Clothing Review

Keen shoes – Targhee II

I just love Keen shoes! These lasted the duration of the trip – that’s over 24,000km of cycling and walking when the roads were too bad to ride. Through torrential downpours, river crossings, muddy tracks and sandy paths. Ok, so they’re very worn now and I’ll need a new pair for another trip. But couldn’t be happier.

Marmot Waterproof Jacket – Crystalline

This Marmot jacket is lightweight and packs down tiny. Perfect considering I didn’t need a waterproof for the majority of my time in Africa. Unfortunately the heavy rains I encountered in Africa were just too much for this jacket and often I ended up drenched – if not from the rain, then by sweating. This jacket was great when it rained in the UK and France – where it’s cooler and the rain is less heavy.
So although this didn’t work out for conditions in Africa, I don’t think any waterproof jacket could have done better.

North Face Fleece

A great fleece. Didn’t get used much, but love wearing it on those colder nights.

Icebreaker Clothing

I’m now a big fan of Ice-breaker clothing. The long-sleeved top has been excellent and was usually perfect for those slightly cooler evenings. I rarely needed something warmer.

The tops I used for cycling in were great while they lasted – they never smell, no matter how much I sweat or how many days I wear them without washing them! The material however is not tough enough for real endurance and after 6 months continual use I sadly had to bin them – there were just too many holes in them!

So – for general travel wear, they are ideal. For day-in day-out all-day exercising, they won’t last the distance.