THE HIKING KIT MONEY PIT

It can sometimes feel like you need to remortgage the house to kit yourself out for the mountains. But why is hiking gear so expensive? James Forrest investigates the causes behind spiralling costs - and uncovers the best ways to seek out a budget-friendly bargain.

WORDS JAMES FORREST

If you’re of a nervous (financial) disposition, don’t look at the prices in an outdoor shop these days - it’ll send your head into such a dizzying spin that you might need to sit down. Those zeros at the end of the price tags aren’t typos. That Gore-Tex Pro waterproof jacket genuinely does cost £600, those leather boots will unapologetically burn a £300 hole in your pocket, and that ultralight tent is - without a hint of irony - worth more than your old banger car. Is it time for a new, less expensive hobby? Since the onset of Britain’s cost of living crisis, the high price of outdoor gear and hiking kit has never been more obvious. Of course, rising prices have affected all aspects of spending, from the weekly…

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Trail United Kingdom (Digital) - 1 Issue, May 2024

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