Who makes good clothing and footwear for backpacking?

Personally I wouldn't go running out to buy a new pair of hiking shoes or similar just because you're going travelling - the best shoes to use are the ones you are wearing now that are broken in and comfortable. The last thing you want to be putting your feet through is getting used to some brand new shoes/boots while walking long distances every day - your feet will soon bleed and blister up from that kind of treatment and you'll be in a world of pain (and at risk of infection).

I traveled all over the world wearing my trusty steel cap Doc Martens and unless I was going climbing mountains or venturing into some extreme climatic conditions I would be using them again.

If you must buy some new shoes or whatever, go and visit your local surplus store, shops like Mountain Designs are a ripoff and you can get the same gear from disposals/surplus stores for much cheaper.

Hi BushTuckaMan
My wife and I have worn Rossi Boots (australian made) for many years. I am on my fourth pair.
I have tramped many places including the Kokoda Track. Including trips to Northern Africa,middle east and Spain.
I have never ever had a blister or aching feet and I have never had wet feet.
Painful feet, whether your walking a track or exploring a city can be a major distraction and can spoil your whole event especially when you know you have to get up and do it all again the next day.
We wear ROSSI 110 RAPTORS they are all leather with ventura soles and they fit like a glove.
They do not look like the fancy european synthetic boots that never clean up after they have been muddied. I fact this morning I have cleaned both our pairs of our boots with the rossi beeswax polish and they have come up great.
Go to a shop that has a number of sizes (half sizes are broader) and try them on and make sure that you can wiggle your toes in the toe box when the laces are done up.
We go to Anaconda for clothes. They have a variety to choose from that you can wash and dry in two hours.
I might add that I have no connection with Rossi Its just that I love their boots.
I get mine from a place in Brisbane.
Good luck

Trekking shops like Mountain designs, Kathmandu, Paddy Palin and Macpac for the top end of prices and quality and good advice.
Anaconda or your local camping store for more reasonable prices but sometimes lower quality.

With your boots ignore price at first and try on as many as you can until you find the best fit and sole stiffnes for what you want to do.
Buy these several months before your big trip and break them in over that time.

With the pack get one that will take a camel back bladder or similar and is has a good load bearing harness, Hong Kong is very hilly and its usually 30+ deg C and VERY Humid.
Boxer style undies will also help with chaffing.

Good luck with the trip.

Gidday

Another vote for Rossi footwear . Whenever I buy a pair (and I have three pairs of boots for different purposes) I am always amazed at how quickly they are "broken in".

My hikers are Macks (which have been pretty good) and when the time comes to replace them it will be straight to the shop for some more from Rossi.


Cheers


Rocco

I don't know if its just me, but hitec boots nearly sent me lame - big vote against them. Currently wearing some Merrell Continuums. mmmmm got them on special at anaconda for about $150. Bought them from the shop and wore them on the Larapinta Trail from brand new. I've never had a set of boots I didn't need to wear in before but these are great for the money. I can thououghly recommend them.
One thing I will say is definitely look for brands that have 'vibram' soles. IMHO this company has the best boot soles going around.

Go and buy in Hong Kong
you get all the over productions for Europe very cheap.
US brands like Columbia and German Hiking Boots.
Light rain coats from Goretex at a fraction of the cost
and generally much better quality stuff than Anaconda and alike.
You need a bit time though but you should find everything you
need in a few blocks.
good luck
gmd

Check out the Bushwalking faq , in particular the ultralight pages to help make the right descisions BushTuckaman.



http://www.bushwalking.org.au/FAQ/index.html

Bush walking in hong kong this has to be a wind up surely.

Hi there

Did my first hike the other day - Coastal Walk in the RNP in Sydney. 26kms in one day.

I have a pair of Scarpers courtesy of my SIL.

I had a crappy Fitness First backpack which I will replace with something more suitable for the next one. I sweated through the Fitness First one and the zippers kept working their way loose.

Build up your inventory slowly but I'd start with shoes then a decent backpack.


cheers

Scarpa's are the best but you will pay for them. Full leather (one whole piece) will be the most water proof. Lots of boots have heaps of pretty stitching and pieces all put together. Looks good but not practical. The uglier the boot the more practical it is.

A good leather walking boot will take a long long time to wear in though! Once it's done it will become your best friend.

Backpacks is a big market. Depends on what you want:
Full canvas are the toughest but some brands have material packs almost as tough (like mine). Full canvas will be heavier to wear and will get heavier once a big downpour drenches the material. No matter how waterproof they advertise their pack always have a pack liner if it's going to be wet. Full on hiking packs won't have any external pockets etc which is great doing Mt Everest but a pain if travelling around Europe back packing.

the other type are 'cross overs' (or whatever they call them). Still have comfortable harnesses but you will have heaps of external pockets and most of the time you will get a removable pack from the main pack which can be used as a 'day pack' so you can leave the bulk of the pack in the hotel room. This probably sounds like the best option for your trip from the sounds of it.

'One Planet' (based in Melb I think) make great stuff but I suggest going to a big camping store and spend time tying on packs etc. I reckon you will quickly decide on the style of pack (full on or hybrid) and then spend a fair bit of time trying on different types to find the most comfortable. "Blackwolf" make a big range of hybrid packs.

Cheers,

and yet another vote for rossi's.....

All depends how deep your pockets are, I like the mountain designs stuff but VERY pricey. The rossi boots do every thing I ask of them,can be a bit tight across the top until they wear in, but then again I still get around in a pair of thongs in places where it would be ill advised !! ( buy double pluggers if ya flush!!)