In reply to Mabbsy:
> Thanks for your response. I see I didn't really post enough info!
> I've been walking a lot over the summer and I've really enjoyed it. So much so that I'm looking to carry it on into the winter, and look to go further a field from my base in the cotswolds. My trip to Snowdon is with some more experienced people, so I'd say we'd be looking at 6-8 hours hikes for 4 days.
> Ideally I'd like to get something of reasonable quality to last me a few winters.
Sounds good
My advice:
- Decent waterproof jacket. Goretex Pro is very hard wearing, and will last you a few years at least. Brands don't matter too much, as long as the jacket fits well, and is well made (that's usually why people buy expensive brands, to get a better chance of having these). The technology hasn't changed in a few years, so nothing wrong with getting slightly older stuff as long as it's well made. You want a jacket that's big enough to not be tight with a fleece on, but also not so big the sleeves get in the way. A bit of material covering your arse is a very nice feature when the rain is wind driven, or you sit down on it. Some people hate pit zips, some swear by them. I love pit zips, because I can sweat a lot if I'm moving quickly, and I find that no breathable fabric comes close to the ventilation of pit zips. If you sweat a lot, I recommend a jacket with pit zips.
- Decent waterproof trousers. Those crinkly paclite ones are okay for emergency use, but if you want to walk in winter - they're terrible. A common thing to do in winter (or very rainy weather) is to not use trousers at all, and simply wear your waterproof trousers over top of your underpants, or over a pair of thermals. So I'd get a pair that has straps, or the option to fit straps. At the moment you can get a really good deal on Montane Astro ascent ones, which fulfill these requirements.
- Fleece with full front zip. I'd recommend one with few seams, as the fancy stitched ones pull apart at the seams exposing the heat underneath. This I'd use as your midlayer, as the insulation when wet is still very high (unlike most other mid-layers).
- Boots. There is no one "boot to rule them all", that's the only rule. In nice weather, I'd recommend trail runners (they breathe easily, and stop your feet from swelling and blistering). Then as weather gets colder and wetter, flexible waterproof boots (if you want to walk in October, this is what you'll want unless we have the Indian summer of the century). Then only when you're planning to walk up hard snow and ice, would I recommend harder winter boots (they will be sold as B1/B2/B3 boots - no need for them now IMO).
Hope there's at least some useful info in there.