Kit Lists

Still over a year till we set-off but kit considerations are always being discussed. We went to the Newcastle branch of http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/  to get some presents and as often happens when we start looking at the latest releases cogs start to turn. While looking at the down jackets I noticed the new Rab Batura hanging on the rail. I had placed this one at the top of my most favoured jackets list but had yet to see one in my size to try on. Bingo, they had one in my size. It made me look like the Michelin Man but it did fit and it was the one I had wanted. I noticed that they had other sizes in and asked if the Boss was going to try one on for size, to my amazement she did. Considering where we are going and how bad she suffers with the cold I thought it might be the answer to her search for a very warm coat. We left the shop with the presents we came for but with two extras that hadn't been planned, ah well!
Over the Christmas and New Year I had been researching gloves and snow boots on various web sites and we came to the conclusion that the Bosses "kinky boots" were in fact exactly the same as a make of boots called Sorels which seemed the best of the best for the uses we had in mind. The Bosses version are white rubber around the foot with treated leather around the ankles and up the shin with laces to make a snug fit. Inside the boot is a felt foot bed for insulation and a separate felt inner-boot for extra insulation. While there isn't a  label saying Sorel anywhere the construction is the exactly same and if the Boss says they are very warm and comfortable who am I to doubt. As we are going into Newcastle to do some shopping I suggest a trip into http://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/  as I had seen they had some gloves in I wanted to try. The Boss said that when She had been in there earlier in the week that they had an offer on Bridgdale socks. The gloves were a perfect fit and along with quite a few pairs of socks each we made our way to the check-out. While standing in the queue the Boss asked "isn't that the make of duffel bag we use"? The sign said "Mountain Equipment Duffel's 50% off" needless to say we had to have another one, this time a bigger 120L version. Next off to  http://www.ldmountaincentre.com/ to see if they had any macho male versions of the Bosses "kinky boots". After checking on the shops stock levels the salesman found two sizes for me to try on. Twenty minutes later we left the shop with a massive box containing my new size 10.5 decidedly macho black "kinky boots"! The list of clothing still needed is shrinking, from memory I think it is mitts and a balaclava for the Boss.