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Gear for Children

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General fitness, health and nutrition
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6 February 2006
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  1. My 5 yr old daughter Emilie has been nagging me for a while to 'take
    her up a mountain', so, never one to look a gift horse in the mouth,
    that is what I am going to do 🙂

    Before I do so, she is going to need some basic 'gear' (a fleece,
    waterproof etc), but bearing in mind how fast children grow I don't
    want to spend a small fortune on it (especially since she may decide
    that having been up one, that's it!).

    What makes, manufacturers etc would people recommend as doing good
    quality, cheap gear for children?

    Thanks

    John

  2. Quoted message said:

    Before I do so, she is going to need some basic 'gear' (a fleece,
    waterproof etc), but bearing in mind how fast children grow I don't
    want to spend a small fortune on it (especially since she may decide
    that having been up one, that's it!).

    What makes, manufacturers etc would people recommend as doing good
    quality, cheap gear for children?

    Caveat that I don't have moppets of my own to care for, but that said...
    I wouldn't worry too much about special gear. It's important that she
    has a Really Good Time, so there's no reason to go on a day that is much
    else than rather pleasant. In such a situation I'd think what a 5 year
    old would normally wear for playing outside should be basically up to
    the job. Make sure her shoes are comfortable and sensible for the
    terrain and any other clothes allow reasonable freedom of movement and
    you're most of the way there.

    You can't guarantee the weather will stay good, of course, but doesn't
    she have some sort of raincoat anyway? It's not like you need something
    to keep out blizzards for 4 hours. If you take a good umbrella then as
    long as it isn't too windy you can keep most of any rain off her.

    Other thing is make sure you've got a good supply of treats for morale
    boosting if necessary.

    Pete.
    --
    Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
    Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
    Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
    net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

  3. In article <[email hidden]>,
    [email hidden] writes

    Quoted message said:

    My 5 yr old daughter Emilie has been nagging me for a while to 'take
    her up a mountain', so, never one to look a gift horse in the mouth,
    that is what I am going to do 🙂

    Before I do so, she is going to need some basic 'gear' (a fleece,
    waterproof etc), but bearing in mind how fast children grow I don't
    want to spend a small fortune on it (especially since she may decide
    that having been up one, that's it!).

    What makes, manufacturers etc would people recommend as doing good
    quality, cheap gear for children?

    When my lad was little we used to get reasonable waterproof coats from a
    large Woolworths nearby so that is probably worth a look. Tesco and Asda
    usually have some cheap fleeces on offer which are good value.

    Track suit trousers and a fleece hat and gloves are cheap and do the
    job. On the feet make sure that their shoes are not too tight so they
    rub and have reasonable grip on the soles.

    If you go to an "outdoor" store you will probably find better quality
    but at much higher prices...

    --

    Dominic Sexton

  4. Peter Clinch said:
    Quoted message said:

    Before I do so, she is going to need some basic 'gear' (a fleece,
    waterproof etc), but bearing in mind how fast children grow I don't
    want to spend a small fortune on it (especially since she may decide
    that having been up one, that's it!).

    What makes, manufacturers etc would people recommend as doing good
    quality, cheap gear for children?

    Caveat that I don't have moppets of my own to care for, but that said...
    I wouldn't worry too much about special gear. It's important that she
    has a Really Good Time, so there's no reason to go on a day that is much
    else than rather pleasant. In such a situation I'd think what a 5 year
    old would normally wear for playing outside should be basically up to
    the job. Make sure her shoes are comfortable and sensible for the
    terrain and any other clothes allow reasonable freedom of movement and
    you're most of the way there.

    You can't guarantee the weather will stay good, of course, but doesn't
    she have some sort of raincoat anyway? It's not like you need something
    to keep out blizzards for 4 hours. If you take a good umbrella then as
    long as it isn't too windy you can keep most of any rain off her.

    Other thing is make sure you've got a good supply of treats for morale
    boosting if necessary.


    Agreed re Really Good Time. My main concern is that her normal coat is
    a big, heavy pink thing that is too heavy for her to carry, so I want a
    lightweight fleece and windstopper for the stops etc, especially since
    the imminent arrival of a new brother/sister means this may be a spring
    rather than summer time trip!

    John

  5. Quoted message said:


    Peter Clinch said:
    Quoted message said:

    Before I do so, she is going to need some basic 'gear' (a fleece,
    waterproof etc), but bearing in mind how fast children grow I don't
    want to spend a small fortune on it (especially since she may decide
    that having been up one, that's it!).

    What makes, manufacturers etc would people recommend as doing good
    quality, cheap gear for children?

    Caveat that I don't have moppets of my own to care for, but that said...
    I wouldn't worry too much about special gear. It's important that she
    has a Really Good Time, so there's no reason to go on a day that is much
    else than rather pleasant.

    Quoted message said:

    Agreed re Really Good Time. My main concern is that her normal coat is
    a big, heavy pink thing that is too heavy for her to carry,

    And you don't want to carry it either :-)

    Quoted message said:

    so I want a lightweight fleece and windstopper for the stops etc,

    I don't think you will go far wrong if you start here

    http://www.regatta.com/prod_girls.asp

    A fleece and a light jacket to put over it to keep the wind off will
    do. If the weather needs anything more then a RGT is not likely and
    so it isn't worth going.

    Quoted message said:

    especially since the imminent arrival of a new brother/sister
    means this may be a spring rather than summer time trip!

    Spring weather is often better anyway.

    --
    Phil Cook looking north over the park to the "Westminster Gasworks"

  6. Quoted message said:

    My 5 yr old daughter Emilie has been nagging me for a while to 'take
    her up a mountain', so, never one to look a gift horse in the mouth,
    that is what I am going to do 🙂

    Just took my 5 year old up to Coniston Old Man on Saturday and we've
    aquired some gear over the last 12 months. There are a few photos on my
    site (http://www.stridingedge.net - have a look at 4th Feb walk)that
    show some gear, but as a general rule, 'Next' gear is pretty good. They
    do thick winter trousers, fleeces and the jacket on the summit shot is
    a ski jacket from there. I think on those photos she was wearing a crag
    hoppers fleece and tee shirt and some really great zip offs by Catfish
    (never heard of them but they are good). Boots are Asolo, ready for a
    new pair now though.
    Sean

  7. Quoted message said:

    What makes, manufacturers etc would people recommend as doing good
    quality, cheap gear for children?

    When it comes to "good quality", keep in mind that durability isn't much
    of an issue - they will grow out of it before they wear it out.

    Roos

  8. Hi.
    do not skimp on the gloves. Look at ski wear and do not be put out
    if you have to spend £30.00 for a pair of waterproof ( essential) warm
    ones.
    The other thing to remember when taking a child for a walk IME is
    they do not like strong winds so when planning the walk try to find out
    how strong the wind will be at the height you are walking NOT at valley
    level.
    A fleece is never lost we but buy Regatta but I am sure M&S and the
    like do some.
    Regatta pacup shells in bags for waterproof top and pants are easy
    to carry and do the job if it rains and do not cost a fortune.
    I would not buy special boots or shoes until you see if she likes it
    but Gelert do some for a first go which did for us and some shops do
    kids boot swap schemes.
    Get proper walking socks for kids and compeed.
    Finally a multi pack of her favourite chocolate.
    If you really get her into walking look at Jack Wolfskin and Patagonia
    for clothes and ruksaks and Scarpa and Berghaus for boots.
    Hope she enjoys it.
    Regards.

  9. Roos Eisma said:

    When it comes to "good quality", keep in mind that durability isn't much
    of an issue - they will grow out of it before they wear it out.

    Roos

    There speaks the voice of experience!!!!!

    Couldn't agree more....the only specialist bit of kit my son has is his
    boots..everything is multi-purpose.

    David.

  10. Quoted message said:

    do not skimp on the gloves. Look at ski wear and do not be put out
    if you have to spend £30.00 for a pair of waterproof ( essential) warm
    ones.

    I've highlighted cases before where I think people are being a bit OTT
    with words like "need", "must" and "essential", and this is another.

    If it were essential for children to own warm, waterproof gloves before
    they ever went outside for a few hours then [censored] Sapiens would have died
    out many millennia in the past. You can keep hands acceptably warm and
    dry by putting them in your pockets most of the time, and a pair of
    cheap woollen mitts which are still usefully warm when wet combined with
    hands in pockets will do for most of the other occasions.

    Don't forget this isn't a major winter mountaineering expedition, it's
    to be a nice bimble on a basically nice day.

    Pete.
    --
    Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
    Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
    Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
    net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

  11. Hi,
    on this one I think you are wrong. I speak from experience on this
    one and it is well worth investing in a good pair of gloves for a
    child. The thread is about going up a mountain in spring. You must have
    seen it when valley weather is brill but you get to the top it is
    another world even in spring. All the other kit you can buy Multi
    purpose but believe me I tried to do the glove thing cheap and could
    not. If you take the the gloves and do not use them great but if you
    get a caught by rain with a wind and your child is crying with cold
    fingers, you would pay the mountain top glove salesman £100+ for a
    pair.
    If there is any doubt with the weather do not forget the gloves or
    you will put her of walking for a long time, but lets hope its suncream
    thats required.

  12. Quoted message said:

    on this one I think you are wrong. I speak from experience on this
    one and it is well worth investing in a good pair of gloves for a
    child. The thread is about going up a mountain in spring. You must have
    seen it when valley weather is brill but you get to the top it is
    another world even in spring.

    If the weather is changing that obviously then the thing to do for the
    sake of enjoyment of a 5 year old is to turn around, not to throw
    equipment at the problem. But even if you do throw equipment at the
    problem then declaring waterproof gloves to be "essential" is over the
    top, as aside from anything else water will tend to drizzle or wick down
    sleeves into gloves anyway unless they're tucked inside a serious
    waterproof jacket.

    Quoted message said:

    If you take the the gloves and do not use them great but if you
    get a caught by rain with a wind and your child is crying with cold
    fingers, you would pay the mountain top glove salesman £100+ for a
    pair.

    As with coats, kids play outside in any case, and they're quite content
    to do it in cold weather and there's no reason why what they use for
    that won't suffice.

    Quoted message said:

    If there is any doubt with the weather do not forget the gloves

    Gloves, yes. £30 gloves, however, are not "essential". Take a spare
    pair of cheap wool mitts that will fit over the cheap wool gloves and
    you've got more useful configurations, spares, and a lot of change from £30.

    Pete.
    --
    Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
    Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
    Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
    net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

  13. In article <[email hidden]>,
    [email hidden] writes

    Quoted message said:

    ll the other kit you can buy Multi
    purpose but believe me I tried to do the glove thing cheap and could
    not.

    I did manage to do gloves cheap and my lad went up hills in the Peak
    District, Snowdonia and the Lake District without any real dramas. The
    weather ranged from an overcast and snowy Kinder through high winds and
    rain in the Lakes to a sun baked Snowdon Horseshoe. His gloves were
    nothing special - either fleece or cheap mittens.

    The biggest whinge I got from him was halfway up Kinder in the snow when
    he had unwisely decided to splash around in a puddle on the road before
    we set off. He was about six years old and until then didn't realise
    that waterlogged boots in the snow leads to cold feet.

    --

    Dominic Sexton

  14. Scenario.
    Dollywagon Pike in March
    2 kids crying with cold wet fingers in their cheap wet woolen gloves.
    Mother going ballistic and giving me a serious bollocking for geting
    the weather wrong.
    Me saying well the forecast wasn`t for this.
    A BAD day on the hill.
    Truly I still vote the gloves, others do not we will have to agree to
    disagree on that one.

    Still I did take them a Magnum and a Cornetto up Crinkle Crags in a
    flask in Summer, I didn`t get Bolloked for THAT

  15. Quoted message said:

    Scenario.
    Dollywagon Pike in March
    2 kids crying with cold wet fingers in their cheap wet woolen gloves.
    Mother going ballistic and giving me a serious bollocking for geting
    the weather wrong.

    So give them yours and mum's gloves, probably over the top of their own
    after you've wrung them out and warmed them up in your armpits and given
    them a warm mug to hold to get things started. Manual dexterity will be
    zip, but that's a moot point because they don't really need it. Spend
    the £30 (only it'll be £60 with 2 of them) on something they won't grow
    out of next year, like some good books.

    You can /always/ dream up some situation where what you have isn't adequate.

    Pete.
    --
    Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
    Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
    Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
    net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

  16. The situation was not dreamt up but what actually happened.
    So my first move is to take my gloves of. I did that but then my hands
    got cold.
    Stand around in a gale on a mountain having warming mugs. No you bugger
    off quick and get them down ASAP.
    We get any number of comments about how few children are out walking
    and how nice it is to see them and that is because a lot of parents
    would rather spend the money on Playstation games at £45 a pop not
    books.
    Why buy a book when you can go to the Library and with the money you
    save you can buy some good gloves for your children ;-)

  17. <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...
    The situation was not dreamt up but what actually happened.
    So my first move is to take my gloves of. I did that but then my hands
    got cold.
    Stand around in a gale on a mountain having warming mugs. No you bugger
    off quick and get them down ASAP.
    We get any number of comments about how few children are out walking
    and how nice it is to see them and that is because a lot of parents
    would rather spend the money on Playstation games at £45 a pop not
    books.
    Why buy a book when you can go to the Library and with the money you
    save you can buy some good gloves for your children ;-)

    I would recommend taking an emergency shelter - it's amazing how much warmer
    you feel inside once protected from the wind. Gloves and warming mugs can
    then be distributed and correct decisions taken. They pack down small and
    can make the difference in a situation between bearable and unbearable (even
    for non-children as I discovered :o) ).

    --
    Bob Mannix
    (anti-spam is as easy as 1-2-3 - not)

  18. Quoted message said:

    Scenario.
    Dollywagon Pike in March
    2 kids crying with cold wet fingers in their cheap wet woolen gloves.
    Mother going ballistic and giving me a serious bollocking for geting
    the weather wrong.

    The logical extension of your argument, though, is to get the full kit
    for the children, because if it ain't the hands getting cold and wet it
    could be their heads (need a super-duper waterproof hat), or maybe
    it'll rain enough for their jacket to let in water (goretex jackets all
    round), or maybe their trousers will get wet... Where do you draw the
    line?

    Practical tip - get the cheap woollen / fleece gloves (OP probably
    already has these) and a pair of small latex gloves (from a chemist)
    that you can put over the top of them if it starts raining.

    Bob's suggestion of an emergency shelter is a good one - if the
    weather's even a little bit unpleasant then it's a good group thing to
    get into the shelter and get warm, and the whole shelter thing becomes
    part of the fun experience for the kids. It also gives you time to
    assess how the weather is going to change.

    Colin

  19. Mountain shelter is on the shopping list, but I cannot afford one
    because I am skint from all the gloves I have had to buy.

    Bob Mannix said:

    <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...
    The situation was not dreamt up but what actually happened.
    So my first move is to take my gloves of. I did that but then my hands
    got cold.
    Stand around in a gale on a mountain having warming mugs. No you bugger
    off quick and get them down ASAP.
    We get any number of comments about how few children are out walking
    and how nice it is to see them and that is because a lot of parents
    would rather spend the money on Playstation games at £45 a pop not
    books.
    Why buy a book when you can go to the Library and with the money you
    save you can buy some good gloves for your children ;-)

    I would recommend taking an emergency shelter - it's amazing how much warmer
    you feel inside once protected from the wind. Gloves and warming mugs can
    then be distributed and correct decisions taken. They pack down small and
    can make the difference in a situation between bearable and unbearable (even
    for non-children as I discovered :o) ).

    --
    Bob Mannix
    (anti-spam is as easy as 1-2-3 - not)

  20. I drew the line (in the sand (which a lot of people are crossing)) at
    waterproof gloves.
    The latex gloves idea sounds a good one for a first time trip.

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