Buying gear

Gear Lists

• Sunday hikes

• Weekend trips

• Winter trips

As you’ll have seen on our gear lists you will need some gear. It can be confusing and costly, but don’t worry, we’re here to help you understand what you need and save you some money.

If you have any questions about gear then feel free to contact our gear secretary (luuhc.gear@gmail.com).

Members can take advantage of discounts through their included BMC membership (more details below). We have also negotiated an exclusive 20% discount with SplashMaps, makers of washable all-weather adventure maps. Check our their website splash-maps.com. Discount code is: luuhcsm24

Buying second hand is great - cheaper and more sustainable! However, it’s worth bearing in mind you might get less choice in terms of colour or size and it can take longer too to find what you want.

Charity shops often have a surprising amount of outdoor gear (especially if they are in or near a national park). In Leeds, there’s few on the main road through Headingley that are worth scouting out for shoes, fleeces and trousers. Meanwood’s community shop and the Barnado’s (next to Aldi) are good too.

Online second hand options are well worth looking at:

• Outdoor Gear Exchange Facebook group

• Outdoor Gear For Good

• eBay

• Facebook marketplace

There’s still plenty of times though where buying new may be the better or only option. There’s plenty of stores locally and online.

Here are a few local stores:

• Decathlon, Trinity Leeds - Excellent value and wide selection of good quality own brand products

• Blacks, The Core Leeds - 10% student discount in store with student card or online with Unidays. Potentially 20% discount for LUUHC members in Leeds store if you say you’re a member and show your membership on Engage.

• Go Outdoors, York Road Leeds - Same company as Blacks but sometimes wider selection and different prices. 10% student discount. Price match offered. £5 membership card required

• Cotswold Outdoor, Albion Place Leeds - A wide variety of kit and brands. Not for budget gear but offers price matching. They offer 15% BMC discount on non-sale items.

• Trespass, Kirkstall Bridge retail park - Small store but sometimes just what you need. They may offer a 10% student discount

• Alpkit, Ilkley - A variety of their own products. Easily accessible from Leeds by bus or train. 10% off if you sign up to their membership

• The North Face, Briggate Leeds

You can get discount at many more outdoor stores with your included BMC membership. More details on the BMC website.

Although B2 boots are the only technical piece of kit you’ll need for the winter trips, it is important to be aware that it is going to be cold! This means you will, in general, need more clothes, more food and a bigger bag to carry it all. Winter trips are more expensive to attend so it is worth slowly building up your gear repertoire throughout the year, having a hiking themed Christmas list and being on the lookout for cheaper options before January comes around. Many members have success buying second hand B2 boots on eBay/Outdoor Gear Exchange.

Spiked a hole in your waterproofs with your crampons? Tripped over and got a hole in your trousers?

Some brands have their own repairs guarantee (Patagonia, Mountain Equipment) but you can take any other brands to be repaired at:

• Your local repair cafe (Leeds group)

• Alpkit (Ilkley store (nearest to Leeds)) 

The club can lend kit to members for use on trips and for for personal use when not required for trips. Please note that you are liable for any damages to club gear. Please get in touch with our gear sec (luuhc.gear@gmail.com) if you are interested in borrowing any kit.

You may have a local ‘Library of Things’ which you can borrow all kinds of things from including hiking gear. Our local one is Buy Nowt LS6 in Headingley.

For winter trips, Andy Godfrey (who works at The Edge) has a few B2 (suitable for club winter trips) boots to lend out. 

• 6 Green Salomon

• 6 Sportiva

• 6.5 Green Salomon

• 9 

• 43 Orange Salomon

• 43 Scarpa

Please message our gear sec (luuhc.gear@gmail.com) if you are interested in borrowing a pair of these.

There is funding available for Plus Programme students covering society membership fees (the Clubs and Societies Membership Fund) and up to £200 available for other club related costs such as gear or trip tickets (the Clubs and Societies Associated Costs Fund). Please note this funding may change for future academic years, and there are eligibility criteria you must meet to be able to access the Plus Programme.

If you have any gear you don’t use any more, there are are number of ways you can donate it for it to be reused:

• Charity shops (eg. British Heart Foundation) - there are many charity shops around Leeds that will accept donations of outdoor gear

• Library of Things (eg. Buy Nowt LS6) - accept donations of good quality hiking equipment

• LUUHC - if you would like to donate any gear to the club, please contact our gear sec (luuhc.gear@gmail.com). Examples include OS maps, head torches and winter gear.