good but not expensive gear for a child

[riddoch12]

Hi looking for advice for clothing and boots for my 6 year old daughter who wants to go walking with dad. Don't want to go spending a fortune just encase she decides it is not for her, any advice would be great.

[Fiona Reid]

Do you have a Decathlon near you? They do fairly decent quality but cheap kids clothes and boots etc.

[riddoch12]

No. We live in NE Scotland so our nearest would be Edinburgh or Glasgow. Have to give them a look online. Thanks for your advice much appreciated.

[Fiona Reid]

Trespass would be worth a look too. There's one in Aberdeen if that's nearer for you? With boots it's best to get something they *like* and that fit properly. The fit is the most important thing obviously but some kids are pretty fickle with colours etc thus making sure they like stuff can be half the battle.

Bennachie was my first proper hill aged 7/8, ignoring Arthur's Seat at it was local to me in Edinburgh. I'm sure I just had trainers on...

[rockhopper]

Admittedly it was some time ago but my sons started off with boots from the Hi-Tec kids' range - may be worth a look ? Also possibly Mountain Warehouse or trespass ? - cheers

[riddoch12]

Thanks for the advice also rockhopper. There is a Mountain Warehouse in Elgin will take her up for a look. Boots will be the hardest as she is only a child 9 which I seem to have trouble finding.

[tenohfive]

I find Keela stuff quite reasonably priced, and for winter wear I've found ski-orientated companies such as O'Neill on price par with Trespass et al for some stuff.

[Alteknacker]

When I was researching clothing a few years ago, I noticed that Gelert seemed to offer particularly good value for money for kids' stuff. Also pretty good for adults - I bought Gelert waterproof tops and bottoms, and they've proved very good (except at resisting barbed wire - tested in pretty extreme wet conditions ). I got them at a particularly good price too by searching for bargains on the internet.

[ptc*]

I'm putting together a kids gear review and it's been interesting seeing what's out there. The price and quality range is just the same as adult kit.
I'm looking at Craghoppers, Keela and others with some kids specific rucksacks too which are excellent, really impressed there.
Mountain Warehouse and Decathlon have both been asked to take part so hopefully I'll be able to cover a good range of kit.

One thing I have found when shoe-horning my daughter into test kit over the years is to get stuff she'll wear every day so you get good use out of it and she gets used to wearing it. I've also noticed that well-cut outdoor kit does accommodate your child growing.

[riddoch12]

Thanks for all the replies and looking forward to your gear review for kids in the near future.