What clothes and equipment should I invest in to get the most out of my outdoor time?

• What clothes and equipment should I invest in to get the most out of my outdoor time? I spend as much time in the countryside as possible. I like: rambling in woods and muddy fields; hiking up hills; canoeing in lakes in rivers; going for long casual cycles (as well as commuting to work by bike in all sorts of weather); sailing, and spending time at the beach. I’d like to start investing in quality clothes and equipment which will be suitable for a range of these activities, keeping me comfortable and safe for years to come, and would love to hear tips from other outdoorsy people on what to get. I live in a temperate, wet climate, where it can rain and be chilly, or be sunny and pleasant, on pretty much any day of the year. Keeping dry and comfortable is a priority. There are a lot of threads looking for specific things for specific hobbies (shorts for cycling or sailing shoes for example), but I’m looking more for things which will suit a range of activities as much as possible. I generally go on day trips, so camping gear isn’t needed, but I’d be interested in things I can keep on standby in the car. I’d love to hear about both specific items and what materials to look out for (such as Gore-Tex in boots). I’m a lady and living in Ireland.

• Answer:

  For hiking down to freezing temperatures, I like to wear a tight, stretchy base layer (usually mid weight or expedition weight), a fleece over that (either full or 3/4 zip), and then a waterproof/breathable rain jacket (with a hood). I have a Marmot Oracle, and I like it because the hood detaches and it has pit zips, but I'm about to replace it with a nicer jacket that uses eVent fabric. All of that is synthetic. I have glove liners that are usually sufficient, but I also have a pair of mittens if the liners aren't working. I also wear a hat that keeps my ears warm, and I have a neck gaiter (kinda like a buff, but smaller and warmer) that I'll pull up over my face if necessary. For the lower body I start with thin or mid weight socks (not cotton). Sometimes I wear a pair of tights under my pants, sometimes not. For pants I have a pair of hiking pants made from Schoeller fabric that I love, but I recently got a pair of Kühl pants that are cotton, which is normally not advised, but damn they are comfortable. I have a pair of mid weight boots lined with GoreTex, and I really really like those. If it's warm I hike in Chacos sandals, shorts, and a tshirt. I carry a day pack (about 30 liters) that has food, water, a camera, and a few essentials. I don't know much about kayaking, so I can't really help you there. For cycling (commuting, not training) in fair weather, I usually just wear whatever I wore out of the house that day. Having a synthetic shirt is nice so that sweat evaporates, but sometimes I'll just take a spare shirt to change into once I get to where I'm going. I recently put a rack on my bike and got a pair of Ortlieb panniers, and that has made a WORLD of difference. I no longer have to carry anything on my back, so my back doesn't get sweaty. I'm able to carry everything I need in just one pannier, so I don't ride with the pair, just with one. I can't recommend this enough. For cold/wet cycling, I wear the rain jacket above, a pair of long-fingered cycling gloves, and a thin cap under my helmet. Sometimes I'll wear the neck gaiter. My ears are really sensitive to the cold. I'll usually wear tights under shorts (I'm not a fan of cycling in pants), and if it's really wet I'll break out the rain pants (one annoying thing about my pair of rain pants is that the leg zipper isn't full length, so if I'm wearing boots I can't get the pants over them. I'm going to return them and get a pair of full-length zippered rain pants, like the Marmot PreCip pants). As for things to keep standby in a car: A full hydration bladder, a headlamp, a rain jacket, maybe rain pants, a space blanket (so cheap and light, and I've saved a few hides by giving mine away to people who looked miserably cold and wet), some energy food (bars, gels, something that won't spoil), and maybe a spare pair of socks and a base layer. I'm not sure what's available across the pond, so I've mostly stayed away from recommending specific items or brands. I've found that you tend to get what you pay for with regards to outdoor gear. Pick the right gear and don't abuse it, and it can last several seasons.