The weather is getting cooler, wetter and breezier already, so it’s time to prepare yourself to make the most of the coming autumn with our tips.
1 – Make sure your kit’s all proofed and up to scratch. Get your boots overhauled and proof your waterproofs in order to keep yourself dry. Do this before your first rainy trip, not after!
2 – Layer properly. That means you can keep warm enough without getting too warm. It’s easy enough to shift from summer to pure winter kit, but you’ll sweat to regret it. An extra fleece or a thin microfleece while walking is often enough along with an insulated layer for when you stop. Synthetic is the way to go, as it will probably be wet. Down kit is next to useless in those conditions.
3 – Invest in some dry-bags. One thing’s certain, the contents of your pack will get wet over the coming months and this is the only way to reliably protect them.
4 – Whack that map in a map case, or invest in waterproof maps that can survive the welsh weather.
5 – Tis the season to be windproof – A decent water-resistant windproof comes into itself in autumn. When it’s windy, showery but still warm enough to get sweating in those waterproofs. Along with a mid-weight fleece, it’s all you’ll need. Alternatively, a soft-shell such as the Rab Vapour Rise does both.
6 – Time to dust off those warmer extras – Hats and gloves need to be dug from the bottom of the kit box, with a mid-weight pair of waterproof gloves becoming essential as the cold and wet combines with the wind-chills.
7 – Start bringing a group shelter. They’re a bit of a faff initially, but they turn lunchtime into a much more pleasant experience.
8 – Fill that Flask – Hot drinks or a thick chunky soup really makes all the difference. Better still is a hot flask of soup AND a flask of hot chocolate.
Finally – don’t forget your camera. Even though it may be blowy and wet, it’s still a beautiful season (until November. That month’s a waste of space).
