All the gear with an idea - Tops

TOPS

Base layer

In winter and on colder days a base layer is sometimes needed to keep you warm. Anyway it is always best to dress in layers. Easy to remove an item as you warm on an ascent and put it on when the temperature cools.

For a base layer I favour a 200g 100% merino wool long sleeve top. You will be too hot on Mallorca in anything heavier such as a 260. To find one that suits, it is best to shop around and look online.

T Shirts

Avoid wearing cotton, be it your favourite band shirt or one that feels really comfortable against your skin. Cotton absorbs moisture and holds onto it, whether it’s sweat or a light shower of rain. On a hot day you will soon regret wearing it.

The best option is a “technical T Shirt”, as they are commonly known. Usually these are made of material from a polyester base and are quick drying and breathable. They are lightweight with the more expensive ones incorporating an anti-odour feature. Some weigh less than 100g. If you have environmental considerations, a few manufacturers use recycled fabric in some of their lines.

I favour those produced by Ternua and Salewa especially the former’s trekking series. Mostly they are in brighter colours. (There is no reason to dress in camouflage colours!). Despite frequent washing they have not lost their colour or shape.

Fleece

Again I recommend you steer away from a cotton based fleece. Most produced by the outdoor specialists are polyester based. The Polarlite range produced by Salewa, described as a “lightweight mid layer”, is a good bet for Mallorca. They weigh less than 400g. Those made from Polartec, a polyester based fabric, are a step up in quality and also price. The one I have is both the lightest and the warmest in my collection. 

Ternua lead the way in using recycled materials.

Waterproof 

I prefer a lightweight, waterproof top. A few years ago a guide friend recommended Keela to me. It is an award winning Scottish manufacturer. Its Saxon jacket is made from a Flylite Aqua fabric that is waterproof, windproof and breathable. It weighs only 260g. I never leave home without it!

Summary

While there is always the truth that “you get what you pay for”, don’t forget you should have at least 4-5 years wear from better quality gear. Factor in that consideration when you make a choice. 

www.salewa.com

www.ternua.com

www.keelaoutdoors.com

All the gear with an idea - Shoes & Boots

A few thoughts on what to wear when hiking in the Serra de Tramuntana, Mallorca.

Shoes/Boots

For me it’s a matter of personal preference whether to wear shoes or boots. Some like the strong support a boot gives around the ankle especially when walking on rocky terrain. Others, like me, favour a shoe because it can strengthen the ankle and allow greater flexibility. 

At the moment I have two makes of shoe in my collection: 

• Scarpa Mescalito.

• Salewa Mountain Trainer GTX.

I am really impressed with the Scarpa shoes. So much, I got a second pair last season. They are very comfortable, provide good ankle support despite only being a shoe and have incredible grip. I feel like Spider-Man when walking along the narrow ridge of Penyal des Migdia!

The Salewa shoes are in their second season and are the most comfortable walking shoes which I have ever possessed. 

The simple advice is to try a variety of shoes or boots until you find the pair which suits your needs best. Some makes, like LA Sportiva and Salewa, tend to favour a narrower foot. Others such as Meindl are good for a broader foot. 

In the UK I recommend The Cotswold Store because of the attention given to fitting by the well-trained staff. There are stores throughout the country. On Mallorca, I suggest you try Foracorda and El Corte Inglés in Palma as well as Tramuntana Tours in Port Sóller.

A good tip is to take two pairs of socks when trying on the footwear, a thin pair and a thicker pair, reflecting use over four seasons of the year. Also it is better than using the shop pair which have probably seen many different feet!

Finally I have received many recommendations for Bestard mountain boots and shoes. These are produced at Lloseta on Mallorca. There is a factory shop there. My wife got a pair and is delighted with them. You will also find them at the shops mentioned above.  

One final tip. Don’t give up on your shoes or boots when the soles wear thin and lose grip. If the uppers are still good, you can get them re-soled. There is a fantastic shoe repairer in Palma, Es Sabater in Carrer Ticià. They come back as good as new. 

www.bestard.com

www.salewa.com

www.scarpa.com

All the gear with an Idea .... Trousers

Trousers

For me there are three manufacturers who stand out: Trangoworld, Ternua and Salewa. Each manages to combine functionality with style. The first two are Spanish and the third, a German-Italian company.

The primary criteria are comfort, ease of movement and suitability for the climate in which you are hiking. Bear in mind that the cosy pair you try in a Northern European winter might be too warm for the Mediterranean.

Currently I have:

1. Ternua Sabah, which are the pair with the thinnest material. They weigh 371g (85% polyamide & 15% elastane). They are breathable shellstretch and are hard wearing. Close-fitting, there is no restriction on movement and they are really comfortable. Ideal for the milder spring & autumn days.

2. Trangoworld Tineo. The medium pair weighing 401g (using bielastic fabrics). They are water repellent, slim-fitting with freedom of movement and robust. Suitable for cooler days, they are my favourite pair.

3. Salewa Agner Orval Durastretch. Although the lightest (334g), they are the warmest with an upper lining and the most expensive! Again a polyamide/elastane mix. Strong, water repellent and wind resistant, I wore these when trekking at altitude in the Andes, Colombia. My vote

   for colder, winter days.

You can find them online and locally Tramuntana Tours, Port Sóller stock the three brands.

www.salewa.com

www.ternua.com

www.trangoworld.com