Wet Dog Walks – The Wrong Trousers?
I got soaked this morning. Correction – we got soaked!
It rained very heavily last night. Thankfully I’d walked the dogs between one set of rain and the other. This morning looked ok – a bit dull but no sign of anything on the horizon to really worry about.
But as it was dull I slung my small rucksack on anyway, just in case. And I’m thankful that I did. Halfway round the sea wall between Millom and Haverigg the rain started. So out came all the waterproofs – dogs included. The first spell was light rain and THEN the deluge came after. It lasted about 15 very unpleasant minutes.
It was my trousers that sparked this post. I wear special fast drying trousers designed for hill walking. They dry out very quickly – sometimes on a hot day after rain in as little as 10 minutes. And I see lots of people out in the wrong stuff. So I thought I’d share some quick tips on dog walking clothing.
What you should have is:
- A good, breathable waterproof jacket. Plastic or PVC lines ones make you almost as wet inside. I have 4 jackets. A very light summer weight, a medium weight and my ‘walking in a downpour for hours’ special. Plus my extra long length for winter. I use Rohan and Berghaus for fit and performance.
- Breathable waterproof (over)trousers. Great in winter when it’s cold. I don’t tend to wear them in summer unless it’s already raining and forecast to stay that way. I have some North Face ones.
- Sturdy walking shoes or boots. Good comfortable trainers for street coverage. Proper walking shoes or boots with a thick sole and good deep tread for paths and tracks. They don’t need to be expensive – just fit well. I use High Tech Multiterra 2 for general kickabout, and Berghaus Explorer Trek for most other stuff.
- Quick drying walking trousers. Essential. I use Rohan Bags. Don’t ever wear jeans as they suck up lots of water and hold it for hours on end.
- Cushioned walking socks. Socks specially designed for walking with cushioned toe, instep and heel areas, and good elasticated tops. This helps to prevent blisters and chafing. Any good quality walking sock will do. Wool blends are great for winter if you can wear wool.
- A small daysack. A rucksack which is about 15-20 litres, to carry a good sized water bottle, your waterproof, a dog waterproof, keys, purse, mobile etc. I have a Vango 16 litre with a padded back which is just perfect.
- Fleece top – This can be a zip-in partner to your jacket or separate. I have 2 ‘ordinary’ Berghaus full zip fleeces and 2 Rohan Microgrid fleeces. Microgrid fleece is warm but incredibly lightweight and packs down ionto nothing. It’s great for just keeping the chill off.
- Wicking tops. These are walking tops specially designed to move sweat away from your body. Often not expensive and they do help in hot weather. I wear Helly Hansen.
You don’t have to have all of these, or have them all on you every day. It depends on the weather and how far you intend to go. But this is what I wear or carry with me almost every day, and have done for the past 12 years of dog owning. And I have been very grateful of all of it, many times!
Note about the brands used
I use what fits me best and provides the protection I need. I now know the brands which work best. But everyone’s different. There are many great brands on the high street offering a fantastic choice.
Buy what fits you well and feels comfortable. And buy what will work for the amount of walking you do. I do a lot of walking. Therefore I buy clothing and boots designed for spending 2 or more hours in the rain and mud.
If you’re not doing mega amounts of dog walking, don’t rush off and spend hundreds on a jacket. Or anything else!
Top Tip – Do buy the best, most waterproof jacket you can afford. Even short heavy showers can go through cheap waterproofs. And a good jacket could last you up to 10 years with good care and re-proofing.
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