Wildside

One of the essential items on the Wildside kit list are walking boots. I’ve had a lot of walking boots in my time. I loved my first pair of boots, but they were heavy and not entirely waterproof. My current boots are much lighter and have a Gore-Tex liner which keeps my feet nice and dry – at least until my foot sinks into an Eryri bog.

The Wildside Outdoors kit list specifies walking boots that are waterproof and cover the ankle. This, by definition, excludes trainers and hiking shoes without ankle cover. We also check that participants do not use “fashion” boots such as Timberland or Dr Martins which are not designed to provide ankle protection.

So why do we place such importance on waterproof walking boots that cover the ankle? Well, for a start, participants need to be properly equipment as part of the DofE expedition requirements. Practically, this means guarding against a rolled or sprained ankle which can result from walking over rough ground whilst carrying a heavy load. If a participant gets an ankle injury in a lowland area during a Bronze DofE expedition it will mean the end of their expedition and a lengthy recovery time. If a participant gets an ankle injury in wild country during a Gold DofE expedition the immediate consequences can be potentially dangerous.

Asking participants to have boots that are waterproof is about more than just having dry feet. Blisters can form when walking in boots due to a combination of heat, moisture and pressure on the skin. The combination of waterproof boots and good fitting moisture wicking socks reduces the chances of blisters forming and hence greatly add to the participants enjoyment of the expedition.

So are waterproof walking boots with ankle support teamed with good socks the end of this blog article? No. Enter one of my essential items in the outdoors – my roll of duct tape.

I carry a roll of duct tape in the same waterproof bag as my first aid kit, and I use it several times a season. Duct tape is brilliant stuff in the outdoors. I’ve used it to repair tents, repair waterproofs, repair rucksacks… you get it, it’s a required item in my kit.

This season I’ve used duct tape several times to repair boots where the sole has come away from the body of the boot. In both circumstances these have been “vintage” boots that have seen DofE expeditions with the participants’ parents. I love the idea of recycling old kit; its environmentally friendly and should be encouraged. Just check the kit is in good order…. And pack a roll of duct tape.

THE WILDSIDE BLOG