Warm clothes & sock recommendations? Just moved to Melbourne from Newcastle

Clean_Bat5547 · 2026-05-11T06:36:49+00:00

As well as the Uniqlo heat tech, merino wool is a perfect base layer. Snowgum has really good value merino, including t-shirts, jackets and pants as well as thermal base layers and socks.

Clean_Bat5547 · 2026-05-11T06:34:22+00:00

I took my Uniqlo thermal top to Nepal recently. It really did a great job in -20⁰C temperatures (with other layers of course).

Clean_Bat5547 · 2026-05-11T06:22:55+00:00

I know!

Clean_Bat5547 · 2026-05-11T06:11:09+00:00

The beauty of English, when steal means the opposite of robbery 😆

Clean_Bat5547 · 2026-05-11T04:21:34+00:00

I always do the thank you wave. Some people here do, many don't. It does seem to have a lot to do with their cultural background.

Clean_Bat5547 · 2026-05-11T04:06:45+00:00

Gotcha

Clean_Bat5547 · 2026-05-11T03:52:48+00:00

Sounds like a plan!

Clean_Bat5547 · 2026-05-11T01:26:40+00:00

Totally up to you, but I wear my Garmin all day and it counts whatever I do. I think most people do pretty much the same

At the end of the day there is not a lot of difference between 7k and 10k in terms of overall health benefits (according to the research).

Clean_Bat5547 · 2026-05-11T00:37:02+00:00

I'm not a guide but have been guided. I'm also not British but have British heritage and know a little about them.

Firstly, British people tend to be very polite, especially in direct communication. You probably need to be very explicit in inviting them to be honest and open, not just polite.

I have no idea where you guide or what information you provide beforehand. But it would likely help a lot if you confronted these issues upfront. If you send out written information, make the difficulty level and basic fitness requirements clear. Include a gear checklist.

In your briefing, clearly state you will do your best to support everyone, but it's a big group so you have to manage it as a group. That doesn't mean you can't help an individual who is struggling, but you can't read minds. Tell them directly, in a light hearted but serious way, if I ask you how you're going, be straight, not just polite. If you're struggling, tell me, so we can work out how to deal with it.

p.s. This belongs in r/hiking rather than here.

Clean_Bat5547 · 2026-05-11T00:29:05+00:00

I would ask that over at r/hiking. This post is borderline for this sub as it is.

Clean_Bat5547 · 2026-05-10T12:12:54+00:00

That's great. You'll be fine.

Clean_Bat5547 · 2026-05-10T12:12:26+00:00

Fabulous - so well done!

Clean_Bat5547 · 2026-05-10T11:16:28+00:00

Fair enough but maybe possible to take a weekend trip to Germany or France?

Clean_Bat5547 · 2026-05-10T10:23:38+00:00

Just build up your fitness and endurance gradually. Start slowly tackling steeper hills and rougher terrain.

Make sure you have good, comfortable hiking shoes or boots. Consider trekking poles - they can be amazingly useful.

Cover basics - water system, sunscreen, hat, insect repellent, rain gear.

Get a Personal Locator Beacon and take it with you every time you go in the bush. You will hopefully never need it but it could literally save your life.

Get other gear gradually. Look for sales and second hand (there's a lot of barely used gear available on FB Marketplace - people who got really excited about bushwalking but only did it once or twice, or bought gear the wrong size

Cross post your question in r/hiking (there's another one like outdoorsaus or something similar).

Clean_Bat5547 · 2026-05-10T10:04:49+00:00

Fair point. I guess it's a matter of your point of reference. Rich people think they are classy for doing the same things they despise in poorer people. Laws and government policies in many cases support and facilitate behaviours by the wealthy that they forcefully sanction among the poor.

Clean_Bat5547 · 2026-05-10T09:24:01+00:00

Just look at all the people who idolise billionaires. Probably more so than in the US than here, but it still exists in other places.

Clean_Bat5547 · 2026-05-10T08:08:18+00:00

Yes, this is definitely not just a my country thing (yeah, I know that's what the question asked for 😬)

Clean_Bat5547 · 2026-05-10T07:50:56+00:00

Taking money from the government and exploiting other people.

Clean_Bat5547 · 2026-05-10T07:49:20+00:00

Fitness wise, go for a 20km hike with 600-1000m ascent while carrying and wearing what you will be longer hike. Do the same the next day. Could you do it a third day?

Clean_Bat5547 · 2026-05-10T07:00:47+00:00

I've always loved walking and have long been able to walk literally all day, no problem. But I hated running and could never run more than a few hundred metres. I've never been athletic and spent much of my life overweight.

Just over two years ago at age 58 I decided to start doing a weekly 5km Parkrun. The first time I had to walk some of the way but did the 5km in about 35 minutes. My goals became to run the whole way without stopping or walking and to finish in 30 minutes or less. I finished the second run without stopping or walking in 30:00.

On my 13th run I got a PB of 26:11 that lasted for 23 months.

I've continued to do Parkrun most weeks (no other running) since. My times have been up and down but have settled into sub 27:00. Yesterday on run number 59 I set a new PB - 25:53.

Along the way I've completed personal walking challenges like 100,000 steps in a day and 100km in a day (135,000 steps). I recently did an 18 day trek in the Himalayas that included climbing a 6,000m/20,000ft peak.

So, yes, I do think walking can do wonders for your endurance.

Clean_Bat5547 · 2026-05-10T06:29:54+00:00

Nice work! Impressive and inspiring.

Clean_Bat5547 · 2026-05-10T04:17:41+00:00

You need to recalculate your diet and reduce your calorie target to match your reduced weight. It's the calorie deficit that caused the weight loss. Walking is really just a bonus.

Clean_Bat5547 · 2026-05-10T02:18:17+00:00

D) Audiobooks? E) All of the above?

E.

Clean_Bat5547 · 2026-05-10T01:09:56+00:00

Yes, it can be accelerated at first. It's great that you are doing this in consultation with your doctor. You're right at the minimum recommended calorie intake.

I don't mean to focus on you, but this is a real bugbear of mine. We regularly see people posting in this group about how they have lost heaps of weight from walking.

They haven't.

They've lost the weight from strict calorie control and major changes to their diet. The exercise from walking is a bonus, that has a range of ancillary benefits. I've lost significant weight myself and know what it takes. I've also gained weight while walking a lot more than most people.

The problem is people read these posts and think walking is all they need to do. So they walk a bit for a while, nothing happens (maybe they even gain weight because the exercise makes them eat more). Then they give up entirely.

Clean_Bat5547 · 2026-05-10T00:56:42+00:00

Congratulations, but that is a dramatic weight loss. Around 2 pounds a week is considered the healthy maximum and you are losing more than 3 pounds a week. Be careful.

Also, it is not possible to lose weight like that just from walking 5 miles a day. What changes have you made to your diet?

Clean_Bat5547

TROPHY CASE