: What's Happened To The UK Summer?

As a brand that's passionate about hiking, each year we anticipate a warm and pleasant summer in the UK and quite often we are left feeling rather disappointed. The hiking weather reports sound optimistic for the months leading up to summer and we often start to feel positive that this summer could be good for the UK.  However, with the 2010 summer nearing to a close already, we find ourselves questioning when we will actually have some decent hiking weather here in the UK.

The optimum hiking weather is not about beating hot sun scorching your skin; it's quite simply a pleasant, warm and dry day. Hiking in hot weather is not a good idea as people can become dehydrated and the heat means our bodies have to work harder to be able to climb that hill or mountain. All the UK really wants is a month or two of great sunny weather that's perfect for hikers, but it seems 2010 is a wash-out already.

June started off well - there were some glorious sunny days during this month and then by the time July and August came, we did wonder where the pleasant weather had gone. For hikers, good hiking weather is essential and unless the rest of August holds some sunshine surprises, it's looking like we are on track for another wet few weeks leading us into autumn.

We can't predict the weather and for hikers it's even harder. Hikers plan their expeditions a good few weeks in advance and it really comes down to just 'hoping' that there won't be any bad weather that they have to contend with. Kitting yourself out with the right clothing helps, but most people would agree that a few weeks of really good hiking weather is just what the UK needs this year.  Still, we can't count on it and more hikers are feeling like they should abandon their hiking trips this year because of the poor weather we have had so far. Our advice is to stay positive and head on out in your ion-mask boots; then you'll be prepared for any sort of hiking weather!

Green Hikers Campaign - Advice for Himalayan Hikers

It's an increasingly carbon sensitive world out there and any methods that hikers can employ to help reduce their carbon footprint is helpful to the environment and also to hikers with a conscience.

The Green Hiking Campaign may seem like a strange concept, given that most hiking enthusiasts tend not to emit carbon dioxide in lorry-loads when practicing their favoured activity. But one question does need answering - how do hikers get to the areas in which they want to go hiking in the first place?

Some ultra dedicated green hiking professionals will of course walk there - in fact, there is no beginning or end for these people - hiking is a way of life and they'll walk everywhere. But not all hiking fanatics are quite so dedicated - and it's understandable why.

Travel, along with littering and general disrespect for the environment is one reason why the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has launched its Green Hikers Campaign to help raise awareness about environmental issues in the Himalayan region. In association with the Indian Government's Tourism Ministry, the Green Hikers Campaign has been set up to ensure that dangerously fragile ecosystems in the Himalayas are protected by encouraging tour operators and their passengers to decrease their impact on the local environment.

With the slogan "nature leaves a mark on you, don't leave one behind", the campaign features a Green Hiker Animation Film which was released at the launch again reinforcing the aims of protecting the Himalayan environment.

To find out more or to follow the campaign, hikers can sign up for updates at the WWF Website, or read some of the comments that green hikers have already left about the benefits to the campaign. Whilst the Green Hiker Campaign is focussed on the Himalayas and tourism operating in India and the regions, many of the basic principles of green hiking can be translated to any hiker in any location across the world.

Hiking In The Lake District In Your Flipflops

A recent report published in the Westmorland Gazette has highlighted the bizarre and sometimes downright dangerous choices that some walkers hiking in the Lake District have been making when choosing which footwear to use. A spokesperson from The North West Air Ambulance reported incidents of inexperienced walkers wearing luxurious soft sheepskin lined leisure footwear, flipflops and other shoes deemed highly 'inappropriate' for these most challenging of fells.

This year, mountain rescue teams have already attended up to 38 incidents, 12% of the total, in which hikers were found to be wearing poor footwear.

The importance of choosing the correct boots for hiking in the Lake District is without doubt something that shouldn't be treated lightly. There is plenty of advice available for ensuring adequate protection for your feet, ankles, knee and leg muscles and there really is little excuse for being ill-prepared.

Some of the most common injuries seen by walkers hiking in the Lake District are also seen in other areas of the country, where bad footwear decisions have meant a lot of pain for the wearers, and sometimes for some considerable time after the initial problem began. Here are some of the most common problems walkers can face, even with the best hiking boots:

Straining the thigh and knee - This sort of injury can occur when hiking up or down hillsides where greater strain and pressure is placed on these areas. There are however hiking techniques which can be used to limit this sort of damage.

Painful, unexpected ankle sprains - This is perhaps one of the most common walking injuries, especially when hiking in the Lake District - tough climbs and scree slopes formed from loose fragmented rock can cause the ankle to roll outwards and cause the injury. Ankle sprains can be avoided by ensuring good quality hiking boots are worn with adequate ankle protection - it's fairly obvious that flipflops really won't prevent ankle sprains.

Dreaded blisters - All walkers will at some point get blisters. They occur for various reasons, most notably because of repeated pressure on an area of skin where moisture is unable to escape. The most preventable measure to avoid getting blisters is to ensure your hiking boots fit snugly and that appropriate socks are worn with them. Always carry First Aid items that can help with blisters, such as plasters and specialist blister creams.

Of course, hiking in the Lake District in flipflops is never going to do anybody any favours, and not only can this sort of behaviour put the wearers health and sometimes lives at risk, it also puts greater pressure on the mountain rescue services and air ambulance teams that are called out to hikers who've been caught out by bad and irresponsible decisions.

Always get advice about the best kind of hiking boots to wear, make sure you have a fitting session from an expert or specialist supplier and if you’re intending to go hiking in the Lake District, make sure you share this advice with anyone you see with a map of Helvellyn in one hand and a pair of flipflops in the other.

Backpacking or Backbreaking

It is an astonishing fact that back and neck pain constitutes for nearly half of all absences from work in the EU - this is why keen walkers on backpacking hiking expeditions should learn some simple back care to take with them on their expedition.

Permanent back-pain can be set-off by the simplest of things like a cough to continuously performing activity that creates strain on muscles, ligaments and cartilage. Backpacking, by its very name, suggests something that involves the back - and of course it does - carrying sometimes fairly heavy weight.

So, remember, always get the essentials sorted first.

The Backpacking Boots

Make sure your backpacking boots fit properly. If not, then go and seek some professional advice from a specialist supplier. Without good quality backpacking boots that have been properly fitted, the weight you're carrying will not be given proper support from your legs, meaning your back could be compensating and taking more strain than it needs to.

The Backpack

Backpacks worn incorrectly are often the reason for backpacking hikers struggling with back-pain. Adjust your backpack so that it sits high on the back, making use of waist straps where appropriate. These help transfer weight from the shoulders onto the hips, ensuring an even spread of weight across the whole back. This way, pressure spots are less likely to occur and it is less likely that you will be aggravating back-pain.

The Exercises                 

Anyone who participates in any sort of regular exercise will know that warming-up and down after an intensive level of physical activity helps stop the body from getting tense and stiff. There are a many simple back exercises recommended by physiotherapists for people with specific back-problems - consult yours before going backpacking hiking.

The Rest

Everyone needs a rest, physically and mentally. After several hours backpacking, the final thing you must do is give your body enough time to rest, relax and recuperate. Hot showers, gentle stretching and good, supported resting positions when sitting or lying are highly recommended.

If you take heed of these few simple points, then backpacking hiking should be your friend rather than your backbreaker!

When To Get New Walking Shoes

It must be human nature that makes us hold on to things that have past the point where they might still be useful,  and so the question of when to get new walking shoes is perhaps one that many of us  who are keen hikers avoid answering with any degree of commitment.

Maybe it's sentimentality that prevents us from doing so. You have probably been part of a similar scenario: you bought a pair of the best quality hiking boots over ten years ago with the money you'd saved from working overtime for over several months. You then climbed all of Scotland's Munros in them, wore them when you got married on top of Kinder Scout and used them to hold the Holy Water when your first child was baptised. Hiking boots like these should last forever and anyway, you won't find another pair like them these days!

Sentimentality indeed. It goes without saying that the most important aspect to any hiking boot is that they actually do the job they are designed for and so the question of when to get new walking shoes really isn't a hard one, is it? To make life a little easier, there are a few things to look for that can make the decision simpler.

Firstly, check if there's a hole in the bottom of the sole. If there is, then you can throw your hiking boots away immediately (or have them framed if they really do carry a lot of sentimental value).

Secondly, make sure the sole is still intact and hasn't started to come away from the body of the boot. Pull the sole away from the hiking boot and if there's any noticeable 'give', then clearly the integrity of this part of the boot has been compromised and it may be time for a replacement.

Thirdly, assess how waterproof your hiking boots are. You should of course have been caring for your hiking boots using the appropriate weather protection and waterproofing substances, however, leather and other boot materials do deteriorate over time. As wet feet are no good at all - they make for an uncomfortable walk and are bad for your feet's health - this may be the clincher that gets you searching for a suitable replacement pair.

Finally, ensure that you have adequate tread left on your soles. Hard walking across craggy terrain can put the walker and their boots under serious pressure to perform - and again, over time, hiking boot treads can and do wear down.

There's nothing wrong with sentimentality and most of us exhibit it to some degree. There is a problem however when it begins to have an effect on important decisions and the question of when to get new walking shoes is one of those decisions. In order to remain safe and get the most enjoyment from your activity as a hiker, don’t delay making it.

Hiking Maps You Can Print

Apart from making sure you have the best quality hiking boots for your outdoor walking adventure, another essential item to carry is a map - but stop - this should not necessarily be one of those maps you can print easily and for free from the Internet.

As many of us already know, getting hold of mapping information these days couldn't be any more simple - free information and data from the Internet, the use of SatNav and the prevalence of Smartphones whose applications utilise both Internet compatible applications and GPS make it so.

From the Internet today, it's possible to use a free service like Google Maps or Multimap, bring up the relevant area on-screen and then of course you can print the map to use when required. These are fine if all you need is to check up on your day-to-day geography.

However, if you’re looking for maps you can print in order to navigate serious hiking trips, you should exercise caution. Even today, in a world obsessed with the latest technology and gadgetry, there's no substitute for spending some of your money getting hold of the most detailed map possible. Walking in some of the World's National Parks for example can land you in deep trouble if you don't carry basic equipment such as a compass in conjunction with a precise and accurate survey of the landscape in front of you - especially when the weather turns, the fog comes down and your latest 'locate me I'm lost' mobile application can't connect because the signal's gone down.

So where should you go to acquire the best pre-printed maps rather than maps you can print yourself?

In the UK, Ordnance Survey is synonymous with quality detailed map making. Commissioned as Great Britain's national mapping agency and collecting, collating and providing Government agencies with up-to-date mapping data - they also provide the widest and most trusted range of large scale detailed maps for hikers and explorers.

So, if you’re considering setting off in your new hiking boots anytime soon, and you haven’t already planned your route and bought the relevant maps – then it’s about time you did, before you leave it too late and rely on those highly unsuitable maps you can print.

Adventure Hiking - Must Know Info To Find The Right Hiking Boots

For those of us who love adventure hiking through the wilderness, it is important to focus on getting the right hiking boots as this really can make all the difference. It goes without saying that comfort is a given but there are a number of other features which will make adventure hiking all the more enjoyable.
Hiking boots are designed to be resilient and hard-wearing and anyone who has ever been adventure hiking through mountain terrains or forest landscapes will understand why they have to be. There are a few key characteristics related to this sort of footwear that it is a good idea to be familiar with and which will ramp up your enjoyment of adventure hiking significantly.

The 5 Must Know Facts When Picking Hiking Boots

With springtime getting into full swing, many Brit's are now turning their attention to adventure hiking opportunities - but is it prudent to know the features of hiking boots which will have the biggest bearing on your comfort levels whilst hitting the trails, both in the UK and abroad. The top 5 facts are:

1. Choose Performance Over Appearance - Adventure hiking is all about going through ravines, streams and muddy ditches so if you have a new pair of hiking boots, they won't stay looking new for long. As such, pick a pair that offer high performance as opposed to visual appeal. And if they happen to look good as well, then great!

2. Timing - Generally speaking, if you know you're going adventure hiking, you should aim to buy your footwear a few months in advance - as this will give you the opportunity to break them in and ensure they are comfortable right from the outset.

3. Consider The Materials - It goes without saying that hiking footwear comes in a multitude of different materials and each type are generally more suited to specific forms of terrain and weather conditions. Doing some research beforehand will help make sure you choose a variety that will be suitable for your hike.

4. Don't Make Obvious Mistakes - Obviously, most hiking boots are waterproof but this only applies if the water is shallow enough not to come over the top of the boot. Mistakes such as this should be avoided when adventure hiking to make sure the footwear remains comfortable throughout.

5. It's All About The Fit - You could buy a pair of hiking boots for £1m but if they don't fit your particular type of foot, then it will be futile. Comfort is key when adventure hiking and choosing a form of footwear which fits is more important than opting for the most expensive pair you can find.

Adventure hiking will be a popular pursuit amongst Brits in the remainder of 2010 and we're confident that many will be opting for the Hi-Tec V-Lite Mt Nevis WPi to keep their feet comfortable and their hike enjoyable.